Lewis Ecker
Church-based Missionary
-- London, England -- |
 My flight to Lagos was delayed by five hours because of ice and snow at London's Heathrow Airport. |
A view of Lagos from my hotel.
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A view of Lagos Lagoon from my hotel balcony.
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 The crowd of over 500K Nigerian christians gathered early for "The Experience." It was my pleasure to sit on the 4th row-center from 6:30 PM Friday to 6:30 AM Saturday. Never a dull moment!! |
It was a privilege to pose with THE LEGEND, Don Moen, at lunch after the Sunday worship service in Lagos.
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I was also happy to meet the One-and-Only, Phil Driscoll. He is extremely popular in Nigeria.
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 Back in London we had our Drop-In Ministry Christmas Lunch this week and fed over 75 guests plus 25 volunteers. We had a visit from a Nigerian Santa this year. |
 Maybe you've heard about the student protests in London. They're not near our house but I did get near one last month when I went to the Nigerian Embassy. MORE LONDON PHOTOS |
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London to LagosIt was a trip that started out rather slowly with a boring five hour delay because of snow and ice at London's Heathrow Airport but after take-off everything went smoothly. If you tuned in last time you know I was invited to Lagos, Nigeria, for five days to attend a big worship event hosted by House on the Rock, Lagos, and meet with their founding pastor. I was warmly received at the Lagos airport by members of the "mother church" and driven to my hotel around midnight. The rest of the trip was much more exciting.
The next morning included a buffet breakfast and press conference to update the media on "The Experience," an international worship festival that was to take place that evening. I was just there as an observer but rubbed elbows with some of the greats in Gospel Music. At my breakfast table was Erica Campbell, one-half of the dynamic duo known as "Mary Mary" - best known for their popular song "Shackles." Later that same day I had lunch with the famous songwriter and worship leader, Don Moen, and his band. The guitarist of the group, Tom Lane (a singer and songwriter in his own right), I've known since school days in Panama City, Florida. After lunch, I introduced myself to the legendary trumpet player and gospel singer, Phil Driscoll. I was also privileged to meet the other artists that I was not as familiar with but grew to love and appreciate their ministries: Fred Hammond, Ron Kenoly, and Israel Houghton to name a few.
"The Experience" began at 7PM at Tafawa Balewa Square - named for Nigeria's first prime minister - and went through the night until dawn. The crowd of over 500K was said to have made this the largest worship festival in the world. It was definitely exciting and I couldn't believe how the time flew by. The vast majority of the worshippers, including myself, stayed for the entire "experience."Saturday was a day of rest but I managed to take in two of the local restaurants. It was tough... I mean the lasagna I had for lunch was HUGE and all the portions served for dinner at the Chinese place were much larger than you get in the UK. But somehow... I persevered.... (mmmwhahaha!!)
The Sunday morning service included people visiting from House on the Rock churches all over Nigeria that were in town for The Experience, so we met in the giant ballroom at my hotel. Enthusiastically Don Moen, Israel Houghton, and others led the masses in worship followed by a sermon from a guest preacher. Once again I was fortunate enough to have lunch with Don Moen and the gang after the service.
On Monday morning I met with Pastor Paul Adefarasin, founding pastor, and two of the trustees from House on the Rock. We discussed a number of things including the challenges of a white man working in basically an all-African church. Pastor Paul was a bit skeptical at first but the more he talked it out the more he became convinced the challenges would lead to growth. So basically we got the approval we were looking for!!
But unfortunately - and it breaks my heart to say this - it appears the immigration/visa process is going to stand in my way. It's too complicated to explain, but as we researched the paperwork involved to allow me to start a new job with House on the Rock, we've discovered it could take months to go through all the proper channels and then there's no guarantees. During the process I will have no steady income and cannot work another job legally, that's if we stay in the UK. Or, we could go to the US and wait things out but there's still the problem of income and what to do with our stuff in London and what if the paperwork still hasn't gone through after two or three months? The list of uncertainties goes on and on....
This is not an official announcement but at this moment - as much as it pains me to admit it - returning to the US permanently looks like our only reasonable decision. Does anyone see another option? I'm open to suggestion for I know that "God can make a way where there seems to be no way" according to Don Moen's lyrics, but how long do we wait? And where? And how do we pay the bills?
While the generosity of supporters in the US has been phenomenal over the past 2+ years, it's not enough by itself. Not unless a lot of people and/or several churches get on board supporting us suddenly. (If that's what you feel led to do, see the instructions at the bottom of the page.)
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)
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Prayer Requests and Updates
- Please keep praying for the Ecker family. It took a miracle to get us to London and it will take another one to keep us here.
- Please remember to pray for Islington Street Pastors. I had to cancel our patrols for the 17th and 24th, but hopefully we will be out on the 31st.
- "Alex" made it through the detox clinic program but they only kept him 10 days. Please pray he will get the long-term support he needs.
When I look back over the two and a half years we've been in London I am so amazed at all the blessings we've received. There have been a lot of ups and downs, especially in the last few months, but God has been so faithful and you have been faithful to support us financially and with your prayers.
If you would like to make a further or first-time contribution, please send a check to FBC Clermont, directed to the Ecker Fund (you do not have to be a member of the church). The address is 498 W. Montrose St., Clermont, FL 34711. Our address in London is below.
Sincerely grateful,
The Ecker Family
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