The Rumors Are True!

Now HERE Is Some Exciting News!

The Rumors Are True!

Mission Aviation Fellowship will soon be flying again in Nigeria! The airplane pictured below will be used! President and CEO of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), David Holsten, shared 2 weeks ago: "Exciting progress is underway—we have a plane at our headquarters preparing for service in Nigeria, donated by a very generous partner of MAF. Last year, MAF began exploring the process of launching a new flight program in Nigeria. In addition to other ministry opportunities, this program will position us to provide flight support to the Egbe Hospital, where we will provide medical-related flights to a local hospital. There is still much work to be done before the program gets up and running, and we would appreciate prayers as we work through important details like permissions, staffing, and facilities. We’re grateful for the faithful partnership of so many who make it possible to extend help, hope, and healing to isolated communities."

MAF is a Christian organization planning to expand its operations in Nigeria to provide aviation services for humanitarian efforts, medical evacuations, and aid to remote communities. The organization's work in Nigeria aims to reduce long travel times and deliver essential help to isolated people in the country. 

There is still much work to do! MAF faces numerous challenges operating in Nigeria, including significant security risks, extensive regulatory complexities, logistical and infrastructural deficiencies, and funding hurdles. Please pray for them as they build their ministry in Nigeria!

MAF's initial location in Nigeria will be Abuja, enabling them to serve the hospital there at Egbe. We are hoping to partner with MAF, too, so we will be eager to watch them build their ministry! We are so thankful for their upcoming presence in Nigeria!

How's It Going In Bauchi State?

ALL DONE!!

354 children were registered for classes! The team had to go to the lumber store to buy more wood for desks! The Headmaster is begging to close registration, because the children just keep coming! We will have to hire 2 more teachers immediately.

The healthcare clinic is stocked with medicines and supplies, and two nurses have been hired. They are already treating patients!

Large metal soccer goal posts have been installed on the play field, and a brand new soccer ball provided!

This is a FIRST for Phyllis!! The Two Villages Mungyar community has organized a special event to commemorate the opening of the first school in their community, Partners in Progress Primary School.

At their own expense they hired a large canopy and chairs, and prepared a feast for everyone! They invited many dignitaries, including chiefs, members of the local government and education secretary with his entourage! This is the first time that this has been done at the opening of any of our schools! Phyllis is especially happy, as this is an indication of how they will value and protect this gift of a quality education for their children! Praise God!

Partners in Progress, Bauchi State, was given a whoppin' good welcome by the Chairman of the Local Government, Education Secretary, Chairman of SUBEB, (Universal Basic Education Board,) many other officials, chiefs, villagers and kids! The Chairman of SUBEB announced that they were so happy with this school that they will enter our teachers' names into the government system, pay their salaries and their retirement pensions!! And they're asking for similar schools in the three other local government areas! They'll pay those teachers salaries too!

The Fulani Ardo (Chief) gave Phyllis a cow!!

What an amazing day. What an incredible welcome.

Classes have officially begun!!

If you love cows, you would love Bauchi State! There were hundreds of cattle on the road today, at least three hundred in this herd alone! We stopped and asked one young Fulani herdsman where they were headed. He said they were going to Benue State looking for greener pastures!

WHAT IS NEXT?

Phyllis and the SFA Team have traveled to Port Harcourt!

Friends of SFA bought land outside of Port Harcourt for a large group of homeless Fulani, but they've not been able to take possession of this land due to continuous attacks from neighboring villagers. Phyllis will meet our Fulani friend and colleague, Mogodi, who's coming to discuss the land issues! We are going to take possession of the land. Pray for us please!

The roads to Port Harcourt were indescribably bad. According to Google, it's a 9 hr drive, but it took two days! "But hey", Phyllis says, "We're all fine.. the car's running okay, so we thank God!! We'll get there when we get there!!" The team made it to Port Harcourt, safe and sound! Thank God! Stay tuned for more details!

Please pray for Phyllis, our security guards, and the whole team. They are stepping into a volatile situation, to help bring peace between the villagers and the incoming Fulani. Pray for their safety! Pray for resolution! Pray for God's wisdom to find a solution!

SFA ON THE ROAD!

Missionary Phyllis Sortor IS coming home for Christmas!

Sunday, December 28th, Phyllis will be sharing at Seattle First Free Methodist Church in Seattle, WA!

Sunday, January 4th, Phyllis will be sharing at Warm Beach Free Methodist Church in Stanwood, WA!

Sunday, January 11th, Phyllis will be sharing briefly at Northlake Christian Church in Bothel, WA!

