NIGERIA

"Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled" (Luke 14:23)

WHAT WE PROVIDE

Christ-Centered Literature

Pastors’ conferences and seminars

Church conferences and seminars

Radio Teaching

Biblical Training for Children & Young Adults

MISSION REPORT: NIGERIA

Nov 6 2023

2023 November Mission & Conference Report

God has been gracious to us as we traveled and ministered alongside the leadership and members of Sovereign Grace Bible Church (SGBC) in Lagos, Nigeria this past week.  The FirstLove team Joe Jacowitz, Austin Huggins, and Tom Smith arrived safely in Lagos on Tuesday morning, Oct 31.  We were picked up by the brothers of the church and […]

Oct 21 2023

Upcoming Missions Trip to Nigeria just days away!

Pastors Joe Jacowitz, Austin Huggins, and Tom Smith, will leave for Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday, October 24, 2023, for a one-week missions’ trip.  Today, there’s a growing restlessness and anxiety all over the world, especially in Nigeria.  The last forty years of false promises of health and wealth by the false prophets in Nigeria, have left people […]

Jul 25 2023

2023 Mid-Year Full Mission Report

NOTE: Due to the high detail density of the mid-year mission events, and the singular perspective provided by Austin Huggins, the following report reads as a personal journal entry style report. By The Lord’s miraculous and unexpected financial provision through an unknown saint, I was able to board the plane, Wednesday afternoon, for what was […]

Apr 5 2023

SGBC Lagos Report

Since our last report early in 2023, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has been gracious and merciful to us in the Gospel Ministry in Lagos, Nigeria. The following are brief remarks on some aspects of the work in Lagos.  We continue to receive and welcome visitors to our Sunday morning and evening worship services. On the average, […]

Jan 30 2023

2022 Nigeria Mission Report

Austin Huggins and Tom Smith had the privilege of ministering at Sovereign Grace Bible Church in Lagos, Nigeria November 3-7, 2022.  The focus of the ministry was the 2022 Lagos Bible Conference, Radio Outreach, and the 20th Anniversary Celebration of Sovereign Grace Bible Church.  On October 27, 2022, the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria issued […]

Oct 26 2022

2022 Lagos Bible Conference

On November 2-7, Austin Huggins and Tom Smith will be traveling to Lagos to participate in the 2022 Lagos Bible Conference, the 20th anniversary of Sovereign Grace Bible Church, and radio broadcasts. The theme of this year’s Bible conference is Strangers and Pilgrims – Separated and Engaged. Messages are planned on how Christians are on […]

Dec 30 2021

Lagos, Nigeria Church Report

As we end this difficult year, the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria is reported to have entered the 4th wave with the omicron variant prevailing. Testing remains low with just about 3 million people tested in a population of 206.1 million people. Our church has continued to observe the recommended safety protocols (as best as we can), […]

Dec 2 2021

2021 Nigeria Mission Report

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. – Galations 6:9 Despite massively difficult travel restrictions, struggling to make visa deadlines, and almost not making it into Nigeria at all, the FirstLove Missions team was able to reconnect with our Nigerian brethren […]

Nov 3 2019

Nigeria Mission Report 2019

Before leaving the Washington, DC area for Nigeria, Pastor Tom and Pastor Austin were already celebrating several evident victories that The Lord had secured for the upcoming mission. As many of our readers know, Pastor Joe Jacowitz had just recently entered remission from AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia), and was beginning a hopeful road to recovery, […]

2018 Field Update #2

2018 Nigeria Field Report #2 November 4-6 Sunday-Tuesday Sunday’s group photo of SGBC, Lagos, with Pastor Joe and Pastor Austin. On the first Lord’s Day of the mission we celebrated the 16th Anniversary of Sovereign Grace Bible Church, Lagos. Pastor Joe gave the message on “Enduring in Ministry”. It was well received as the brethren […]

COUNTRY PROFILE

Population: 186,053,386

Languages: over 500 (English the official language)

Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40% (24% Evangelical), indigenous beliefs 10%

British influence and control over what would become Nigeria and Africa’s most populous country grew through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy. After independence in 1960, politics were marked by coups and mostly military rule, until the death of a military head of state in 1998 allowed for a political transition. In 1999, a new constitution was adopted and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The government continues to face the daunting task of institutionalizing democracy and reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement. In addition, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general elections of April 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country’s history and the elections of 2011 were generally regarded as credible. The 2015 election is considered the most well run in Nigeria since the return to civilian rule, with the umbrella opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, defeating the long-ruling People's Democratic Party that had governed since 1999.

The terrorist organization Boko Haram killed thousands of persons, in both indiscriminate acts of violence and deliberate attacks targeting Christians, as well as Muslims who spoke out against or opposed their radical ideology. Civil society groups estimated Boko Haram killed more people during 2016 than in the previous five years combined. Boko Haram expanded its control over urban areas of Borno and Adamawa States in the northeast, committing abuses such as mass killings, mass kidnappings, sexual assault, forced conversion, and forced conscription.

Pray for our missionaries to the country and for the indigenous pastors and ministers with whom we have established relations for God's continuing grace and mercy in keeping them out of harm’s way.

Sources: CIAs The World Factbook, The Joshua Project, U.S. Department of State

BRANCH LEAD

tonycir


Pastor Tony Okoroh

Anthony Okoroh was saved in his mid-40s by God’s grace. He was led to embrace the Doctrines of Grace through the literature ministry of Chapel Library of Pensacola, Florida. In August, 2002, he was ordained to the teaching/pastoral ministry of Sovereign Grace Bible Church, Lagos, Nigeria. He also serves as a teacher and branch director of Christ Pastor’s Seminary (a ministry of Christ Bible Church, USA.) He is married to Ori, and they have two adult sons, Obioha and Ekenedilichukwu, and a granddaughter, Samantha, by Obioha and Sade. Pastor Tony participates in local seminars and international conferences, strongly believing that the truth of the Bible must be made known to all, to the glory of our Saviour and Redeemer Lord Jesus Christ.

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