Successful Ministry in Liberia and Nigeria<\/p>\n
By Willard & Yvonne Wagner<\/p>\n
Support their ministry here!<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Recently, Phillip Gschwend (a missionary and church builder for the IPHC) and I went to Liberia to visit our existing churches and the brethren who are now carrying on the work so very well. We were able to provide them with a conference during those five days, but along with that, Phillip laid out the plans for their new church building. When we were making this trip, we missed the first connection of our flight through Dulles due to high winds, and had to return to Greenville and wait for two days until another connecting flight was available to Monrovia. On the second trip, we noticed a rather huskily built man on the same row, sound asleep. Jokingly we suggested to one another that someone take his vital signs to see if he was still alive. He stirred, we introduced ourselves and found out he was the CEO of a well digging and church building ministry in Liberia. Upon his invitation, we visited his compound near Monrovia, and he introduced us to his Master Builder, who eventually would oversee our project at a reasonable rate. This is exactly what we were looking for as neither Phillip nor I could stay a lengthy time. We discussed the plans for the church, deposited funds in our bank there, and left for the States. We have heard from them numerous times with great reports of their progress. Just the other day, they were given all of the government permits to start building and continue this project to completion. We look forward to visiting them again for the dedication of this Central IPHC church in Monrovia. During this construction, the congregation and the primary school are meeting in a rented make-shift building near by.<\/p>\n In spite of 14 years of war, Ebola virus, corrupt politics, and extreme poverty, the International Pentecostal Holiness Church of Liberia is well, alive, and still kicking. With all due respect to missionaries stationed in Monrovia in the early 1900s, IPHC Liberia was officially established after the drafting of the Constitution on Dec. 16, 1998. Our church was soon registered with the government to preach the gospel, establish congregations, purchase land, build churches, operate schools or orphanages, and host resident missionaries. As impoverished as they were, somehow they managed to do all of the above. During this time, some mistakes were made, there were misunderstandings, miscalculations, and various obstacles that hindered the work in Liberia. But Jesus said, “Upon this Rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Surely Liberia was included in “My Church” and therefore is still in existence. We pause to thank all those concerned who prayed, gave of their resources, spent time in ministry, and showed an interest in Liberia to make this happen. Yvonne and I then flew to our annual West Africa Bible College graduation in Lagos, Nigeria. After thirty-three years, they have thoroughly trained up to 3,000 pastors, evangelists, missionaries, or Christian laypeople of which 80% of these graduates have gone into full time ministry. We only had 68 graduates this year, as the road to the college was not as easily passable and this cut our enrollment. Before our graduation, the IPHC of Nigeria held a seminar for the students, and then a convention for all of our pastors who have churches in Nigeria. We were highly blessed to have Rev. and Mrs. Steve Dow, from The Christian Heritage Worship Center in Tallahassee, Florida. This pastor and his wife were so very effective in their preaching and ministry, that we altered the program to give a great deal of time to this anointed and powerful couple.<\/p>\n In January, I am visiting our churches in Kumasi, Ghana. Our relatively new Bishop, John Botwe, has succeeded Rev. Isaac Boyke-Yiadom in this position, and is doing an outstanding job as the leader of the work in Ghana. We look forward to meeting with him and having ministry among our brethren in this very peaceful country. It appears that Yvonne and I will be traveling throughout West Africa very extensively in 2017, as there are many churches to visit and much work yet to be done. Before we send out another prayer letter, we will also visit our ministry in Cote d\u2019Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and look forward to witnessing the progress they have made in that country, often called, “The