News 2008 - March

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH - UPDATE
On behalf of the Christian Community Church Mission Sierra Leone I write to express my appreciation to all our supporters and Prayer Partners.
2007 was a year of crossing over; the Lord is the process of taking us to the other side.
Sierra Leone did cross over - The 11 yrs bloody civil war was declared ended in
2002.
We where able to conduct a successful General Election. Many people where
Expecting Danger, a lot of people pulled out of the country those who could afford went to Europe and America others to the neighboring Countries. But with Prayers and intercessions the Good Lord took us over. I did not sit on the Fence I got myself involve by setting up a prayer group specifically for the election which involve other pastors from other Churches and Denomination. I also got involve in Advocacy and sensitization and was also an observer in the Election.
Today I am happy to report that we ushered in a new President and New Government Peacefully. The People of Sierra Leone has gone through a lot and we do not deserve any more of that.

Christian Community Church... The Mission is doing well but we are in the process of crossing over. Last year we had some problems in our Leadership which caused a lot of misunderstanding. We have been able to come back together by the grace of God. In December we organize leadership seminars for all of our Pastors and Elders at the St. Andrews Church where we stayed for three full days. It was really a blessing for the mission; we had about 65 people from our Churches. We where able to discuss a lot of issues and spend quality time in prayer us all left Challenge and Refreshed. So we believe that the good
Lord would do a new thing in our mission this year.

Juliana..... She is improving, she got an accident on her way home from
town . Seven people in the vichecle died, but she had a broken leg. The
oparation was successful, she has started working with crotches. She was in Church last week. She had moved to waterloo about 21 miles from freetown. Where there are lot of needy people. Two weeks ago they had a meeting with there committee on their project. Some things has been bought. Please pray for her to recover.

The Building project.., we now have five Classrooms plus the Church
Building. The schools growing, more and more children are coming every year.
The Govt. has passed a law that all Children should go to School, so it is a crime not to send your child to school.
So St. Andrews is a Blessing for the Meima Community and the villages around it. The Teachers are doing very well with the Children not like the govt. schools. The major blessing is that the mission is paying the teachers not the govt. They are getting their salaries on -time and regularly. So they are committed to the School.

Bongalo School..... Like the St. Andrews Church. lt is the same condition, Sis
Margate is fantastic with them. They have good and committed teachers. Their
Building project is gradually coming up. I am sending you a photograph of the school.

Sawollah.....We have also started the Sawollah building project. They had a lot disturbance with the rains last year. When the rain is heavy they will not meet. The church is strategic for eight other communities that have no churches at all.
So we have bought 12 bundles of zinc and cement to get it started. We value your prayers.

Koidu Town Church.... This church has suffered a lot, it has moved from place to place over seven times. The congregation has been greatly affected, the court where they were meeting is no longer possible for them to continue meeting there. They are having a lot of disturbance, so in our last leadership meeting we decided to launch a Building project for the Church in a piece of Land we had paid for. At the moment we had started to lay the foundation.
The Koidu Town Church is the Mother Church for all the churches in Kono and the Eastern Provinces. We hope and pray that the Lord will help us before the start of the raining seasons. This Church has the responsibility to bring the other Churches in Kono together so they need a place of their own.
God is taking us some where. The good Lord has been faithful to us this year.
Every step has been directed by him.
To the close of the year I was seriously sick and admitted, the diagnosis was
Malaria and typhoid fever. I was in the hospital for almost two weeks and I took about ten drips and a lot of medication. The Church, friends and partners where praying fervently for me to recover. I am happy to report that the Lord raises me from the sick bed. Thanks to all of you who where praying for me.
You can't believe that over 75% of the country is having regular electricity. A big blessing and buster. God is in control. Keep Praying.
I am just coming from Ghana where I took nine others from Sports Life to do a level one training on Sports Ministry. The Course lasted for one and half week. We also had the opportunity to watch the opening Ceremony of the Africa Nation cup. The Train ing was sponsored by the International Sports Coalition. All the English, West Africa countries where present. Nigeria, Ghana,
Gambia Liberia and Sierra Leone .It was challenging and a blessing to our ministry.

We have stepped into 2008 with confidence assurance that God is on our side.
Every step will be directed by him. We will stay focus, stay united, to Reach the
Uri- reach. And that God will open more doors for ministry opportunity in this
Nation. Thank you all for been a Blessing to the Sierra Leone Ministry.

PLEASE PRAY...
1. For God's call to be manifested in the lives of the Pastors, and for them to stay focus to the big Picture [Vision} of the Mission
2. For God to work in our Character and attitude so that we become men and women of Integrity.
3. for the good Lord to bless our Partners and supporters
4. For the Mission to attract and raise more supporters
5. For God to provide Funding for our Projects
6. More doors of Ministry to be open to the Mission
7. For Numerical and spiritual growth of the Mission
8. For the Evangelistic Outreaches
9. For more people to view the website
10. For Sierra Leone to remain stable and peaceful

Thanks and Stay Blessed.

Rev. Yatta Samura
General Overseer
Christian Community Church

FURTHER UPDATES
Greeting from Sierra Leone, I did not send you the update of Sports Life Ministries - I only reported the Church activities.