*We would LOVE to share at YOUR church, wherever you are! Phyllis's time in the states is limited, but she DOES have some availability in January still! SFA Secretary Carisa would be happy to travel to your church, too! We can share our Kidnapped Redemption Film, and updates on what God is doing in Nigeria! We are a non-denominational ministry. We are happy to partner with ALL bible-believing churches. Email us for more details!

Email us!

Holy Spirit, Open Their Eyes!

God is moving in Nigeria. People are coming to God! He invites us to join Him in this work, but it is the work of the Holy Spirit ALONE to move in people's hearts! Will you join us in praying for Holy Spirit revival in Nigeria?

God is on the move, HALELUJAH!

How's It Going In Bauchi State?

It's Going GREAT!!

Phyllis brought two SFA teachers, Head Master James (below left) and Mr. Timothy (below right) with her to Bauchi (from Solid Rock School in Plateau State) to help kick start this new school. Mr. Timothy will be the new head teacher here in Bauchi State, at Partners In Progress School. He's well known to us, experienced, a strong Christian - someone we can trust!

God BLESS your new work, Mr. Timothy!

Phyllis hired Abubakar (below), the man whose dream of a school has come true, to be office manager and assistant to Mr Timothy, who will be head teacher at Partners in Progress Primary School!

ENROLLMENT WAS AMAZING! When we drove through the gates of our new Bauchi primary school, Partners in Progress, we were instantly met by both the Jarawa and Fulani chiefs, scores of men, women and children, so, so excited and happy to see us, as our coming meant that CLASSES WOULD SOON BEGIN! We enrolled nearly 300 children!! I don't remember such joy and gratitude for a school as we've seen here in Bauchi State!

This precious boy pictured below has an opportunity to receive an education AND healthcare! YOU have an opportunity to help support this child and the 300 others enrolled in this new school. Monthly support goes directly to Nigeria to pay the salaries of teachers and nurses!

See below to GIVE!

Here are some pictures from our parents' meeting at Partners in Progress Primary, Bauchi. We have 300 children enrolled so far, and over 30 applicants for the teaching jobs! Although there are 8 regular classrooms, we're considering using the 3 smaller rooms in the storehouse as classrooms as well. Just sooo many children - A GREAT problem to have! We try to keep class sizes under 30 students.

The Fulani women were SO thankful and grateful, they brought many gifts to show their appreciation! Included were decorative bowls, gourds, and three live chickens! They prepared the chickens for us to eat immediately. NOW THAT IS FRESH CHICKEN!

SFA ON THE ROAD!

Sunday, October 19th, SFA Secretary Carisa Haven will be sharing at Oroville Free Methodist Church in Oroville, WA!

Missionary Phyllis Sortor IS coming home for Christmas!

Sunday, December 28th, Phyllis will be sharing at Seattle First Free Methodist Church!

Sunday, January 4th, Phyllis will be sharing at Warm Beach Free Methodist Church!

*We would LOVE to share at YOUR church, wherever you are! Phyllis's time in the states is limited, but she DOES have some availability in January still! SFA Secretary Carisa would be happy to travel to your church, too! We can share our Kidnapped Redemption Film, and updates on what God is doing in Nigeria! We are a non-denominational ministry. We are happy to partner with ALL bible-believing churches. Email us for more details!

Email us!

As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him. Would you care to join us by supporting the work financially?

GIVE ONE TIME

GIVE MONTHLY

Seattle Missions Fest

SFA ON THE ROAD!

Friday/Saturday, October 10th - 11th, Missions Fest Seattle will be hosting MANY ministries, including SFA! See the flyer above, get more info HERE!

Sunday, October 19th, SFA Secretary Carisa Haven will be sharing at Oroville Free Methodist Church in Oroville, WA!

Missionary Phyllis Sortor IS coming home for Christmas!

Sunday, December 28th, Phyllis will be sharing at Seattle First Free Methodist Church!

Sunday, January 4th, Phyllis will be sharing at Warm Beach Free Methodist Church!

*We would LOVE to share at YOUR church, wherever you are! Phyllis's time in the states is limited, but SFA Secretary Carisa would be happy to travel to your church! We can share our Kidnapped Redemption Film, and updates on what God is doing in Nigeria! We are a non-denominational ministry. We are happy to partner with ALL bible-believing churches. Email us for more details!

Email us!

How's It Going In Bauchi State?

With Annual Conferences complete, Phyllis will soon return to Bauchi to enroll children, hire teachers and a nurse, buy school and clinic supplies, etc!! Partners In Progress School is COMPLETELY finished and ready to OPEN!! The roof is complete, and the dirt moved! :)

In The News This Month...

