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DEDICATION ECWA TRUSTEES' LODGE

On 22 April 2026, the 73rd General Church Council of ECWA, led by the ECWA President and joined by members of the ECWA Executive, the Board of Trustees, Management Staff, and other key stakeholders, formally dedicated the ECWA Trustees’ Lodge.

The newly commissioned edifice, situated within the premises of the ECWA Headquarters on Noad Avenue in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, is a fully furnished complex comprising 24 en-suite rooms, a central kitchen, a lounge, and a transitional apartment designed to provide temporary accommodation for newly elected members of the ECWA Executive pending their relocation to official residences. This provision is intended to ensure a smooth and orderly transition process, while also allowing adequate time for the preparation or renovation of official residences where necessary. Construction work is ongoing on the flooring of the premises as part of the final stages of project completion.

In line with ECWA’s structure, which provides for ten Trustees, each Trustee is entitled to designated accommodation within the lodge when undertaking official duties at the headquarters.

Following its dedication, the facility has been formally handed over to the Director of ECWA Hotels and Guesthouses for commercial operation and professional management, in accordance with established standards.

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DAVID AND SHIRLEY BOYES: A LEGACY OF SERVANTHOOD

In the unfolding story of the great missionary movement that helped shape the witness of SIM and the birth of ECWA —the lives of David and Shirley Boyes stand as a quiet but enduring testimony of sacrifice, faith, and unwavering service.

David W. Boyes was born in Domremy, Saskatchewan, Canada—the youngest of eleven children, raised in the humility and discipline of farm life. From that soil of simplicity, God began to shape a servant. Two of his sisters would go before him into missionary service, one to Venezuela and another to Kenya—evidence that the call of God had already taken root deeply within the family.

Upon surrendering his life to Christ, David pursued both education and spiritual formation, completing his studies at Briercrest Bible Institute in Caronport. In 1954, at a time when Northern Nigeria was still a demanding and often harsh mission field, he arrived in Kano under SIM—joining a movement that had, since the late 19th century, pressed courageously into the heart of Africa with the gospel.

Shirley A. Kreimann’s story began in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, USA. Hers too was a family marked by devotion: a sister in Japan, a brother in pastoral ministry, and another sister faithfully sustaining the home front. Shirley trained as a nurse in St. Paul, Minnesota, and later deepened her biblical foundation at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. In 1953, she too answered the call to Nigeria.

In Kano, their paths converged—not merely by chance, but by divine design. After immersing themselves in Hausa language and culture, David and Shirley were united in marriage in 1956 at ECWA Church, Kano—a union not only of hearts, but of purpose.

Their ministry unfolded in quiet faithfulness. David served as Business Manager of the SIM supply center in Kano, a vital hub for missionaries across Northern Nigeria. He coordinated logistics for remote mission stations, welcomed new laborers, and sent others forth—ensuring that the work of the gospel advanced beyond the visible horizon. Gifted with his hands, he also built, repaired, and maintained infrastructure within the mission compound—his craftsmanship becoming a silent partner in the mission.

Shirley, meanwhile, labored in the Kano Eye Hospital, where compassion met skill. Day after day, she treated the afflicted, performed delicate eye procedures, and stood alongside specialists—yet beyond medicine, she brought light to the soul, sharing the gospel with countless patients who passed through those doors. In time, David himself would take on leadership as administrator of the hospital, strengthening its role as both a place of healing and witness.

Their service was not confined to institutions. In the local ECWA church—under the vibrant ministry of Pastor Victor Musa—they were active, faithful members. On weekends, they traveled into surrounding villages, proclaiming Christ where He was yet unknown. David also invested in outreach through Sabon Rai don Kowa (“New Life for All”), extending the message of hope into the community.

Then came a new chapter.

In the late 1970s, they were transferred to Lagos, where their ministry took on a broader dimension—hospitality, coordination, and liaison work between SIM, North America, and the Nigerian government. Even there, the cost of service was real. In a violent encounter with an armed robber, David was severely wounded, narrowly escaping death. Yet, by God’s mercy, his life was preserved—his calling not yet finished.

After 34 years of labor in Nigeria—a land they loved deeply—they returned to serve at SIM headquarters in Toronto. There, in roles unseen by many but vital to all, they hosted missionaries, prepared meals, assisted with logistics, and continued the same pattern of humble service that had defined their lives in Africa.

They served six more years before retiring in 1992—but even in retirement, their service did not cease. At Peoples Church in Toronto, they continued faithfully, particularly in practical ministries, almost until the Lord called them home.

Shirley entered glory on July 24, 2016, at the age of 93. David followed on August 16, 2019, at the age of 96. They left behind three children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren—but beyond family, they left something greater: a legacy. A legacy not built on fame, but on faithfulness. Not on recognition, but on obedience. Not on comfort, but on sacrifice.

Their lives echo the very spirit upon which SIM and ECWA were built—men and women who pressed into the unknown, endured hardship, and gave themselves wholly for the sake of the gospel. From the earliest missionaries who entered West Africa at great personal cost, to those who labored quietly in hospitals, villages, and churches, the story has always been the same: God working through yielded lives.

And now, that story continues—with us.
The question their lives leave behind is not merely one of admiration, but of response:
Will this generation do more?
Will we go further?
Will we be found faithful?
By the grace of God, may their legacy not end with remembrance—but ignite in us a renewed passion to serve Christ with all that we are, for as long as He gives us breath.

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SIM–ECWA: A HERITAGE OF PRAYER

The history of SIM–ECWA is unmistakably rooted in prayer—a defining force behind its origin, endurance, and expansion. From its founding in 1893 to its emergence as one of Nigeria’s largest Christian denominations, the mission has consistently advanced on the strength of earnest dependence on God.
Key Historical Milestones

1. Prayer Behind the Vision: Even before its formal founding, the burden for the Sudan Interior (“Soudan”) was stirred through the prayers of Mrs. Margaret Gowans and many unknown intercessors. Their quiet but fervent supplications prepared the hearts of the pioneer missionaries and awakened the vision for the mission.

2. Founding and Sacrifice (1893): The mission was formally pursued by Walter Gowans, Rowland Bingham, and Thomas Kent, who sought divine guidance in prayer before embarking on the field. Though Gowans and Kent died early, Bingham’s perseverance in prayer sustained and advanced the work.

3. Sustaining Intercession: Following her son’s death, Mrs. Gowans continued as a steadfast prayer warrior. Her intercession, alongside that of many supporters, remained foundational to the mission’s survival in its most fragile years.

4. Missionary Perseverance: Early missionaries faced disease, harsh terrain, and cultural resistance. Prayer was their primary resource for protection, provision, healing, and evangelistic breakthrough, with enduring testimonies of divine intervention.

5. A decisive legal challenge once threatened the mission’s presence in Nigeria. Through persistent prayer, leaders witnessed God’s intervention, and the case was resolved in favor of the mission, securing its continuity.

6. Formation of ECWA (1954): The unification of SIM-related churches into ECWA was guided by prayer. The growth of Bible schools, hospitals, and mission stations proceeded on this same spiritual foundation.

7. Revival and Expansion: Successive waves of revival—often birthed in prayer and fasting—led to widespread conversions, strengthened indigenous leadership, and accelerated church planting.

Conclusion

SIM–ECWA stands as a historical witness to the power of prayer: it was prayer that inspired the vision, birthed the mission, sustained it through trials, defended it in crises, and expanded it across generations.

The same legacy now issues a timely challenge—if prayer shaped the past so profoundly, its relevance and necessity for the Church today cannot be overstated.

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