Recently, I was in three cities in Nigeria with IPHC Nigerian leadership and IPHC missionary leaders. I was joined in Lagos by IPHC World Missions Ministries Regional Director Ernest Turner and IPHC missionary David Riley, both of whom live in Senegal, West Africa. Joining us was Bishop Samuel Akpan, General Superintendent of IPHC Nigeria.
l-r: Rev. Ernest Turner, Bishop Doug Beacham, Bishop Samuel Akpan, Rev. David Riley
Lagos is the largest city in Africa with over 16 million people and expected to be nearly 25 million by 2035. IPHC has churches across this massive city, and it is also the home of the IPHC West Africa Bible College.
While in the Lagos area, I preached at City of Praise IPHC and at Pentecost Chapel. After the service at Pentecost Chapel, which is on the campus of the Bible College, we met with the family of the late Rev. Dr. Luke Nnadi. Dr. Nnadi had served as the IPHC Nigeria General Superintendent and President of West Africa Bible College. Dr. Nnadi passed away on February 18, 2024. I can testify of the joy it was to know this godly leader. He attended several IPHC General Conferences in the USA and many of us had the joy of fellowshipping with him when we would visit Nigeria.
Peter, one of Dr. Nnadi’s sons, told us that when he called an uncle to inform him of Luke’s death, the uncle said, “A peaceful man, a peaceful man, a peaceful man.” I could only say a heartfelt “Amen” to those words. Our prayers remain with Dr. Nnadi’s family and the IPHC Nigeria.
Dr. Luke Nnadi, 7 October 1953 – 18 February 2024
Following our meetings in Lagos, we flew to the southeast Nigerian city of Uyo and visited Bishop Akpan’s congregation in the city of Abak. Uyo is a city of nearly 1.4 million and the Abak area is about 135,000 people.
Special services were held at New Wine Worship Center where Bishop Akpan serves as senior pastor. There is also a Bible School extension held in this church (https://www.facebook.com/newwineworshipcentre).
Special services were held in this location for several days. The Eastern Conference leadership of IPHC Nigeria was present and it was a joy to be with these faithful servants of God.
New Wine Worship Center IPHC, Abak, Nigeria
Students preparing for ministry at the West Africa Bible College Extension in Abak, Nigeria
Following the meetings in Abak and Uyo, we flew to the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna. With over one million people, it is the capital of the Nigerian state of Kaduna. This northern state has been the location of kidnappings and murdering of Christians by Islamist extremist further north. We were in Kaduna to attend the Minister’s Conference hosted by Rev. Tunde Bolanta, founder of Restoration Ministries, at his church in Kaduna. Since 1987, this ministry has impacted people around the world. Rev. Bolanta ministered with the IPHC in London, England and in Alabama. I have known him for nearly twenty years and have been blessed by his humble and anointed spirit and service for Jesus.
Rev. Bolanta’s church sanctuary in Kaduna and the people worshipping the Lord.
Rev. Bolanta’s church sanctuary in Kaduna and the people worshipping the Lord.
Doug Beacham with Tunde Bolanta in Kaduna
The presence of the Lord was near to us in these meetings in Kaduna. We met nearly 50 missionaries from Restoration Ministries who are going across Africa sharing the Gospel. Many of them are risking their lives by going into Muslim controlled nations in North Africa. To this day, I often think of them, pray for their safety and fruitfulness for Jesus, and give thanks for men and women willing to serve Jesus in such a fashion.
It brought great joy to be with IPHC missionaries and see the fruit of their labors as well as to be with the emerging younger leaders like Samuel Akpan who are stepping forward for Christ.
