"Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

WEST AFRICA TRIP REPORT – Paul & Janet Galligan
FEBRUARY 23rd to MARCH 30th, 2011

NIGERIA
Lagos: 24th Feb to 3rd Mar. & 11th Mar.
We arrived in Lagos 12 noon on 24th Feb. Met by our host Moses Timothy and five other brothers.
Mohamed Bakarr from Sierra Leone, flew in on Friday evening and joined us on Saturday morning, remaining with us for the full extent of our trip. Bro. Bakarr had asked to come to Australia for training, but instead the Lord made it possible for him to come to Nigeria and spend the next five weeks travelling with us on team – this was his training. He was our companion, bodyguard and servant, and he contributed much wisdom and insight to the team as we prayed and shared together with him.
On Friday and Saturday we met with up to 40 brethren, most of whom have been part of the apostolic company in Lagos, and have been attending regular weekly training sessions with Moses Timothy.
On Sunday we visited four churches. Each one is a part of the apostolic company and very special. There are true sons growing up here and we see good fruit.
Monday 28th to Wed. 2nd March we had a three day conference in Moses Timothy’s facility, 60-70 in attendance each day. Teaching sessions included: Workers for the Harvest, When the Church Prays, teaching on the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus our Apostle, Restoration and teaching on sonship. Questions and answers also opened up discussion in a number of other areas including oneness and tithing.
In the afternoons and evenings we had visits from different brethren and Moses Timothy spent much time with us building relationship. The brethren in Lagos receive Paul as a father and accept the authority of the word in both of us.
Overall we were impressed by the meetings in Lagos. A big percentage of the brethren had been in the meetings last year and had continued with the apostolic teaching since. There was a greater level of maturity among the brethren, so the teaching could be delivered at a deeper level. Another man has been added to the leadership team of the apostolic company, Pastor Chibuzor Godfirst, joining Paul Harrison and Moses Timothy. Each of these brothers have strong support from their wives and we were able to exhort and encourage them to be co-workers together with their wives.
 We have asked Pastor Godfirst to take responsibility for the printing and distribution of materials in Nigeria. This means that we can refer people to him for the resources and also direct him to release resources where we know of a particular need. We also hope to get 1000 copies of Apostles Today printed in Lagos at a reasonable cost, and are looking to raise funds for this project.
On the 11th March, after being in Port Harcourt, we returned to Lagos and had an ordination and commissioning service at Moses Timothy’s facility. This had been arranged before we left Lagos, but due to flight delays it was nearly 4.30pm before we arrived. Brethren had been waiting for us for over two hours. Over 30 were ordained, some as apostles, a few as prophets and evangelists, teachers and pastors. These were brethren known to Moses and the apostolic company; some had been ordained before, but now wanted to be set in apostolic order. This was a wonderful service followed by much rejoicing.

Abuja: 3rd to 7th Mar.
On Thursday 3rd we flew to Abuja; brother Bakarr was with us. We were met by our hosts, Elisha and Peter, and several other brothers who were part of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). Abuja is the political capital of Nigeria and while we have had teams visit Abuja on two previous occasions, there had been no real fruit from those visits.
 
This time we felt that our visit to Abuja was very worthwhile; a break through visit. We were impressed with Elisha Babalola, who was the one who had invited us to come to Abuja. He has a ministry of helps and is always reaching out to others. He has immersed himself in all our materials and is very keen to promote the materials with others, wanting others to benefit from the teaching. He had done much copying, and passing out of teaching manuals to promote the apostolic doctrine prior to our visit.
Elisha was connected through another brother, Pastor Peter, who had met Paul and Nick on their visit in 2008 and from that time Elisha began to email us and has been receiving our newsletters. He does not have his own local base and he had to really persevere in pushing through to get meetings arranged for our visit. He and Pastor Peter had approached the PFN to host the meetings at short notice. This was not easy as he had left his arrangements quite late and the PFN were not sure about hosting someone whom they had not previously known. However Elisha gave then some of the manuals to look at and after studying the materials they agreed to host a two day conference on Friday and Saturday.

Nine leaders from PFN came to meet with us on Thursday evening of our arrival in Abuja and we had a very positive informal meeting with them in our hotel room.
Overall the teachings during the two days were well received. Most were new to apostolic teaching and so the level of the teaching was foundational: Christ the foundation of the church, Jesus – Son of God, discipleship and sonship.
On Friday the meeting was held in a hotel conference room, but it was not available on Saturday, so one of the pastors who attended on Friday offered his church facility for the meeting on Saturday. This pastor, Fideles Amos, received much revelation and invited us to speak in his Sunday morning meeting.
One of the key things that happened in Abuja was the connection of people who have a heart for the apostolic. Elisha has made new contacts and others who embrace the teaching are now connected with Elisha.

