In the year 2000, Word & Deed Ministries began partnering with Faith and Freedom Ministry in support of their desire to provide a Christian education for Nigerian children. They are currently operating two campuses: one in Makurdi (more “urban”) and one in Koti-Yough (more “rural”).

The goal of our partners at Faith and Freedom Ministry is to provide the opportunity for education to the poor and needy, which they would otherwise be denied, as well as to introduce them to biblical truths. These goals have been met with great blessing for the past years, and the schools have been operating very effectively.

The high academic and moral standards that are held at both campuses have won the approval of both the community and government officials. As a result of this great success, enrolment at the schools has increased very rapidly. In 2008 it was reported that about 900 students were attending these schools; today there are over 1800!

As a result of this rapid growth, classrooms were becoming over crowded and progress was hampered. It was reported that in some cases there were over 70 students in a 22 x 20 ft. classroom! Also, without extra classrooms, our partners were not able to add the Senior Secondary classes (equivalent to our Grades 11 and 12) to the school, as they have planned to do. At the request of our partners, a School Expansion Project began in 2010. Four classrooms are being added to both campuses for a total cost of $89,000.

On a recent trip to Nigeria, Bernie Pennings (Word & Deed Project Director) reported that the expansion project was well underway on both campuses. In Makurdi, there was plenty of evidence that some nearly completed rooms had already been used for classes (all they needed was a concrete floor). We anticipate that by September 2011 this phase of both expansion projects will be fully complete, at which point a final phase of construction is scheduled to begin (the addition of Examination Centres). We hope that the whole project will be complete by September 2012.

Among the supporters of the Nigerian Christian Schools are professors at the Benue Statue University in Nigeria. On a recent trip to Nigeria, they told Bernie Pennings that the rigorous education that is being provided to students at these schools has the ability to transform Nigeria. In a country that has an equally significant Muslim and Christian influence, their sentiment may be truer than they realize. Christian education is a critical aspect in what could be called a “tug-of-war” between these diametrically opposed worldviews.

With God’s continued blessing, we hope and pray that the hearts and lives of the students attending these schools will be changed, and that they will be equipped to serve as lights in their communities, for a transformation of this nation and for the glory of God.