SIM Couple Work to Bring Reconciliation to Divided City

If God had told us, back in 2007, “Toby and Alycia, I want you to join me on the frontline of a spiritual battle in a city where my enemy is dividing people through fear, misunderstanding and hatred; to show my love and help with reconciliation,” we probably would have followed Jonah's lead and run in the opposite direction!

Yet, here we are, five years later, doing just that. We are excited to announce that we have opened the BRICC (Building Reconciliation in City Center). We have a meeting room 3 blocks from the Jos Central Mosque and an office a few blocks from the meeting room. The neighborhood is mixed, with Muslims living in one direction and Christians in the other. Toby has partnered with a Nigerian pastor to run this community center, which is aimed at facilitating reconciliation through relationship building. We are very excited about the level of interest in the community for this endeavor and the support we have been given from the neighborhood leaders (both Muslim and Christian) and even from the head Imam of Jos.

Our goal with the BRICC is to work with the community, giving them a place and resources to run programs that will help their community. At the moment we have an after-school tutoring program running, with 4 subjects (math, English literacy/reading, computers and Peace making) being taught to primary school children. A woman from Northern Ireland has recently joined us to help the women in the neighborhood facilitate training and programs that will improve their lives. We are talking with medical professionals about starting a health initiative, which may include clinics or educational programs. With each program it is our desire to have Muslims and Christians come together, to get to know each other and re-build trust and community that has been lost due to fighting and turmoil.

How can you help? Pray! Please pray for this reconciliation work on a regular basis. God is moving in our city. Pray for those of us working at the BRICC and for our volunteers as we are entering an area of spiritual battle and we are fully aware that we will most likely come under more spiritual attack than normal due to our willingness to follow God. Please pray for the building, the neighborhood, the volunteers who help, our marriage and family, as well as funding for the work. We will only be able to do this work with your help in covering us, and the center, in prayer. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

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