PIIMA NEWSLETTER IS OUT

The PIIMA Newsletter, May 2015, is out and will be dedicated on Tuesday, 02 June, 2015. Distribution will follow immediately. Pray along with us that God will use it to propagate the gospel. Below are peeks into its pages.

CONGRATULATIONS TO LALONG

Rt. Hon. Barr. Simon Lalong

Rt. Hon. Barr. Simon Bako Lalong, the Governor-elect of Plateau State, was born on May 5th, 1963. He is a native of Ajikamai in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State. Simon Bako Lalong had his Primary School Education at R. C. M. Primary School, Shendam, from where he obtained the First School Leaving Certificate in 1977. His Secondary School Education was at G. S. S Shendam from where he obtained the ‘O’ Level Certificate in 1982. After that he went to S. P. S Keffi from where he passed his 'A’ Levels in 1986 and proceeded to study Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Law in 1990. He went to Law School at Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1991. He did not stop there but proceeded to read for the Masters Degree of LLM at the University of Jos, which he passed in 1996.

Lalong started law professional practice in 1992 with the firm of T. Obot & Co. Legal Practitioners in Jos immediately after serving the mandatory National Youth Service Corps in the Legal Unit of the FCDA, Abuja. He also worked with Victor Fomwul & Co in Jos from 1997 to 1999 as the Managing Partner. He later opened his own Law Chambers, Simon B. Lalong & Co. Legal Practitioners, and he was the Principal Partner..

In 1999, Lalong harkened the call of his contested the State House of Assembly seat of the Shendam constituency, which he won with a landslide victory on the platform of the PDP. He was elected the Speaker of the State House of Assembly in October 2000. His leadership qualities earned him the record of the longest serving Speaker in the history of Plateau State legislature, from 2000 to 2006, that is, seven unbroken years).

While serving as Speaker, his leadership qualities endeared him to his colleagues, the other Speakers in other States and they elected him Chairman, Nigerian Conference of Speakers, twice, in 2001 and in 2002. He was also at various times, the National Chairman, Forum of All Former Speakers of Nigeria and Chairman of Former State Legislators, Plateau State Chapter.

He is associated with the enactment of legislation leading to the creation of the Plateau State University, now Solomon Lar University, in Bokkos, the College of Agriculture, Garkawa, the College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies, Kurgwi, the Creation of additional Chiefdoms and Districts in Plateau State, the creation of additional State Wards and a Private Member’s Bill for the establishment of Local Government Council structures.

In 2015, Simon Bako Lalong contested the Governorship seat of Plateau State on 11th April 2015 on the Platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and won.

We congratulate him and wish him a very successful tenure.

CHIBOK GIRLS: ONE YEAR REMEMBRANCE

PRAYER FOR THE CHIBOK GIRLS' RELEASE

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, PLEASE INTERVENE AND SECURE THE RELEASE OF OUR INNOCENT, SUFFERING CHIBOK GIRLS WHO WERE ABDUCTED BY BOKO HARAM ISLAMISTS ONE YEAR AGO TODAY, IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN.

CHIBOK GIRLS IN OUR PRAYERS

It’s exactly one year today since Boko Haram islamists abducted hundreds of Chibok school girls out of whom 219 are still missing. A few of the girls miraculously escaped. The true numbers of the initial abductees, the escapees and those still missing cannot be confirmed with certainty as many of the agencies involved are being very conservative with the information they have. This must be one of the most repugnant events in our history and the lowest point of our existence as a nation.

Our government was initially in denial the event ever took place. However, evidence soon proved them wrong and irresponsible. One year on and little or nothing has been heard about the girls’ whereabouts, let alone their condition of health. Whether they are still alive is even in question. The leader of the group announced months ago that he has since sold off the girls as wives to foreigners.   However, a recent escapee from the same terrorists claims that she was held in the same vicinity with about fifty of the girls. Also, there is a report in the papers today claiming that the girls might have been cited in the company of the terrorists in the Gwoza area as they retreat from advancing federal troops.

