N.K.S.T

N.K.S.T stands for the "Nongu u Kristu u i Ser u sha Tar," translated "Universal Reformed Christian Church," a Christian Reformed church based in Nigeria. NKST envisions, by the grace of God, to be a multiethnic Christian community drawn from all nations and cultures of the world and united in the doctrine of Jesus Christ and purpose so as to offer holistic service with available resources to reach the unreached. NKST exists to glorify God through worship and proclamation of the Good News of Salvation to all humanity, and observation of the sacraments as instituted by Jesus Christ, to strengthen the communion of the Saints, to responsibly teach believers and instill self-discipline. The church has its headquarters at Mkar-Gboko in Benue state but has spread all over Nigeria, and even beyond. The members are predominantly the Tiv speaking tribe but other tribes in Nigeria belong to this church. It was first introduced in Sai on 17 April 1911 a village in Katsina Ala local government area of Benue state, Nigeria.[1] Although its headquarters is now at Mkar, Gboko, the local government is in Benue State. The church is the fruit of missionary work undertaken by the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. Work began in 1911 among the Tiv people in then Gongola and Benue Province. The beginnings were slow — only 25 baptized Christians in 25 years. In 1960, due to the apartheid system, the South African missionaries were no longer tolerated in Nigeria and had to leave. In their place the SUM–Christian Reformed Reformed Church of North America, a branch related to NKST, gave it strong support until about 1985. In 1957 the church was formally organized as an autonomous, self-supporting, and self-propagating church with first four indigenous (Nigerian) pastors. A full translation of the Bible into Tiv was completed and dedicated on 4 November 1964. The church also has a synod that meets twice in a year. The Church has seven institutions of higher learning: 1. The Reformed Theological Seminary Mkar, 2. Reformed Bible College Harga, 3. School of Nursing Mkar, 4. College of Health Technology Mkar 5. School of Medical Laboratory Sciences Mkar, 6. School of Midwifery Mkar, 7. and more recently a university, The University of Mkar . The pioneer Vice Chancellor was a renowned academic, Professor (Mrs) Nancy Ngunan Agbe. Until her appointment, she was a professor at Benue State University, Makurdi. The current Vice Chancellor is Prof. Emmanuel Hemen Agba, Professor of Physics also coming from Benue State University.

The NKST church has over a Million followership and over 137,115 baptised and professing members. It has a well organised Women Fellowship with 44,514 members. The women fellowship has built one of the most beautiful guest houses in Benue State at Mkar near the Church Secretariat. NKST church has 693 pastors since inception with 572 who are still alive, and about 121 have rested in the Lord. NKST has 4,143 churches all over Nigeria, with 360 well-established congregations. Some of the congregations conduct their services in English, e.g. NKST Anglo- Jos, Plateau State. It also has 57 classes. The church also has 9 hospitals, and 352 primary health centers. It has 53 secondary schools and 500 primiry schools.

The President of NKST now is Rev. Ayohol Ate who took over November 2011 from Rev. J.T. Orkuma as president. The General secretary is Rev. Peter Gwaza Azuana assisted by Rev. Ephraim Mbateren Shir. The President is part-time with the General Secretary as the Administrative officer of the Church. It has about 20 different departments such as Media, Mission, Education, Agriculture, Works, Diaconal ministry, Sunday School, Choir, Audit, Youth etc. which are headed by well dedicated Christians. The Church has recently finished revising the Tiv Bible and has since been sent down to the Bible Society of Nigeria for the final professional work. It has also recently started a Mission station near Abeoukuta in Ogun State with the aim of reaching the Yoruba tribe with Reformed Faith. The Church has been badly attacked in February 2014 by the Tiv/Fulani crisis over grazing land; so many lives and property worth billions of Naira has be destroyed by the Fulani mercenaries. It was suspected that the Fulanis were using chemical weapons to attack the Tiv original dwellers. The Fulanis have also occupied most of the areas attacked. The NKST has fraternal relationship with Churches in the United States of America, the Netherlands, South Africa, Canada and other parts of the word. NKST as a Reformed Church subscribes to (a) the three forms of unity and (b) Ecumenical Creeds a.(i) The Heidelberg Catechism;(ii) The Canons of Dort;(iii) The Belgic Confession; b. Ecumenical Creeds i) Apostles' Creed ii) Nicene Creed (iii) Athanisian Creed.

References

  1. ↑ Rescue the trophies: an ethnic survey of Benue State. CAPRO Research Office. 1993. p. 119. ISBN 978-978-2668-51-6.

Also, NKST stands for Nongo u Kristi u i Ser u sha Tar. From 1957 to July 2014, it did stand for Nongo u Kristu u ken Sudan ken Tiv. A reference to the use of Sudan for the middle part of Africa.

Further reading