The NKST has Several Departments. Some of which are:
A. NKST MISSION SERVICES.
The Mission Department is without argument, the pioneer Department of this Church. Its existence antedates the inauguration of the NKST in 1957. It was the Synod of the year 1975 that officially approved the establishment of a Mission Board. Those saddled with this responsibility were William Berrends (a white Missionary) and Iyortyom Achineku. Before then however, people like Rev. J. E. I. Sai and Nevkar Annum had made individual and uncoordinated entries into Hausa and Etulo speaking Communities.
Like the mustard seed, this work has now grown to cover all the major cities of Nigeria including Abuja. Some of the major consistories in Nigerian cities started as Mission Stations. Currently, the Department is running 29 Mission Stations, 17 of which are outside Benue State aimed at non-Tiv speakers. Our only international engagement is in Chad Republic where Boko Haram insurgency has made the place inaccessible, members are also dispersed.
Our major focus is on two areas: Cross – Cultural work as exemplified in our work among the Yoruba of Ogun State at Rogun – Shobowale, and Fulani Ministry as well as Child Evangelism which is the emphasis of every Mission agency.
Apart from the Dutch Reformed Church Mission (DRCM), Sudan United Mission (SUM), and Christian Reformed Church (CRC) of North America that brought the word of God to the TIV Nation, Those Saddled with the responsibility as Leaders/Directors over the years have been:
Rev. J.E.I. Sai
Rev. Nevkaa Annum
Ortese Williams Berrends
Rev. Dr. Iyortyom Achineku
Rev. M. Ushi
Rev. J.A. Gberihwa
Rev. Jimmy V. Kwen
Rev. J.T. Adure
Rev. Samuel Z. Aliough
Rev. Timothy Alam
Rev. Capt. J.T. Ahen (2015-2018)
The first time in the history of the NKST that ten (10) Pastors were ordained at once was in Mission Services. This triggered a massive expansion of the word of God Among the heathen, strengthening the church of Christ.
B. NKST ORPHANAGE: GOD’S EARTHLY HOME.
The NKST Orphanage, which currently accommodates about forty (40) orphans, is located near the foot of the Mkar hill opposite the prestigious NKST University of Mkar, Mkar. There is a bold inscription on a signboard in English, which reads “NKST ORPHANAGE”
Historical records reveal that, the home was initially established in Sev-av in 1940 the Dutch Missionaries from South Africa established this. In an article in “the Nigeria Voice” of November 2-8, 1979, Lotto Ityo-Ashibi categorically emphasizes this when he writes that:
The early Dutch Missionaries to Tiv land saw the necessity for such a Home to save the lives of orphans left behind. The orphanage was first established in a place called Sev-av in Tombo clan of (the then) Gboko Local Government Council Benue State.
NKST News Bulletin reliably gathered that a Dutch Lady Missionary called “Ingel Mosel” was in charge of the home. However, when she left Tivland in 1950, there was no person to quickly replace her. Therefore the work temporarily stopped. Despite this, concerted efforts were made to revive the work. Those efforts were very fruitful as a piece of land was procured at Mkar for the establishment of the home. At Mkar, the orphanage was first situated near a place called “Kasua u Anchovolough” (Orphans’ market). This was in 1953.
However, when the American Missionaries took over from the Dutch Missionaries, the home was relocated to its present isolated hillside abode. The relocation was to avoid any accident that might occur involving the orphans and fast-moving vehicles. This was because the site stood between two busy thoroughfares Gboko to Katsina-Ala and Gboko to NKST Mkar Christian Hospital. Records show that many foreign Christian associations assisted greatly; one of them was “The Nigerian Red Cross”
At this time, the rules governing the management of the home were amended. For example, it was said that only babies who were below six months would be accepted in the home. And that such children would leave the home at the age of seven.
