Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
(James 1:27 NIV
)
We currently operate two schools in Nigeria; one is located in Otukpo and the other in Otada. The two schools are situated approximately 10km apart, with no public transportation connecting them. Since the start of this ministry, the village and nearby town has grown in population and size. In reflecting the magnitude of the needs and the great blessing provided by these schools, the number of students has greatly increased from 30 in 2008 to the 265 at the start of the 2016/2017 school year. Our students are comprised of local orphans and needy children of widows from nursery to primary 6.
Otukpo school started Sept 2008 with 62 students and was dedicated in October 2008. This school is operated out of a rented building, and enrollment has increased to 158 students with continued requests to accept more children. Land was purchased in 2009 with the vision of building a dedicated classroom block. No construction work has yet started at this site.
Otada (Village) school started in 2012 in a church with 30 students from the village. At the start of the 2016/2017 school year, 107 students were enrolled. Ground breaking of dedicated land began for a new school building in October of 2013. The property was purchased solely for the vision of building a permanent school which would eliminate the need to pay rent into the future. The building has started to take the shape of a school, having a floor, walls, roof, doors and windows. The building contains a four classroom block, two offices and washrooms but is not yet finished. Until the time that our building is completed, the school will continue to operate out of the church building.
This video collage, made by one of our Nigerian partners, highlights images and video clips from one of our school's graduation days.
Fund raising is under way to support the costs of finishing the school building. We encourage you to join us in impacting the future of Nigeria through the lives of the children we minister to. Donations can be made directly to Cornerstone Mountain Assembly church and designated to the Gilgal ministry or visit our fund raiser page at: https://www.gofundme.com/GilgalWCMI