Charlottesville, VA - May 11, 2007 - Gabriel Barau, an indigenous ministry leader working for the Lord in one of the most difficult places in Nigeria, sent this plea:

    	We had a serious 
    disaster caused by a 
    violent wind storm. It 
    devastated the entire 
    community, leaving half the 
    people without a home.
    	One mission building, 
    housing eight missionaries 
    and the school for the Koma 
    children were blown down by 
    the night-time disaster. 
        We are asking our 
    friends and partners to 
    earnestly pray to God to send help for us.   
        We need immediate assistance.
        Beloved, the rains are already falling, and 
    we need to build something immediately to shelter the 
    missionaries. They have no place else to stay. The 
    field leader told us it will cost nothing less than $2600 
    to rebuild one large house.
	    Other missionaries need to replace what 
    was lost in this disaster. This will cost another $600.  
    And we want to help the new believers, too. Some of 
    them lost everything and are helpless.  They need our 
    assistance just to get back on their feet.
	    We appeal to you all to respond in love 
    and compassion to help us get things done quickly.  
	    Please help NOW.  God bless you.
				
		    Gabriel Barau

TIME IS RUNNING OUT. The damage was widespread and devastating. The rainy season is just now beginning.

Christian believers and native missionaries working with Gabriel in the area where the storm hit, need shelter. $15,000 is needed to repair and reconstruct the ministry house, school building, several out houses, and other homes that were destroyed.

"I personally visited this very same field just a few years ago," said a member of Christian Aid's staff. "I slept in one of those multi-use buildings. The field is located in an isolated and remote area, extremely far away from the ministry base. I know how important these buildings are to the ministry."

This disaster has affected the ability of these MCM workers to continue the task that the Lord has given them to do. Contributions received in the next few days will be sent to help them to recover quickly and to resume their work of reaching the unreached.

Gabriel has faithfully served the Lord for over 20 years with Missionary Crusaders Ministries in Nigeria. (photo: The remains of one of many buildings torn up from the ground and turned upside-down.)

Right now, native missionaries from MCM are serving in the northern and central parts of eastern Nigeria with the Verre, Kona, Minda, Dirim, Jibu, and Fulani people groups. These people groups all in many ways remain removed from the rest of the world. They live in isolation among the hills or other remote areas; some are even nomadic.

The most effective work of MCM has been among the Koma people, a group the ministry discovered and where the storm happened. Not even the government officials knew of their existence. MCM has planted over 40 churches among them. Some of the new believers attend a school of missions, where they receive training in discipleship and evangelism before returning to their people to spread the gospel.

Prayer and support are urgently needed to help these suffering native missionaries. To contribute, click here...