The information released to NKST News Bulletin by the former Director of the Orphanage, Rev. G.O. Ova, show that the first child was accepted in the home at the age of seven. Other babies equally accepted the same year (1953) were twins: Hemen Tarhemba and Dondo, all from Iniengev in Turan. The other one was Kwaghtser Magashi from Mbaiyongo in Gaav, formerly of Kunav District.
It is on record that “ Mzough u Kase” (Women Fellowship) agreed to pay the first Tiv Worker employed to work in the home, and by the same token, the Dutch Reformed Church Missionaries from South Africa took care of white missionaries who worked there.
Some impeccable information available at our disposal disclose that, the NKST Synod in a sincere attempt to man the home more effectively, instituted a committee to oversee the establishment. The committee was highly dedicated to the work. After a while, the white missionaries in America became keenly interested in the work. Besides, their Women Fellowship urged them to support the orphanage. Therefore, in 1961 the Dutch Missionaries handed over the work to them. Prior to the handover, one hundred and twenty (120) orphans were nursed in the home. At the time of handover, forty-six (46) orphans were in the home.
Statistical data from the Director’s office show that the Orphanage currently has sixteen workers, apart from the primary School teachers who are on the pay roll of Government. The data further indicates that from 1953 to 2005, not less than nine hundred and fifty one (951) orphans have been nursed in the home. Out of this number, two hundred forty five (245) died; seven hundred and six (706) survived, while six hundred and sixty nine (669) left for their real homes. The orphanage currently has about forty orphans.
Since the establishment of the home, which is over sixty years now the white missionaries like the Dutch Reformed church Mission, The Christian Reformed Church of America, the NKST Church, other philanthropic individuals and organizations have been given assistance to the smooth running of the home. The NKST News Bulletin would have listed the names of such philanthropic patrons with altruistic nature, but that is not possible because of time and space.
It is no exaggeration to say that the establishment of the home in Tiv land has in no small way reduced the mortality rate of the orphans who might have died because of inaccessibility to good medical and maternal care. It is also a fact that some of the babies nursed in the home are now part of the country’s elite and are gainfully employed.
The Orphanage Site at Mkar has the following:
1. The Orphanage home
2. The Orphanage Chapel
3. The Orphanage Nursery Primary School
4. The Orphanage Director’s home
List of Leaders/Directors of the NKST Orphange
S/N NAMES OF LEADERS OR DIRECTORS FROM-TO PERIOD PLACE
1. Atese Ingel Mosel Dutch 1940-1950 10 Years
2. Break! Break!! 1951-1952 2 Years Sev-Av
3. Dutch 1953-1954 1 Year Mkar
4. Dr.Barstus Dutch 1956-26/8/’57 2.8 years Mkar
5. Atese Mathee Dutch 27/8/57-1958 4 Months Mkar
6. Atese Castens Dutch 27/1/58-1/3/60 1 Year Mkar
7. Atese Vaaloho Dutch 1/4/60-31/12/60 9 Years Mkar
8. Mrs. J. Coetzee Dutch 1961-31/5/61 5 Months Mkar
9. Atase O’reilly Dutch 26/6/61-31/12/61 6 Months Mkar
10. Ortese C. Jansen America 1/1/62-1969 7 Years Mkar
11. Mr.Ityuyo Ayaka N.K.S.T 1970-1971 1 Year Mkar
12. Mr.D.K. Angbande N.K.S.T 1972-1973 1 Year Mkar
13. Mr. Akpagher (Tu Tor Ikpa) N.K.S.T 1974-30/4/75 1.3 years Mkar
14. Mr. Ihigha Apa N.K.S.T 1/5/75-21/3/79 4 Years Mkar
15. Mr.Daniel Gbogbolohol N.K.S.T 21/3/79-31/8/79 5 Months Mkar
16. Mr. D.Jemgbar Chume N.K.S.T 1/9/79-1993 14 Years Mkar
17. Rev. P. I. Ber N.K.S.T 1/1/94-1999 5 Years Mkar
18. Rev.T.N.Terkpe (Caretaker) N.K.S.T 2000-March,2001 1.3 years Mkar
19. Rev. G. O. Uva N.K.S.T April 2001-2011 Mkar
20. Rev.E.I. Chafa (Bro. Chaf) N.K.S.T Jan.2012 To Date Mkar
C. THE NKST HEALTH SERVICES
The NKST Health Services was established by the Dutch Reformed Church Mission (DRCM) of South Africa in 1925. The Health Services was later on handed over to Christian Reformed Church (CRC) of North America. Who finally handed over to Nongo u Kristu u I Ser u sha Tar-NKST (Universal Reformed Christian Church) in the year 1981. Its Head Quarter is at Mkar, Benue State of Nigeria. It is a nonprofit making organization.
