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Associate
Missionaries in West Africa
 Dr.
Adrian Helleman and Dr. Wand Helleman are teaching in the
Religions Studies Department of the University of Jos, located
in Jos, Nigeria. From 1995 through 2001 they both taught
English in Russia in the Philosophy Department (formerly
called the Department of Scientific Atheism) of Moscow State
University. In Jos they now both teach in the university’s
graduate school Department of Religious Studies, which has
just begun to prepare Nigerians for master’s and doctor’s
degrees in theology. These graduates will be able to become
professors in the 150 seminaries and Bible colleges that
serve Nigeria’s 60 million Christians. No doubt Christian
leaders from other West African nations will also start
coming there for advanced education in theology in the English
language, taking advantage of this new opportunity. Adrian
teaches systematic theology and reformation theology. He
holds a master’s degree from Calvin Theological Seminary
and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Toronto, and
he has pastoral experience. Wendy has a degree from the
University of Toronto and her Ph.D. degree from the Free
University in Amsterdam. Their home is in Toronto.
Needs
The Helleman's agreement with the university is that it
provides housing and basic medical services. Unfortunately,
the university cannot pay them any salary. And, unlike Moscow,
there is no good system of public transportation, and therefore
they will need to purchase and maintain a vehicle for their
work.
Thus they will continue to need your financial support.
They ask for your prayers as they begin this new ministry
to which they have been called. They cannot do it without
your help. Thank you for your faithful support!
The Hellemans receive 25% of their support from Christian
Reformed World Missions, while the rest comes from individuals
and churches. For their new assignment, their total annual
budget is $90,000, which covers salary, local and international
travel, teaching materials, postage, Internet connections,
and administration.
"And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were
making his appeal through us" (2 Cor. 5: 19b-20a)
Nigeria Notes
Quarterly Newsletter From Adrian and Wendy
Helleman
Christmas 2006 Newsletter (pdf)
March 2007 (pdf)
Easter 2007 Newsletter (pdf)
Prayer Update
"...let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise they will not reach him." Ps. 32.6
March 17, 2007
- Thank God with us that examinations are progressing normally. We had a small incident a week ago, when students protested lack of water and
electricity by burning tires and disrupting classes. The Vice Chancellor came directly to where students were gathered, addressed them, and managed to calm the situation down. That evening we had light at 7pm. Since then the service has been less dependable, but at least we are getting some electricity supplied evenings (our house is on the same circuit as that of the hostels). Please pray for the students as they prepare, and pray with us that examinations will finish without further incident.
- Elections are to be held in a few weeks. Voting for candidates at the three levels of government (local, state and federal), is to take place on different Saturdays in April. So many things seem to hang in the balance. When we ask about nonexistent telephone service, for example, we get the response that the company is waiting on the outcome of elections before making necessary repairs. Please pray with us for fair and peaceful elections, and for results that can be accepted throughout Nigeria.
- Thank you for your prayers on behalf of Adrian's travels, and for his Mom. She seems to be doing well after this difficult time. We are also grateful that Adrian has arrived back in Nigeria safely after long hours of travel. Please pray for him as he readjusts, and attempts to catch up with matters waiting for his return to the university after a period of absence.
NB. Our Prayer Updates - illustrated! - are posted at the blogspot we have
created http://hellemannews.blogspot.com/. We hope to continue posting
updates with photos of our work on the blog on a regular basis, to reduce
emailing of prayer updates by email. Do let us know if you are unable to
access the blog.
 Our
work history has included many things. Tom worked with the
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources at the Sault Ste.
Marie and Petawawa Fish Culture Stations for 8½ years.
He left this work to become a licensed carpenter in the
Pembroke area. During this time in Pembroke, he also raised
pigs in a farrow-to-finish operation.
Deb was a stay-at-home Mom for many years, but in 1988,
began part-time work in a fabric shop, which evolved into
full-time, and a management position.
All this changed in 1996 when we went on a 2-week work
group/mission trip to the Dominican Republic. This trip
strengthened in us the strong desire to turn our love for
God and our talents to the mission field. Tom took several
courses at Ontario Bible College at the beginning of 1997
and in May 1997 we became career missionaries of Christian
Reformed World Missions. We left for West Africa in August
1997 with our 5 children, at that time aged 18, 16, 14,
12 and 11. Tom was officially ordained as a ministry associate
in the Christian Reformed Church in December 2003.
We are evangelists among the Fulani, a traditionally nomadic
cattle-herding tribe with deep Muslim roots. We are posted
in a remote region where we try to live as our Fulani neighbours.
