SIM Nigeria

Women bringing their buckets of grain to the meeting

As a Nigerian woman prepares a meal, she sets aside one handful of grain in a small bucket. At the end of the month, she and hundreds of other women carry their buckets to a special meeting where they are distributed to widows and orphans. In this way, a bit at a time, church women are enabled to meet the otherwise overwhelming needs of AIDS widows and orphans. Even the poorest woman can set aside small handfuls of grain over time.

Since its beginning in August 2003, this project has taken off more than expected. In fact, 25,000 buckets were distributed in January 2005 at a Women's Fellowship Conference with many more churches in more Nigerian states asking to join.

Project money helps to purchase one bucket, two pieces of AIDS literature and the book Growing Up for each woman attending a conference where AIDS is addressed. Cost is about USD $2 per woman.

ECWA/SIM urban ministry is made up of several specific ministries, including "Gidan Bege" ("House of Hope") which focuses on outreach and rehabilitation, "King's Kids" which focuses on needy children, and "City Sports" which uses sports to reach youth. CME ministers in the Nigerian cities of Jos, Kano, Katsina, Kafanchan, Sokoto, and Kaduna. It currently has more than 250 full time, part-time, and volunteer workers that share the love of God with thousands in need. The vision of the ministry is to expand to every major city in the middle belt and north of Nigeria and eventually into Niger and other African countries.

Nitni Wilson has fond memories of ECWA Camp Youth Alive. “I was 15 the first time I went to camp. It was the first time I’d ever left home. I was shy and nervous, but I soon made friends. I learned how to read and apply a Bible passage and find the promises, warnings, and sins. I loved meeting friends, singing and drama, and outreach. Many of the children at camp gave their lives to Christ.”