History of the work in Saboba (written in 2006)

HISTORY OF THE WORK IN SABOBA

(March 2006)

Following is a systematic report of our new mission field for your perusal and study.

Immediately after my graduation, my wife and I had a Macedonian call to a place called SABOBA to do missions. We saw it as an opened door but to be sure of God's involvement in the calling, we gave ourselves to prayers and fasting and also told the vision to brothers like; DAN MCVEY, TWUMASIANKRAH and others for advice, suggestions and supportive prayers for God to speak to us. After much prayer, we accepted the challenge to move to the area. We were directed by the Spirit in obedience and moved with all my family finally into this new mission field last year April 5, 2005 respectively. The place is situated eastward of my formal place Yendi in the Northern Region. It is 36 miles away from Yendi. With all humility, we have to leave our comforts, privileges, and all other opportunities behind us and move to fulfill the great commission of our Master and Lord.

THE MISSIONARY'S FAMILY INFORMATION.

Mama Victoria and I have been married for sixteen years now. We have three (3) sons and three (3) dependants who are permanently staying with us. In all, we are a family of eight- (8) people. Victoria and I have pledged our lives, energy, time and resources to the great commission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. By the grace of our Lord, we pledged to witness or share the salvation grace of our Lord to many people within our reach. My wife is so wonderful and I am thankful to God because, she is a great encouragement to me in ministry. We are ender the stress of learning new culture, new language, and everything to be able to communicate Christ effectively. Following are names of us as a family;

EVANG. NIIPAAK LAAR
VICTORIA K. LAAR
DAVID G. LAAR
JONAH G. LAAR
PAULS. LAAR
NATHANIEL M. DUUT
AKUYAD. DUUT
RUTHN. SUUK

THE MISSION FIELD INFORMATION.

Saboba is one of the most deprived and neglected communities in terms of human resources and economical activities. It is just sharing a river boundary with Togo. The language spoken in Saboba is KUNKOMBA. The common religion practiced is idol worship, while Christianity and Islam are also penetrating.
Because of the deprived nature of the area, there is a widespread illiteracy, which is making Christian witnessing very difficult. Satan has operated in the area for so long such that, the area needs Christianity for God's deliverance. The people are very friendly and loving. Besides all other problems in the area, poverty rate is so high such that, the Lord's Church is struggling with financial crisis always. But again, the people are receptive to the Gospel.
It takes me 100 miles now to access my mails. Fortunately, space phone is operational within the area, so that is my easiest medium of communication. Because of lack of good roads and other social amenities, everything is costing higher than normal such as fuel, accommodation etc. No fuelling stations, so fuel can only be found at the roadsides in bottles where the measurements is small and cost higher than normal. No good schools for my children. But it is a ripped field for missions. The Lord is adding to us daily such as been saved. Because of the rapid growth of the work, I am being encouraged and helped to rise above my challenges in the work.

THE CHURCH.

The Lord's Church was established in Saboba by joint efforts in 1997, with over 100 people been baptized. It was finally handed over to a trained leader to handle whiles we were visiting the Church from Yendi time to time when ever there was an opportunity. While I was then in Yendi, I was also working within the same area in the villages preaching and establishing Churches, training of leaders.
Because of lack of leadership skills and other related problems, the Church in Saboba could not grow. The Church was handed over to me last April 2005 when I finally moved there with only seventeen members. By the grace of God, however, the Church is back to its feet where we count roughly eighty to ninety every Sunday. Besides this congregation in the town, we can also talk of 27 congregations within the District of Saboba now. We are three Evangelists within the District where each has his own area of operation but we come together to plan. These congregations are far apart from one another yet, it requires constant and frequent visitations and encouragements. That is why the need for bicycles to enable leaders to help visit them regularly. The Church in Saboba Township is still worshipping in a public school classroom due to lack of funds to put up a meeting place.

CHALLENGES.

Our greatest challenge is to by God's grace defeat Islam and idol worship. It is also our prayer to enter our neighboring country Togo with the Gospel. We are also praying for God to empower the Church to establish educational institutions to help eliminate illiteracy in the area. Above all, for the kingdom of God to reign in the hearts of the people.
EVANG. NIIPAAK LAAR
CHURCH OF CHRIST, SABOBA,

NOTE: As of 2011, the Saboba Church of Christ now is worshipping in their own building that seats 400 and the attendance averages around 250. The Lord continues to bless this work greatly!