ABUJA Church- 20th Anniversary Fundraiser

Good day family! I am so excited to be involved in these fundraising efforts because as you know I recently married an amazing man who happens to live in Abuja, Nigeria and I am now LIVING in Abuja permanently as well! THE WHY: Since 2017, the beginning of my relationship with my now husband (sooo crazy to say! ), I have been so deeply loved by the brothers and sisters in the Abuja Church. I’ve worshipped at this church and I am now building deeper friendships, studying the Bible with young Nigerian professionals who want to know God deeper and even embracing a big sister and aunty role to so many kids, teens and campus students. It has been challenging to start over in a new place but the LOVE of the Abuja church family makes it just a little easier! So I am beyond ELATED to be requesting your assistance in fundraising for the church’s new worship space! Currently, we meet in a lovely event center, a tent once used for weddings and celebrations. The children meet outside in the gazebos and spaces which isn’t ideal. However, the church has been able to raise enough money to buy a plot of land in the middle of this great city so now they need to raise more money to build a structure on that land. How long does it take to build? Well in Nigeria, the process takes as long as it takes to raise the funds. We would like to break ground soon and an architect has already been commissioned to draft the blueprint. Church congregations in London, Ireland and Texas have contributed to the Abuja church in so many ways already and we’re hoping for their continued support. In fact, our dear brother John Beene, a leader now in one of our churches in Texas, attended and preached in Abuja just a few weeks ago —it was so refreshing to see him. And just yesterday, Sunday Oct.20th, the Vice President of Nigeria attended for a memorial service for our dear sister/mother in the faith, an expat in Nigeria for over 2 decades who moved here because of her husband, just like I did. We are hoping the VP attends our fundraising dinner as well. THE ASK: The Abuja Church’s 20th Anniversary Fundraiser will be held on November 8th 2019 with the sole focus of raising additional funds for our building project. It will be an evening of dinner, dancing, entertainment, raffles and hopefully Fundraising ! I’d like to go the extra mile for this so I’m asking YOU to donate some money to this cause. My goal is $2,500– small when you think of the costs of building a structure but it goes a long way in Nigeria due to the currency exchange rate ($1= N357). If 125 people donate $20 then we’ll be there! Any amount helps, seriously! So please contribute to helping me SMASH this goal. With deep love and gratitude, Olaitan —————————————- THE BACKGROUND: ABOUT THE Abuja Church A Brief History: The Abuja Church was planted in 1999. The Abuja church started by virtues of circumstance, emanating from the migration of disciples of Christ from 2 major existing Churches in the South West region of Nigeria; the Ilorin (about 9hrs drive to Abuja) and Lagos (12hrs drive to Abuja) churches. Lagos used to be the capital city of Nigeria until the creation of Abuja, a city built for the purpose of being the Federal Capital Territory situated in the heart of the Nation. Lagos was seen not to be the Centre of Nigeria, which necessitated the agitation for a central city that would be generally accepted by the 3 major tribes in Nigeria as a city considered to be a no man’s land. The movement of the seat of Government from Lagos to Abuja witnessed mass migration of Federal Civil servants from different parts of the country, among whom were disciples to the new capital territory, Abuja. Notable among these disciples are; Mr Williams Elabor, Mr and Mrs. Ayo Apampa, Mrs. Maureen Hassan and some other brothers and sisters working in the private sector. These disciples started meeting for bible talks, midweek and Sunday services from between late 1997 and early part of 1998, making disciples such that the growth rate and stability of the church caught the attention of the then Lead Evangelist, Nitchie Oghuaha who at that time led the first and biggest congregation of our churches in Nigeria, the Lagos church. This encouraged him so well that after many visits by different leaders who attested to the grace of God on this seed fellowship led by Mr and Mrs. Apampa, Mr Williams Elabor, Late Sam Famakinwa, Damola Aladesiun at different times from 1997 until the church was officially planted and reorganized in 1999. The Abuja church is 18 years old as at now with a membership of 211 disciples, 130, children, with a demography and ministries of singles, marrieds, non-Christian spouses, teens, pre-teens, kids’ kingdom, the Elderly and the campus ministries. We have as at today 52 couples and 19 non-Christian spouse disciples totaling 123 marrieds. The Abuja church is responsible (financially and spiritually) for the running of the North central bloc churches; Kaduna, Jos and the seat fellowship in Lokoja, with considerable population of disciples. Therefore, any support awarded to Abuja church would go a long way in helping to propagate more churches within the Northern part of Nigeria.