Bro. Joseph Oyeleye and his family, from Nigeria,
felt a desire to come to Columbus, MS to start an ethnic mission.
They had an appointment with the American Embassy in Nigeria on
September 28, 2003 to present their (R1) religious visa application.
Through prayers and consistency, they were approved and arrived
in the U.S. in late October. After arriving in Columbus, MS Bro.
Joseph encountered conflicts on obtaining his Social Security
Card. We knew the Lord would work this detail out in his will
and time and our prayers were answered during the month of December
when Bro. Oyeleye was issued a Social Security Card, which finalized
his position as a missionary for the BMA of MS.
Bro. Joseph and his family are now in Columbus,
MS and are occupying the previous Ridgecrest Baptist Church property
and parsonage. This new mission work in Columbus has taken the
name Maple Street Baptist Mission. Shiloh Baptist Church (old
Ridgecrest) in Columbus, MS is the mother church for Maple Street
Baptist Mission. Bro. Lavon Haden is their pastor and says they
continue to share in the their excitement about the Lord opening
doors in Columbus that were once closed.
On January 5, 2004 Bro. Joseph brought his family
to meet the Missionary Committee and Office Staff: His wife Alice;
daughter Mary, age 19; daughter Bridget, age 17; son Louis, age
15; and daughter Lucy, age 9. It was truly a blessing to meet
this joyful family.
There are many African Americans in the Columbus
area to reach for Christ. Pray for the Oyeleye family as they
win souls for Christ, and work for our Missions in MS.
