Anthis family in Nigeria
Anthis Update
Dear Friends and Family,
Happy Thanksgiving from Nigeria!
As we reflect on all the Lord is doing in our midst we have much to be thankful
for. Let us give you one recent example.
We were blessed in early November to have a team of six people from Houston’s Christ
EPC Church
join us for 10 days. As part of their time here, we were able to help build a
“bridge”. Now these were not builders in the literal sense, but
Kingdom “builders”. We joined fellow SIM missionaries Kelly and
Tim Malloy and did a medical outreach to a Fulani camp near Jos. How was this
bridge building? The Fulani are a large (at least 12 million in Nigeria) nomadic, cattle herding, unreached people
group who originally brought Islam to Nigeria 1000 years ago. The
Malloy’s have a desire to build relationships for the Gospel in the
Fulani camp where we went. In our one day in the camp, we were able to see and
treat close to 100 patients. But more importantly, when we were finished the
chief invited Tim to come back any time. Several individuals also expressed an
interest in studying the Bible. A bridge has been built. Please pray with us
that God would continue to draw these people to Himself.
Cindy taking the
Chief’s blood pressure. Lorie McQuade
making friends in the camp.
Medical Rounds
Last week Joel traveled to Port Harcourt
in Southern Nigeria for the annual meeting of
the Otorhinolaryngological Society of Nigeria (say that three times fast!).
This was an excellent opportunity for Joel to meet Nigerians working in the ENT
field all over the country. It was a time of relationship building and
networking. He was able to present the initial results of the first successful
cochlear implant ever performed in Nigeria,
which was done at Evangel
Hospital in late July and
stimulated in October. Several doctors he met (some Christians and some
Muslims) expressed a strong desire to come and spend some weeks or even months
in Jos to pursue further training with Joel. Others asked Joel to come as a
visiting lecturer to their universities in other parts of Nigeria. This
is a “God thing” that opens up an entirely new potentially far
reaching avenue of ministry here in Nigeria. Pray that the Lord would give
Joel wisdom in how to respond to each opportunity, and that the Lord will be
glorified through it all.
Joel and his patient with
her cochlear implant
Hall of Fame
The Christ EPC team definitely gets added to the Hall of Fame! Buck
and Lynn Oliphant, Lee and Alice Backsen, Judy Wu and Lorie McQuade served us
and the Lord in so many ways during their time in Nigeria. As mentioned above, they
participated in a Fulani camp outreach. They also participated in a village
medical outreach which saw more than 500 patients for both physical and
spiritual needs and included more than 100 responding to an invitation to
receive Jesus at the night time film show. They ministered to patients in the hospital.
They ministered in “Blindtown” to the blind, lame and lepers. They
spent time with former street kids giving each of them a new soccer jersey.
And most of all, they encouraged us to persevere in the work that God has
called us to do.
The Christ EPC
team. Lynn praying with a patient on the village
outreach.
Kid’s Corner
We continue to be thankful that our children love to be involved with
the ministry here in Nigeria.
Austin and Allison accompanied the team to do some of their work. Abby also
embraces the culture in her own way!!!!
Austin helping the team distribute soccer
jerseys. Abby with her good friend, Sarah and her latest hairdo!
Prayer and Praise
Praises:
- For
an awesome time of ministry with the short term team from Houston’s
Christ EPC
- For
a successful Nigerian ENT meeting for Joel
- For
our awesome prayer and support team
Prayer Requests:
- For
continued safety and God’s peace for our family and our co-workers
- For
the continued healing, both spiritually and physically of the many
patients we see everyday
- For
each patient encounter we have, that Christ would be evident in our words
and deeds
Serving Christ on your behalf here in Nigeria,
Joel and Cindy
Austin, Allison, and Abigail
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17197 N. Laurel Park Dr., Ste 567
Livonia, MI
48152
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