The Journey So Far . . .

The first NANA Camp was held in Camp Wagner in Cassopolis, Lake Region Conference, Michigan from Aug. 17th -20th, 2000. It was a memorable gathering of highly committed brethren from all the different parts of the U.S. and Nigeria. A very notable event at the camp, among others, was the family life seminars in which Elder Enoch Dare & his wife, Mrs. Sabina Dare jointly gave two session-workshops every day though out the camp period. The series of workshops culminated in a marriage vow renewal "party" for all couples who attended the camp. No kidding!

We had about equal number of brethren from East Nigeria as from West Nigeria in attendance at that first Camp. In fact, the wonderful sermon on the Sabbath day was on Unity; and the speaker was Elder Philemon Onwere from Pacific Union College. It was very moving when he reminded us that the kidney of the donor for the world's first heart transplant ever, which took place in apartheid South Africa, was given to a black patient even though she was white. He challenged us to rethink why we should not strive to work together as Nigerian Adventists living out here in North America. Thanks to God for the brethren from Chicago who, every year, have been striving to make the theme of this message a reality by making their presence felt at every camp meeting.

One very important outcome of that first camp meeting was the encouragement for campers to start the process of planting churches when they returned to their home bases.. As a result, Bro. C. Ebere and some others started the first Ibo Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Bronx, NY. Others followed this example later.

Pastor Oladini and his team of volunteers, during the first two years, worked very hard to ensure that the dream of forming NANA became a reality. There were many of these volunteers but the following people deserve special mention: they include Sister Grace Adeniyi who acted as treasurer, Dr. Bose Ade-Osifogun who worked untiringly with the young people, Dr. Michael Adeniyi and Dr. James Atolagbe who just took up any roll when there was need. Also, since 1999, apart from many of our leaders and members who have worked really hard to make NANA a reality, the Calvary SDA Church in New York and its leadership played a very prominent role in helping to mobilize their members into supporting NANA and its ideals. Our Camp meetings have since been held in different other places such as Liebenzell Retreat Center, New Jersey (2001 & 2002), Andrews University(2003), University of Western Connecticut, Danbury (2004), Chopin State University, Baltimore, MD(2005), and FFA Retreat Center, Covington, GA (2006 - 2008).

Some of the Sabbath speakers at these camp meetings include Elder Philemon Onwere (2000), Pastor Olatunde Ojewole (2001 & 2006), Pastor Grant (2002), Professor Kayode Makinde (2004), Pastor Fredrick Russell (2005), Professor Michael Omolewa (2007) and Elder George Egwake (2008). These were all powerful speakers whom the lord has used to bless us these various years.

Dr. Aina took over the leadership at a very critical time in the history of the organization. Some of our people who should be members were sitting on the fence because of their concern about the All-African group which was becoming defunct as a result of the formation of NANA. He was able to convince everyone that there was really a need to have the Nigerian group; and as a result, many more people came on board. For the four years that he served as president, he had a very dynamic team for his executive. Among them was Brother Kayode Atolagbe who, with his contagious zeal and energy, served as secretary and helped to open up a whole lot of new directions for the organization. Sis. Grace Adeniyi who had acted as treasurer for the previous two years, in her calm and quiet style, did a wonderful job as treasurer officially for the next four years. Even though we did not have any source of revenue outside of the camp fee, we were able to get out of the red and even have some comfortable reserve before the end of their term.

Dr. Adejare Adeniran became the president at the Covington camp in 2006. The organization was blessed with another team of dynamic officers. Brother Henry Atolagbe was the secretary and he continued with no less energy than his brother brought into the organization. He was instrumental to the establishment of our own first web site. Sister Cecilia Adaramola became the treasurer and she has since been doing a wonderful job of managing the organization's finances even till now.

All along, young people have been extensively involved in the planning processes in NANA because the future belonged to them. However, when in 2008, at Covington, Dr. Ezekiel Ajao became the President, the role of the young people in the executive became unprecedented. The organization is striding steadily towards the achievement of the goal for which it was established.

