Under the banner, New Wineskins for Global Mission 2010, the archbishop said news media stories only tell the ugly side of Nigerian violence, but it is not the whole story. "We are reaching out with the gospel to Muslims and those who practice African religions and creating missionary dioceses in the northern part of the country dominated by Islam. Islam came into Nigeria in the 11th century and today they have a political stronghold. We have started missionary dioceses. It has been geographically unreached till now. We already have 49 dioceses in the north of Nigeria in four provinces. We started with 10 and it has grown as we have evangelized planting churches among Muslims."

"How have we done this when you have a great crisis," he cried. "The crisis is happening because of the Spirit of God moving in the land. It is a work of God. We are seeing revival...God is taking over the north for Jesus Christ. People are being turned over from Islam to Christianity. Twenty years ago 5-7% of the population was Christians, now 30% of the people in northern Nigeria are Christians."

Asked what and where the secret of this evangelistic effort came from, Akanya said, "We pray and fast. We spend time on our knees. God gives us the methods in the power of the Holy Spirit. We leave the results to Him."

The archbishop said he introduced the Jesus film into the area and along with the Great Commission movement. "We have converted the film into local languages."

The archbishop admitted that things don't always go easily "There is some risk to our lives. Sometimes our missionaries are stoned others are arrested by local police and their materials destroyed but the lord promises to be with us."

"God himself through the prayers of the church is bringing Muslims and animists out of darkness into the light of the lord. God is looking for people who are available to bring His Word to lost people. Many are coming to Christ in the north. We have gone from three to 30 to 50 churches. God is opening the hearts of men."

Akanya said one method of evangelism is building bridges of friendship. "Despite attacks and killings we keep building friendships and extending the love of Christ. We carry on despite the enmity. Poverty levels are high in the north. There is no single missionary school in the north so the challenge is to build new schools. We ourselves were educated by missionary built schools, so we know their value."

Akanya described the evangelistic outreach in First Century terms. "People are coming back from the dead. Demons and powers and principalities are being downtrodden and the Kingdom of darkness is on the ropes. You see the uprising by Muslims is because they are losing out in the North.

"The city of Jos, which is closer to the center of the country, is the headquarters of every Christian organization. It is the launching pad to the north and that is why militant Muslims are attacking Christians in Jos", he said.

"We (Nigerians) are going to sweep throughout Africa starting with Nigeria. For every 10 people who are converted in one population group we can reach out to Africa, Asia and to the entire world. Nigeria is sending send out missionaries to other parts of Africa and we need your cooperation in reaching Francophone countries. There are still so many unreached tribes and people that are waiting to hear the Good News. Who will come and help us?"

The African archbishops said Nigeria is experienced in presenting a very holistic gospel. "We go into areas where HIV-AIDS is prevalent. The Mothers Union comes in to help with medical care and classes for young mothers with children. We are also digging wells and providing literacy classes, all of it designed to leading people to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

"We will saturate the north with Jesus Christ. We will rebuild schools taken over by the Government and we are introducing the 1-1-1-1 program of one person a year who leads one other person to the lord."

Conferees to the New Wineskins have come from the US, Sudan, Uganda, Nigeria, Turkey, Myanmar, Niger, Canada, Kenya, Israel, Madagascar, Chile, Brazil, Belize, Dominican Republic, New Zealand, England, Pakistan, India, Burma, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Honduras, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru.

Christian denominations present include Lutheran, Disciples of Christ, Foursquare, Methodists, Anglicans, Episcopalians, Vineyard and Roman Catholics. Nashotah House and Trinity School for Ministry seminarians, leaders and faculty were also present as were overseas missionaries, youth leaders and the next generation of missionaries.

Seminars were held touching on God's priorities for the world and the Church, the opportunities, specific needs and how can local churches have an effective outreach locally and to the ends of the earth. New Wineskins leaders said they stood ready to hold Missions Awareness Seminars in parishes, diocese or at convocations. For more information go to: www.newwineskins.org

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