Welcome to Our Mission Website which tells you about the charity that first started in March 1997 and is reliant upon gifts and financial donations from our sponsors. We are the overseas supporters of the work carried out by the Prayer City ministries in Calabar of Cross River State in Nigeria, which is also known as Prayers To All Nations (or P'tan). Rev. Theodore and Rev. Ephraim Effiong and their (pastor) wives are the co-ordinators of this pioneer work in Calabar - and have the responsibility of distributing your gifts and funding the projects.

          The secretary of the Cross River Latter Rain Mission is the administrator Liz Crick. She decided to visit Calabar in 1996 to spend some time there to witness the hardship and needs of the people. She fully understood the significance and scope of the work - and realized that progress and growth was being held back by the lack of essential equipment and finances.

          A compelling vision of her future role in this vital ministry - catapulted her into a lasting commitment to serve their needs. She used her administrative gifts to establish this charity - and to organise the mission systems and procedures as a solid foundation for the work. This set-up enables safe transfer of funds for financial support and the regular despatch of valuable gifts and equipment to resource the Prayer City ministries.

          By extension, we have supported and encouraged other Christian based works whenever we can. The Assemblies of God Bible College in Uyo. The Nursery Schools. The Evangel Clinic and their Maternity Unit, and many others have all benefited by your gifts.

Office Equipment

• Telephone and Fax Machine
• Two new and one used Laptop Computers
• Three Conventional Computers
• Laminating and Photocopier Machines & sundry Office Supplies

Studio Equipment

• A professional film camera for recording meetings and crusades and for television coverage
• Duplicating Machine for cassette tapes

Other

• Various Household and electrical goods
• Many new and good quality used clothing and shoes for men and women, boys and girls - which all have to be processed and packed
• Hundreds of New Testaments, bibles, ministry books and magazines.

Clinic Items

• Orthopaedic and surgical instruments to the local hospital
• First-Aid equipment and over the counter pharmaceuticals
• Baby equipment and clothes for the clinic and Maternity Unit
• Hundreds of pairs of new spectacles
• A premature baby incubator

          Most of this giving would not have been possible except for God's provision. Liz's former employer, DHL Couriers World-wide, responded to the need magnificently. They have sponsored this charity by setting up an account for CRLRM enabling us to send out 20kg of goods each month by air to Nigeria. Passage is free to Lagos - with some charges for the onward flight to Calabar which are borne by the Prayer City co-ordinators. A former DHL work colleague ran in the Paris Marathon for a water project, and with DHL's contribution over £1,500 was raised to finance the electric pump, overhead tank and piping system for the bore hole well at Prayer City - this also serves the surrounding villagers with water. Click HERE to see photos

          In the area of funding we assisted the building up of the Prayer City site in various ways. From the beginning, simple structures were put up to house the ever growing numbers - together with supplying the benches for seating. Later, sound systems were added with the ever growing need of electrical equipment. Finally, larger buildings were added and twice, a generating plant has been provided to augment the ever fluctuating, (sometimes non-existent) supply of electricity from NEPA, the Nigerian Grid. Following on from the bore hole water project, the basic need for male and female toilet cubicles was provided for and put up by the waterfront. Rev. Theodore's former church at Ikot Abasi Obori was also helped generously in the building of the extension and the finishing of the work of their splendid church building. The money sent over has been allocated to build up or sustain the work in other ways too numerous to mention! All have been at the discretion of the co-ordinators.

          The average wage earned in the late 90's was the equivalent of £30 monthly. Now it has risen .... to about £40 monthly! - with high rates of unemployment. Just stop to think about that! No schooling or hospital care without fees! What touches us is the sacrifice of the many thousands of Christians in Nigeria. Materialism is foreign to them, therefore the Kingdom business is all important. They are passionate about giving their widow's ALL. It is the on-going running expenses that are usually the hardest to upkeep. For this reason, the weekly Radio Ministry 'Get To The Altar' - and the monthly salaries of the devoted prayer teams undergirding the work - are often paid in arrears. Although that is considered 'normal' in Nigeria, it affects many adversely, and is not God's intention. As a result, at the set-up of this charity, Liz Crick and Frances Effiong, laboured on, running car boot sales to raise money. Liz also did a sponsored walk of 10 miles to raise £1,300. After some years, this was no longer possible and the on-going income dropped right down.