Both Sandi and I grew up in missionary families, and as children were exposed to the overwhelming need for people to hear the gospel, and we were exposed to the lack of church planting efforts overseas. Knowing all the blessings we’ve been given in Christ, the love of Christ was very apparent to us and brought us to a place where the least we could do was to be a living sacrifice
When Sandi and I met we were both in the training with New Tribes Mission and we were both preparing to go to Guinea. As we met and fell in love, we felt it was the Lord’s confirmation for us that Guinea was where He would have us to serve. The Lord led us to Guinea separately, but impressed on us the same thing, that there was a great need as little had been done in the country of 9 million people with only 1% claiming an evangelical background.
We are presently involved in a ministry titled “business administration and government representation”. I am the person on the field who represent our mission agency to the government. I help foster good relationships with government officials. I submit reports and information to the necessary agencies. Also I’m involved in business representation. I take care of all exonerations for containers or vehicles coming into the country for our missionaries’ interior. I represent them when getting new visas, vehicle paperwork, billings, airport pickup and drop-offs, and I help transition new and returning members to the field. I also am involved in contingency planning for our field for emergency events.
There are many other aspects of our ministry, but I would sum it up in saying that what we do keeps the church planters in the tribes and hard at work without having to take unnecessary time out of the tribe to get these problems resolved. We feel very much a part of the church planting effort in Guinea. We are in daily contact with many of the interior missionaries to see that their needs are met. The missionaries here are a team and family, and we work together to accomplish the goal of church planting among people groups that have never heard the gospel.
We live in the capital city, but it is unlike most cities in the world. There is no electricity in the daytime and it only comes every other night. Also in the dry time of the year, there is no water, so you have to haul it by hand. So from the outset, the living conditions in the city are quite challenging. Sometimes the water and electrical situations improves to a point where you think it will remain consistent, only to see it deteriorate again. A good theme here would be “inconsistency”. We have developed certain systems of “off grid” electricity for the home and office as well as water reservoirs on our roof. Our ministry is one of dealing with planning and coordinating with people as well as a whole lot of last minute problems and emergencies that arise. I’m the “go to” guy for those things. I usually begin the day early and end around 6ish. We spend the evenings together as a family. Occasionally, I’m helping families get through customs at the airports and can be gone for the evenings with that.
Recently we were relocated out of the country due to protests against the government. It was a real test of trusting the Lord amidst hard circumstances, as well as resting in Him to give us the wisdom to handle what is before us, and the peace to get us through.
God is giving us opportunity to live before our children what we feel is important to us and we follow the Lord. We just had a nice break with both our families in the US and are ready to get back to serving the Lord alongside our co-workers in Guinea.
We have been blessed with great co-workers, The Duecks, and recently the Yao’s (an African family). They have been a great help and encouragement to the work. Through their help, we have opportunity for a lighter load to enable some side time for ministry of encouragement to the national church. Telecommunication improvements have made for better communications with missionaries interior and have improved the ability to meet needs and keep people at their posts longer.
The Guinean church is weak as it is very young and falling prey to many of the same problems Paul was finding in the Corinthian church. The number of nationals turning to Christ seems to be increasing however. Here in the city we are surrounded by many of these believers. As we have opportunity we want to be used of the Lord to encourage them in reaching out to their own people groups interior to spread the gospel.
We have many works interior that have begun small churches. These small pockets of believers are seeing persecution on a daily basis. As they stand up for Christ it is beginning to have an impact on the region of Boke where our mission works. Those persecuting them are beginning to see that their faith is real. As a result there has been more opportunity for these believers to share their faith and become established. This is a fragile, yet important time in these young churches.
Overseas Address: Mission Evangelique-NTM
O30 BP 826 Conakry
Republic of Guinea
WEST AFRICA
Statesode Address: 103 Woodrose Way
Venice, Fl 34293
E-mail: caleb_nicholson@ntm.org
Mission/Support Address: New Tribes Mission
1000 E First ST
Sanford Fl. 32771