From Jan. 23 to Feb. 6, 2007, the associate senior pastor for Nigeria, Mark Mickelson, went to Nigeria to visit the Nigerian associate pastor, Oludare Akinbo, and the brethren in Owerri and Port Harcourt. He also searched out likely rocks for the rock climbing activity for the youth camp this summer.

A "Chance" Meeting?

Mr. Mickelson was to leave Spokane, Washington, where he pastors, on Jan. 22, but a faulty plane caused him to leave a day later. He thought, "I am grateful God made them discover the fault before it left the ground!" He then had a four-hour delay in Amsterdam, also due to a faulty plane, and he had to change planes again!

These seeming unrelated events brought him into contact with Roger Quinn, an American who manages an oil servicing company in Nigeria and considers the country now his home. The two got talking. (Mr. Quinn said he figured this must be a rich oil worker and maybe he could get some business coming his way!)

One thing led to another and they started to talk about the Church and the Bible. Mr. Mickelson gave him a copy of the current Good News and, after reading through it, Mr. Quinn said, "Hey, I like this. This is the truth. It sounds right and answers some of the questions I have been having as I read my Bible!" He had read enough of his Bible to wonder about the Trinity, the Sabbath and a few other issues.

He was so enthusiastic to learn about God's truth that he extended an invitation to visit him in Port Harcourt, in the Niger Delta part of Nigeria. We already planned to visit a member and his family in the city of Port Harcourt.

When we visited Port Harcourt, Mr. Quinn welcomed us into his house, and we had several hours of interesting discussions about the Bible and the Church. When the landlord of the house came over for a visit, Mr. Quinn introduced Mr. Mickelson by saying, "This is my pastor, Mark Mickelson!"

During a discussion of the preparations for camp and some of the materials and personnel needed, it came up that it would be wonderful to have archery as an activity if we could get the materials and an instructor. It turned out Mr. Quinn is quite good at using the bow and arrow and has many years of experience. He without reservation volunteered to help.

Since that time we have sent him a number of our booklets to help him continue to grow in his understanding. I believe that "chance" meeting was another example of the various ways God orchestrates events to bring people into contact with the truth.

Protection and Divine Assistance

During the two-week trip, God protected us from possible harm or serious inconveniences in two dramatic ways.

On Jan. 29, we drove past Port Harcourt's police station and main prison barely an hour before it was attacked by armed militants. These Niger Delta militants dynamited the walls of the prison, freeing over 112 prisoners and their incarcerated leader. They reportedly terrorized the town for several hours, with a three-hour gun battle with the police. Had we been delayed about another hour or less, we would have been unable to leave town.

Akure—Political Rally Riot

On Feb. 3, after a Bible study for Good News subscribers in Akure in southwestern Nigeria, there was a violent riot resulting from a political rally. There were at least three reported deaths and several hundred injured less than a quarter mile from the hotel we stayed in. At the time, we were visiting with a member's family in the neighboring town of Ondo, some 25 minutes' drive away. Apparently the riot played itself out just about a half hour before we returned.

Abeokuta—a Perfect Rock

God also led us to a perfect place for the summer camp rock climbing activity. We had searched for rocks suitable for climbing and were despairing of finding the right type in that part of the country when we "chanced" upon the perfect site. It was shaded, offers several options and had test holes drilled into the smooth top surface at angles and distances apart exactly suitable for setting up a rope system. UN