Little Paris of Africa.” We are particularly anxious to speak in their Bible College that we planted 10 years ago. We eagerly seek the opportunity to visit all our churches in West Africa and be with our people. They are so very enlightening and it is a great challenge to continue on as missionaries and as the Regional Director of West Africa. We covet your prayers and trust you will have had a very Merry Christmas and will have a prosperous and blessed New Year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Successful Ministry in Liberia and Nigeria By Willard & Yvonne Wagner Support their ministry here! Recently, Phillip Gschwend (a missionary and church builder for the IPHC) and I went to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":1379,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,4],"tags":[205,124,31,209,123,208],"class_list":{"0":"post-1378","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-missionary-newsletters","8":"category-world-missions","9":"tag-205","10":"tag-liberia","11":"tag-missionary-newsletter","12":"tag-nigeria","13":"tag-wagner","14":"tag-west-africa","15":"entry"},"title_es":"Wagner Newsletter: Enero 2017","content_es":"Ministerio \u00e9xito en Liberia y Nigeria por Willard & Yvonne Wagner apoyar su ministerio aqu\u00ed!<\/strong><\/span><\/a> Recientemente, Phillip Gschwend (un constructor misionero y la iglesia de la IISP) y yo fuimos a Liberia para visitar nuestras iglesias existentes y los hermanos que ahora est\u00e1n continuando el trabajo muy bien. Hemos sido capaces de proporcionarles una conferencia durante esos cinco d\u00edas, pero junto con eso, Phillip expuso los planes para su nuevo edificio de la iglesia. Cuando est\u00e1bamos haciendo este viaje, hemos perdido la primera conexi\u00f3n del vuelo a trav\u00e9s de Dulles debido a fuertes vientos, y tuvo que volver a Greenville y esperar dos d\u00edas hasta que otro vuelo de conexi\u00f3n estaba disponible a Monrovia. En el segundo viaje, nos dimos cuenta de un hombre con voz ronca en lugar construido en la misma fila, profundamente dormido. En broma nos sugiri\u00f3 el uno al otro de que alguien tome sus signos vitales para ver si todav\u00eda estaba vivo. Se agita, nos presentamos y nos enteramos de que \u00e9l era el director general de un ministerio de la excavaci\u00f3n de pozos y la construcci\u00f3n de la iglesia en Liberia. A su invitaci\u00f3n, visitamos su complejo cerca de Monrovia, y \u00e9l nos present\u00f3 a su maestro constructor, que con el tiempo se encargar\u00eda de supervisar nuestro proyecto a un precio razonable. Esto es exactamente lo que est\u00e1bamos buscando, ya que ni Felipe ni yo podr\u00eda quedarse un tiempo prolongado. Hemos discutido los planes para la iglesia, los fondos depositados en nuestro banco de all\u00ed, y nos fuimos a los Estados. Hemos o\u00eddo hablar de ellos en numerosas ocasiones con gran informes de su progreso. Justo el otro d\u00eda, se les dio todos los permisos del gobierno para empezar a construir y continuar con este proyecto hasta su finalizaci\u00f3n. Estamos deseando volver a visitar de nuevo para la dedicaci\u00f3n de esta iglesia central IISP en Monrovia. Durante esta construcci\u00f3n, la congregaci\u00f3n y la escuela primaria se re\u00fanen en un edificio de expediente alquilada cerca. A pesar de 14 a\u00f1os de guerra, el virus de Ebola, la corrupci\u00f3n pol\u00edtica, y la pobreza extrema, la Iglesia Internacional de Santidad Pentecostal de Liberia es as\u00ed, vivo y coleando. Con el debido respeto a los misioneros destinados en Monrovia a principios del 1900, IISP Liberia fue establecida oficialmente despu\u00e9s de la redacci\u00f3n de la Constituci\u00f3n el 16 de diciembre de 1998. Nuestra iglesia pronto fue registrado con el gobierno para dar buenas nuevas, establecer congregaciones, compra de terrenos , construir iglesias, escuelas u orfanatos operar, y alojar misioneros residentes. Como empobrecido como estaban, de alguna manera se las arreglaron para hacer todo lo anterior. Durante este tiempo, se hicieron algunos errores, hubo malentendidos, errores de c\u00e1lculo, y varios obst\u00e1culos que dificultan el trabajo en Liberia. Pero Jes\u00fas dijo: "Sobre esta piedra edificar\u00e9 mi Iglesia, y las puertas del infierno no prevalecer\u00e1n contra ella." Seguramente Liberia fue incluido en "Mi Iglesia" y por lo tanto se encuentra todav\u00eda en existencia. Hacemos una pausa para agradecer a todos los afectados que