Mass Baptism in Eastern Nigeria—Almost Home
As part of the activities marking the centenary celebration of the Eastern Nigeria Union Conference, the West-Central Africa Division collaborated with all officers and directors of the union and the conferences to hold a ten-day evangelistic campaign dubbed “Almost Home” from January 11 – 22, 2023.
As a result, more than 10,000 people were baptized during a Festival of baptism attended by close to 80,000 people. The occasion was combined with the One-Day National Prayer Conference of the Adventist Church.
The Division, led by the President himself, Professor Osei Bonsu, took all the departmental directors from the Division to join their Nigerian counterparts, each to his campaign site.
I was taken to an island called Bonny, some seven hours journey (both land and sea) from the Union’s Head Office in Aba, Eastern Nigeria. At the end of the ten days, all the souls won from the campaign were taken to the Union Compound for baptism. In all, over 10,000 souls, including 32 from my site, were baptized to the glory of God.
Observation: I now know why Jesus has not yet come. The message has not been heard in many parts of the world. The people of Bonny Island were shocked to listen to the Adventist message for the first time and could not believe their ears. One of those baptized was a Pentecostal pastor, Gentle Jesus, who left his congregation to become a Seventh-day Adventist. Though we have a church there on the Island, they have little or no impact on the community of over 300,000 inhabitants and need to be motivated.
The Eastern Nigeria Union will host a series of satellite campaigns that will be concluded in October 2023 with the Hope Channel International satellite program. The Union President, Pastor Bassey Udoh, expects not less than 30,000 baptisms at the crowning of the centenary celebration. Elder Ted Wilson and his wife Nancy will be part of that momentous event.
Respectfully submitted,
Pastor Dr. Paul Adu Sampah
WAD Stewardship Director
More than 10,000 persons were baptized following a Prayer Conference and Festival of Baptism of the Eastern Nigeria Union Conference (ENUC). The evangelistic meetings were held from January 8-21, 2023, in Ikot Idaha, a community the gospel had never entered before.
From the Campaign
A cross-section of some of the souls baptized from my site.
An altar call I made for baptism on Sabbath morning. I was in a blue suit.
The church choir sang for us on the Sabbath (video).
