Reformed Outreach Initiative

May 10, 2011

What Westminster is Doing in Nigeria

Westminster Theological Seminary continues impacting the world with the Gospel through its alumni. In Nigeria the Reformed Outreach Initiative, a ministry founded and directed by alumnus Rev. Dr. Philip Tachin (pictured, right), works with WTS to reach various communities with the Gospel.

The Reformed Outreach Initiative (ROI) translated and published 500,000 copies of Calvin’s Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life into the Hausa and Tiv languages. This ministry has also evangelized the Gbagyi people in Karu, around Abuja. Some Gbagyi youths were trained for evangelism and discipleship among their own people. Many people have turned to the Lord to the glorious praise of his name. By God's grace, the Reformed faith is reaching many communities in Northern Nigeria.

Between August and September 2010, the Reformed Outreach Initiative in conjunction with Abuja Multi-ethnic ministry organized a youth camp in Abuja that drew together 400 youths from more than four states in Nigeria to Abuja. These youths were trained in various roles in church ministries and evangelism activities. Some of these youths were from senior elementary schools, high schools and universities. ROI has also translated more tracts in Hausa language and also bought some Gospel literatures that are used in evangelism outreaches for illumination to the new converts. Also, five evangelism outreaches were done to different places reaching out with the Gospel to about 1200 people in the year 2010. The Reformed Outreach Initiative continues to see fruit in its outreach to Muslims with the Gospel. On December 9, three Muslim converts who made public profession of faith in the Lord Jesus were baptized.  One of them, Ahmadu Ali passed on to glory in January this year.

Nigerian Well Project

Westminster also sponsored drilling of a borehole that has provided water for the Gbagyi community. This water project served as another point of evangelism. It was commissioned in February this year and many people came out to witness the occasion and the Gospel of Living Water was preached there. Westminster has also sponsored procurement and distribution of Bibles in Hausa, Tiv, Berom and English languages. A total of 5049 Bibles were purchased and a total of 4800 Bibles have been distributed to 20 churches, schools, youth camps and evangelized areas in Benue, Plateau and Abuja environs. The Reformed Outreach Initiative is mapping out more evangelism strategies in the far Northern Nigeria to reach Muslims.

Please pray for Westminster Theological Seminary and the Reformed Outreach Initiative that this outreach would be sustained. Pray also for the courage and zeal to proclaim the Gospel in Northern Nigeria where Islamic threat is surging more and more.

For more information on how to join in this vital work of Gospel ministry in Nigera, please contact communications@wts.edu.