Organization

Week after week back in 1996, U.S. missionary Dorothy Ardill shopped in the Jos, Nigeria marketplace, often confronted by hundreds of street boys. They seemed innocent and yet tragic, moving from person to person seeking a handout. Dorothy wondered, “Where do they sleep at night?… Don’t they go to school?” On many of her shopping trips she met the same children over and over again. But what could one person like herself do about it? She prayed, talked to others and learned. More importantly, she took action!

Dorothy learned that many boys living in the street play a role in Islamic religion; they are Almajiri (Disciple) boys. Their own parents were indifferent or unable to give them a proper home. Almajiri support the “giving of alms” activity by being needy ones who receive. They look poor, they are poor, and they will stay poor. Unfortunately what they bring in from the street goes to the Islamic teacher who “takes care” of them. It’s not much of a life for the boys, and promises no future.

Dorothy wondered if some bare necessities such as food could be offered to these boys. She also wanted them to hear the Gospel. There were obstacles to overcome including the doubts of some Christians who regarded the task as an affront to the whole Muslim system. But as time passed, she and her husband, Dr. Bill Ardill, prayed more, and with God’s help and guidance, accomplished much.

The Ardills first established Gidan Bege (“House of Hope” in the native Hausa language), a downtown center where children of the streets could be ministered to. A lunch program reached out to the first 17 boys once a week. Telling Bible stories began in 1996 and actually deterred about half from coming due to the predominant local Muslim culture. Participant numbers dropped from 50 to 25 but later in the year climbed to 110! Girls and blind beggar women began to come.

In 1999, Peter and Miriam Fretheim, along with additional full-time missionary workers, arrived to administer leadership, including mentoring the many Nigerian staff and workers. By the year 2000, Gidan Bege had become City Ministries with the addition of medical outreach, sports outreach and expanded care given to the destitute of all kinds.