ST. BARNABAS HOSTS DINNER FOR NIGERIAN CHURCH LEADER AUGUST 23
Rev. Dr. Peter Bartimawus, professor at Bronnum Lutheran Seminary in Yola, Adamawa State-Nigeria, will be visiting the United States in August. Dr. Bartimawus received his PhD at Luther Seminary in St. Paul. The Minneapolis Area Synod has a companion relationship with the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, so there are many congregations in our synod who, like St. Barnabas, have a companion congregation in Nigeria.To give all of these congregations an opportunity to meet and hear Dr. Bartimawus, St. Barnabas is hosting a dinner on Monday, August 23, at 6:00 p.m.
Members of the St. Barnabas community are encouraged to attend and learn about our companion church in Nigeria. The cost for the meal is $5.
We need volunteers to plan, prepare, and serve the meal. If you would be willing to help in some way (and get your meal for free), please sign up at the Welcome Center or contact Pastor Wayne (wpeterson@stbarnabaslutheran.org).
Just to refresh your memory, Nigeria is on the west coast of Africa and is almost exactly the size of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and North & South Dakota all put together. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and 8th most populous in the world with almost 140 million people.
Nigeria is organized politically similar to the United States and is divided into 36 states. St. Barnabas' companion congregation, Church of the Messiah, is in the town of Hong, located in the state of Adamawa, one of the larger states in Nigeria. It is located on the mountainous eastern side of the country, bordering Cameroon. Hong is just a little north of Yola, where Dr. Bartimawus lives.
Adamawa's area is about 1/6 the area of Minnesota, while its population is about 3‚ÅÑ4 that of Minnesota. This makes the population density greater - about 101 people per square kilometer, vs. Minnesota's 21.
Farming is the major occupation in Adamawa and provides employment for about 80% of the working population.