oraba, dio de sus recursos, pas\u00f3 un tiempo en el ministerio, y mostr\u00f3 un inter\u00e9s en Liberia para que esto suceda. No deja de ser sorprendido por el potencial de liderazgo de los Nacionales tienen en cada uno de nuestros pa\u00edses de \u00c1frica occidental. Cuando les explico que: "Este es su pa\u00eds, estos son sus personas, esta es su iglesia, y el ministerio debe seguir adelante sin la presencia constante de los misioneros," que aceptar esta responsabilidad y, a menudo puede hacer un trabajo mucho mejor de lo que podr\u00edamos tener. Yo sab\u00eda muy bien que no habr\u00eda demasiados voluntarios que quisieran unirse a nuestras filas en \u00c1frica Occidental (conocido como el cementerio de los misioneros), por lo que desde el primer d\u00eda, he insistido en que la responsabilidad del ministerio pertenecen a los Nacionales de ese pa\u00eds. Estamos orgullosos de lo que el Se\u00f1or est\u00e1 haciendo por los hermanos de Liberia y sabemos que van a seguir para desarrollar un trabajo sustancial. Yvonne y luego volaron a nuestra graduaci\u00f3n anual de \u00c1frica Occidental Bible College en Lagos, Nigeria. Despu\u00e9s de treinta y tres a\u00f1os, se han entrenado a fondo hasta 3.000 pastores, evangelistas, misioneros, laicos o cristianos de los cuales el 80% de estos graduados han entrado en el ministerio a tiempo completo. S\u00f3lo tuvimos 68 graduados de este a\u00f1o, ya que el camino a la universidad no era tan f\u00e1cilmente transitables y esto cort\u00f3 nuestra inscripci\u00f3n. Antes de nuestra graduaci\u00f3n, la IISP de Nigeria llev\u00f3 a cabo un seminario para los estudiantes, y luego una convenci\u00f3n para todos nuestros pastores que tienen iglesias en Nigeria. Est\u00e1bamos muy suerte de tener Rev. y la Sra Steve Dow, desde el Centro de Culto herencia cristiana en Tallahassee, Florida. Este pastor y su esposa eran muy eficaces en su predicaci\u00f3n y ministerio, que alteramos el programa para dar una gran cantidad de tiempo para esta pareja ungido y poderoso. En enero, estoy visitando nuestras iglesias en Kumasi, Ghana. Nuestra relativamente nuevo Obispo, John Botwe, ha logrado Rev. Isaac Boyke-Yiadom en esta posici\u00f3n, y est\u00e1 haciendo un trabajo excepcional como el l\u00edder del trabajo en Ghana. Esperamos con inter\u00e9s la reuni\u00f3n con \u00e9l y que tiene ministerio entre nuestros hermanos en este pa\u00eds muy tranquilo. Parece que Yvonne y yo viajaremos a trav\u00e9s de \u00c1frica Occidental muy ampliamente en 2017, ya que hay muchas iglesias para visitar y mucho trabajo todav\u00eda por hacer. Antes de enviar otra carta de oraci\u00f3n, tambi\u00e9n vamos a visitar nuestro ministerio en Costa de Marfil (Costa de Marfil) y con ganas de ser testigo de los avances que se han hecho en ese pa\u00eds, a menudo llamado "El peque\u00f1o Par\u00eds de \u00c1frica." Estamos particularmente ansioso por hablar en su universidad de la biblia que se plantaron hace 10 a\u00f1os. Nosotros buscamos ansiosamente la oportunidad de visitar todas nuestras iglesias en \u00c1frica Occidental y estar con nuestra gente. Son tan muy esclarecedor y es un gran desaf\u00edo para continuar como misioneros y como el Director Regional de \u00c1frica Occidental. Rogamos sus oraciones y confiar en usted ha tenido una muy Feliz Navidad y tendr\u00e1 un A\u00f1o Nuevo pr\u00f3spero y bendecido.","author_name":"","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/01\/Wagner-Cover.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb62Ar-me","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1378"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1378\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nI never cease to be amazed at the leadership potential the Nationals have in each of our countries in West Africa. When I explain to them that: “This is their country, these are your people, this is your church, and the ministry must go on without the constant presence of the missionary,” they accept this responsibility and can often do a much better job than we could have. I knew very well that there would not be too many volunteers who would want to join our ranks in West Africa (referred to as the graveyard of missionaries), so from day one, I insisted that the responsibility of the ministry belong to the Nationals in that country. We are proud of what the Lord is doing for the brethren in Liberia and know that they will continue to develop a substantial work.<\/p>\n