2023 April newsletter

A New Mission: From Terrorism to Safe Haven

About 20 years ago, Blessing and I were called by God to begin caring for orphans, but we had no idea that this would eventually require us to leave the United States with our four children. We had no idea that it would turn into such a significant assignment. Praise God for what He has accomplished through us thus far. But what is going to happen is considerably more significant than we could have ever imagined.

God has been pressing the desire to assist Muslim youngsters whose parents were murdered by the Gboko Haram Jihadist in the northern region of Nigeria on our hearts for the past year. When we visited an orphanage where some of these kids were being cared for, the founder and leader had passed away, leaving the place barren and the kids abandoned. My wife was the first to catch this vision! When we were ready to employ Professor Dauda Gava as the new provost of West Africa Theological (WATS) this year, I got in touch with him. I am currently the WATS Governing Council Chiarman. Gava described how a Gboko Haram attack cost him some of his family members as well as more than 6,000 church members. About 300 of the 400 girls who were kidnapped by this Islamic extremist in 2017 came from just his church denomination, making them the most devastated church in Nigeria.

Life Builders is prepared to begin housing, educating, and caring for those children whose parents died suddenly due to Islamic militants' actions. These kids will return to Islam if we don't act, and they might even join the Gboko Haram as robbers and terrorists in Nigeria's north. We need your help to make this vision a reality!

It costs more than $100 per month per child to provide food, clothing, shelter, education, healthcare and spiritual counseling. Please help us save as many Christian children as possible from being converted. Our goal for 2023 is to rescue 100 orphans and bring them to our campus at Igbusi. We have the structure in place (hostel, school, hospital, church) to care for them. A gift of $100 a month ($3 a day) will help save an orphan from the acts of terrorism and Islamic jihadists extremists.

A Message From Pastor Emmanuel

The Bible says we should give thanks to God in all things! Even when things are difficult, we should express gratitude. Nigeria's economy has been in dire straits, with inflation at its highest level in decades. Food costs are increasing constantly as well as the cost of transportation and other basic needs. As an organization that feeds and clothes orphans and widows, this is telling regarding our budget. The amount it currently costs to feed our sponsored orphans has risen to more than three times what it was last year. But praise be to God who has been faithful in meeting our daily and weekly necessities. We also want to express our gratitude to you, dear friends and partners, for sticking by us. We appreciate your ongoing help in allowing us to continue to care for these precious souls. Another source of inspiration for us has been the success tales of the orphans who have graduated. Happy Easter to all of you and thanks for your ongoing support!

Praise God for...

• Bringing us to the end of the second term of the school year. Children are ready to go for the Easter break now.

• The ministry of LIFE builders Hospital. Everyday, lives are saved from preventable deaths, both among staff/students and the community dwellers.

• Preventing the outbreak of war during and after the general elections in Nigeria. It was relatively peaceful.

• His protection over staff and students of Life Builders as well the board members.

Blessings from Pastor Emmanuel Oluwayemi, PhD Founder & President LBMI