We met a brother, David Ogboko, who, after being in the meeting on Friday, came to Paul and asked him if he know of Bill Britton. This brother had received some material from Bill Britton over 25years ago, loved it, and embraced that stream of teaching. When he heard Paul speak he recognised some similarities and he was so happy to hear someone teaching these things. David had been attending a local fellowship for some time but feeling a call to step out into ministry. He had talked this through with his pastor and the pastor already knew from God that David was to do this, so he had agreed to commission David on Sunday 6th. When David heard Paul at the conference, he felt this was a divine connection and invited us to also be part of that commissioning service.
On Sunday 6th we first went to Pastor Fideles Amos church meeting and Paul taught on discipleship. We were then taken to the main church of Pastor Lawrence, Chairman of PFN, for our second preaching appointment. Then were picked up and taken to the church of Pastor Godwin for the commissioning of David Ogboko. Finally Pastor Peter took us to see the place where he is constructing a church facility. It is in a very poor area, behind a rubbish dump which was burning, so there was much smoke and many flies! We broke bread there with Peter and his family and prayed together with them.  
Again we had numbers of brethren coming back to meet with us in our hotel room that we were able to exhort, encourage and pray with. John Aremu was a connection from the past that were able to meet up with again. We also had a visit to Elisha’s home and met with his wife and children. His wife Edith is a teacher at a Jesuit School which has 600 students. Elisha and Edith live in a provided house on the school compound.

Port Harcourt: 7th to 11th Mar.
On Monday 7th we departed from Abuja and flew back to Lagos, then later the same afternoon caught a flight to Port Harcourt. Moses Timothy had gone ahead to Port Harcourt and was at the airport to meet us with brother Kenneth, whom we had met in Lagos last year. A number of other brethren new to us were there to welcome us.
Kenneth has been conducting apostolic teaching classes in his area and it was at his invitation that we came to Port Harcourt. We were picked up in three cars; two of the cars had an armed policeman in them. Kenneth had been to the police commissioner and arranged for the policemen to accompany us throughout our time in Port Harcourt to guarantee our security.
We were put in a nice hotel, some considerable distance from brother Kenneth’s area which was not considered a safe or suitable area for us to be accommodated in.
When we arrived we found that due to lack of communication we were double booked for two separate programs on Wednesday and Thursday. The two groups were trying to resolve this and with wisdom and advice from brother Bakarr they came to an arrangement that was satisfactory for everyone.
We all travelled to Kenneth’s area on Tuesday; took about one hour of quite frightening driving! Kenneth lives in a poorer area and has a very humble structure. Half the building had no roof so they had erected two tents for people to sit under, 40-50 attended. Teaching sessions included: Christ, Son of God, What is the Gospel, Discipleship and foundations, God’s goal for His church, and the grace of an apostle.

On Wednesday Paul and Moses went to Kenneth’s place again for the second day of teaching, while Janet and Bakarr went to another place, much closer to where we were staying, to fulfil our other commitment. This church was called Footmarks of Christ Ministries and our host was Rev Goddy Oti. Then we all went to Rev. Goddy’s for an evening session from 6.30 to 8pm.
On Thursday we did a morning session with Rev Goddy, then travelled across to Kenneth’s to conduct a graduation of about 30 students who had completed a study course facilitated by Kenneth in which they had been studying a number of the teaching manuals. This was quite a time of celebration for all. We returned to our hotel by 5pm and then were picked up again at 6.30pm for a final evening session with Rev Goddy.
 
Having the double program proved to be a blessing because it enabled us to reach a larger group of leaders than if we had only gone to Kenneth’s. Rev Goddy received much revelation about sonship and inheritance. He is keen to start a school and will be in communication with Moses Timothy about this. In both the groups brethren attended from other States who keenly embrace the apostolic teaching and took material so that they could start schools in their own areas. Moses Timothy and another apostle, Cletus, will both be able to give oversight to these schools.
We were also blessed because Rev Goddy and his group fully hosted us with accommodation and meals while we were in Port Harcourt.  