Grazing reserves are in Nigeria news this month! We are praying that the plan for proposed grazing reserves in each state will be realized and that the cattle owners will be willing to change their roaming lifestyles to settled lives of peace. SFA will put schools in each reserve, adding educated young people to a new and peaceful lifestyle. God is on the move!

Would you like to see what it's like at a market in Nigeria? Click on the button below for a 30-second clip! Warning - IT'S LOUD! :)

GO TO MARKET!

Say HELLO to Officer Jacob, Head Of Security!

Officer Jacob is experienced at keeping our team safe in Nigeria. He is also very kind, and very funny! Click HERE to see a sweet video greeting from Officer Jacob!

SFA ON THE ROAD!

THIS Saturday, September 20th, 6:30-8:30pm, Sage Hills Church, Wenatchee, WA in the Fireside Room, SFA Secretary Carisa Haven will be sharing about SFA, and her recent trip to Nigeria.

Friday/Saturday, October 10th - 11th, Missions Fest Seattle will be hosting MANY ministries, including SFA! See the flyer below, get more info HERE!

Sunday, October 19th, SFA Secretary Carisa Haven will be sharing at Oroville Free Methodist Church in Oroville, WA!

Missionary Phyllis Sortor IS coming home for Christmas!

Sunday, December 28th, Phyllis will be sharing at Seattle First Free Methodist Church!

Sunday, January 4th, Phyllis will be sharing at Warm Beach Free Methodist Church!

*We would LOVE to share at YOUR church, wherever you are! Phyllis's time in the states is limited, but SFA Secretary Carisa would be happy to travel to your church! We can share the Kidnapped Redemption Film, and updates on what God is doing in Nigeria! Email us for more details!

Email us!

**Although our base of support is from Free Methodist Churches, we are a non-denominational ministry. We are happy to partner with ALL bible-believing churches. :)

How's It Going In Bauchi State?

Phyllis is on her way to prepare for Annual Conferences in Nassarawa, Enugu and Akwa Ibom states! She is looking forward to Rev. Mike Reynen's arrival and the fun of seeing friends all across Nigeria! Below are progress photos taken at Mungyar Village; she will return here after conferences to enroll children, hire teachers and a nurse, buy school and clinic supplies, etc!! Partners In Progress School is almost finished! Below you can see the school getting a roof! The clinic is nearly complete!

God's INCREDIBLE FAVOR!

From Phyllis: I spent a great day in Abuja with my Fulani son, Mogodi (ABOVE, the tall one in white). He and I had been invited to meet with the President of the National Association of Cattle Dealers, Processors and Marketers of Nigeria (pictured in the black cap). We've been asked to work with them, to convince Nigerian President Tinubu and the state governors to recognize the Fulani as human beings, apportioning land for their cattle in each state. We'll do training for herdsmen in planting good grass and rotational grazing. Mogodi suggested that we set up the 99 hectares we own in Port Harcourt as a location and model for this.

President Ilyasu asked if we would go on a visit with him to several European countries to see how they feed and care for their cows. Mogodi said he would go, but only if I went with him. I said I would go. Exciting times ahead! President Ilyasu is calling himself my #2 Son, since Mogodi is #1!

As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him. Would you care to join us by supporting the work financially?

GIVE ONE TIME

GIVE MONTHLY

Partners In Progress!

SFA ON THE ROAD!

Saturday, September 20th, 6:30-8:30pm, Sage Hills Church, Wenatchee, WA in the Fireside Room, SFA Secretary Carisa Haven will be sharing about SFA, and her recent trip to Nigeria.

October 10th - 11th, Missions Fest Seattle will be hosting MANY ministries, including SFA! See the flyer below, get more info HERE!

Sunday, October 19th, SFA Secretary Carisa Haven will be sharing at Oroville FMC in Oroville, WA!

Missionary Phyllis Sortor IS coming home for Christmas, and will get to share at a church or two! We'll keep you posted on those dates!

A New School In Bauchi State!

Phyllis went with Wheelchairs For Nigeria to Bauchi state for a wheelchair distribution. While there, a government official invited her to come build a school there. They met in July to discuss the details, and a PARTNERSHIP was formed! So began Partners In Progress Primary School in Mungyar Village, Bauchi State. There are MANY Fulani in the area, living peacefully with other tribes just across the street! The chief is thrilled with the opportunity to educate his children, and the surrounding community!

Below is the Fulani chief in Mungyar Vilalge. His name is Ardo Gudel. Gudel means 'short man'! So he's Chief Short Man! He's a super nice guy - he'll be taking Phyllis around to the various Fulani camps to talk with the parents about sending their children to school.

Work began on the school and clinic last week! Phyllis walked the boundaries with the village elders again. There are children EVERYWHERE! There were also cows everywhere! Those cows will soon have to relocate - the school and healthcare clinic will go up quickly!

