CLTM History

How It All Started: The Vision Given 1997-1998

The vision to start a Youth Ministry was revealed to me around 1997-1998. It came one afternoon, while I was praying on my parents’ farmland, at a place called “Pokereng” at the southeastern foot of “Pandi Kalmai” (the hill of the Kalmai people) in Billiri, Nigeria. After doing some farm work and my siblings had left, I looked for a place in the bush, and began praying to God. My heart was so much heavy as I reflected on the life struggles of young people and the society at large. Deep within me, something told me that there was a need for transformation in people’s lives, and I was praying to God to bring revival. While praying for the coming revival, I said something that goes like this:

God, I know you are going to bring revival in this generation. Right now, I don’t know how it is going to happen. I don’t know when it is going to happen, and I don’t know whom you are going to use. But this I pray, oh Lord, that when you begin the revival, please do not pass me by! Please, make me a part of the transformation you are about to bring in this generation.

After the prayer that afternoon, I knew that God wanted me to do something, but it was not clear what God was directing me to do. However, I knew it was going to be clear with time. While I was a student at the Jos ECWA Theological Seminary (JETS, 2002-2004), the strong emphasis on youth and children ministry by my teacher, Rev. Jeremiah Samson influenced me greatly. Also, the “informal” mentoring I got from Rev. Dr. Nathan Chiroma (also my teacher at JETS), made a huge impact on me. The influence of these two men of God helped to re-focus my understanding of ministry and put a heavy burden in my heart for the next generation. I naturally began to think of ways to impact the young people for a better future. 

The Vision Started: 2006

The practical implementation of the vision began in 2006, with the production of a Christian youth magazine while I was working as a pastor at ECWA Goodnews Kumo. The name of the magazine was Spring of Life Magazine. It was published bi-annually. Rev. Dr. Simon Ibrahim gave me very strong support. He edited all the work and always encouraged me to move on despite challenges. Also, Rev. Maxwell D. Parpashi, and the board of elders of the Good News church Kumo supported me tremendously.

After I got married in 2011, my wife and I started a Sport Ministry with teenagers in 2012, at our house in Billiri. My wife received a special training by Sports Friends Ministry in Jos, after which she was able to start a sport group with some young girls under the auspices of ECWA church No 1 Billiri where we were serving. I began a Badminton sport group with some young men of between 14 to 17 years. Towards the end of 2012, we began showing movies at ECWA No. 1 Billiri, in order to reach out to more young people. We found help from ECWA GoodNews Billiri, which generously barrowed us their projector whenever we needed it. Some of the young people who were helping me included: Molta Matthew, Ibrahim Abel, Ishaya Amos, Ibzan Ibrahim Malon, Godwin Philip, Alfred Ishaku and Elkanah Bayero.

Divine Connection: 2012-2013

By Divine arrangement, I met with Mrs Asabe Edward Adamu in November of 2012 at Abuja, where we discussed at length about the spiritual climate of the church back at home, especially, the young people.

Mrs Adamu later provided us with a new Projector and its screen in December of 2012. With this blessing, we started showing movies at different places and during Fellowship Group’s Conferences.

With the strong support of Rev. Ezra Idi, the Board of Elders, and the entire members of ECWA No.1 Billiri, the Ministry began to expand and produce more fruits. By June 2013, we had begun a regular Sunday Evening Movie Show at the church. I was working with about seven people.

What God Did Through the Ministry in the Year 2013

  1. Fourteen indoor and outdoor outreaches
  2. Movie Nights – every Sunday evening at ECWA No.1 Billiri
  3. Total number of New Converts – 101
  4. Those who made their ways right with God – over one hundred

We compiled and sent detailed reports of our activities to Mrs Adamu, in appreciation of the ministry tools she has provided to us.

By the end of 2013, Mrs Adamu has provided us with a “complete” set of Musical Instruments worth, N 484,100.00.

The Gradual Expansion of the Ministry

With the expansion of the work and the provision of the musical instruments, came some challenges and the need to get more people onboard, so that the work would be easier and more effective. So, I took the following steps.

Seeking for Guidance from Above: December 2013

I prayed and fasted for several days for God to guide me as I select people whom he has prepared to work with me. I was praying for people who would be committed to Jesus, faithful in serving him, humble, patient, and sacrificial in all things. I prayed to God to give me people who share similar life values that I have (love him and love others), so that there would be a spiritual and psycho-social cohesion among us.

Vision-sharing: January 2014

I talked one-on-one, or one-on-group, with over 40 young people, whom I felt the Lord was directing me to work with.

Interview with Prospective Members: 24th – 25th January 2014                            

I did a one-on-one interaction/interview with about 30 young people who have indicated interest to come on board. The purpose of the interaction was to ensure that the people coming on board: 1) have a personal relationship with Jesus; 2) are growing in their relationship with Jesus; 3) understand that joining the ministry requires sacrifice for the sake of the gospel; 4) understand and are willing to share the core values of the ministry.

The following people helped me in interviewing the young people at the CAN Centre, Billiri: Mr. Eric Black, Past. David Bilal, and Rev. Sunday Wanzam.

Start-Up Workshop: 6th – 8th February 2014 

I organised a three-day workshop which was attended by over 40 young people. The aim of this first workshop was to introduce and deepen members’ understanding of the ministry’s Mission Statement, Objectives, Vision, Strategies, and Core Values. The workshop was also designed to help members identify their area(s) of calling within the ministry, and to foster unity and love among them.

Resource persons at the workshop included, Mr. Eric Black, Rev. Sunday Wanzam, Past. Yohanna Pilau, Past. David P. Bilal, Past. Ishaya Maifutuk and myself (Past. Andele Y. Tadi).     

Official Inauguration of the Ministry: 9th March 2014

The official kick-up of the ministry was held at ECWA No1 Billiri at 2 pm on Sunday. It was attended by about 1,000 people. The mission, objectives, and strategies of the ministry were communicated to the audience. The members of the ministry were introduced, commissioned, and prayed for by Rev. Dr. Simon Ibrahim. The name of the ministry was also announced as Life Transformation Ministry (LTM).  

Name Change: 27 March 2018

About four years after the official inauguration of the ministry, it was discovered that there are other ministries with either very similar name or the acronym LTM.  Consequently, during its meeting on 27 March 2018, the ministry changed its name from Life Transformation Ministry (LTM) to Community Life Transformation Ministry (CLTM).