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West African School of Missions (WASOM)

Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Introduction

Mission as it were is a specialized area of Christian ministry. Those who must be successful in it require training. Because institutions that give adequate training to intending missionaries are not very common in the Southern part of Nigeria, Spiritual Life Outreach saw it very necessary to establish a formal Training Arm, which is the West African School of Missions. The first formal session took place in April 1996 when St Mathew’s Anglican church, Port Harcourt, Nigeria approached the ministry to help her train a number of her members who had indicated interest to be involved in missions. Since then, the school has run two sessions of the Advanced Missions Enlightenment Training (AMET) programme that offers a certificate course in Christian Missions every April and August.

Where we are now

The school is in the process of expansion in all facets of her programme. In 1999, she introduced a Diploma programme, which is an advanced level of the certificate course. The Diploma is a 6 Months course split into three sessions with the certificate course as a prerequisite. They are still all part time training programmes.

Following the reawakening of the church in South East Nigeria to her call and duty to missions, more people are indicating interest in the School. Many have completed the Certificate Programme. Churches and groups are sending in their members on sponsorship for training, this has lead to an increase in the numerical strength of the School.

The library of the school has been enriched with new stocks of mission related books and materials to make for an effective out-of-class work.

Missions Research

The Ministry is currently carrying out a Missions Research in Cross River State. 12 of the 18 Local Government Areas of the State have been covered in the Research. The findings would be published and used as a tool to challenge the Church to expand the frontiers of the kingdom in the region.

WASOM Graduands

Some of the Graduands of the West African School of Missions are serving as missionaries in Akparata in Ebonyi State, Gbarnga (Liberia), New York (USA), South Wales (United Kingdom), Zimbabwe, Limbe and Douala (Cameroon), Gabon, Rumu village (Zuru Emirate, Kebbi State), various Riverine areas of Rivers and Bayelsa State

Church Planting

Church planted by the Ministry at various locations have been adopted by Redeemed Christian Church of God, Rivers State, Light Bearers Mission, Abia State and Bible Truth Missionary Church, Ebonyi State.

Change Of Name

Recently, it was observed that a change of name was necessary to keep at pace with the expanding scope of the School programme. The Advanced Missions Enlightenment Training (AMET) is said to have a richer course content that what the name “Enlightenment Training” conveys. The name “AMET” may likely be misunderstood to mean a mere awareness programme as against the real and rich content of the course. To this end, the name has been changed to: The Advanced Missions Certificate Course (AMCC).

Details of programme

(a). Advanced Missions Certificate Course (AMCC)

The AMCC programme is an intensive part-time course designed to inform and enlighten students about Christian missions with a view to helping them to identify their unique individual gifts and callings in God and to prepare them for their part in world evangelization.

The programme enables people from many different denominations and cultures to come together for in-depth training in Christian missions and evangelism, cross-cultural missions and exposure and global awareness. These are specially emphasized throughout the course to prepare the students to reach out to our generations. We have a mandate to Prepare men and women to take the nations for Christ.

Duration

2- Months course

Two sessions yearly – March & August

Lecture phase

Examination

Practical mission research work

Field trip

Courses Available

(1) Introduction to missions

(2) Biblical Theology of missions

(3) African Traditional Religion

(4) Missions Research

(5) Global Missions Efforts

(6) Evangelism/Discipleship 1

(7) The spirit of Mission

(8) Spiritual Warfare in Missions 1

(9) Hermeneutics

(10) Personal Devotion and Prayer Life of the Missionary

(11) Basic Health Course

(12) Solving Life’s Problem

(13) Cross Cultural Missions 1

(14) Church Planting

(15) Communications in Missions

(16) Islam

(17) Resource Mobilization and Management

(18) Introduction to Child Evangelism

DIPLOMA IN CHRISTIAN MISSIONS

Duration

6 – Months (Split into 3 terms)

2 – Months each term

3 – times a week

Field Attachment

At the end of the diploma session, the students are expected to go for a field attachment where missionaries are already located. This lasts for two weeks and is done individual