Phyllis and her team waited two whole days for the engineer to arrive at our new school site with his well drilling machine. He never showed. He kept saying he was 'coming'! In Nigeria, "I'm coming" gives a LOT of leeway. It could be in an hour... or a day... or a week. "I'm coming ON THE WAY" however, is a different story! We stand up and peer down the street at "I'm coming on the way"!!! He finally arrived, and the whole village celebrated! He was quickly successful at finding water, Praise God!

The government has given the team their guesthouse, free of charge, for as long as they need to stay while they build the school. They each have a luxurious bedroom - food is delivered - and there are two lounges, very nice. The only channel available on TV is football! (In Nigeria, 'soccer' is known as 'football'! But who's complaining??

Phyllis hired laborers to build block on site. Foundations were poured in concrete, and the blocks were already placed for the clinic building! Work on the clinic roof has begun!

The red portions on the map above represent the highest concentrations of Fulani people in Nigeria. Find JOS on the map and BAUCHI. Bauchi is the capital city of Bauchi State. We are building this very large primary school in Mungyar Village, within the red zone of Bauchi.

We also MUST initiate the establishment of schools in Gombe, where reside the highest concentrations of Fulani in Nigeria. Fortunately, Phyllis has a very good friend in Gombe, Alhaji Bello Mahmud, retired government official, who is ready and eager to assist.

There are over 6 MILLION Fulani living in Nigeria, and only 10% of them have ever been to school. Will you support our endeavor to provide every Fulani child with the opportunity to learn?

UPDATE! We just met with the Bauchi State representative and three other Bauchi representatives - they want SFA to establish schools in their constituencies as well. They are arranging a meeting for us with the State Governor! God's work is moving ahead!

We Have Some Needs...

At Lafiya 2 Grazing Reserve on Ero Mountain, Kogi State, we are working on a model grazing reserve. We are partnering with World Bank to refine the grass types that are best for our cattle there. We need beacon stones all around our large reserve, almost 1,000 acres! These beacon stones are used to mark our boundaries against encroaching neighbors. It is important, but also costly, at $10,000. The investment will safeguard our land for the long term. This work in rotational grazing is becoming more and more important for the Fulani, as the population is exploding in Nigeria. They are really beginning to recognize the value of staying in ONE PLACE!

Another need is that our schools are doing SO WELL that more classrooms are needed to meet the demand! TWO SCHOOLS, Good Shepherd Primary in Ogun State and Solid Rock in Plateau State need more classrooms! It will cost $15,000 to add more classrooms to one school.

Check out the story from School Supervisor Victoria, at Solid Rock School: We admitted so many children in Solid Rock Good Life Academy that the school is full! We have limited classroom space, and we even converted the headmaster's office for another class! As more and more children came in, we had to refuse to admit more until the next class graduated. Some Fulani children came to school in the morning, but because they were refused, they would sit outside the fence until school was over, then go home. This continued untill the local chief came and pleaded with us. He said he could not rest while the young children were sitting outside the fence. Once they are in, his mind will be at peace. We relented, creating another class for them since they are very young. Thank you, Supervisor Victoria Jwantu

At Good Shepherd Primary in Ogun State (below), Phyllis lives on a large river with over 100 Fulani families. There are SO MANY Fulani children, and our classrooms there are FULL! More classrooms are needed to squeeze them all in! Schools For Africa will hire additional teachers as soon as the classrooms can be built.

Can you help to fund this good work? Click the button below to give! To save on fees, please mail checks to SFA, c/o Don Standley, Treasurer, 1010 Silver Springs Way, Stanwood, WA 98292. Designate the funds for CLASSROOMS or BEACON STONES.

Click Here To Give!

As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him. Would you care to join us by supporting the work financially?

GIVE ONE TIME

GIVE MONTHLY

A WONDERFUL School Report!

After visiting MANY of our schools in Nigeria, I can say with great confidence that the schools are doing very well. We spent WEEKS traveling with Reverend John Raji, our SFA Assistant Director, and his wife Josephine - THEY admin all of the Kogi State schools, a several others! School reports are very strong. Reverend John and Josephine have trained all of the teachers in teaching young children English phonetically. They monitor student progress, lesson plans, teachers and staff. They visit the schools regularly to check in on teachers and meet with parents. We are careful to hire certified teachers who will genuinely care for the children. And OH THE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN! They are very thankful for the opportunity of an education!

Enjoy a video greeting from Reverend John and Josephine HERE!

