The First Day the Church met in Murray Town

The work began as a team effort from the very beginning. A group of Brethren from Nigeria saw the need to help evangelize other African nations and so they sent a delegation to evaluate the work in Sierra Leone. Under the name; Nigerian Mission For African Evangelism, they came and saw the potential for the work here. Brother Jeremiah Obot, part of the original team also saw the potential in Murray Town, a predominantly Muslim suburb of Freetown, the capitol city.

When his team left to return to Nigeria, Brother Jeremiah committed to stay behind and try to establish a new work. The Nigerian Team had rented a house in Murray Town where Jeremiah could live and where a new church could meet. His first weeks were frustrating with language barriers, cultural barriers and host of other problems. Murray Town is a predominantly Muslim area and a very poor one at that. But God gave the increase and three were brought to a relationship with Christ after weeks of work.

It was time for our yearly mission travels to Sierra Leone and our team had already decided that we needed to partner with our Nigerian Brother and try to establish the church in this part of the city where it has never existed. Day by day for a week we worked in the Murray Town area going from house to house and studying God’s word with anyone who showed interest. One study would lead to another as they would share their new found faith with their family and friends.

My first study was with a mixed group of Muslims, Catholics and Pentecostal people. We talked about the love of God, Christ coming as our sin offering, and the need for such a savior. One Muslim man at the end of our studies said: “I need this Jesus,” “I need this Savior”. We took him that very hour and witnessed his baptism into Jesus Christ. Over the next days he assisted us in going house to house and setting up many of the studies that lead others to come to Christ.

On Friday evening we showed the “Passion of Christ” in the community and had good attendance from people throughout the area. Even the Muslims came wanting to know more about this Jesus.

That Lord’s day as we met for the first time as the Murray Town church family, we witnessed God’s blessings upon our efforts. During the previous week, eight had been immersed into Christ. On this day, over 30 would come together to worship God, break bread together and listen to the message of God’s word.

What a joy it was to be a part of something that happened for the first time. The first time! The first time the church would meet in this place. The first time these new Christians would come together as the family of God; brothers and sisters in Christ.

We are thankful that our WBS team had role to play in this “first time” event. But we also give all the glory to God, for it is He who gives the increase.

To God Be The Glory!