NCFI - FELLOWSHIP PROJECTS
Evangelism Outreach
Evangelism is one of the oldest projects since NCFI inception in the 1976. The objective is to take the gospel to all Nupe people. Initially, it was based on volunteerism, but eventually structured to engage a local evangelist. The evangelist is a full time Pastor leading NCIF support to outreaches in Nupeland. The Fellowship undertakes outreach activities to both Christian and non-Christian villages in Nupeland. It is the main pillar of all the other projects.
Fellowship Infrastructure Development
In the last three years the venue for evangelical key events and annual conferences posed serious challenge and became costlier. Consequently, the leadership of the fellowship resolved to develop multi-purpose infrastructure to address the problem. The infrastructure development committee was established in late 2016. The committee has secured a piece of land in Bida and started the preliminary planning of the camp. The objective is to construct a self-sustaining multipurpose venue that will include worship halls, accommodation, small size hospital or clinic, restaurant etc. Thus, the project is at the preliminary stage. The plan is to complete the construction of the camp within three years from the start of land development.
Nupe Christian Literature Project
Since the departure of white missionaries Nupe literature has not receive adequate attention and support. Therefore, as a way forward NCFI established Nupe Literature committee. Before then the only literature that is produced is the NCFI Magazine. However, there are a few individuals that attempt to produce Nupe Christian literature. The committee plans to strengthen and increase production and distribution of Nupe literature. It is an area that needs urgent attention. The reproduction and review of the Nupe hymn books fall under the literature project.
NCFI Website Development
In 2017 the NCFI initiated a project for the development of a website to increase information dissemination and other related purposes for the propagation of the gospel and growth of Christianity I among the Nupe people. The website was launched in 2018, fully functional and can be accessed by the public. The website covers information about the NCFI, Evangelism, News, Events, Christianity in Nupe land, Nupe Christian Literature Ministry, and Worship in Music and Hymns. The website and ongoing project for the sustainability of gospel information reaching the Nupe people.
Nupe Bible Reprint Project
Since the last translation of the NIV Bible version as the new Nupe Bible no other effort has been made in the translation of the scripture. No reprints have been carried out. Also, even the available Bible is not much circulated as was the case in the past. Thus, the Bible tend to face challenge of sustainability in the future. Therefore, the NCFI Bible project aims to ensure continuous availability and use of the Nupe Bible by the Nupe people. In the age of digitization there is now the need to ensure full digitization of Nupe Bible. It should be noted that the Bible project falls under the responsibility of Nupe Literature Committee.
Nupe Christian Films Project/Music Production
As part of evangelism outreach the NCFI embarks on production of Nupe Christian films. This is a new area that is given attention as Nupe society moves into IT era. In addition to film production, NCFI supports and encourages the development and production of Nupe Christian songs and music by various music groups. The efforts in this area keep Christianity alive in Nupeland and among Nupe people.
Social Development Project
NCFI engages in social support activities. These include education sponsorship, support to widows, support to the vulnerable persons, rural village water supply (boreholes) in Nupe land. This is not limited to Christians, but others that experience marginalization in Nupeland. So far this has been limited and requires expansion to cover many people.
Finally, the future seems bright but requires much more than resources and good will that are available at present. To God be the glory as NCFI continues with various projects in Nupeland.
By: Barnabas Yisa
Website Editor
July 2020
HISTORY MAGAZINE
"AND YOU SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE." JOHN 8:32 (NKJV)
A Concise History of Christianity in Nupe Land
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by: Musa Faruk Yisa
Introduction
The Nupe people of Nigeria, live in the lower basin that is formed by the valleys of the Niger and Kaduna rivers, between 10o 30’ and 8o 30’ north latitude. It is a low-lying country, in most parts not more than 300ft above sea level. “A few low ridges of broken, rocky hills stretched out. Rib-like, from the river valleys and curiously symmetrical flat-trapped hillocks rise abruptly here and there from the plain. The highest points are no more than 500ft above sea level” (Nadel, 1951). The geographical position of Nupe country makes it typical area of transition from southern forest to the arid savannahs of the north.
