Ramadan Prayer Diary: Day 10, 20th March, 2024

Ilorin, Kwara State

“And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.” Acts 17:26, ESV

Ilorin was established in 1450 by the Yoruba, one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic groups. Initially serving as a provincial military headquarters for the ancient Oyo Empire, it later fell under the control of Shehu Alimi, an itinerant Islamic preacher, leading to its incorporation into the Northern Nigeria protectorate through the spread of Islam. The city witnessed numerous conflicts involving Muslims, Yoruba, and the British before officially joining West Central, known today as Kwara state, in 1967.

Ilorin Central Mosque which is currently the biggest mosque in Nigeria welcomes Muslims from various backgrounds and serves as a unifying space for the diverse Muslim population in Ilorin. It reflects the inclusive nature of Islam, bringing together people of different ethnicities and cultures. This new 20,000-capacity ultra-modern Juma’at Central Mosque is also a tourist site in the ancient city of Ilorin. It is well established that the Ilorin the Central Mosque wasn’t the first to be built as there was an existing mosque but it couldn’t contain the growing population of Muslims, hence the need to build a bigger mosque.

The construction of the Ilorin central mosque began by Emir Alhaji Zulkarnaini Gambari in 1977. The plan according to the then Emir in building the new Islamic prayer center was to provide a larger space where it would be comfortable to worship Allah. The mosque host religious events, educational programs, and charitable initiatives aimed at uplifting the well-being of the local community.

Ilorin’s soul is unarguably intertwined with faith. This intriguing blend of faiths adds a layer of complexity and beauty to Ilorin’s cultural identity. Despite commitment to harmony, Ilorin faces challenges. Ensuring understanding and mutual respect between different faith communities requires ongoing efforts.

Please pray:

  • For wisdom and discernment for religious leaders and community members as they navigate Ilorin’s diverse religious landscape, fostering interfaith understanding and cooperation.
  • That there will be a spiritual awakening in the city leading many to know Christ as the Saviour and Lord.
  • Pray that churches will flourish and mission organisations labouring in the city will succeed. Ask for divine intervention and open doors for every mission effort.

Month of Mission Devotional – Friday, February 23

Topic: The Readiness of the Harvest

Text: “You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest” John 4:35 [NLT]

 

Jesus directs the gaze of His disciples to the fields, declaring, “…But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.” Picture a field where grain, once green, has undergone a transformative journey from yellow to a light color, almost white in the sunlight. In the agricultural language of the time, a “white” field signified readiness for harvest – a moment when every delay could mean lost opportunity.

The issue is not that the fields are not ripe, or the souls unprepared. Rather, the problem lies in the reluctance of the laborers to venture into the fields and gather the harvest. Many have found every reason to delay and hesitant to respond to the call. A seasoned farmer will affirm that the harvest does not wait. When the time arrives, you either reap or risk losing the crops. Jesus, with a sense of urgency, addresses His disciples, “Men, we don’t have months to stall and wait for the harvest. The harvest is here, and it is ready for us.”

A genuine heart for the harvest means understanding the immediacy of the call. It involves looking at the lost world around us and recognizing the urgency to share the gospel. The harvest is ready, and the time to act is now. Let us embrace the responsibility of laborers in the fields of Soul. The fields are white, the souls are ready, and the call is urgent. May our hearts align with the directive of the Master, compelling us to go into the fields and gather the harvest that awaits. The readiness is apparent; the harvest is ready – it beckons for us to respond promptly.

Prayer:

  • Ask the Lord to cause you to see the harvest even as He does.
  • Ask the Lord to make your heart genuine and willing to serve His eternal purpose.
  • Pray that the burden to reach the lost will overwhelm our Churches.

Samuel Ocheje,

Finance Manager, NEMA

Training & Manpower Development

We provide training in all ramifications through the National Training Center – the Nigeria Evangelical Missionary Institute (NEMI), the training arm of NEMA commissioned to mobilize, encourage, equip, provide practical training in cross- cultural ministry and skills that will enhance the effectiveness of missionaries from and within Nigeria. The Institution offers;
– Pre- field practical Cross- Cultural training.
– Training of Trainers.
– Refresher courses for in- service missionaries.
– Seminal for Church leaders, Missions Executives and Directors of Christian organizations.
– Short intensive courses for Administrators, Secretaries, Researchers and Mobilizers.
– Missions Internship and Ministry Exposure (MIME). This helps would-be Missions candidates gain hands-on exposure of what Missions entails.

Please visit our training arm’s website here → Nigeria Evangelical Missions Institute (NEMI)

Please feel free to call/email:

Samuel Olatunbi
National Coordinator of Training & Manpower Development
nemitoday@gmail.com
07035223243

Events

See our schedule for the rest of the year

Our Expression

The Ministry of NEMA to the Body of Christ in Nigeria can be broadly divided in to three functions: Training, Research and Mobilization.

The Nigeria Evangelical Missionary Institute -NEMI was established in 1986 to cater for the training needs of the association, as well as serve the missions movement in Nigeria and beyond.

The National Research Project – Search Light is poised to help clarify the state of the harvest and the size of the work force.

The National mobilization is set up to ensure no part of the church is left uncovered in a massive info and strategy sharing to reaching the world.

Our Mission

 

Our Mission is to be a fellowship and networking platform for the Nigerian Church and Missions Movement towards completing the Great Commission.

Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association (NEMA) also wants to:

  • Increase the level  of mission awareness and participation of the Nigerian Church towards accelerating the completion of World Evangelism.
  • Empower  the Church and Mission leaders through value added strategic inputs.
  • Raise standards of the Nigeria harvest  force through capacity  building.
  • Promote United and purposeful engagement of the harvest field by the Church and missions movement in Nigeria.
  • Foster partnership and networking between the Nigerian Church and the Global Missions Networks and also to serve as a catalyst for missions among Nigerians in the Diaspora.

Our vision is to see a completed Great Commission through the active involvement of the Nigerian Church and Missions Movement IN ALL THE UNREACHED NATIONS OF THE WORLD.

Our organization aims:

  • To motivate and encourage the establishment of more indigenous mission agencies from among the evangelicals where non exists.
  • To promote sound relationship and cooperation between various mission groups.
  • To provide an avenue where information on missions can be collected and disseminated among members and other Christian agencies.
  • To help one another create a forum for sharing new ideas on missions so as to stimulate, encourage and improve the outreach work of each member body.
  • To establish institutions for research and missionary training and organize missionary conferences, seminars and workshops to raise the level of mission awareness in the country.
  • To assist in leadership and manpower development of member bodies so as to facilitate the empowerment of members for qualitative missionary thrust from Nigeria.
  • To liaise with and maintain good working relations with the Mission Commission of Association of Evangelicals in Africa (A.E.A.), World Evangelical Fellowship (W.E.F.), Third World Missions Association (TWMA) and other international ministries or bodies seeking to avail their ministry potentials to the advantage of the missions movement in Nigeria.
  • To cooperate and work with other national missions movements in other parts of the world.