GHANA
Ho: 12th to 16th Mar.
On Saturday 12th we departed Lagos, Nigeria and flew to Accra, Ghana. We were met by Samuel Sowah and driven into the Volta Region to the city of Ho. Our host in Ho was Apostle Daniel, whom we had met in Tema on our visit in 2010. He has a Pastor who works closely with him whose name is Hanson.
Samuel returned to Tema, but left another Ghanaian brother, George, with us to look after us and be part of our team with Bakarr.  
In Ho we found a well established group of people, who were good worshipers and seemed to relate well to one another. We ministered in their church meeting on Sunday 13th; then had a two day teaching seminar on Monday and Tuesday. Here teaching included: Apostles are master builders, Who are apostles? Discipleship and teaching on Prayer from 1Tim.2:1-8. The session on prayer was particularly powerful when at the end of the session Paul asked Apostle Daniel to lead in prayers for the government of the nation and for all those in authority.
At the end of the final session we had a ministry time ending with anointing Apostle Daniel and his wife and exhorting him that it was time for him to begin to fulfil the international arm of his apostolic ministry. His local ministry is called Restoration Chapel, but they also have a ministry called Jeremiah Missions International. Up to now Daniel has concentrated on the local ministry, but Paul prophetically spoke to him that it was now time for him to release the local work to Pastor Hanson and as the apostle to take up the mantle of the international ministry.
Later Pastor Hanson told us that everything Paul had spoken and prayed over them was confirmation of what the Lord has been showing them and speaking to them over the past 10 years. He was so blessed and encouraged.

 

TOGO
Lome: 16th to 21st Mar.
On Wednesday 16th we travelled by car to Togo. Because of a series of unfolding events, what should have been a few hours morning drive to Togo ended up being an all day saga. We finally arrived in Lome at 8.15pm and were taken straight to an evening meeting that we were meant to have been ministering in.
In Togo we had two other Ghanaian brothers on team with us, brother Jesse Daniels and Michael Adjei, as well as brother Bakarr.
Our host pastor was Boniface, who was very welcoming and very generous as he hosted us fully in a guest-house providing meals and accommodation. The entry into Togo had come through Peter – a brother who first met our team in 2008 and whom we met again in 2009. He travels regularly to Tema to be part of the apostolic gatherings organised by Samuel. Pastor Boniface had been fully prepared to receive and host us on the recommendation of Peter.
We felt this was a ground breaking mission, being our first visit to Togo, a French speaking nation. The apostolic message was new here so the foundation had to be laid carefully and slowly. The message on Jesus the Apostle was a great revelation to all. The message on sonship on Friday night was powerful and all the folk, over 200, came forward to receive an impartation from the Holy Spirit.
The local elders came to visit us after the conference to discuss how they could take the apostolic forward in their nation. They are keen to have the material translated into French. We met a brother, Emmanuel, who is qualified to do this.
Another key brother is Christian Le Grace who was the interpreter. He received much personal revelation and is keen to follow up with apostolic teaching. A good apostolic foundation has been laid in Lome, Togo.

 

GHANA
Tema: 21st to 27th Mar.
Tuesday 22nd to Thursday 24th was a three day apostolic summit organised by Samuel Sowah and the apostolic company in association with the Tema Ministers Organisation. This was a very formal program designed as a public platform to present the apostolic to a wide audience of ministers and church leaders. It had been widely advertised by brochures, street banners and television advertisements. Up to 200 attended.
Moses Timothy and five others from Nigeria travelled overland to attend the Summit and to spend more time with us in Ghana. Moses remained with us until the morning of our final day in Ghana.
Paul had two teaching sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday to present the word. Again the teaching brought much revelation. The vice-president of Ghana was on the program for Thursday 24th, however finally he was not able to attend and sent another Government Minister to represent him and read his address. The rest of that day was given to different segments of prayer led by local pastors.
The positive outcome of the Summit was that a number of new ministers attended the apostolic company gathering on Saturday because of their keenness to follow on and understand more about apostolic doctrine. The Saturday meeting was smaller and informal, so brethren were able to ask questions and discussion was on a more personal level.
On the final Sunday we preached in the church of a local pastor and were able to bring encouragement to his fellowship.
We also had significant meetings with individual brethren who came to see us in our hotel room.   

Conclusion
In Nigeria, Ghana and Togo we were often fully hosted or partly hosted. As well we received generous offerings, which we were able to sow back into the nations by blessing ministries, and having materials duplicated for wider circulation.
Our brethren in West Africa are more prosperous and do not expect us to support the seminars. Rather they host the seminars themselves and often host the team as well.
Thank you for your support in prayer and in fellowship – Nick kept us well briefed – and in finance.
Truly the nations are open and ready to receive apostolic ministry. The work is great: the harvest is plentiful. Thank God that many of you are being trained so that you can play your part in fulfilling the Great Commission: “You go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them into the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and lo I am with you until the end of the age” Matt.28:19-20.

  

 

Thursday 24th Feb
In Ethiopia Airport now. Very different. Looking to Jesus. Met an Orthodox Jew – maybe a Rabbi. We were drawn to each other. We told him we love Yeshua Ha Mashiach. He moved off but wished us well.

