Report From The Fields

1.  ABARA OBODO FIELD  - On  February  29th 2000, the entire students of International College of Missions and Theology moved to Abara Odobo Field. 

Abar a Obodo is in Ndokwa east of Delta State.  It is the outreach field of College.  The over 100 students that stormed the town lit it up. In a way, this number could be considered a crowd, but the college allowed it deliberatly to let those who say they have a call experience what the work could look like in the rural area.

Abara Obodo could not have been chosen as the mission field had the churches  in the town played their ministerial card well. There are about five Pentecostal churches, a Roman Catholic Church and an Anglican Church.  Yet, the all over condition in the town is that of low marl condition in the town is that of low moral condition, idolatry (the worship of mermaid spirit) deep occultism, and several other vices.  The outreach lasted for 7 days.  The following activities were carried out:

1.  FREE MEDICAL TREATMENT:  This is part of our agency's official policy.  We believe in the holistic gospel.  Man's body is part of the whole man.  Hence, we treat and pray for the sick.

The team of 5 medical doctors drawn from Nigerian Conferences of Christian Medical & Dental Students (NAUTH BRANCH) rendered medical services.  The drugs were both bought and donated by well meaning Christian drug dealers at the famous drug market.  Head bridge Onitsha.

2.  FREE FILM SHOW:  Jesus files were shown for six nights.  This added colour to the outreach and helped to draw out the crowd.  Most people who came there would not have been there if not for the attraction of the film show.  Film show is a great aid to rural evangelism in Nigeria.  On average, over 1000 people turned out for each night both to watch the films and also to be ministered and prayed for.  It is to be added also that in addition to the film, we had the benefit of going there with the gospel band.  Most of them, mostly the youth, liked the sight of a live band excitement.

3.  THE GOSPEL OF LIFE:   This is the gist of the whole issue.  For the 7 days, the gospel was preached, dramatized and manifested.  Powerful songs and prayers were rendered.  The high point of the outreach was when an old woman testified of having been healed of a nagging hip injury.  This created excitement among her people who otherwise have had the opinion that such testimonies were falsely arranged.  The harvest of miracles continued Sunday Service where their Chief was given the opportunity to address the people.  The Chief who had earlier professed Christ admonished his people to turn to Christ since they had seen His power in their midst.

Twenty (20) New Testament Bible were later presented to the Chief who promised to guide his people through the Word of God.  The Chief himself manifested a great spirit of assimilation in a short period.  During his time of brief speech, the whole team was amazed as he recalled all the topics preached for the six nights.

It was a great moment never to be forgotten.  The field research officer of the agency had to present additional study Bibles to the Chief because he requested for it, saying that it will help him in this new role of
teaching his people the Bible.