YWAM Port Harcourt's story

The story of YWAM Port Harcourt is closely linked to that of YWAM Nigeria, here reported by Lynn Yee in 2004.

The Birth of YWAM Nigeria
By Lynn Yee / 2004 - YWAM Intl Communications.

After 40 years, YWAM has officially moved into Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation with over 100 million people. Where previously YWAM's work in Nigeria has been done in partnership with Calvary Ministries, God has now provided people and resources in miraculous ways to bring forth YWAM Nigeria.

In August 2001, YWAM Nigeria was launched by Loren Cunningham and Paul Dangtoumda at a Go Festival in Lagos, Nigeria. After the Go Festival, Paul went around to different cities in the nation praying about where to start the campus. The Lord led him to Port Harcourt.

Paul started the UofN campus in Togo, West Africa in 1991. After 10 years of ministry, the Lord put Nigeria in Paul's heart and led him to start the base there. "God was showing us that Nigeria will be key in reaching North Africa, and my heart is to see North Africa come to know the Lord," said Paul.

It began with the persistent prayers of a devout Nigerian lady affectionately known as "Mommy Anne." After she came to know the Lord through YWAMers, she grounded herself in YWAM teachings and books, and she prayed for 10 years that YWAM would come into Nigeria. Through a divine appointment, Paul met her in Port Harcourt, and she introduced him to friends in high places. "This woman really loves God and loves missions. She contacted the governor of the state who opened a lot of doors for us," Paul said.

In Port Harcourt, YWAM was welcomed by the governor, as well by the media. When Loren and Paul shared about the vision of starting the UofN campus in Port Harcourt and about their need for land, the governor, who is a Christian, provided 30 acres of land with a ready building. On top of that, he fenced the entire property with a wall and brought in the electricity for the place.

The government's efforts to help establish YWAM Nigeria challenged the Church, and they gave to the mission, blessing the pioneering campus with US$15,000. "This was amazing. Everything came from inside Nigeria. It's amazing to see the way the Church in Nigeria is giving, and I think they have something to teach to the rest of us, the Body of Christ in Africa, about giving to missions," said Paul.

Despite the conflict between between Christians and Muslims in northern Nigeria, Paul has faith for this nation. He mentions 60 Muslims from an Islamic unreached people group who recently gave their lives to the Lord in northern Nigeria. "I believe that as West Africans, we have a very big responsibility toward North Africa, because it's close to us, and we can go there easily. We have a big responsibility to bring the gospel to this area. This was why we moved to Nigeria--to mobilize as many as possible," said Paul...