Building relationships with the Fulani, presenting the gospel
and showing Christ-like behaviour in our daily lives is
the main thrust of our work. It is slow as it takes time
to build trust. But the Holy Spirit is at work among the
Fulani and there is a small fledgling group of Fulani Christians
in our area. We teach and disciple, using Scripture, the
Jesus film, Fulfulde cassettes and picture books. The vast
majority of Fulani are illiterate. Many as yet do not see
the need to read. They are an old society.
Our vision is to see a Fulani church rise up, a truly indigenous
Fulani church. We have tried to maintain a hands-off approach
in leadership, letting the Fulani develop their own leadership,
worship methods, prayers, and goals.
Needs
Daily prayer support is vital for this ministry as we work
among the Fulani. We need prayer for:
- our language skills, that we use the
right words when we speak.
- our health as we work in remote rural
areas with heat, dust, poor water quality
- safety as we travel on poor roads
- for the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts
of the Fulani
Financial support is also vital. We are partly funded by
ministry shares from the Christian Reformed Church but it
is still necessary for us to raise $58,080 (Canadian) each
fiscal year.
 INTRODUCTION
I was born in the Netherlands and immigrated to Brockville,
Ont. with my family at the age of six. By professsion I
am a Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner and Midwife. From
1968 to 1981 I served with Christian Reformed World Missions
(CRWM) in Nigeria as a missionary nurse midwife. I worked
for a few years as a nurse in Canada as well. This has given
me an understanding of nursing in both western and developing
countries.
The years in Nigeria were blessed in many ways. I learned
much and was able to help many through nursing and midwifery.
However, one thing that troubled me during those years was
that I felt very inadequate to meet the spiritual needs
off my patients and staff. Though I tried to help them the
best I knew how, I often felt that I had failed in this
area. This produced a lot of turmoil in my life because
I felt this was actually the most important aspect of my
calling and ministry.
In 1983 I came in contact with Healthcare Christian Fellowship
(HCF), did their fulltime HCF Training in 1984/85 and have
been serving with them in partnership with CRWM since 1986
- mainly in Africa. It was through the HCF Training that
I finally felt that I was equipped to meet the spiritual
needs of patients and healthcare staff. Seeing how it practically
changed my life and made me so much more effective in every
aspect of my ministry has given me a strong urge to make
this training available to as many healthcare staff as possible.
I desire to see them equipped to serve the Lord Jesus Christ
effectively in their places of work as well. The Lord has
honoured this desire in many wonderful ways.
I am currently based in Benoni, South Africa, at our international
centre there, and am serving in the training department.
HCF Beginnings
HCF started in 1936 when Carl and Francis Grim, during
the terminal illness of their father, recognized the great
spiritual need in hospitals and saw the potential for meeting
that need. If hospital personel could be won for Christ,
they would be in a key position to communicate His message
while ministering to the needs of patients. A fellowship
was formed which over the years has grown to be a worldwide
movement known as Healthcare Christian Fellowship International.
HCF Vision and Mission
The vision of HCF is to be a prayerful evangelical fellowship
with trained people implementing Christ's Great Commission
within the healthcare field.
To accomplish this we endeavour to:
- evangelize, disciple and train healthcare
personel
- evangelize the sick
- train, equip and disciple HCFI / HCF
staff members
- communicate effectively with supporters
- mobilize and train members of local churches
This is our mission.
My Responsibilities
My main responsibility in this context is to coordinate
the HCFTE (Healthcare Christian Fellowship Training by Extension)
arm of the Training ministry of HCF. HCFTE makes the training
we offer available to those who for one reason or another
cannot attend residential training courses. My responsibilities
include developing Biblical Healthcare Extension (BHE) courses
based on our residential course materials; promoting the
courses, teaching HCFTE Group Leaders courses, corresponding
with/ advising those who are involved, and motivating translation
into other languages.
BHE courses are relevant to people all over the world. Some
are geared exclusively to healthcare staff and those involved
in ministry in the healthcare setting; others are also geared
to churches - in particular those who are involved in visitation
of the sick, the grieving and the suffering.
To stay up to date, I teach part time in our residential
courses, help with outreaches, etc. as well as read relevant
materials and take courses when possible.
BHE Courses available are:
- Serving God in the Health Field
- Biblical Spiritual Care of the Dying
- Visitation of the Sick
- The HCFTE Group Leaders Course
Prayer Requests:
- For additional team members to work with
me in the HCFTE ministry, particularly in the writing
of materials and eventaully to take over this ministry
- Clarity and wisdom for those involved
in translation of courses
- Wisdom and enabling for group leaders
of courses in progress
- Adequate quality time to write courses
(Current course in development is "Suffering - A
Biblical Perspective")
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