In 1893, a Canadian by the name of Rowland Bingham, along with two other young men began a venture of great faith which became the Sudan Interior Mission (SIM). It began with a passion to reach the people of the interior of West Africa, all of which was known as the Sudan in those days. It was also known as white man’s graveyard because of the dreaded Malaria. They landed in what is known today as Nigeria.
It is said that there were more missionary graves in the Sudan than converts for the first 14 years of ministry.
Since then, Christianity has exploded in Africa. In one denomination that grew out of that venture of faith, there are more than 8000 churches and 10 million Christians in Nigeria.
Now, Nigerian missionaries from that denomination have moved to Canada, which they consider their spiritual homeland.
In June 2023, a group of Nigerian Christian men and women gathered around the grave of Rowland Bingham in Toronto, recognizing and honouring him as the man who brought the good news to their country.
Those same Nigerian men and women have a heart for Canada and desire that the name of Jesus to be lifted high here.
ECWA Canada (Evangelical Church Winning All), led by Dr. Peter and Deborah Johnson, hosted a retreat for their fellow Nigerian church leaders in Ontario. They know that this is a huge challenge and much sacrifice will be demanded.
But they also have their own history of God at work to draw from and be assured that God has done great things before.
Photo creds: Adedotun Adegborioye (Unsplash)