Friday 25th Feb
Arrived Lagos (Nigeria) at 12noon. Six brothers welcomed us. Had a good talk with Moses Timothy (host in Lagos) and Paul Harrison and another.

Preparing for the day here. Starting about 9am with an informal gathering of ministers. Expect brother Bakarr from Sierra Leone tonight.

Saturday 26th Feb
Up to 40 gathered and most were familiar faces from last year. Heavy rain kept some away. Brother Bakarr called as he boarded his flight from Freetown (Sierra L). The Word flowed powerfully.

Bakarr is now with us. We spent time with him in the Word this morning. Waiting to go to the meeting now. God is good! Isaiah 43:4.

Sunday 27th February
Speaking in three fellowships this morning. The Abuja arrangements still unclear. About forty brethren again on Saturday. It is going well with Bakarr.

We visited four churches. Each one is a part of the apostolic company and very special. There are true sons growing up here. Good fruit. News from Elisha (host in Abuja) tonight looks good for Abuja.

Monday 28th February
Excellent evening of fellowship with Moses Timothy and brother Bakarr. Holy Ghost at work.

Three day conference starting this morning. We are waiting to be picked up – running late! Pray for wisdom and administration of the Word. There is a foundation from last year to build on.

Tuesday 1st March
Home from conference. Taught on “Workers for the harvest” and “Is tithing in New Testament?”.  Janet taught the “Lord’s Prayer”. It was a wonderful day.

Progress is happening here. True sons are growing up. There are apostles ready to be sent.

Wednesday 2nd March
Tuesday went well. Over 60 brethren and many continuing from last year. We were able to go quite deep in the Word.

Monday 7th March
They were travelling from Abuja to Port Harcourt

Tuesday 8th March
In Port Harcourt. Was met at the airport by brethren and 2 armed police. We had 3 cars in a convoy to the hotel with the hazard lights and right of way on the roads. Quite novel. We are in a lovely hotel that looks like it is being paid for. We are blessed. There is a double program here so Janet will be ministering in a separate pastors seminar on Wednesday. Please pray for her.

Wednesday 9th March
We had a day with Brother Kenneth (the host in Port Harcourt). There was about 40 brethren. It is in a far place, very humble. They have a weekly school. The police travel with us and stay the day. We travel on the wrong side of the road to avoid the traffic jam. Very scarey!

Thursday 10th March
Tuesday here going well. Janet taught a double session and was well received. I had a good time at Kenneth’s. Met pastors from other states of Nigeria who are keen to tap the apostolic teaching and practice. Another meeting tonight near the hotel where Janet was today.

The evening meeting was very powerful – preaching 1Cor.3:11. The host pastor was publicly repenting for preaching the Saviour only.

We have a huge day ahead of us. Pastors seminar till 1pm locally then to Kenneth’s for 1st year Graduation and then back for the night programlocally. Moses Timothy travelled to Lagos today to prepare for ordinations tomorrow.

Our host last night testified to becoming a son yesterday through Janet’s ministry.

Friday 11th March
We are back at the hotel for a late meal. Been a wonderful day. The session from 10am -1pm there were bishops and pastors present. Then we went across town with a police escort for the graduation. We also commissioned 4 brethren and ordained Kenneth and his wife. Then we went back to the other place for the evening meeting. Was able to preach on Ps.87:1 and it was very powerful. Ten of us came back to the hotel rejoicing.

Saturday 12th March
Plane was two hours late (to get them back to Lagos from Port Harcourt) making us late for the ordination service. Over 30 ordained. Much fruit in Nigeria. Met a man from Port Harcourt who had found the website and copied manuals and has been teaching others already. Now we are at the airport getting ready to go to Ghana.

Sunday 13th March
We came safely to Ghana. As soon as we came into the airport it was so much more relaxed than Nigeria. We drove two and a half hours to a regional town called Ho. We are in a nice hotel and having a good rest with a much easier timetable for the next three days.

We are waiting to go to a church meeting. We had a big sleep which was good for us. Samuel Sowah went back to Tema and will pick us up on Wednesday morning to go to Togo. He left a brother here with us. He is sharing a room with brother Mohammed Bakarr. Bakarr is a great joy to us always.

Monday 14th March
Local church meeting was a real blessing. There was a wonderful presence of LORD Jesus. Our host is an apostle. We have a conference this morning. All is well.

Please pray for our conference. Will be speaking at 9:30am. Also Togo is new territory for us and the conference there starts on Thursday in Lome, the capital.

