Nick Welcomed to Akpim Village Igbo Style

Jul 19, 2019 | Trips

The Igbo people express hospitality for their visitors through displays of their wonderful culture going back to time immemorial. Enjoy this video of my welcoming reception in Akpim village a few weeks ago. Our mission of forming Servant Leaders, in the spirit of...

Thanksgiving for Life from Womb to Tomb

Nov 21, 2018 | Events, Trips

Dr. Alveda King, niece of civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke recently at St. Paul of the Cross parish in Park Ridge, IL on the right and dignity of life in the womb.  She quoted Scripture, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day,...

Messengers of Justice Giving Back to America

Oct 26, 2018 | Trips

A line in the famous prayer of St. Francis reads, “…it is in giving that we receive…”.   I’ve found this to be so true since I began walking the path of missionary discipleship in Africa five years ago.  From the legendary Igbo hospitality to the...

HEAL Meets with Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL 14th)

Sep 20, 2018 | Trips, Updates

Back in June, I suffered the inconvenience of having to fly to Washington DC just to provide fingerprints to the Nigerian Embassy for the renewal of my Nigerian visitor’s visa. On the bright side of the trip, however, I discovered and attended a lobbying event at the...

Off To Africa Again!

Feb 9, 2016 | Trips, Youth

 “Marching along to Zion, beautiful city, let us go!”  On my first trip to Nigeria two years ago, a welcoming committee of the orphaned children sang this “Zion” hymn to me.  It has one of those melodies that sticks in the sound track of your mind for a long time. I’m...

Problem Solved, Pilgrimage Begins

Feb 6, 2016 | Trips

Just before I left for my three-flight trip to Cameroon, I received great news from Deacon Leo that the ceiling damaged by termites at the Compassionate Home in Nigeria had been fully repaired.  Our HEAL-sponsored contractors did a fine job of fumigating and restoring...