Everything was not smooth-sailing in the growing years though. This is dramatized in the following account given by Dr. Joseph Aina.

"Our 2003 camp meeting was held at Andrews University in Berrien's springs, Michigan. There were some problems at this camp meeting as some members were trying to start the Association of Yoruba Adventists in North America. The meetings we had were very heated and I was vehemently opposed to the idea because I felt that it was intended to break and possibly kill NANA. "This was coming from the background that our brothers and sisters from the eastern part of Nigeria had already formed an organization comprising of Adventists from Eastern Nigeria. Their participation in NANA had reduced considerably and I felt that NANA was likely to face the fate of the All-African Camp whose participation drastically reduced after NANA was formed. If AYANA was formed at the time it was contemplated, it would have definitely resulted in the death of NANA.

"The 2004 camp was held at the Western Connecticut State University's Westside campus in Danbury Connecticut. By this time, the organization was hanging by a thread. I was getting very disappointed and becoming more and more disenchanted about the venture. I felt I was not receiving enough cooperation from members of the Executive. Meetings were called and only the secretary, one other person and I would be present. At the 2004 camp, I and other members of the executive indicated our intentions not to continue in office and that a new Executive should be elected. I stated that the organization was being killed by certain members who may not want it to exist. I was prevailed upon to remain for another term with the proviso that I would have as much cooperation as I needed. A new executive was elected and we were given the mandate to look at the original purpose of forming the association and work toward achieving some of the objectives.

"The 2005 camp meeting was held at Chopin State University in Baltimore, Maryland. It was difficult to locate a site but they finally settled on the site. Our God is a wonderful God. This camp meeting almost did not take place because about two days to the start of the camp, the authorities of the site demanded our liability insurance stating that we would not be allowed to come to their campus unless we produce our insurance certificate. On the day of the camp, we still did not have any liability insurance and some members traveling from distant places had already left their homes onward to the camp.

When Pastor Uzooma Erondu and Brother Kayode Atolagbe called me to tell me this, I was like what? We had never been asked by the management of any of the camp sites we had used for our previous camp meetings for any liability insurance. We went on our knees and prayed. The Lord will always make a way where there is no way. We were able to obtain liability insurance to their specification and then I faxed it to them at Chopin State before the first set of campers arrived. The camp went very well; people like the food and the programs were very good. It was time to decide the next site for the 2006 camp and members from Atlanta gladly and willingly accepted to take upon themselves to look for a site as soon as they got back home. True to their promise Dr. and Mrs. Alaba Fawole got back to us within two weeks with a firm offer of a site cheaper than any of our previous sites except the Virginia site of All-African Camp."

Looking back on how far the Lord has led us from the dream he a few others started with, Pastor Oladini had this to say: "Thanks be to God who has provided people, that is, men, women, boys and girls and other resources to make NANA a success. "We have come this far by faith." The goal for which NANA was created is being fulfilled: churches are being planted, our children are getting to know each other, and we adults get to meet at least once a year - among other benefits. To God be the glory.

Whenever the history of NANA is being written it will not be complete if the hosts of the camp for 2006 - 2008 are not given a special mention about what they did for NANA. They were few; they were just forming the their fellowship group; yet they hosted the camp for those three years as if they numbered hundreds. Some of the few families from Georgia that carried the load for those three years include: the Adaramolas, Adeyemos, Ariyos, Akandes, Dares, Fawoles, Oyerindes, Owolabis and Babalolas (TN). One member taught us to "always give (of our best) till it hurts." He led by example: serving and giving through out the years that the Lord gave him life to be a member of NANA. He single-handedly strived to find a camp site in Texas in order that the camp might be hosted in that state in 2009. The prohibitive cost was the only reason the executive did not decide in favor of the site he found. That was the late Elder Adewale Adefuye whom the Lord called home on November 7th, 2008. We miss him; and he will be fondly remembered.