What began as a vision gradually unfolded into a meaningful outreach as the leadership of ECWA Rantya Jos Local Church, in partnership with Gospel Recordings Ministry (GRN), identified the unreached Gbagyi people.
The focus communities are predominantly rooted in African Traditional Religion, with a growing but not yet dominant Islamic influence. Despite this presence, many of the people have not embraced Islam, leaving a significant opportunity for Gospel engagement. Like many rural communities in Nigeria, the people face challenges of multidimensional poverty, low literacy levels, and moral struggles.
One of the major barriers encountered was communication. The low literacy level and limited understanding of commonly used trade languages made it difficult to effectively share the Gospel through conventional means. However, this challenge was overcome through the use of GRN materials in the Gbagyi language. These audio and visual tools became a vital bridge, presenting the message of hope in a clear, relatable, and culturally appropriate way. The response from the communities was encouraging, as many listened with deep interest and understanding.
Highlights of the Outreach
• Missionaries from ECWA churches in surrounding communities actively participated in the outreach. Together we were organized into groups and carried out house-to-house evangelism, relying largely on GRN materials to communicate effectively.
• A total of 10 new converts were recorded during the outreach. In addition, several individuals expressed genuine interest in the Christian faith and are currently being followed up for further discipleship.
• Two evangelistic film shows by GRN Team were held in 2 consecutive nights, featuring “Walking with Jesus” and the “Jesus Film” in the Gbagyi language. Attendance was remarkable, with large crowds gathering each evening, demonstrating the community’s openness and curiosity toward the messages.
• A new church was successfully planted as a direct outcome of the outreach. The inaugural service was held in March 2026, marking a significant milestone in establishing a Christian presence in the community and to ensure continuity and spiritual growth, the parent church made arrangements for a trained evangelical missionary to serve as the resident pastor of the new church.
Challenges and Testimonies
The outreach was not without its challenges. Issues related to security concerns, transportation, and logistics posed significant difficulties. However, despite these obstacles, the team experienced God’s provision and guidance throughout the entire process.
This outreach has laid a strong foundation for lasting impact in these communities. With continued follow-up, discipleship, and support for the newly planted church, there is great potential for sustained spiritual growth and transformation. We remain confident that the seeds sown during this outreach will yield lasting fruit, bringing glory to God and expanding His Kingdom among the Gbagyi people.
Joshua Bello, Nigeria Centre Leader