Several years ago, American teachers Jan Novak (second from right, above), Judy Hildebrandt (second from left, above, a recent addition to our SFA board), and Carol Barrett (third from left, and pictured below) developed, distributed, and trained teachers in the phonetic program that SFA uses now to teach English to children. English is the 'official' national language in Nigeria. Many Nigerians speak their own tribal language, AND Hausa, a common language throughout the nation, AND English, or some combination thereof. While visiting Nigeria in June/July, retired teacher Carol was able to see the phonetics programs still being used in classrooms! She worked with the SFA Nigerian team to retrain teachers and fine tune the program. What a wonderful success the phonetics program has been! Praise God for these kind teachers, and their continued work in phonetics!

Below are some of the MANY incredible teachers we have!

Many Fulani understand the importance of education. They have seen our schools, met some families with educated children, and highly value education for their children! One Fulani man told me that he used to get lied to by the veterinarian. He would purchase meds for his cows, but they would be inert, outdated, or even poison! Now that the children can read, they can check the vaccines bought for cattle! Education will change the futures of students, AND their whole families! They have HOPE for a better future.

Below are a few precious students of the thousands gaining education through SFA!

Meet Hassan, Overcoming Every Challenge!

Hassan (pictured below) started school at Hope Academy in 2010. As a Fulani boy, he struggled with cultural and language barriers. He came to Hope Academy barely speaking English, and adjusting to the new environment was difficult. Life at Hope Academy was not easy for him - it was filled with challenges. He lost his father at a young age, and since then, surviving became his daily reality. Without guidance or support, he had to grow up quickly and learn to face life on his own. Hassan had no family members who supported his education. He had to find ways to manage school responsibilities alone. Many times, he had to work to support himself.

In the midst of it all, Hope Academy became more than a school. It became a second home to him as he stayed in the boarding house throughout his school days. At Hope Academy he was shown care, understanding, and belief in his potential. With support from Reverend Phyllis and Schools for Africa, he was able to focus on his studies, stay in school, and grow in confidence. He received excellent marks throughout school.

Today, we are proud that he has gained admission into university, something that once felt impossible for him. A great thanks to Reverend Phyllis and our Schools for Africa partners. May God bless Reverend Phyllis with good health and enrich her for all what she has done.

Thanks, Reverend John Raji, SFA Assistant Director

A Miraculous Trip W/ Phyllis To A Village In The Bush!

SFA Secretary Carisa Haven (left) traveled to Nigeria with a dear friend, Carol Barrett (right), in June/July! It was a highly successful trip! With Missionary Phyllis Sortor (center), we visited MANY of our schools, and God was with us in the lengthy travel! There are SO MANY stories to tell!

FIRST - THE ROADS WERE TERRIBLE!

We traveled throughout the nation for three whole weeks, rarely staying in one place for more than a day or two. We did A TON of driving. Phyllis always travels with two vehicles, an armored Lexus and a small pick up. This way, if a vehicle breaks down, we can get safely to the next stop while the other vehicle is repaired. Each vehicle has a driver and an armed security guard. For this trip, we had THREE armed guards!

Phyllis has told our board time and again how bad the roads are. She has even suggested we use planes to travel to each school! But until you see these Nigerian roads for yourself, you can't truly understand.

Imagine taking a jeep up into the mountains to do some 4x4ing, crawling slowly over rocks, through crevices and potholes. Now imagine doing that for 8-10 hours a day for 2-3 days straight! My core muscles are MUCH stronger from being on the road so much in Nigeria. Now add to the scene a mass of chaotic traffic. Picture HUGE semi trucks and dozens of kekes (little taxi vehicles) and dozens more motorcycles and cars and trucks ALL vying for the next six feet. One time we were just inches from a huge semi, and our vehicle lurched left, down into a huge hole. I thought surely we would hit the semi! We didn't.

Our drivers are SKILLED! On the way to a market, I asked our expert driver and SFA Manager Lawal, "Sooo, have you EVER accidentally knocked a motorcycle over?" He smiled, "No." I ask, "Have you ever accidentally even BUMPED a motorcycle?" Another small smile, "No." I am amazed! "But aren't you guys always getting into car wrecks and scraping each other's paint??!" Small smile, "No." Wow. "Lawal, how many accidents have you been in since you worked with SFA?" He replied, "I have driven Reverend Phyllis for 8 years, no accidents." Wow, I am truly shocked. How is this possible in SO MUCH traffic chaos and horrible road? They're just used to it, he tells me.

'Good' roads are few and far between, but even they are filled with HUGE potholes. We speed up to 60 MPH on the good parts, careening around huge potholes. Of course we are hitting many bone-jarring potholes. In the US, we would be checking our alignment if we hit one big pothole. In Nigeria, the whole road is one big pothole. AND, if the road looks better on the other side, folks would just switch over to our side and drive on the wrong side of the road! They were coming right AT US!

