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Nigeria
 Population:
128,771,988
Ethnic groups:
Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%
Religions:
Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous 10%
Languages:
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
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Fellowship's History in Nigeria
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College Friends
 Fellowship’s story in Nigeria actually starts back in 1984 when Fellowship member Dr. Charles Marable became friends with Aniefiok Udo at Arkansas State University. The two kept in touch over the years and continued their friendship while Charles went on to medical school and eventually moved to Franklin. Aniefiok went on to Dallas Theological Seminary and then sensed God’s call to move back to Nigeria with a vision to win his people to Christ. Fast forward to 2002 when Aniefiok visited the United States and came through Nashville to see his old college buddy, Charles.
The First Trip
Charles introduced Aniefiok to a number of people at Fellowship including Henry Thomas, Brian Petak and Maridus Kinder, who were intrigued by Aniefiok’s passion and interested to hear more about his vision. Charles and Henry took a trip to Nigeria that year to work with Aniefiok and minister to his network of pastors. Two years later, in August of 2004 over a cup of coffee at Starbucks with Aniefiok, Brian and Charles decided to put together an exploratory team to travel to Nigeria in October. Their mission was to help facilitate a Pastor’s Training Conference with Aniefiok and the organization he was working with at the time, the Believer’s Assembly of Nigeria. That first team of Charles, Brian, Jeff Runion, Bob Elrod and Richard Scott came together and traveled to Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria a few months later.
The Partnership Deepens
During this October trip, the team was able to see and affirm Aniefiok’s leadership and the trust he had obviously built over time with the almost 200 pastors who attended the conference. However, it was also obvious to the team that something was not right with the current organization, and Aniefiok’s abilities and leadership skills were not being stewarded well. Through a number of Spirit-led conversations, Aniefiok shared his vision for one day planting a church and establishing a pastor’s resource center to equip and train area pastors. His vision for reaching that part of Nigeria also included a clinic, a vocational training center and a seminary. The Fellowship team affirmed Aniefiok’s vision and passion and after consulting with Maridus Kinder back home via satellite phone, it was unanimously decided to come alongside Aniefiok as a leader, and his vision for reaching Nigeria for Christ. With Fellowship’s support and financial backing giving him confidence to pursue his dream as a leader, Aniefiok decided to call his church Fellowship Bible Church and became Fellowship’s first international church plant.
 Fellowship Bible Church, Nigeria
Aniefiok announced his resignation from BAN in December 2004 and launched Fellowship Bible Church-Nigeria with 12 members, including the five Udos – Aniefiok, his wife Judy and their three sons, Stephen, Samuel and James. Since then, Fellowship-Nigeria has grown to almost 200 members and is meeting in two different locations (they already have a satellite campus!).
 Pastor’s Resource Center
Africa Outreach, Inc was created as the umbrella organization under which the church operates and has since created both a Nigeria-based board as well as a U.S.-based board for the purposes of accountability and direction. In 2005, a 24-acre section of land was purchased just outside Ikot Ekpene in the village of Itak Ikot Udo. In 2006, construction on the Pastor’s Resource Center and home to Fellowship Bible Church-Nigeria was completed. A team from Fellowship made up of Jeff Runion, Ray McKelvy and Brian Petak traveled to Nigeria in October, 2006 for another pastor’s conference as well as the ribbon-cutting for the official Grand Opening of the building. Over 150 pastors and church leaders attended the conference, and over 300 pastors, tribal leaders and government officials attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and
celebration. It was an exciting weekend!
 In 2008 a team from Fellowship returned to teach at a training conference at the Africa Outreach Resource Center with over 400 church leaders in attendance. The teaching focused on equipping in the areas of biblical manhood, spiritual disciplines and leadership. Also, for the first time, a “women only” track was offered! Dr. Roseanne Coleman and Dian Belbeck led sessions with over 50 women leaders.
African Ministerial Fellowship
In 2006, Aniefiok started the African Ministerial Fellowship (AMF), a group of local pastors coming together once a month for prayer, reconciliation, unity and a vision to reach the southern part of Nigeria for Christ. As of August, 2007, there are over 200 pastors
involved in AMF under Aniefiok’s leadership and guidance. Many churches are now experiencing unity and relationship in a way they have never before. AMF is instrumental in bringing pastors in from all over Nigeria to the numerous training conferences that are held at the Africa Outreach campus in Itak Ikot Udo each year.
Africa Theological Seminary
In 2007, Aniefiok launched the Africa Theological Seminary with the first batch of 13 students completing their inaugural semester in May. Associates and Certificate programs are currently available, and work is being done for the Seminary to become accredited.
Medical Clinic
The next item on the agenda for Africa Outreach’s vision is to build a clinic that will provide both in-patient and out-patient
medical services for area residents. Judy Udo is a registered nurse and would provide oversight and medical care. Currently,
quality, affordable medical care is scarce, and it is the belief of Africa Outreach that providing for these needs will open wide the opportunity for the spread of the gospel in this region of Nigeria.
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