Calabar, Nigeria

A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey

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Calabar, a village in southern Nigeria, is called by the local natives ‘Canaan‘.  Canaan is the land promised to Abraham’s descendants – a land flowing with milk and honey.  The land in Calabar is lush and green, as if one was in a tropical paradise.  The palm trees, mountains, rivers, and quiet breeze bring peace and tranquility to this land. The people living in Calabar are very friendly.  They welcome you in their homes, in the marketplace and on the streets.

Mary Slessor, a courageous missionary, lived and died in this place of Calabar, never understanding why she was so attached to the people of Calabar.  She loved them with such a deep love and become a Mother to so many villagers.  When we visited Calabar, we understood why Mary Slessor made this place her home and the people her people.

In the Old Testament, Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land and discipled them, so Father Isozorous, is our modern-day Joshua in Nigeria. Fr Isozorous has been working diligently building the Coptic Church in Nigeria and caring for the needs of the people with complete abandon. Having gone to medical school, he tends to the clinical needs of the people, as well as guarding their spiritual well-being. He is renowned, in Calabar, with rescuing orphaned children and adopting them as his own.  Hearing the response of the children to Fr Isozorous, with exuberant cries of ‘Father, Father!’ is evidence of that fact. In less than a year, he has won the hearts of the people and served them wholeheartedly and faithfully. Yet, he takes no credit for anything, always giving God the glory for His work.

The people of Calabar love to praise the Lord in His house, however, in the past, choosing a church could prove particularly difficult. Any village street can have as many churches as there are Starbucks coffee shops on a busy street in the USA.  In the past, churches in Nigeria have been geared towards business-making.  It is common practice for a church to be opened with the sole purpose of making a profit. Those churches hold many meetings, such as miracle healings, faith clinics, counseling sessions and many other ‘ministries’ to help the spiritually and physic

ally sick.  However, to attend a meeting, a starving Calabarian must pay – choosing between feeding the children or gaining ‘spiritual help’.  These churches take advantage of those that are in need in order to make money.

This is why the Coptic Orthodox Church in Calabar is essential.  We can offer truth, by giving help, genuine love, and true teachings of the Bible with no strings attached. The Coptic Church is opening a clinic to attend to the medical needs of villagers. Father Isozorous is also expanding the service of the church, to include several open prayer services during the day, youth recreational activities and discipleship meetings - all free of cost.  The Mission Center in Calabar is rapidly growing to meet the needs of the community, with a chapel, football field, church and accommodation for missionaries.

 

The people here are desperate for a church that stands for truth and love; a church committed to practicing what Jesus preached and how Jesus lived in this world.  Many of our neighbors were confused because they had never encountered a church that genuinely cared so much for the community, without expecting anything in return.

 

 

The mission in Calabar is new and there is much work to be done. Father Isozorous heard the Lord’s call for him, but is the only Coptic missionary in the entire country of Nigeria and he needs your help!  ‘The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.’ (2 Chron 16:9) The Lord wants to work through you to build His Kingdom and proclaim His Gospel.  The vision has been set in place by the Lord, but now, who will heed Jesus’ call to come and serve here?

 

The children of Calabar are praying for you to come and serve them.

 

“He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him.” (John 1:39)

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