Driving might have been miserable, but for the great company and incredible scenery we drove past. The Lord was truly with us, keeping us safe. One day, I was watching the road too much (bad idea), and anxiety began to rise up in me (TRULY UNDERSTANDABLE). Thankfully, the Lord reminded me that He had given me this incredible opportunity as a gift - don't ruin it by letting anxiety take root! OK, Lord, you're right, I won't, I trust YOU! And the anxiety went away. :)

This story will never communicate just how terrible the roads are in Nigeria. And yet, we MUST travel to our schools throughout the nation to check on them and encourage them. Be thankful for our roads in the US, such as they are!

A Miraculous Day In Plateau State

Driving days were filled with discussion about each school, the people, God's gifts, many challenges, our team, etc. We were on our way to Plateau State. Chief Security Officer Jacob lives in Plateau State. Phyllis went to Jacob's church for his baby's dedication, and found the congregation meeting in a tin shack on rented land. The Lord asked Phyllis to build them a church! She did, then the church partnered with us to build a school nearby, called Solid Rock School.

The school is run by Victoria, a wonderful woman of God who is passionate about kids, Jesus, well actually, this beautiful woman is passionate about most things! She is doing a great job running the school. The local Fulani chief in the area, Ardo, is SO happy and SO thankful to have a school for his children. He is a great advocate for education - he and his wife are taking afternoon classes to learn to read and write English! He says he has left the disgrace of ignorance behind him. The school brings opportunity for a better life, and Ardo is thrilled for his family to have this opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.

Ardo is SO thrilled that after we built the school in 2023, he immediately started telling his brother Usman (also an Ardo, or village chief) all about it. His brother has a large village about 1 hour away. Ardo and Usman have been PESTERING Victoria for Reverend Phyllis to PLEASE PLEASE build a school for Ardo's brother's village! Well, finally, we are on our way to visit Ardo, and possibly go to see his brother. On the way there, Phyllis ACTUALLY SAYS TO ME that she wants to slow down (SHOCKING) building primary schools. Maybe we want to focus on building secondary schools, now that our students are needing to progress to further education. Our year is already packed with building projects, so in my heart I am thinking "We can not build a school for Ardo's brother, Usman. We are too busy."

After an hour of driving horrible roads through the bush way way out, we pull under the shade of a large nut tree, looking out over a field of corn. Across the field is the beautiful village of Ardo's brother Usman, made of cement block homes and huts. We trek down the trail through the corn, and are escorted to the shade in a stand of trees. They pull out Chief Usman's thrones for our 'mommies', Phyllis and Carol, to sit on - what honor they show us! They bring us a treat - a bottle of Maltina, my favorite soda, and bottled water!

The children are streaming in to join us - you should have SEEN them pouring in! First there were 8-10 children, then 20, then 50! Soon the whole village and almost 80 children surround us!

Ardo and Usman sit down with us, and through an interpreter, Ardo introduces Phyllis as MAMA FULANI to Usman. Usman is desperate for a school for his children as well - you should have seen the look in his eyes! Phyllis describes to Usman and the village how God called her to the Fulani. She explained that not only will we be blessing the Fulani with education, we will build peace with our neighbors by allowing other tribes to attend the school as well! Usman CLAPPED at the idea. He explained that there were MANY Fulani camps in the area, and many other tribes as well. He had already purchased land for the school, hoping that we would come. He can sell the land to Schools For Africa for a token small amount.

All was agreed upon, and we were off to see the land right next to his village. The land is plenty big enough for a LARGE school and soccer field. It is a beautiful location overlooking a lush green valley. How could we possibly say no to this man, his family, his children? We could not. Phyllis agreed to build a school for Chief Usman's village next year. There are THREE schools ahead of him. The elder men in the village actually CHEERED at the news, thanking Phyllis with great joy. They too would leave the disgrace of ignorance behind them. Their children would have opportunities that they themselves never dreamed of! Praise God!

I (Carisa) actually got this whole exchange on video! I will learn how to share it, and get it out to you as soon as I can. It is 20 minutes long.  Carol and I could barely hold back the weeping as we watched it all happen before our own eyes. WOW! This is how the Lord leads SFA. He leads, we follow. WOW! Praise God!

Miracle #1

Miracle #1, from Missionary Phyllis Sortor

I have a story to tell you - an amazing miracle - actually, TWO miracles! 

I’ll tell you Part 1 this month, and Part 2 later! These are events only God could bring to pass!  

Miracle in Port Harcourt, Part 1.

