07Jan 2015 by Nigel Ring

Ebola affects our friends in West Africa – Part 1: Guinea and Sierra Leone

Guinea, Health, News, Poor, Sierra Leone
First, may I wish you a happy New Year! I trust that the Christmas season has been one of joy for you as we have celebrated Jesus’ birth. Sadly, I am starting the New Year on a sobering topic – Ebola. Twelve months ago most of you reading this blog would not have heard of ebola, so named from the river in Zaire near where it was first identified in 1976. Then the outbreak was short-lived. Now, the widespread reporting of the current outbreak has put both it and the three nations of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, in all of which there are Newfrontiers churches, into the public’s awareness. So what is happening? Guinea Ebola had just been identified in the forest area of Guinea, near teh Liberian border…
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15Dec 2014 by Nigel Ring

Your help is needed for Child Sponsorship

Education, Guinea, News, Poor
An appeal This is unashamedly an appeal for the school children in Guinea. Much has appeared in the press recently about Guinea due to the ebola crisis. I arrived on my most recent visit in April as the outbreak was occurring. Until this devastating news broke most people would not have heard of Guinea or have been able to locate it on a map. Guinea is a desperately poor nation in West Africa with over 60% of the adult population being illiterate. The Newfrontiers church in the capital, Conakry, is trying to help change this through the Jubilee International School. Jubilee International School JIS started in 2006. Since then it has grown to over 300 children ranging in age from 3-26 years. Yes, I really do mean 26! Due to…
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04Dec 2014 by Nigel Ring

Book Review – The Myth of the Undeserving Poor

Books, Equipping, News, Poor
Do the poor deserve to be helped? I have greatly enjoyed reading this book and strongly recommend it. My attitudes were challenged, and I was liberally marking and underling passagesas I read it. It has already caused me to adjust my thinking about a particular ‘live’ situation I am facing. Although the book is centred on the UK, its history and current situation, there are many Biblical and practical teachings that any reader can apply. Poverty in Britain Martin Charlesworth and Natalie Williams, two of the key players in the Jubilee+ initiative of the Newfrontiers family of churches in the UK, begin by laying a historical foundation. Taking the reader through the effects of the Poor Laws of 1601 and 1834 they trace how the relationship between church and state has…
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25Nov 2014 by Nigel Ring

To help you engage with real issues…

Books, Jubilee+, News, Poor
Here are two resources I strongly recommend - a book (The Myth of the Undeserving Poor) and a conference. Both come from the Jubilee+ initiative of Newfrontiers in the UK which helps individuals and churches engage with the needs of those who are poor or disadvantaged. First I will tell you about the conference. Faith + Justice Conference. Milton Keynes, UK. Saturday February 7th 2015   What is your real attitude to politics? Do you find them a turn-off? In the UK, Christians tend to be more likely to vote in elections or even be members of political parties than the average member of the public. However, many Christians would say they don’t ‘get’ politics, don't care about them, or simply don’t understand the difference between the political parties. They may hold strong views on education…
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20Nov 2014 by Nigel Ring

Guinea update – Pt 3. Helping the Poor

Guinea, News, Poor
This is the final part of a recent Newsletter, updated as appropriate. Koukoudé, a fishing village Koukoude is a very poor village a few hours from Conakry. Junior and FM, the 2 leaders are under a lot of pressure but they are holding on. They did their 4 first baptisms this year. The school is still carrying on. It sent its first pupils to the NPSE (National Primary School Exam) May 2014. Because of financial difficulties, the building project is frozen and the building we are now renting is getting more and more expensive. With only €5,000 we could build our school in Koukoudé.  Jubilee School, Conakry - 'Education for all in an atmosphere of love and respect' In spite of all our difficulties, the school is doing well. We have…
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12Nov 2014 by Nigel Ring

Guinea Update – Pt 2. The Church

Guinea, News, Poor
Nicolas Thebault continues to bring an update on the situation in Guinea. The Church is growing at a steady pace (approximately 30% every year for the past 4 years) Baptisms, baptisms and more baptisms... We passed the threshold of 100 baptisms between September 2010 and June 2014.  There are visitors every Sunday. We have a dozen house groups against 2 four years ago. The church is now predominantly Guinean. The challenges are therefore for us to be able to help all these new Christians to become Jesus’ disciples and to form new leaders. Weddings and Marriage We celebrated our first Christian wedding in Koukoudé. Since then, we have celebrated 6 weddings in 2 years. This is a main challenge for a lot of our young Christians who have to get their…
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