So much exciting things happened last year and are still taking place in regards the sports ministry. Right now, as I am writing, we are helping in organizing the inter-Secondary School Athletics competition, over 40 secondary schools are participating. It is a lot of work. We have to do verification because some of them are not going to school but the teachers will want to use them. Secondly all want to win at all cost. Above all we want them to enjoy the competition.
We have just finish our soccer clinics, the under 10 tournament was fantastic.
The sports life guys are doing very well. On the 22nd March we are having the annual Jogging.
JOG for JESUS. The Saturday before Easter. To bring churches together.
There will be two locations, all to the National Stadium. Where we would have praise and worship and then refresh everyone.
On the 29th March the Inter- Churches football tournament will commence. At the moment we have registered 24 churches and we are expecting more. I will send you our yearly program of activities. Sorry for the pictures I lost our camera, so it was difficult to get somebody to go to Kono to take pictures. Now God has provided one for me. You will get more pictures now and better quality.
I will have loved to come but I have so many things to do at the moment. I have spoken to Victoria, even though I know I need to rest. I think she understands. I am happy that I am contributing to nation building and to sustain the peace in Sierra Leone by this Election.
What I was involved in last year is coming again. I have already been invited to some of the committees. Another Election is on the way.
On the 24th March there will be a BY- Election to replace the parliamentarians that has been appointed as Ministers.
5 July is the Local Council Election, to elect councilors and Mayors all around the country.
That is the local Government, taking the Government to the people.
I am going to be totally involved again as was in the last Election. I have got the prayer team active again. I am involve in sensitization and also going to be an observer on the Election day.
There will be no Election again till after five years after this one.
By the grace of God, September or October I will be able to move around again.
But if you Guys want to come it would wonderful. There is no problem at the moment.
The country is safe. It will be good if you Guys can come and see us and also see what we are Reporting about.
Above all we now have Electricity in the Country; some of the street light is coming on.
Come and enjoy our light. The President has a big heart to bring improvement to the country.
Let us keep praying for him that he does not loose focus, but stay to his vision
Thank you very much for your love interest and support.

Stay Blessed,

Yatta Samura

News from Kono
As you may recall, there are five churches in Kono district, two of which have primary schools attached. These latter have been growing apace, with many new children signing on for the schools. Since our last newsletter, there has been major construction work and new classrooms have been built at the two schools.
St Andrews Church, Oxford, has been able to help with the costs of this.
Ah-kom secondary school in Koidu, is in the process of constructing new buildings, and a very generous donation has enabled roof rafters to be placed on the building, prior to completing the roof.

Would you like to help support the pastors and teachers in Sierra Leone?
Would you like to sponsor a teacher in Sierra Leone?
Teachers are paid £20 per month at St Andrews' primary school in Meama,
Sierra Leone, so a sponsorship of £16 (+Gift Aid) per month would sponsor a teacher to teach a class of 30 pupils,
Can you give a little each month, please, and help change the lives of a class of children?
If you would like to help, please complete this form:
Donation Form

A DAY OF CELEBRATION AND GENEROSITY AT ST ANDREWS OXFORD
St Andrews parish Room had not seen a day quite like September 7lh 2007, but then St Andrew had not known a staff member quite like Linda Dolan. This is an extraordinary woman of great compassion and generosity! Linda's 60lh birthday on that day was a cause for celebration for the whole church. And in order to accommodate the many friends who were determined to be part of the day, the party was to be in the Parish Room. There was a buzz around the church all morning with food preparations in the kitchen and decorations with balloons and posters in the parish room. The party got underway in the afternoon, with Linda looking regal but not as regal as her mother, who sat in her place throughout the events, looking on with the fondest pride at what her daughter had achieved - making family out of friends!

The food was bountiful with a mesmerizing selection of goodies. The cake was a thing of beauty, big enough for all of us and more. The air was filled with joy and laughter as friends from the different congregations came together - some for the first time in years! It was like a foretaste of heaven with people of all races and nations. And with ages ranging from babes-in-arms to Linda's devoted army of elderly parishioners. The company was intoxicating....and that was before the champagne bottles were uncorked for the evening party! Yes, there were two parties ... how else could all of us – family and friends do justice to this wonderful woman who has 'been there' for each and every one of us, over the years!

The highlight for me was a picture poster of Linda 'through the years' with one particular pose of her in what could only be described as a nun's outfit and looking no less beatific than a mother superior!

It was a day to remember as Linda says so graciously: "It was especially good to see the young and old all together and enjoying the afternoon. I was very blessed to have my mother, brother, daughter, one of my sons, sister-in-law and my goddaughter and well as my church family. Family is so important in my life. The next day was again a lovely day with a walk on Port Meadow, some football formy2 grandsons and the big people, followed by a picnic! My youngest grandson, Elliot was so impressed with my birthday cake that he wanted one the same size for his birthday!"

The real marvel on that day was Linda's selfless generosity: She declined all presents for herself and asked that contributions can be made and shared equally between Juliana's work in Sierra Leone, and Joy's work in Tamale, Ghana. The church family responded with astounding generosity!

God bless Linda and her heart of compassion!

Has Abingdon got talent?
The answer to that is a resounding 'yes', if the talent show organised by Joni Bayfield and 3 friends at Abingdon School's Arney Theatre on 14th November is anything to go by! Certainly, the pre-show publicity worked because tickets sold out in a record 3 days!
The show was brilliantly hosted by Finlay and the two Paddys, better known as F x p2
(watch out for them at next year' s Edinburgh Fringe!) and featured 15 'variety acts.

Boys and girls took part from Abingdon and St Helen and St Katherine's schools and the acts ranged from doing a Rubie cube against the clock accompanied by spinning
Diablos to the Soulja Boys rapping, a song specially written and performed on piano for the occasion, various song and dance acts and our own Tim West and friends as
'Westlive', Westlife tribute band. The worthy winners were the unique and very professional dance duo of James Yan and Saskia Hill, a worthy second were Galaxy, a rock band.

It was a high energy, high talent evening and Sophie Payne, Master in Charge of
Charities, Joni, Josh, Gus and James and all the performers and tech crew are to be congratulated on raising a magnificent £3000 for schools and teachers in Sierra Leone. The icing on the cake for them was hearing that a group of Pastor Yatta's supporters in Oxford have said they will match the sum raised by another £3,000.