Describing the climate, Nadel says “Nupe, lower lying than any of the neighboring districts, with its two big rivers, their dry blazing sand-banks in the dry season, and their vast swamps in the rains, is one of the hottest and at the same time, most humid districts in Nigeria.” (Nadel, 1951). The unfavorable climate brings health problems. The area has an abundance of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, and the forests are infested with tsetse flies. Most of the water sources are polluted with bilharzias, and the swamp areas have myriads of sand flies which...
The Historic Arrival of Christianity in Doko District
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by: Bishop Uriah Kolo
Beginning of the Gospel in Doko
The first missionaries that attempted to bring Christianity to Doko were from Bassa tribe in Lokoja in the present Kogi State of Nigeria. The first man identified among the missionaries from Lokoja was Nda-Akerele. His stay at Doko was very brief. Another man that stayed for a longer period was Nda-Jeremiah. In the context of lack of modern transportation at that time, the missionaries usually travel on foot from Lokoja through Kpatagban to Doko. The journey from Lokoja to Doko took them about five days. They always carry a bent stick to wade off wild animals on their way to Doko. Though there is no known record of the precise date of these missionaries’ arrival in Doko, it could be as early as 1905, a year that several areas in the middle belt of Nigeria witness arrival of...
DEPARTED NUPE CHRISTIAN LEADERS & HEROES
Rev. Philip Zhitsu (Baba Gamu)
Eciaba U. Amạ Rev Philip Zhitsu Abubakar Gana nimi eya1910 bo, nimi ezhi nya Tankpafu na tso Patigi na da kin Kwara State nya Nigeria o na. Rev. Philip Z. A. Gana be jin kpạde nyi be Labari nya Jesu Kristi nyi be gwata nya etun Labari Wangi taza nya Nasara Shaaba na afe yi Baba Gbongbo na. Rev Cairns (Ndakpotun) to Baba Peter na yi Baba nya kuchi Rev. Joseph Pete (Baba Caita) na. Labari
Wangi taci nanazi tso ba wuzi Soko Rev. Philip Gana ci jin re to be kpikpe nya egạ Soko e yi u.
Prof. Jacob Mundi Baba
Professor Jacob Mundi Baba, was born on Wednesday 2nd December, 1942 to the family of the late Baba Paul Gana (famously known as Bababidinga) and Mama Elizabeth Gana, in Gusadi, Gbako Local Government Area of Niger State.
He commenced his primary education at the famous St. John’s School, Bida from 1951 to 1959. It was indeed during the registration process to be a student that Jacob gave his father’s name as BABA, instead of Paul Gana, the actual name...
Rev. Paul Tsado
Rev. Paul Tsado was sent to school at Tsaragi in 1969, where he prepared and graduated after four years as a trained evangelist. He said
“To be effective in the life of converts, it is important to be free to do follow up after conversion and to be able to teach them, to mature them in the word of God”.
He also said “To be free as an evangelist means to have...
Pastor Amos Zubairu
Kolo
To God be the glory, honour and adoration. Pastor Amos. Z. Tsado was born in 1947 at Kuchita – Woro compound in Doko, Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State to the family of Baba Joshua Shaba Tsado and Madam Felicia Kaka Tsado. The parents of Amos were professional rural farmers; thus he was being trained from childhood in the art of farming.
Pastor Tsado got married to the Great Woman behind his success in his...
Rev. Jeremiah Shaibu Tsado
Jeremiah Shaibu Tsado was born in July 1929 to Baba Tsado Ndatsumbura and Gogo Shibi (Kaka Ruth). He was the fourth of five children between his parents. According to “Ndagi,” as Jeremiah Tsado was popularly called, his parents were strict disciplinarians who wanted the best for their children. Quite early in life, and contrary to the norm in those days, his father bought him a copy of the Nupe Prima as an aide to learning to read and write. A skill he later excelled in and which enabled him to become an...
Rev. Peter Kolo Audu
The Rev. Peter Kolo Audu (a.k.a Baba Eli) was born in Kpaki in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State in the year 1916. He was born to the family of Mallam Audu and Mallama Abetu (a.k.a Kaka Chiji). Rev. Peter Audu was the last child, out of the five children of the Mallam Audu’s family. His father was called Mallam and the...