Courses Available

1^st Term

(1) Church History

(2) World Religions

(3) Old Testament Survey

(4) Evangelism/Discipleship 2

(5) Use of English

(6) Research Methodology

(7) Cross-Cultural Communication 2

(8) Spiritual Warfare in Missions 2

2^nd Term

Psychology

Global Missions Efforts 2

Life and Mission of Jesus

Typology

Moslem Evangelism

New Testament Survey

Homiletics

Church Management

Hermeneutics

Family Life

3^rd Term

Systemic Theology

Manners and Customs of the Bible

Organizing Mission Awareness

Project work

Mission Field Attachment

Qualification For Entry

AMCC

· Must be born again

· Minimum of SSCE/GCE or its equivalent

DIPLOMA

· Evidence of a call to missions

· Must be born again

· At least Merit in AMCC or

· A pass/credit obtained in a certificate/diploma/degree course from a recognized bible institute

Qualifications For Graduation

· Not less than 80% regular class attendance

· Completion of final term paper/project

· Practical field participation

· Pass level grade

· Full payment of fees

Challenges

The training venue is no longer accommodating and convenient because of the size of the class. This is in fact a big problem to us.

A few academically sound ministers who are equally authorities in their various fields have reviewed the school calendar and curriculum and have concluded that the school needs a change.

Findings

The AMET programme is said to have a richer course content than the Enlightenment training that it bears as a name. The tagged name “AMET” reduces it to a mere awareness programme. The school is therefore building up an external academic board who will revisit the issue, reshape and restructure it to suit perhaps, permanently a diploma course.

It might interest you to know that the school has introduced a practical missions research trip for the students. This is quite different from the normal field trip, which is still being observed. The Missions Research will both take place in April of every year.

Needs

1) Accommodation – (a) An adequate office for the co-ordinator of programs and her assistant. (b) Comfortable classrooms for the AMET + Diploma classes. (c) A befitting library

2) Library – An adequately equipped library with books, which are contemporary with modern in missions.

3) Sponsors – Those who will sponsor (a) Field trips to towns/places beyond Bayelsa and Rivers State (b) Mission Research teams (4 per team) to other parts of Nigeria

4) A permanent accommodation for WASOM School with enough space for buildings and space for extra curricular activities.

Prayer Items

§ Pray for the student’s receptivity to the lectures

§ Pray that none of them will deviate from God’s purpose and plan for their lives.

§ Pray that this class shall experience a massive send-forth to the mission field by the Lord Himself.

§ Pray for the Cameroonian students, to catch the vision and the spirit of missions. That they be turned into “another men” as they go.

§ Pray for the lecturers – for availability, wisdom and strength.

§ Pray for God’s direction and leading for this sessions field trip

§ Pray for fund to raise up a building (training center)

§ Pray for other basic school infrastructure

§ Pray for wisdom in restructuring the whole school system

ADMISSION! ADMISSION!! ADMISSION!!!

Do you need a practical, relevant professional training in missions? Do you want to attend an Advanced Missions Course involving intensive classroom and field experiences?

Do you want a well-staffed mission training school with competent lecturers who are both academically and spiritually qualified and field-tested in their relevant disciplines? Then come to the West African School of Missions (WASOM), a training arm of Spiritual Life Outreach Inc. Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

WASOM offers you admission into her part – time programme – Certificate course in Christian missions. Resumption date: 1^st March and 1^st August every year.

If you are a Pastor, Evangelist, Intercessor, Elder, Church worker, layman, etc. then this course is for you. It will train and equip you for greater effectiveness.

Request and collect your forms at Spiritual Life Outreach Inc, #3 Babbe Street, D/Line, Opposite Government Crafts Development Centre Entrance Gate, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

For more details call or send email to 234-84-233669, 237778, Fax: 234-84-237779; Email: outreachng@aol.com

You will be happy you did.

At WASOM we train and commission you for missions.