Bakin-Kogi and Kafanchan Updates

Dr. Christian Isichei, Faith Alive’s Founder and Coordinator, shares great news about two of Faith Alive’s rural satellite sites: Bakin-Kogi (Bock-in-ko-gee) and Kafanchan (cough-en-chan).

“Happy New year—a year when we shall, like Paul, resolve to do nothing more than see Him crucified and known to us more and also to others.

“I want to sincerely thank you and many other brethren for the various ways you have supported us. The current challenges in our country are viewed as surmountable because of people like you who are out there praying and being part of the Faith Alive family in many ways. THANK YOU.

“I wish to inform you--with gratitude to God and to you all that He has used—that we have been able to sink a good well as water source connected to the (Bakin-Kogi) clinic and now commenced 24 hour services at Bakin-Kogi. We have closed the Kafanchan Clinic and converted it to Chaplaincy & Social Services center with sewing and knitting and discipleship incorporated for a start.

“God bless you all. Dr. Chris”

(Photo taken by Frank Lozano in 2009. Children in the picture are from the area; standing next to the sign does not in any way mean that we know their HIV status.)

Nigerian Fuel Prices Skyrocket

The streets of Jos, Nigeria today are void of the normal taxis, motorbikes and walkers headed to and from work, classes and the market. Apparently the entire country is on strike. Business, schools and the Abuja airport are closed. Nigerians are protesting their government’s end to a fuel subsidy that led to fuel prices immediately doubling.

It’s not that Nigeria doesn’t have enough fuel. It’s actually Africa’s largest oil producer and the sixth largest importer of oil to the United States . That’s a bit like a poor, starving man looking at a loaves of fresh bread and knowing that he can’t afford them. Imagine living on less than $2 a day, struggling day by day to survive, and then having your expenses double. In the words of one of my Nigerian friends, “This is serious.”

Faith Alive normally treats hundreds of patients each weekday. Today, they provided “skeleton service,” meaning that a small portion of their patients (and probably staff) could afford to come to the clinic. I can only wonder how this will affect the clinic’s home-based-care to the most desperate patients. Please, let’s pray that Faith Alive’s “skeleton service” doesn’t turn literal.

(Click here for a BBC article and video about the fuel subsidy.)

Greetings from Biana

Happy New Year! Biana Grogg, an American who served in a leadership position at Faith Alive in Jos, Nigeria for a few years, shares a message with the extended Faith Alive family.

“Praying that each of you have a blessed New Year. Each one of you have had a special part in helping our Faith Alive family share the love of Christ with our Nigerian friends, in bringing healing and health to the sick, in building hope in the hearts of the lonely and forsaken, in bringing joy into the lives of children, and in discipling and developing Nigerian men and women of God who are serving the Lord Jesus faithfully and courageously every day. Thank you for your faithfulness and love, and for being the hands and feet of Jesus throughout the world. May the love, joy, and peace of God flow through you abundantly this New Year.”

(Photo of Biana at Faith Alive in 2009)

Christmas Day Bombings

Please pray for Nigeria. While many of us in the United States prayed and sang carols at church, opened presents with family and friends and feasted on comfort food this Christmas, Nigerians wondered when and where the next bomb blast would explode. It seems that the deadliest blast happened at a Catholic church in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. Click here to read details.

Praise God, the Faith Alive family is fine. I'm sure they'd appreciate, or rather covet, your prayers for peace in Nigeria.

Christmas Greetings

'Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the house, all the creatures were stirring, even the mouse...

What a whirlwind time of year preparing to celebrate Christ's birth! Between the shopping, cooking, cleaning, worshipping, etc., I invite you to take a minute to share a Christmas greeting with the extended Faith Alive family. Simply hit "Comment" and follow the directions. We'd love to hear from you.

Mr. Nigeria

This post is for my single lady friends in Nigeria who are looking for good husbands. Yep. You know who you are. While you’re waiting for Mr. Right, I hope you enjoyed watching the Mr. Nigeria 2011 contest. If you didn’t, click here to admire some of the well-built, talented eye candy…I mean men…who recently strutted their stuff on the runway. If you don’t show up for work tomorrow, we’ll know that you headed to Lagos to meet them!

World AIDS Day

Last year I wrote an editorial in my local newspaper about World AIDS Day (December 1). This year I’m satisfied to read Bono’s powerful op-ed piece in The New York Times. It’s awesome. He mentions President’s Obama’s announcement: an increase in the number of HIV+ patients treated through the PEPFAR program United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief—the number one funder of the Faith Alive clinic in Jos, Nigeria). We pray that the President’s promise translates to increased and consistent funding to this program that’s already saved the lives of some of my closest friends.