#23 - December 3, 2003
Editor: Kandus Thorp, Assistant to the Director, Adventist Television Network
NIGERIA WINS FOOTBALL MATCH!
On November 30, at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba, Nigeria, Enyimba, Nigeria's National Football team, defeated the visiting Egyptian team in the semi-final game for the 2003 CAF Cup. Why would ATN be particularly interested in this football match? Read on for the story….
The Enyimba Stadium in Abia State, city of Aba, was the host site for the recent "Visions for Victory" satellite series hosted by Global Evangelism and the West-Central Africa Division. Pr Don Schneider, NAD president, was the speaker for this evangelistic series which ended on November 29. The Enyimba Stadium was contracted by the Adventist church for a three week period to be used for the satellite series. However, prior to the start of the meetings on November 14, and again after the opening weekend, some very unusual events indicated that a greater "match" was being fought in the Enyimba Stadium in the larger scheme of the Great Controversy.
In the past, the Enyimba Stadium had never been rented to any religious organization. In fact, it took the President of the Enyimba League a whole month to think over the request of the Adventist church before he graciously signed the contract permitting "Visions for Victory" to be uplinked from this state-owned venue.
When the satellite team arrived on November 7 to begin preparation, a huge commercial light pole with a rack of 27 stadium lights lay on the track exactly where the large stage was to be set up. Since the Enyimba football team was to play an international game on November 8, we were assured that the light pole would be installed in time for this game. However, that Friday afternoon the heavens opened with a torrential tropical rainstorm, leaving the track muddy and impassible. There was no way for a crane to get in to set up the pole.
For six days, our group was promised that the pole would be moved. But no amount of negotiation, discussion, or even prayers could get a crane into the stadium and the necessary federal government permission to move the pole. The pole still lay exactly where the stage was to be set up, almost as if the devil had said, "Just try to have an evangelistic program!" On day six, November 13, with only three hours of daylight left, there was still no crane in sight.
Then, as precious minutes ticked by, miraculously a crane was sourced and released, a driver for the crane conscripted, and the crane rolled into the stadium. Within a short time the light pole was safely shifted out of the way with no one injured and with no damage to the light pole. Just as the sun set, the heavy stage was moved into position, and the AMP crew positioned the lighting for the stage on the final night before the start of the evangelistic event.
It was truly a victory for "Visions for Victory." But a greater storm was brewing. After the opening weekend and successful start of the meetings, the Adventist church heard a rumor that the stadium officials were going to ask us to vacate the stadium so they could prepare for the November 30 football match hosted in their stadium. After 39 years, Nigeria was finally in the CAF Cup playoffs! Soon the official letter came, giving notice that within less than five days we were to conclude our programme and move all the equipment out!
But how could this be done? The host audience numbered around 6,000 nightly and over 25,000 on Sabbath. Where would they go? To take down and set up nearly 5 tonnes of uplink and production equipment would take at least 48 hours. The broadcast schedule would be interrupted for nearly 1500 downlink sites across Africa. A move was almost impossible, and to conclude the program six days early was unthinkable.
When the president of the football league was approached by phone, he responded, "There is no room for negotiation. Put any thought of a compromise out of your minds!" Respectfully but boldly, a local lay member, Dr Frank Adieleuwa, countered, "My friend, you are in a position to help God's work or hinder it. I think you should pray before you make a hasty decision. Please pray and then call me back."
We went to our knees and pled for Heaven's help. Hours later, the president of the football league invited us to a quiet, private meeting in his own home, where the magnitude of the satellite evangelism event was explained. Various possible options were discussed that would allow the meetings to continue. He was challenged with the reality that he alone was in a position to allow the satellite series to continue. A prayer was offered that the Lord's will would be accomplished.
Miraculously the Holy Spirit completely changed the heart of the president of the football league. Within 48 hours a satisfactory solution was reached, permitting the programme to continue except for the final Sabbath. We praised the Lord for His intervention and the obvious miracle!
It is interesting to note as a part of this whole drama, that prior to these football matches certain practices are carried out in the dressing rooms and on the football field. This "ju-ju" is an important ritual, and the stadium officials admitted that with the church people and our program in the stadium, they recognized that their traditional "ju-ju" could not be carried out. We prayed for the president of the league, stadium officials and shared with them that we believed the Lord was stronger than "ju-ju." And indeed He was!
Not only was the "Visions for Victory" satellite series uplinked in its entirety, the national football team also experienced victory. And across Nigeria, 9247 precious souls were added to God's family last Sabbath. Each baptism a testimony to a God who is still in control and whose work will continue in spite of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Praise be to Him!
Receive free email ATN news of coming events by writing to Newslist@adventist.tv giving your name and country