We wish to mark the one year remembrance of the absence of these girls with fervent prayers to God Almighty for His intervention in order to free them. There is nothing impossible for Him. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He decides the fate of all men. He is more powerful that any human. He is aware of all things before they even happen and the future. He can therefore bring this episode to end in safety at any moment. He tells us to ask whatever we desire and He will grant our requests.

We plead with God to please have mercy on these innocent girls. For no fault of theirs, they are suffering. Their parents and close associates are in pain. We ask God to please forgive us as a nation for our shortcomings, which might have caused this calamity to befall us. He says if we humble ourselves and submit to His will, He will heal our land of all blight. With confidence in Him and in faith we offer this prayer believing that He has heard us and answered us in the affirmative, in Jesus name. Amen.   

PLATEAU INDIGENOUS INDEPENDENT MINISTERS’ ASSOCIATION (PIIMA) - piimaprays@gmail.com April 14, 2015

NIGERIA IN TRANSTION

There is an evil wind that is blowing across Nigeria. For now, it has only blinded the people; later, it will consume them. They will soon cry, "Had we known". But God did not leave us without a warning. The people, as in 1 Samuel 8, chose an earthly King, Saul, over the King of kings and the Lord of lords. There will soon be trouble, a military intervention, divine judgment to sweep away the corrupt, and then an ushering in of God's own fair leaders. All these in a space of three years. Let's watch prayerfully for the fulfillment of His word to His servants and prophets as promised in Amos 3:7. Shalom.
PIIMA INTERCESSORS
piimaprays@gmail.com
12 April, 2015

TRUE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

The true story of Granny Brand is told by Bob Gass in his devotional series is the story of true Christian service. She was completely sold to God. Which is what God expect from His ministers. We hope that you will resolve to be more committed to your calling after reading this.

Evelyn Brand

Evelyn Brand felt called by God to go to India. For a single woman in 1909, a calling like that required a lorry-load of faith. She married a young man named Jesse and together they began a ministry to the people in rural India, bringing education and medical supplies and building roads to reduce the isolation of the poor. For seven years they went without making a single convert to Christianity. But then a priest in a local tribal region developed a fever and grew deathly ill. No one else would go near him, but Evelyn and Jesse nursed him as he was dying. He said, 'This God, Jesus, must be the true God because only Jesse and Evelyn will care for me in my dying.' The priest gave his children to them to care for after he died--and that became a spiritual turning point in that part of the world. People began to examine the life and teachings of Jesus, and in increasing numbers began to follow Him. Evelyn and Jesse had thirteen years of productive service, then Jesse died. By this time, Evelyn was fifty years old, and everyone expected her to return to her home in England. But she wouldn't do it. She was known and loved for miles around as 'Granny Brand', and she stayed another twenty years under the mission board she had served so faithfully. Her son, Paul, came over to see her when she was seventy years old, and this is what he said about his mum: 'This is how to grow old. Allow everything else to fall away, until those around you see only love'.

Here's the rest of Evelyn Brand's story. At age seventy she received word from her home mission office that they weren't going to give her another five-year term. But she had Caleb's 'we can certainly do it' attitude. A party was held to celebrate her time in India, and everyone there cheered her on. 'Have a good trip back home,' they all said. 'I'll tell you a little secret,' she announced, 'I'm not going back home. I'm staying in India.' Evelyn had a little shack built with some resources that she had smuggled in. Then she bought a pony to get around the mountains, and this septuagenarian would ride from village to village on horseback to tell people about Jesus. She did that for five years on her own. One day, at seventy-five years old, she fell and broke her hip. Her son, Paul Brand, the eminent doctor, said to her, 'Mum, you've had a great run. God's used you. It's time to give it up now. You can go back home.' She replied, 'I am not going back home.' She spent another eighteen years travelling from one village to another on horseback. Falls, concussions, sicknesses, and ageing could not stop her. Finally, when she hit ninety-three years old, she could not ride a horse any more. So the men in these villages--because they loved Granny Brand so much--put her on a stretcher and carried her from one village to another. She lived two more years and gave those years as a gift, carried on a stretcher, to help the poorest of the poor. She died, but she never retired. She just graduated.

For a fuller story of Evelyn brand, please go to the following link;

http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1901-2000/evelyn-granny-brand-11630789.html