Volunteers are recommitting themselves to encouraging local congregations to strengthen their relationships with Christ.

Seventy-six volunteers from Yola, Mubi, Hong, Biu, Gombe, Jos, Mangu, Lafia and Bauchi participated in our most recent refresher training at Miango Rest Home.

Over three days they were reminded of best practices for testing, counselling, care and support; vision sharing; the change from life sharing to voluntary saving and accountability groups; building relationships with church leaders; and social righteousness.

Each person recommitted to Grace & Light for another two years. International coordinator Tassie Ghata, who led the training, said “We are looking forward to seeing vibrancy in their lives and teams.

“Many had their initial training quite some time ago. Some things they had forgotten, other things they didn’t understand. Over the days it became clear to them how to show respect to the people they are counselling and how to ensure they are treated with respect when counselling. They said they feel better equipped to serve.

“One of the complaints many of them had was around not being paid for volunteering, as other charities do in Nigeria. We reminded them their commitment was to doing God’s work rather than getting allowances.”

Mubi is a new team, established by the ex-leader of the Michika team who was displaced to Mubi by Boko Haram insurgency.

This training was subsidised by the UK fundraising walk around Chichester Harbour in June last year.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for:

• Volunteers in the teams that they will remain committed to visiting at least one local church each month for vision sharing, counselling, testing and establishing voluntary savings and accountability groups
• Leaders in the teams as they build relationships with local church leaders that lead to invitations to Sunday services for their teams
• Team members in areas impacted by insurgency including Mubi, Michika, Biu, Damaturu and Potiskum.