Welcome to BEGE Ministries International

Who we are
We in BEGE are specialists in Islam and Christianity reaching out to both Muslims and Christians in Sub-Sahara Africa. We are a ministry specialized in reaching out to Muslims facing persecution as a result of their faith in Jesus Christ. We strive to create dialogue between Christians and Muslims especially in Nigeria. One of our major goals it to provide shelter to Muslims who have been thrown out of their homes as a result of change in religion. We rehabilitate and disciple them as well as provide legal services that would help them to regain their freedom and the right to practice their faith without harassment or any form of intimidation either from individuals or corporate entities.

Our History
BEGE Ministries started in 1999 in response to the Muslim-Christian crises in Nigeria that have taken and continues to take so many innocent lives. There is no data to authenticate the number of people who have died as a result of Muslim-Christian confrontation but it is estimate that between 1970 to date not less than 100,000 people have been brutally murdered in such crises. Nigeria has been a nation of tumult since independence. Of course, there is no gainsaying that the country was simply created to serve British colonial interest and has remained so even after its independence in 1960. The most disturbing facts about the country stem from the rivalry between the various ethnic nationalities, which in most cases have always taken a religious tone. At the dawn of independence it was evident that Britain was a leaving a nation in chaos. First of all, independence was delayed because the North was not ready for it in 1957 and when it was eventually granted, the colonial government installed a government ran by feudal lords from the north. This situation later culminated into an unfortunate Civil War between 1969 and1970. The Civil War marked yet another turning point in ethnic and religious rivalries that continue to date.

Since 1976 Nigeria has experienced not less than twenty religious disturbances that have led to the loss of tens of thousands if not hundreds of lives and property in billions. The most bloody ones being the Kano riots of 1976, 1977, 1980-81, 1990 and most recently 2004. The Maitatsine riots that dominated the early1980s and the Kafanchan riots of 1987. The Zangon Kataf crisis of 1991-1992 which were mainly ethnic riots supported by the Babangida's government took a religious dimension. Others include the Bauchi riots of 1980-85, 87-90, Kaduna riots of 2000 and 2001 and most recently the 2004 the Yelwa-Shendam massacre in Plateau State which resulted in deadly reprisals in Kano state are just a few to mention. In all of these crises, the political class has manipulated the poor and deprived members of society for its selfish personal or political gains.

The introduction of strict Shari`a law in some northern states has served as a catalyst for intense religious and political rivalry especially in the North. It is not that Shari`a has not been part of the social live of the north, it has been there since the early parts of the nineteenth century, especially after the Othman dan Fodio jihad of 1804-7. The only difference now is that it has been elevated to include the criminal aspects that have not been applied ever in the history of Nigeria. Advocates of such strict application cannot be described as doing it for religious reasons but rather for political purposes and in order to silence the voices of their political opponents. BEGE Ministries is a response to these crises and strives to bring about religious dialogue as well as promote mutual respect among the various religious groups in Nigeria and Sub-Sahara Africa. You will learn more about Islam in Africa from this website

What does BEGE Mean?

BEGE means hope in Hausa, one of the major languages spoken in northern Nigeria, Niger, Ghana and other parts of Sub-Sahara Africa. The name was derived from the fact that Muslims and other converts to Christianity lose all they have had and hoped for. We take a holistic approach to rehabilitate and disciple new converts in order to help them find a new hope while making attempts to restore their lost glory in a new dimension.

· The church has for a long time been faced with the dilemma of the best ways to rehabilitate and disciple Muslim and other converts who embrace the Christian faith

· Muslim converts especially need a refuge immediately after conversion, therefore, a halfway house is needed for care and fellowship until a church home is found. This is our first priority, BEGIN

· Muslim and converts from other religioins need to be sympathetically and contextually instructed in what it means to be a Christian and this needs to be done by highly trained and skilled staff. This is our second priority, EMPOWER

· We are a Christian ministry that is out to make the difference in an outreach to Muslims and Muslim-related people that is focused on rehabilitation, discipleship and training. We train Muslim converts and other Christians who believe they have a calling to do ministry among Muslims and Muslim-related people and equip them with contextualized approaches to Ministry to Muslims and Muslim-related people. This is our third priority, GO

· We are a ministry that has as our main focus Multiplication Evangelism. We therefore disciple, train and equip missionaries and Christian workers to make disciples until the return of our Lord which is our fourth priority, ENLARGE. BEGE therefore means BEGIN, EMPOWER GO and ENLARGE.

Our Mission

At conversion, Muslims converts are often radically separated from their lifestyle and family that provide them with a sense of being at home with their faith. This area needs to be immediately and decidedly addressed and our mission is to address these needs and other issues that include the following:

· Breaking new grounds in providing a contextualized approach to discipleship by using methods that do not radically separate them from their lifestyle, customs and rituals that are consistent with the Bible and make them effective witnesses when back to their communities.

· Providing converts with refuge such as housing and security from persecution.

· Proving educational opportunities to both converts and their families through a well-defined educational program that meets their needs.

· Equipping the church with evangelistic and mission approaches that reach out to Muslims and Muslim-related people without creating unnecessary tensions that are very visible right now in Nigeria through high quality theological training and producing high level leaders for the twenty first century church. BEGE does not belief in the crusading approach to ministry to people of other faiths, especially Muslims. This approach is said to be currently the main bond of contention that continues to breed crises between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria. We teach others how to evangelize Muslims and Muslim-related people and equip Christians leaders with skills necessary for the twenty-first century church.

· Providing converts with vocational skills as a means to survival and building tent ministries.

Ministry Profile

To fulfill our mission, BEGE is committed to among others the following activities:

· Providing a half-way housing to converts until a church home and accommodation can be found for them

· Training converts to be self-sufficient , providing such skills as carpentry, animal husbandry, metalwork, mechanics and printing skills

· Theological and Missiological training for converts and church leaders

· Church planting among Muslims and Muslim-related people

· Research and publications

· Facilitating Seminars to promote Muslim-Christian understanding

· Providing, Pre-school to High school education to convert kids and other missionary kids

· Scholarship to converts children to complete higher education

· Networking with other Christian churches and organizations and seeking ways of cooperation to bring the gospel to Muslims in Africa

· Providing an HIV/AIDS awareness education program.

Contact Information

For further information please contact us at:

Telephone: +234 9 314-4464 or +1(818) 919-8420
Fax: +234 9 314-4465 or +1 (626) 966-8838

Postal address
United States Nigeria
P.O. Box 94839 P. O. Box 11835
Pasadena, CA 91109 Garki-Abuja
USA Nigeria
Electronic mail: General Information: hope@bege.org

Customer Support:
Webmaster: webmaster@bege.org

Our Mission

Ministry Profile

Contact Information

Send mail to webmaster@bege.org with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: 08/24/06

Send mail to webmaster@bege.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 08/24/06