September 2026 Newsletter
Dear Friends and Family,
Greetings once again from Port Harcourt, Nigeria. We pray all is well with you as we continue to labor together for God’s glory. We appreciate you and your sacrificial love. We pray God will continue to find us faithful till our appointed end. We pray for your continued strength and know you do the same for us. Your prayers are powerful and appreciated.
Let me start with a bit of good news. We have welcomed two new grandsons during this summer period. James and Cynthia and Joe and Mercy both welcomed healthy young boys into their families. What a blessing to be able to see your children grow up to have their own children. James was the first Nigerian child welcomed into our home 33 years ago. As he and his wife brought their son to the congregation to present him and ask for prayers of blessings, it took me back in time to when James was that age. That child, and Joe’s baby as well, represent years and years of sacrifice on the part of many. It is only the grace of God that could make such a miracle happen. You and I will not be able to see all that God has used us for till God revels it in eternity, but on that Sunday, I got to see a little glimpse in the smile of a little baby. And it seemed to make the sacrifice all worthwhile.
Those two make 29 grandkids altogether. And number 30 is on the way. Ani and Ayo are expecting their third child soon. Their daughter Michael, who is five, cried when she was told it may be another boy. She said she didn’t want another brother because the one she has doesn’t listen to her. And that my friends, sums up the eternal struggle between women and men. It starts early.😉
We made a couple of trips to Akwa Ibom during this period. One was to preach at Ikot Ekpene for the occasion of Br. Paul’s father’s retirement. He was recognized by the congregation where he serves as a deacon as deserving of honor and recognition. Even the police officials that came to celebrate with him praised him as someone honest who did not stain his hands with the usual corruption observed here. For his principled stand against standard practices, he was denied promotion and rank. Along with that goes increased pay and retirement benefits. Yet he and his family remained faithful and for that they were rewarded and recognized.
The second trip we took was to speak at the 72nd lectureship at Nigerian Christian Bible College at Ukpm Abak. I appreciated the invitation to speak, was encouraged by the massive crowd, and happy to see visible signs of progress on campus. Many have poured efforts and money into what is the first Bible College among churches of Christ in West Africa. We rejoice you helped us play an important role in years past to keep the doors open when other missionaries had to leave. Br. Chad Wagner is now the team leader in a great effort to take the school to greater heights. Every effort to train workers in the Kingdom is worthwhile I believe, whether on a campus or by other means.
We were also blessed to enjoy brief visits from two of our sons who are attending the premiere Bible School in Jos. Victor is in his last year, and has married with two small children. We loved meeting his lovely family for the first time. His lovely wife fit right in. We wish she could come and join our other fine daughters. Sunny was sent with a group to Delta state to do practical training along with their class room training. He always brightens up the corner where ever his is, and it was good to be with him for a few days.
He told of the terrors Christians are facing in Jos. This was a city and state that had many missionaries over the years. There were churches springing up everywhere and for years now there has been serious push back by the Muslim radicals who want to control all of Nigeria. The Palm Sunday massacre of 30 Christians took place in the village next to their own. He told of one of his fellow students who mistakenly entered in the Muslim enclave while going on door to door evangelism. They cut off his hand for the “crime” of preaching in a Muslim neighborhood. Also Victor’s wife, Abigale, lost her dad because he dared to convert from being a follower of Muhammad to being a disciple of Christ. His three older children were afraid to follow the example of their father, and remain trapped behind the invisible line that separates the Christian and Muslim neighborhoods, She cries that she and three of her children are denied even brief visits from her other three children. Indeed, sin has terrible consequences. Please pray for their safety, and for those of our brethren who remain faithful even under severe threat.
The work on the building has ground to a temporary halt till more funds come in. We know every work the Lord ordains will be blessed. So we wait patiently to allow God’s will to be manifest in our lives. In the meantime, while waiting we have rented a large piece of fenced land to start serious farming come October. The plan is for us to grow as much of our food as possible, have surplus to feed others as well as to provide funds for the building and other pressing needs. It will also allow us to invite brethren who have no job to come and labor for their daily bread. Many are willing to work but no jobs are available.
We ask you to join us in prayer for our own safety. Two of our older ones, Boma and Wisdom were both robbed and brutalized. This adds to the long list of several of our young men and women. It is so disheartening to see them work and save and see all of that vanish in a twinkling of an eye. And also pray for our health. In our recent visit to the States my checkup showed problems with my liver, my thyroid, my blood pressure, my heart and my cholesterol. I thought I was in pretty good shape till I went to the doctor. Don’t know what to do next but corrections have to be made. Praying for wisdom and healing.
As we say in the South, we love all ya’ll. Keep hoeing to the end of the row. Since many have not chopped long rows of cotton, let me add a more recognizable saying: Keep climbing.
Love,
Cliff, Nkiru and family
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