10 Significant ministry challenges:

a) The African Indigenous 'spiritual' churches have multiplied

b) Young people and schools ministry. Legally, religious education should be given to all in schools

c) The AIDS crisis

d) Nigeria's unreached

e) Nigeria's Muslims. Many have become more open to the gospel

f) Refugees. Conflicts across West Africa have brought Chadians, Sierra Leonans, Liberians, etc., to Nigeria

g) Development ministries for the rural poor

11 Mission vision. Nigeria has become one of the major missionary-sending countries

a) The ministry of NEMA, with a membership of over 56 agencies, in coordinating the missions thrust to the unreached in Nigeria and beyond

b) Denominational agencies with a strong missions

c) Interdenominational agencies have multiplied

d) Missionary support. Few congregations really understand their responsibility to support mission agencies by praying, giving and going

12 Expatriate missionaries have steadily declined in numbers as the large and mature Nigerian Church takes on the ministries they once did

13 Literature is vital for the growth of the Church

a) Nigerian authors who are interested in writing on a wide range of issues in a culturally relevant way, but lack the means and publishing resources

b) Publishing

c) Distribution. Although there are well over 300 Christian bookstores in Nigeria, turn-over and stock range are severely limited

14 Christian media ministries:

a) Bible translation remains a major challenge

b) Christian radio

c) Christian television

d) The JESUS film has been extensively used in 19 languages

e) GRN has provided recordings in 482 languages and also innovative cassette and record playback machines

f) Drama, using traditional themes, is useful in evangelism and teaching

Economy

Rich in agricultural land and mineral resources and large oil reserves. HDI 0.456; 146^th/174. Public debt 68% of GNP. Income/person $280 (0.9% of USA).

Politics

Independent from Britain as a federation in 1960.

Religion

Constitutionally Nigeria is a secular state with freedom of religion.

Churches in Nigeria

Missionaries from Nigeria

approx. 3,700 in 110 agencies to 50+ lands

Missionaries to Nigeria

697 in 71 agencies from 22 lands

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Geography

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Area 923,768 sq.km. Mangrove and tropical rain forests in the south, savannah and grasslands in the north.

Population (2000) 111,506,095 +2.42%AGR

Capital Abuja 500,000.

Peoples

Guinean 49.5%.

Hausa-Chadic 20.6%.

Bantoid peoples 12%.

Fulbe (Fulani) 11.1%.

Kanuri 3.2%.

Sudanic 1.2%.

Other 2.4%.

Literacy 64%. Official language English.

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