Grace & Light has set itself stretching targets for our work in Nigeria during 2020.

We want to increase our work and impact in churches and schools across Nigeria, with our volunteer teams energised to visit more regularly, sharing the gospel of social righteousness and testing people for HIV/AIDS.

Our targets include:

• Testing 12,000 people in churches over the 12 months (32.6% increase)
• Each of the 12 teams visiting at least one church per month, with Yola and Jos visiting at least one church per week (80% increase)
• The Jos, Yola and Jalingo teams visiting 30 secondary schools (43% increase)
• Training secondary teachers so they are able to support life sharing groups in their schools
• Teachers conference in Jos in March
• Schools conference for 600 secondary students in May
• Increasing work place and prison visits
• Three training programmes for new volunteers in February, June and October
• One refresher training programme for existing volunteers in March.

These are testing targets for our staff and volunteer teams, especially as we are currently recruiting for a manager to lead the office team in Yola.

Our volunteer teams outside Jos and Yola really need annual refresher training for the motivation that will see them visiting churches every month.

Currently we are approaching grant making trust for funding for:

• One more new volunteer training programme
• Three more refresher volunteer training programmes
• The teachers conference in Jos and a second in Jalingo later in the year
• Secondary school students conference.

Please pray our funding appeals will be successful and we will raise the costs to run these events.

Team leaders meet up

We were pleased that leaders from 11 of our 12 volunteer teams were ableto come to Jos in January for our first team leaders meeting in seven years. Only Mitchika’s leader could not join us because insurgency in the area made travel impossible.

The team leaders were able to discuss, with Tassie Ghata and the office team, our ministry plans for 2020 and input their suggestions. They also participated in a refresher on their roles and what is expected of them. We hope to be able to hold this meeting at the beginning of the year from now on.

Please pray for all the leaders as they return to their teams and put into practice they challenges they agreed to in the meeting.

Prayer & Giving Request for 2020

We have one final prayer and giving request for 2020 – it concerns regular giving. Last year regular and ad hoc giving for salaries was £8,000 short. If you are not already doing so, please pray about supporting our staff with a monthly standing order.

Without our staff teams in Jos and Yola we would not be able to give our volunteer teams the support they need as they visit churches, schools, prisons and work places, and they certainly won’t be able to meet the stretching targets we have set for 2020.

Please contact Ed Greening at ed.greening@graceandlight.org for information on setting up a standing order or direct debit.

You may prefer to give online at https://my.give.net/graceandlight/ or send a cheque to Grace & Light, 8 Kingswood Drive, Upper Norwood, London SE19 1UR.

However you give, please include a reference so we know how you would like us to allocate your gift. And thank you in advance for your generosity.

2020 Dates

Tassie Ghata will be visiting the UK from 18 March to 2 April and spending time in London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Worthing.

Please let Jo Ann Eastgate know if you are nearby and would like to join one of the open events joann.eastgate@graceandlight.org

Also do let Jo Ann know if you would like Tassie to visit your church or small group – she has a couple of days free at the moment.

Friday, 1 May is our annual supporters event in Jos, Nigeria. More information from tassie.ghata@graceandlight.org

Saturday, 30 May is our annual UK fundraising walk. This year we are walking around Chichester Harbour. Please contact Jo Ann Eastgate if you would like to join us.

25-26 July fundraising fashion show at Chatsworth Baptist Church, West Norwood, London. More details from UK trustee Fola Ogunyide via info@graceandlight.org

Saturday, 1 August is our UK annual supporters afternoon tea in Upper Norwood, London. More details from Jo Ann Eastgate.

Finally, thank you for all the support you have given us to date. With your continued support we are looking forward to achieving our stretching targets during 2020.