Primary Goal
It is estimated that half of Nigeria’s population of 175 million less than 15 years old, causing many children in need. My major focus is to work with children's centers located in the Jos, Nigeria area to develop and enhance farms to support the centers with the goal of self-sufficiency. As well as teach the children agriculture so they can provide for themselves regardless of what happens when they leave the ministry.
The centers are run by a local ministry called City Ministries. City Ministries was established by SIM Missionaries to honor God by holistically impacting the urban poor (physically, emotionally, intellectually & spiritually) as it preaches the gospel & heals the sick and mobilizes the local church to do the same.
Secondary Goals
Engage with other centers and ministries in the area to establish some form of farming with whatever space they have available. This would involve providing the supplies required (seeds, fertilizer, containers, ect.) as well as training for those involved in the ministry.
Participate in outreach efforts. City Ministries sends outreach teams to provide for the needs of villages and tribes all throughout Nigeria with the primary focus of spreading the Gospel. Many of the villages they visit have never heard the Gospel, providing for their needs draws them close and helps them see how God cares for them.
An estimated 28 million Hausa live in Nigeria, with the vast majority professing Islam. Indigenous missionaries are working among these people; however, many have never heard the Gospel. My goal is to encourage those missionaries by ensuring they have the ability to supplement their food supplies so they can provide for themselves and their ministry in an area that only rains three months out of the year.
Work side-by-side and engage in discipleship with the children within the ministry. The ministry does a great job making sure they are raised in the Faith and a big part of that is creating disciples for Jesus and being there to help them understand His word and how to live their lives for Him throughout their lives.
Erin's Story
I get asked frequently what made me decide to leave my friends and family to help a country and people that I have no ties with. The real answer can only be God. I was born with a need to help people, it's what brings me the most joy. I started volunteering with the children's ministry at church since I wasn't a part of the ministry. I started volunteering with my local fire department as soon as I was able to drive. I felt God's pull to missions ever since a missionary came to talk at my church when I was 8 years old. But I could never be a missionary. I'm too shy, anxious, and could never ask for money. When God has a plan for your life, He will give you the strength to see it through. I wasn't able to find His strength until my last year of college. That was the year that my brother John passed away from a motorcycle accident. I had a very surface level spiritual life until that day, when I had no choice but to cling to Him fully. After taking time to grieve and really deepen my relationship with God I decided that John really lived his life, and I want to do the same. The orriginal plan was to join the Peace Corp. and after asking my pastor for resources to make it a personal mission trip he suggested I look into seminary. I went to his old seminary DTS's website and knew that was where God was calling me. I knew I wasn't prepared to spread the gospel or even where to start on how to be a missionary. Seminary helped me learn more about he Bible, Theology, Cross-Cultural ministry, and more about me and my relationship with God.
Why Agriculture?
I'm not from a farming family, but I was raised with a respect for where my food came from. It wasn't until I went to an agricultural High School and was put in the Plant Science class that I realized how much I love plants! I love the science behind how they grow and the way that God uses to make the whole world work together through such delicate and intricate systems. I love how each plant is unique and made for a specific purpose, just like we are. And I love that 1 plant with 1,000's of seeds that once cared for can be turned into 1,000 more. All we need is to care for the plant's needs and we can feed those who wouldn't have access to food otherwise.
I made the decision that I will use the knowledge that God has given me a love to learn to help as many people as I can to have access to healthy food. As well as learn how to provide for themselves when they don't have the means or access to food.
Why Nigeria?
When I was in seminary, I was the only one of my classmates who didn't have a country in mind, I had a job that I wanted to do. I didn't have any ties to any country outside of the US, but I did have a heart for those in need and knowledge in agriculture. I wanted to go where I could make the greatest impact. Unfortunately, with that broad of a goal, the whole world was open. During a missions' conference
I decided to talk to every organization I can about what opportunities there are in agriculture. When I asked the missionary at the SIM booth, she got visibly excited and told me of a need where she works that involved working with multiple children's centers to help provide food for the children as well as teach them agriculture and work with them in discipleship. I have always loved working with children. The idea that I could work with children while farming on a daily basis made me so excited! It's all I ever hoped for but never saw an opportunity to make it possible.
I spent a year-long vision trip to Nigeria in 2021 to see if that is where God is calling me and grew to love the culture and the people there. I felt like that is where I belonged even though I was in a culture so drastically different than my own.
