Church members are understanding more clearly what Christian lifestyle is meant to be like and receiving Christ for real when our volunteer teams visit their congregations.

The Jos, Yola, Mangu, Jalingo and Gombe volunteer teams visited 21 churches during May and June, sharing the gospel with 4,363 people. Of these, 1,355 chose to be tested for HIV/AIDS and 1,270 joined life sharing groups where they will support each other to live lives of social righteousness.

Four people tested positive for HIV and will receive ongoing support. One hundred and thirty gave their lives to Christ for the first time and another 758 rededicated their lives.

International coordinator Tassie Ghata is particularly pleased by the number of teachers who respond to Grace & Light’s message of social righteousness. She explains: “In Nigeria teachers in government schools are supposed to have first and second degrees, while private school teachers are less academically qualified.

“However, children in private schools do much better. This is happening because government teachers are not doing their best for students. When we counsel them we encourage them to commit to being better teachers.

The volunteers also see much corruption among Christians in business. “Their work ethic is based on what is acceptable in Nigerian culture rather than on the gospel. For example, they may ask for 30 bags of cement, use 20 in their job and take 10 home for themselves. They think this is the way to do business. We have many rededications to Christ around ethical business.”