The objectives of NKST Health Services are as follows:
To reach the unreached in the communities with the gospel of Jesus Christ by providing an Affordable, Acceptable, Qualitative, Wholistic and Sustainable Health care in the spirit of Christian love and care, without discrimination against anybody or the basis of religion, nationality, tribe or political ideology.
To provide Christian training for men and women who find their vocation in medical work.
For effective Health Care Delivery, the system has different categories of Health Professionals and many supportive staff.
The NKST Health Services or Health Delivery has nine (9) hospitals, one hundred and three Health Clinics (Primary Health Cares) spread across the fourteen Local Government Areas of Benue State and across Taraba, Cross River and Nasarawa States of Nigeria. The Nine (9) hospitals are:
1. NKST Hospital Mkar, Established in 1925
2. NKST Hospital, Mbaakon
3. NKST Hospital, Jato aka
4. NKST Hospital, Adikpo
5. NKST Hospital, Apir
6. NKST Hospital, Zaki Biam
7. NKST Hospital, Anyiin
8. NKST Rehabilitation Hospital, Mbaamandev. It is the Only Orthopedic Hospital in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.
9. NKST Eye Care Project, Mkar.
The NKST Health Care Services has four Health training institutions:
1. The NKST School of Nursing
2. The NKST School of Midwifery
3. The NKST Len Gabriel’s School of Medical Laboratory Science
4. The NKST College of Health Technology.
All of these institutions train middle level manpower in Health disciplines.
The Health Services has a Governing Board that affairs the smooth running of the Health Services.
The present Health Executive Secretary is Rev. Azenda Inyam. While the Primary Health Care Services Director is Rev. S.T. Leva
D. NKST YOUTH MINISTRY
Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth; before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them‘‘.
It was this passion to catch them young because, today’s youths are tomorrow’s leaders that prompted the establishment of the youth ministry by Mr. Lemcke, an American Missionary in 1959. It was initially called Christian Youth Centre. The Synod of 1969 appointed its first Governing Board members.
The major goal of the Christian youth Centre was to bring young men and women to Christ through its activities. In these activities, the youth facilitators were to do the following:
a. To organize classes for religious knowledge so that youths will be able to read the bible effectively.
b. To counsel young men and women.
c. To teach the word of God to the youths through mobile cinema.
d. To create job opportunities for the youths.
e. To use games as a means of evangelizing the youths.
Below is a list of the past leaders/directors:
1. Mr. W.Lemcke
2. Mr. J. Danyi
3. Mr. Mike J. Dzuamo
4. Rev. I. Avungu
5. Rev. P.K. Kuusu
6. Rev. J.Sule
7. Rev. S.I. Veriyongo
8. Rev. A. Aande
9. Rev. A. Gbiligh
10. Rev. Atese Shighe
11. Rev. P.T. Atir JP
12. Rev. P.M. Kur, JP
13. Rev. S.I. Damsa (2017- Date)
The youth department is made up of the following units.
The Evangelism unit, The Boy’s Brigade Unit, The Girls’ Brigade Unit, The sporting Unity, The Music Unit, The Drama Unit, The Agricultural Unit, The Security unit, the Youth Empowerment Scheme Unit, The Youth Leaders/Youth Fellowship Unit, The Media, The Youth Technology and the HIV Unit.