As some of you may know, in February we began the purchase of ninety-nine hectares of land in Port Harcourt, Rivers State - land which would be a permanent homeland for a large community of Fulani people, led by our long-time friend, Alhaji Mogodi, who’d been evicted from their homes by the government, their houses broken down and reduced to rubble, our school there demolished. With the help of a very strong SFA friend and supporter, we were able to purchase the land, pay the sellers, the surveyor, the agent, etc., and have the purchase properly registered in the appropriate government offices.

Wanting to make it known that we would be building a school on this land, we had two large signboards made with the name of the future school, Peaceful Village Primary School, and our name, Schools for Africa. The agent went with some community boys and erected the signboards at two locations on the land. Next thing we knew was, the signboards had been removed and taken away by persons unknown.

In late April, when he was relatively free from his work overseeing the Enugu building project, I sent SFA Manager Lawal to work with the surveyor and place boundary markers, or ‘beacons’ at the four corners of the land. This is common practice here in Nigeria and confirms that the land is under ownership, thereby preventing encroachment. 

But when Alhaji Mogodi went with Lawal to start the process of setting the beacons, throngs of local community men came and stopped them, saying that no way would they give us access to the land! 

Mogodi and Lawal answered that they would return with police to set the beacons. The community men said they would just take down the beacons. No way were they going to allow Mogodi and his Fulani people to enter that land. NO Fulani would set foot there and live among them. Never. 

Mogodi, who by the way is the Sariki Fulani in all of Rivers State, called a community meeting, attended by hundreds of people, but no matter what he told them, most importantly that it is the LAW in Nigeria that the seller of land must give peaceful possession of said land to the buyer, or return the full selling price in full, the community refused to listen.

Mogodi and Lawal went to the King, the Overall Chief in the area. We had visited him before, to introduce ourselves, tell him about SFA and the plans for a school, clinic and market on that land we had purchased. At that time I had to pay a fee, to be allowed an audience with this king - two goats and quite a hefty amount of cash! Well, Mogodi and Lawal went to the King, asking him to call a meeting of all the local chiefs and subchiefs, to solve this problem once and for all.

For this meeting to happen, the King demanded four goats, a huge amount of money for himself and for each chief, money for entertainment, (food,) and drinks! I paid. All of us were praying seriously that this meeting would solve our problems and we could move ahead with our plans! The King set the time for a meeting but didn’t show up. A second time was set, for the following day. Again, the King didn’t show up. Lawal emailed me that he couldn’t sleep, he was so worried about this situation. I told him we have to keep praying and trusting God for a solution. 

In Ogun State, on Wednesday, May 14, I had gone to Abeaokuta to run some errands. On the way back, I asked my driver to stop at Prophet Elijah’s little church. Prophet Elijah is a wonderful man of God whom we met recently and were able to help with the repairs and building of his church. I told the Prophet about the Port Harcourt land issue, that we needed access to this land we’d purchased for the Fulani and asked him to pray about this situation. 

‘What is today?” Prophet asked me. “Wednesday? Okay. GIve me today, Thursday and Friday. I’ll ask God. He’ll answer me by then.” I had thought we’d just pray together then and there, but he waved us back into our car. 

“Jacob,” Prophet said to Officer Jacob as we were climbing into the car, “Give me your phone number so I can call you with any news.” Jacob did so.

The next day, Thursday, I was over at the school, when Mustafa, our security guard came to tell me that the Prophet was at the gate. I went out to meet him and walked with him down to the guest house. 

After we were seated in the parlor, Prophet Elijah said, “God answered me at 1 am this morning. God said that you will be given access to your land today. He told me to tell you to read Isaiah 61:1-8.” I quickly went to my room and brought back my Bible, turned to that passage in Isaiah and read it aloud.  

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

    because the Lord has anointed me

    to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

    to proclaim freedom for the captives

    and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

    and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

    instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

    instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

    instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

    a planting of the Lord

    for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins

    and restore the places long devastated;

they will renew the ruined cities

    that have been devastated for generations.

5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;

    foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,

    you will be named ministers of our God.

You will feed on the wealth of nations,

    and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of your shame

    you will receive a double portion,

and instead of disgrace

    you will rejoice in your inheritance.

And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,

    and everlasting joy will be yours.

8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;

    I hate robbery and wrongdoing.

In my faithfulness I will reward my people

    and make an everlasting covenant with them.

At 4pm that same Thursday afternoon, Lawal called. The man who had sold us the land had gone with police and set our beacon stones, making the land officially ours. Lawal added that the King had met with them and told them he would keep his hand in this matter and see that our plans for the school, clinic and Fulani market and homeland would come to pass.

God answered prayer and gave us the miracle we so desperately needed! What an amazing God we serve!

