WORLD SIGHT DAY 2010 CONCERT

Glory be to God! This year’s World Sight Day was celebrated in Jos, Nigeria on 10-10-10, with a concert, the Give Sight Charity Concert, which brought together talented, anointed and God-fearing musicians who helped raise funds for treating people with avoidable blindness.

Dave Azi and the Bright Sounds Band

WISPartners, UTC Junction, Jos was the venue of the concert, and amazingly, the big hall was packed full with people from all different parts of Nigeria.

Guests at the concert

The crowd was thrilled by a variety of artists with different styles of music such as Dave Azi, Jeremiah Gyang, Johnny Gospel, Mista Seth, Kingsley Gowok, and the Five Loaves. Other volunteer artists who ministered were El-Smooth, Destiny Band , PJ, V-I and The Branches.

Jeremiah Gyang

The purpose of the concert was to create awareness on visual impairment and the need to fight avoidable and/or treatable blindness. The funds raised during this concert will be used to purchase eyeglasses and intraocular lenses for people with cataracts who cannot afford the cost of surgery.

The crowd on their feet dancing

With the money raised, a team of eye specialists will accompany an evangelistic team on an outreach to remote villages so that those with treatable blindness can see again.

Concert-goers who gave sight to the needy

Thanks be to God for this outstanding event!

Dogon Nahawa on March 7, 2010

Dogon Nahawa, a village outside of Jos, Nigeria, suffered a brutal attack in the middle of the night on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 which left many people dead, especially women and children.

Here are some of the survivors' stories.

Jessica and her family ran out of the house and clashed with many attackers. She escaped with a machete wound across the cheek to the back of her neck. Her little sister, aged 7, didn’t survive.

Becky, age 11, ran with her mom and brother and sister across a field and stream to a primary school in the next village.

Dagwom, age 15, was hacked in the head and hands and his arm was broken. His father did not survive.

Christy’s two brothers (5 and 12 yrs old) were killed in the attack. Christy ran and survived

.

Nancy, age 9, and her family survived by staying indoors during the attack.

Wakfwen with some of the survivors whom he interviewed.

Beth and some of the children of Dogon Nahawa who survived

Dave Azi and Ann Sunwar leading praise and worship at a concert he organized at Dogon Nahawa

DeeZed singing at the gospel concert at Dogon Nahawa

The crowd at the April 18th concert

Beth with the women of Dogon Nahawa during a prayer time

The Five Loaves singing in the Berom language at the concert

The future generation of Dogon Nahawa

Wakfwen and Beth returned to Dogon Nahawa and had time with many people who survived the attack. Please remember these people in your prayers and continue to pray for their healing.

Thank you,

Wakfwen and Beth Danpome

More Destruction in Jos, January 2010

"Amazing!"

That was the comment of a person who attended the Give Sight Charity Concert celebrating World Sight Day 2009 in Jos, Plateau State. Other people who attended said, “Excellent,” “Well- planned,” “Overwhelming!”

Sunday, October 11^th Azi Nyako Youth Centre was packed with about 700 people who came to see their favorite gospel artists perform and donate to the cause of helping blind people see again.

The Give Sight Charity Concert opened with Wakfwen giving the welcome address.

Ezra Jinang performed the songs that people in Plateau State love. He even changed the words of one of his most popular songs for the occasion, singing, “By His grace, I have my sight. That’s why I’m singing, Jehovah gave me sight.”

Dave Azi, well-respected gospel reggae singer played some of his best songs and had people on their feet dancing.

Ernest Dades kept the reggae rhythm going with his medley of songs.

Daps had the crowd “bowing down in worship” as he sang his very powerful song, “Sujada” (Worship).

Jeremiah Gyang sang his best songs including “Na Ba Ka Zuciyata!” (I Give You My Heart).

Pam Monday sang the best of Hausa praise songs and had people dancing in front of the stage.

Finally a group of new artists singing in the Berom language, The Five Loaves, took the stage and got everyone doing their best tribal dance steps in the front.

As night was falling, Beth gave the closing word of thanks, Musa Goyol gave the final prayer and the M.C., Plateau Radio Television D.J. Clement Selbong, popularly called Steary J, gave the closing words of the Give Sight Charity Concert as the crowd started to disperse.

Many thanks to the ones who helped do the ushering, logistics and security at the concert. God bless everyone!

Hosted by Beth and Wakfwen Danpome

Sight for the Blind

May 15-17th twelve cataract patients living in Garram village, Plateau State, Nigeria had sight-restoring surgery due to the supporters of Christian Friends of Missions, the name of our ministry in Jos, Nigeria. Thank you to all who supported this worthwhile project!
The road to Garram village

Dr. Alice Ramyil performing surgery

Checking Baba Lar's eyes the next day

"I can see!"

The twelve patients and the Mobile Vision Care team

Destruction in Jos, November 2008

Evangelistic and Medical Outreach in Garram 28-30th March