Pioneering Irish Missionary
Marion Nelson, a pioneering Irish Methodist Missionary, who served in the Gambia from 1983 – 1993 now lives in retirement in Co. Antrim with her sister, Betty and continues to serve her local Church with that great fidelity which was so characteristic of while serving overseas.
She is a popular Local Preacher, MWI. Secretary, an accomplished pianist along with so much more.
Marion was born and educated in Belfast. Her spiritual home was Shankhill Road Methodist Church where she was an active and most enthusiastic member of the CE there from teenage years and was successful in the Expert examination too.
CE was to leave a lifelong, indelible impression upon her and today she is still as enthusiastic about the Movement which she says, “teaches so much and demands so much”.
When she was about 17 years old, she attended the Missionary Convention in Bangor, and responded to God’s clear call to missionary service but was unable to fulfil her calling due to family circumstances.
Following General and Midwifery training, a period lecturing in Jordanstown College followed.
As the years passed and the way became clear, another former missionary, the Revd. Tom Magowan was instrumental in Marion eventually offering herself for work overseas.
In 1983 she arrived in the Gambia, Africa’s smallest State situated on its west coast and predominately Muslim.
Only 5% were Christian then.
Work there involved the running of three clinics – Mother and Baby; Maternity and General. One was in the village of Marakissa and two were in outlying areas.
Marion had a great desire to reach out and build up and to this end the most natural way to tackle this was to form a CE Society. Her past experience gave her the firm conviction that no other organisation could meet the challenges and opportunities presented.
She ran the Society herself sometimes with a little help from the Pastor and maybe his brother in law. Two older teenagers in this new Society were needed at every meeting to act as interpreters. Marion did not give CE badges to the members as they had nothing to pin them to but rather they were given scarves likes Scouts but these were soon rendered useless due to prevailing conditions.
The seed sown by Marion during those years did not die when she left Marakissa – even though sadly her Society ceased.
The great news is that some years ago, that seed germinated when three of the boys who were members of her Society started one again and this is now flourishing. Their aim, like Marion’s, was to reach out to non-Christians and to nurture young people in their faith.
Two of these were Pap Philip Jabang and Ensa Badgie.
Philip, the founder President, currently in Kenya, preparing to become a Bible Translator plans to return and work in the Gambia while Ensa, married to a Ghanaian pastor works in Ghana preparing Churches for discussions with Muslims.
Today CE in the Gambia comprises members drawn from the Presbyterian Church, the Evangelical Church of the Gambia, Mennonites and the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Some from Muslin backgrounds, since their conversion, have been rejected by their families.
Most of the members are students and the Movement is self- supporting.
Literate and illiterate stand side by side.
Members are united as they participate in a programme based solidly and solely on study of The Bible.
In true CE style they run the meetings themselves and about 400 youth meet for a prayer night on the last Friday of the month.
When Marion heard this she was staggered. She was overwhelmed and so grateful to God to learn not only that the Society had restarted but also what some of the former members are doing today.
Some Gambian pastors place great emphasis on numbers within their Churches and organisations but are assured that any of their members joining CE will not be a threat or in competition but rather that they will help build up and strengthen the Church.
Endeavourers also put much weight on giving practical help within their own local communities.
In 2007, “Christian Endeavor Youth Unlimited” was registered with the Gambian Government as a charitable organisation.
Once again an Irish Methodist Missionary serves in the Gambia. Ruth Wilson, a teacher from Creagh on the Fivemiletown Circuit, has recently arrived in Banjul, the capital and is involved in teaching and administration.
It is interesting to note too that the 2010 Irish National Christian Endeavour Convention will be based in Fivemiletown Methodist Church – a first for that Church and for Fivemiletown but so convenient for many being on the route of the Belfast Enniskillen Ulsterbus Express.
Grateful thanks are expressed to World Union Secretary, Andreas Rudolph for extensive information upon which news about CE in the Gambia has been based.
ENDS.
