Story number 3 for 4 Jul 2003

(Nigeria)–Harsh conditions under Nigeria’s Sharia law have isolated some national church leaders. The greater problem then becomes discouragement. SIM missionaries Bill and Loraine Foute say a visit can go a long way in encouragement for pastors. Bill explains, “These people love visits and they go so long in between visits that if a group of young people wanted to go out and show The JESUS Film or do some vacation bible school just visit a few of these missionaries it just thrills them to have a visit and especially from a foreigner. It actually can be a kick-start to their ministry, ‘look, these people have come to visit this pastor.'” Lorraine agrees, adding, knowing they haven’t been forgotten can keep a struggling pastor on his feet. Aside from prayer, she says, “A class or a church could also raise money to buy a bicycle or a motorcycle for one of these missionaries, or take some clothes. Financially, they struggle. Some of them don’t get their salaries, and they’re living on very little.”