I believe you can see that God approves of the work we are doing in our schools, grazing reserves, clinics and churches - work which primarily assists this despised and neglected people group known as the Fulani. God is blessing our work, opening doors, providing for our needs and guiding us nearly daily into new fields of service. 

I thank God for this, and for all of you whom God has called to serve Him in this way. Love and Blessings, Phyllis and Team SFA

As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him. Would you care to join us by supporting the work financially?

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Bible Translation For The Fulani!

The image below is of John 3:16 in Fufulde, which translates to "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

Bible Translation

Hearing the Bible spoken directly has a special power — no middleman is needed. Of the many Fulfulde dialects, only a few have complete translations of the entire Bible, though many have the New Testament. Several translation teams are working to bring God's Word into these languages.

Please pray for those working on those translation teams:

  • Please ask God to guide translators and others working on these projects. Pray for clear, energetic minds that will catch mistakes and understand the best words to use in each situation.

  • Translation teams are often cross-cultural and can be spread apart geographically. Please pray for clarity and understanding as translation teams communicate and make decisions. Pray that they will grow in Christ and love one another as He loves them.

  • Ask God to grant translators wisdom as they decide on the right modes and methods for distributing the Scriptures. Pray for adequate funding and open doors to get the work done.

Bill Gates And President Of Nigeria Honor Ayuba Gufwan

Check out the article below, spotlighting a ministry that we love and partner with, Wheelchairs For Africa. WFA is run by SFA board member Ron Rice!

INCLUSIVE NEWS NETWORK

by Sejoro Ekundayo

June 5, 2025 

President Tinubu Honours Bill Gates as Gates Dedicates Award to Ayuba Gufwan, Executive Secretary of Disability Commission

In a landmark moment of recognition, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday conferred the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, in appreciation of his outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s development.

The investiture, held during Gates’ visit to Nigeria, celebrated his decades-long philanthropic efforts in health, education, and poverty alleviation through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

President Tinubu also held a meeting with Dr. Ayuba Burki Gufwan, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), marking a symbolic moment that highlighted Nigeria’s progress in the fight against polio and its commitment to building a healthier and more inclusive society.

In a remarkable show of humility and solidarity, Gates dedicated the Commander of the Federal Republic award to Chief Ayuba Gufwan, a polio survivor and founder of Wheelchairs for Nigeria. Chief Gufwan has been a leading voice in disability advocacy, dedicating his life to improving the welfare of persons with disabilities across the country.

Having lost the use of his legs to polio at the age of five, Chief Gufwan has empowered thousands by distributing hand-powered tricycles to individuals with mobility challenges, significantly improving their independence and dignity.

Describing him as “a symbol of resilience and hope,” Gates praised Gufwan’s unwavering commitment to disability rights and grassroots advocacy for immunization.

“It’s always an honor to partner with incredible Nigerian healthcare workers, midwives, researchers, innovators, and changemakers—like the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and Wheelchairs for Nigeria’s Chief Ayuba Gufwan, a polio survivor who has spent his life raising awareness, delivering mobility aids, and championing vaccines. People like him make me hopeful that, despite the odds and obstacles, we can #EndPolio for good,” Gates said.

He added, “His story is not just one of survival, but of leadership and transformation.”

The event marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward disability inclusion and underscored the federal government’s recognition of individuals championing change in underserved communities.

Dr. Ronald and Sharon Rice

1542 Palm Ave SW

Seattle, WA 98116

206-932-6129

www.WheelchairsforNigeria.org

“When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Luke 14:12-14)

As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him. Would you care to join us by supporting the work financially?

GIVE ONE TIME

GIVE MONTHLY

Enugu Secondary School is FINISHED!

REMEMBER the unfinished building in Enugu that Phyllis and Team SFA tackled in the spring? It is completed! WOW! It looks amazing! The school was originally going to be primary only, but Rev. Mathias and wife Nse introduced a Secondary School using the 2nd and 3rd floors. When they tried to register the school, they were denied, based on their use of the upper floors - the two schools COULD NOT be in the same building. So they began building the unfinished school below. Running out of funds, it sat unfinished for some time. Now, it is a GORGEOUS two-story building with plenty of room! Primary students will be able to continue their education into secondary school! Praise God for the opportunity, the ability, and the successful completion of this school! Lord, bless this school!

Pray For Nigeria

Prayercast.com has posted a beautiful video prayer for Nigeria. You will LOVE to see the beautiful video, and to hear the Nigerian accent of the person praying. It is a rich prayer, please join us in praying for Nigeria. Watch the video HERE!

As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him. Would you care to join us by supporting the work financially?

GIVE ONE TIME

GIVE MONTHLY