It is amazing that Michael Adjei (he is a man we support in Ghana) is staying in the same hotel as us. Samuel had called him to find he was returning from a mission and overnighting here. How awesome is GOD.

Michael is hoping to bring 20 disciples to the summit in Tema.

Tuesday 15th March
In the morning conference I was able to teach for over 2hours on Apostles – Master builders. Over 30 people here and 7 pastors. One came for a talk later. Outwardly looks disappointing but we are here in the will of God. We are getting a midtrip Sabbath which we really needed.

Wednesday 16th March
Please keep us in prayer as we cross into Togo tomorrow.

The conference on Tuesday morning had about 40+ people and they were very open. Had shared on Sonship on Monday night. That always give the release. Brother Daniel, our host, asked for special anointing prayer. Finally nearly all present were anointed. We commissioned Daniel and his wife to start going out. He is an apostle but has concentrated on the local base until now. The leaders here are rejoicing as the Word was shared – it brought much confirmation. Praying into Togo – Psalm24.

Thursday 17th March
Please get prayer for us. We are being resisted to get into Togo seriously.
There is much hindrance. Still have not reached the border. We are now travelling in the dark because of hold ups.

Now in Togo – only five hours late. Going to a meetings where people are waiting.

There was no text communication while Paul was in Togo as there was no network coverage. But they were well received. Many receiving Sonship and a valuable time with the brothers who were on team with them

Monday 21st March
Have crossed back into Ghana. All well. Togo was tops!

Tuesday 22nd March
Please get prayer for us. Many expected tomorrow. Bishops, reverends etcetera.

Wednesday 23rd March
First day in Tema was ok. Over 150 were present. We got to speak twice for 45mins on “Who is Jesus” and “What is the Church”. God released the river of His Word. 6 Nigerians have travelled over land to be with us. Some from Togo. Michael Adjei is here from the region with a group of his disciples from Shiloh Mission College Ghana.

Please be praying 1Pet5:8-9 for us.

Thursday 24th March
Day 2 was encouraging. More open feedback today. Word has had impact. Prayer cover helping us. Thank you. Having powerful times in our accommodation as brethren come to share.

Vice President not able to come – he has sent a representative.
Last day of three day summit was very low key. Vice President sent a delegate to read a message. I was not on the program, and so we were able to withdraw to our rooms after lunch and numbers of brethren came to speak with us.
God has done great things through this summit. It was hosted and presented in conjunction with the Tema ministers organisation. This meant that our brother Samuel and the apostolic company gave a lot of authority over to the executive of that organisation, but that worked for the good as many ministers came to hear the apostolic teaching for the first time. The teaching on sonship and the urging of the church to begin to be apostolic, that is, to send out trained disciples rather than drawing everybody into the internal life of the church being members only.

Friday 25th
Quiet day, moved to a hotel – we had been hosted in a very nice guest house at the premise of the main Assembly of God church, where the Summit was held. Had opportunity to share a lot with Moses, Bakarr, Jesse and brother Samuel.

Saturday 26th
Met for four hours with apostolic company and a number of enquirers from the public summit. Was able to share much and very good response from a few. Some of the brothers came to see us at the hotel room for further important times of sharing.

Sunday 27th
Bakarr went to one church to preach, and Janet and I to another. I had good opportunity to share the word with a congregation of about 90 people. There were a number of ministers present including our brother Samuel. It was a very positive time.
In the afternoon a number of brethren came to speak with us in the hotel and say goodbye.

Monday 28th
Moses left early to travel back to Nigeria by bus. Bakarr stays one more night before returning to Sierra Leone. Samuel will look after him and put him on the plane. Pastor Peter from Togo was with us on Sunday and left that afternoon for Togo. Brother Michael, who is a young apostle – he started a SHILOH Mission College before we every met him with downloads from our website – was with us in Togo and we saw him every day of the time in Tema. On Sunday afternoon I was able to give him my new Spirit Filled Life Bible. Janet gave hers to the pastor in Port Harcourt who hosted us and received us very well.

We departed from our hotel at 8am on Monday morning; left the airport at 12.30 for Ethiopia, where we had a stopover for about 3hours, after a five hour flight. Then onto Bangkok – 9 hours. Thankfully we had a day room booked at Bangkok as we had over 10 hours in the airport. Getting a few hours sleep was a wonderful gift from God and made the long trip home manageable. The final flight to Brisbane was just over 8 hours and we were met by the smiling faces of Nick and Rhoda. By the time home in Toowoomba we had been travelling for 45hours.

Thank you so much to everyone who prayed for us. You may not understand how much we appreciate and rely upon your prayers. The specific prayer alerts were sent at crucial times and we experience God’s deliverance.