Prior to 2006, Ron Simpson never would have imagined that he’d be called to become a missionary to Nigeria. But, after six missions trips, Simpson is devoted to the Western African nation and its people.
“Most times, you have churches that go as teams to work with people groups in Nigeria,” said Simpson, a member of Calera Baptist Church. “And I couldn’t quite tell why I was the black sheep, going by myself. I don’t know why He chose me. God is sovereign.”
Simpson first felt called to international missions work after meeting an African cab driver in New York during a choir tour. He left a portfolio in the cab and was touched to receive a call at his hotel later that evening from the driver, who wanted to return the lost documents.
“Then, at about 4 a.m., I woke up praying for this man and I didn’t know why,” Simpson said. “For about two hours, I experienced this feeling. I thought, ‘Something has just changed my life.’ A year later, I woke up one morning and said, ‘I want to go to Africa.’ I’d never thought that in my life.”
Soon he signed up to attend a West African missions conference in St. Charles, Mo., where he connected with Bill O’Dell, who attends Ogletown Baptist Church in Delaware, and Jay Smith, a Southern Baptist representative in Nigeria. They accompanied him on his inaugural trip to Nigeria and helped him get plugged in there.
“I knew he [had] a heart for those who don’t know Christ personally, and he knew he was supposed to go to West Africa to see what God had in store for him,” O’Dell said. “I also knew that he had spent hours in prayer, seeking and listening to what God desired of him. I can say that he was prepared to share the gospel with all those God brought near him.”
It was during this initial trip that Simpson was exposed firsthand to the violence in Nigeria and the dissension between many of the people groups there. Recent headlines paint a grim picture: “Islamic extremists bomb church, homes;” “Christian woman killed in ambush in Kaduna state;” “Catholic church bombing leaves 45 dead, 73 injured.”
Also during this trip, he felt called to serve the Gerewa and Fulani people in the states of Gombe and Bauchi specifically.
“There’s lots of persecution here,” Simpson said. “The spirit of God provoked me. I was angry at what He was saying and that became my calling.”
Soon, through Smith in Bauchi, he connected with Adamu, a Nigerian Christian who had converted from Islam (to his family’s dismay). That connection has proven pivotal, since Adamu — being a native — is able to help Simpson achieve things he couldn’t on his own. Now he sends money to Adamu regularly so he can offer support for the work Adamu is doing in Nigeria even when he is home in the United States.
“I know if I had not met Adamu through Jay, I couldn’t have been in Bauchi,” Simpson said. “He opened doors I could never have [opened] on my own. God is doing great work, but there’s a great price to pay, because becoming a Christian is very dangerous.”
Hal Warren, pastor of Calera Baptist, said he and his congregation are proud of the work Simpson is doing in Nigeria. Though he and others worry about Simpson’s safety, he said Simpson is not afraid of the violence in Nigeria because he feels so strongly that he needs to be there.
“This is the place where he feels called,” Warren said. “It’s not a missions trip; it’s where he’s committed himself to go. He doesn’t go anywhere else. He’s committed to Nigeria.”
Committed indeed. In fact, Simpson is planning to return to the country soon to do some training in the villages. He’s quick to point out that he will avoid cities for these training sessions, because the risk of attack is higher in cities than in less-populated areas.
“I really just hope the Lord continues giving Ron the boldness to keep going,” Warren said.
“I know there will be some discouragement from the events that are happening there. When there’s danger like this, your friends and others discourage you from going. I hope the Lord continues to give Ron a bold heart.”
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