Vision Africa Ministries
www.visionafrica.org

Monday, August 2, 2010

Medical Outreach Partnership

This summer, Vision Africa President and Founder Bishop Sunday N. Onuoha joined a mission meeting in Plano, Texas, to discuss the dire need for primary health care facilities in Nigeria. The meeting with the Four Corners Ministry of St. Andrew United Methodist Church revealed a common interest in solving the age-old problem of bringing basic health care to those in need.



Inspired by similar visions and believing in the power of partnerships, Vision Africa and Four Corners have joined forces to establish a pilot medical center project in Nigeria.

Working with one of the world's leading experts in developing medical facilities, the pilot project will apply modern business principles and unmatched medical expertise to Vision Africa's well-established community approach to health care. Nigeria can benefit enormously from better access to primary health care that's high quality and sustainable.

Bishop Sunday's home state of Abia is one of the most densely populated areas of Nigeria and the people there face many hardships. Chief among them is a lack of access to good doctors and good medicine.

As you read in the Spring Newsletter, Vision Africa's leadership and volunteers in the U.S. and Nigeria have spent many years drawing up plans and raising funds for Phase 1 of the Vision Africa Medical Center. Starting with a hostel to house mission teams participating in medical outreach ministries, and following through to a fully-functioning medical facility. The government of Abia State in Nigeria donated a significant parcel of land for the project, and Bishop Sunday is overseeing efforts to prepare the land for construction

To this effort, our new partner Four Corners brings an incredible perspective and background in medical business and a shared heart for sharing the gospel in concrete ways through the gift of medicine.

The partnership is new and we will continue to work out details of the pilot medical center project. We appreciate your prayers, thoughts and support as we endeavor to find a new path to sustainable, indigenous solutions for Africa's health crises.

Brownies for Bibles

One of Vision Africa's important reconciling ministries equips young pastors to share messages of peace and understanding across Nigeria. The Vision Africa Compass program will put a high-quality bible in the hands of 180 new pastors this year, and the children of Suncreek United Methodist Church in Allen, Texas, helped make it possible.

They got excited and got busy encouraging others to Share God's Love across Africa!

Along with Adrienne Morgan, the Suncreek Minister for Children, these energetic, caring kids organized "Brownies for Bibles" to raise money for the ministry. They also made some aprons, pot holders, necklaces and other crafts at home to sell in order to raise money for the bibles for the new pastors in Africa.



With hard work and big smiles, they raised enough money for six Bibles.

That means six more young Nigerian ministers will receive their very first bible when they are ordained this week!

If you want to support this powerful ministry like the kids at Suncreek did, please contact us today.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Football Monday

For years, people have recognized the power of sports to bring people together, to cross social and religious barriers and to promote peace.

Bishop Sunday Onuoha dedicates a whole chapter in his book to this phenomenon. The good Bishop is particularly impressed by the power of football to touch young people's lives.

The venerable, world-wide media outlet Voice of America recently took a look at a large movement of soccer-playing youths promoting reconciliation and understanding among young people.

Do you think something as simple as a soccer game can create positive social change?

Friday, July 16, 2010

The Future of U.S.-Nigeria Relations

U.S. President Barack Obama and his Administration have shown appreciation for recent progress in Nigeria. This includes two "attaboy" speech mentions of the Nigerian Inter-Faith Action Association, and a one-on-one meeting with new Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.

Nigeria is Africa's largest nation, one of Africa's largest trading partners with the U.S., and a significant recipient of U.S. foreign aid. Nigeria is even considered a possible location for the U.S. military's new Africa Command.

There is much speculation about the warming relations between the U.S. and Nigeria and some question whether that's a good thing. This recent opinion piece in the British newspaper the Guardian brings up several interesting points that are worth considering for the future of U.S./Nigeria relations.

Vision Africa relies on citizen diplomacy, empowering the people of Nigeria to solve their own problems. Through the work of organizations like ours, change at the very highest levels just might come from the grassroots.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Support Nigeria, Support World Security

Ever wonder why you support Vision Africa?

Ever wonder how supporting Vision Africa affects YOU?

Think security.

A safer, more secure Nigeria leads to a safer, more secure world.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan recently made this case to the world's top leaders at the G-8 meeting in Canada.

Vision Africa is committed to leadership training programs and Vision Africa Radio programming that promotes peace through non-violent conflict resolution.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Hope in Nigeria




Once again, our friends at Nigeria Health Watch bring us an amazing glimpse into the state of healthcare in Nigeria.


In a country that stands gingerly on the razor's edge, stories of hope are as valuable as gold.

This NHW post reiterates what Bishop Sunday has been saying for years: Nigerians can solve their own problems. Vision Africa will continue to empower the people of Nigeria to do just that.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Major Step Toward HIV Vaccine


Yesterday, researchers in the U.S. announced major progress in the search for an HIV vaccine.

More than 30 million people in the world are living with HIV/AIDS and 2.7 million people contracted the virus in 2008. Nearly 3 million Nigerians are believed to be living with the virus today.

Transmission of HIV/AIDS can be controlled somewhat and people living with the virus can experience a high quality of life, but at present, there is no cure.

Because the disease severely compromises the immune system, the number of AIDS-related deaths remains a painful reminder of the need for a vaccine. Until today, the vaccines in trial were only 30% effective.

That's why the news of a 91%-effective vaccine is so exciting.

Maybe one day Vision Africa's HIV/AIDS work in Nigeria will include vaccinations!