Visiting Prison

Picture a prisoner in chains singing passionate praises to God, and maybe you’ll understand why Pastor Esther feels called to prison ministry. On December 27 she led Faith Alive’s Praise Team to sing, preach, and fellowship with about 100 men at a prison. As a result, six of them gave their lives to Christ. Pastor Esther and the team of 12 then visited with the three women prisoners before going home, filled with a deep joy and satisfaction.

The prison currently has about 400 inmates, and lets both Catholic and Protestant groups visit. If Dr. Chris thinks it’s safe, I’d like to go with the Praise Team the next time I’m there.

By the way, please pray for Pastor Esther as she’s recovering from malaria. She has a mosquito net over her bed, so must’ve gotten bitten somewhere else. The rest and medications are working and she plans to be back at work today.

Where's Yar'Adua?

Picture a page in the book ‘Where’s Waldo?’ But instead of looking for a scrawny guy with a red and white striped stocking cap hiding among a crowd, search for a 59 year old Muslim Nigerian president. If you can’t find him, it’s because he left the country November 23 for heart surgery in Saudi Arabia, didn’t sign over his powers, and doesn’t know when he’ll return or be able to resume his duties.

In the absence of facts, people can only speculate. Rumors run rampant. My friend Nna says the situation is “annoying” but BBC headlines indicate something much deeper in this country that just switched from military rule to democracy in 1999. Because Nigeria is divided between Muslims and Christians, each wants their full time in office.

Today the BBC posted an audio recording of Yar’Adua, thanking people for their prayers, saying he hopes “that very soon there will be tremendous progress” to allow him to go back to Nigeria, and wishing the Super Eagles soccer team well in the Africa Cup of Nations. I think this is the first time since November that his country has heard from him. Do you suppose they’re reassured?

Please pray for peace and leadership in Nigeria.

We Are Together

If you want to watch a personal story about the impact of AIDS on one family, I highly recommend 'We Are Together.' I checked it out from the library, watched it this weekend, and can't stop thinking about it. It could've been about any of my Nigerian friends with AIDS, if they didn't have Faith Alive. Maybe that's why I wept.

You can find out more at http://wearetogether.org/children/. The premise is an inspirational South African orphanage and their gift of singing.

"Pastor" Dr. Chris

“By the powers vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Yes, these words were proclaimed by Dr. Chris on January 2 to Sally Barlow’s daughter Sarah and Nick Huston. The wedding was held in a restaurant in Brooklyn between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, and the officiant received his ‘official powers’ online. However, those of us who know him well testify that his REAL powers are from the Holy Spirit! (For those of you who don’t know Sally, she’s Faith Alive’s U.S. Coordinator, founder of Save-A-Life, and longtime friend of Drs. Chris and Mercy.)

Sarah's brother Jon is also in the photo.

Choose Life

Every month the clinic has a spiritual theme for devotions and prayers, and this January it’s ‘Choose Life.’ Deuteronomy 30:15-20 is a powerful reminder that even in the bleakest situations, we have control over our response. Moses’ message to the Israelites waiting in the dessert applies also to our lives.

“See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (NIV)

Elim School Picnic

One of my personal heroes (or heroines!) is Kate Clement, headmistress of Elim Elementary School and a 'mother' to the Faith Alive Support Group. She grew up struggling as a widow's child, and today cares for and educates OVCs (orphans and vulnerable children).

She's pictured here in December with her husband and some teachers who took Elim's OVCs on a picnic at Shere Hills, "a very good picnic area where most people relax during festive holidays." The children received gifts and enjoyed this most special day.

Currently 39 OVCs at Elim receive school scholarships thanks to many of you! If you would like to sponsor a child's education, it's only $155 per year.

Another Decade of God's Faithfulness

This email from Dr. Chris is for everyone who supports his family -- biological and Faith Alive.

"Chris, Mercy, Emily, Prince, Joseph and all members of the Faith Alive family send you all a happy/victorious 2010. He promises to WATCH over us FROM THE BEGINNING to THE END of the year.(Deut 11:12) He further confirms this: "I am with you and will WATCH over you wherever you go and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." (Deut 28:15) We sincerely thank you all for being there for us as a family and ministry. ANOTHER DECADE OF HIS FAITHFULNESS."

www.faithalivenigeria.org