I learnt English language in bible school – Rev Karawai
Rev. JONES KARAWAI (retd.) in this interview with CHIMA AZUBUIKE, shares his life experiences, key survival mechanics that aided his growing up years in Gombe, and his career path as a missionary.
Which year were you born? I was born in May 1935, I will be 87 this year.
What locality were you born? I was born in Kalarubo, Kaltungo Local Government Area of present day Gombe State. I was born in our family compound through the assistance of a mid wife.
Were you told precisely what happened on the day you were born? Nothing special happened that day, after my mother gave birth to me, she said she picked me up, prayed and bathed me.
How did you know that 1935 was your birth year? Well, the people around the period of my birth narrated the experience, I had an elder brother who also told me likewise some of my friends with educated parents who confirmed that we were age mates and I just wrote it down.
What kind of occupation did your family engage in? They were traditional worshippers; basically farmers, in those days they practised mixed farming both rearing of animals and farming crops. They were both indigenes of Kalarubo, I guess that was the main source of sustenance for our people then and even now a lot of them us still show interest in Agriculture.
Read Also:
Court Affirms Shinga’s cabinet as Gombe CAN chair
How was your growing up years? It was difficult growing up, although my father had one wife. It was not a polygamous setting but one battled with a lot of obstacles ranging from finances, life challenges and so on there were times that we had plenty to eat due to plenty yield of a particular year or not so much because of bad agricultural yields. However, in terms of feeding, there was suffering there was little food, but sometimes when God bless them that year with harvest, there is little or even enough to survive that year.
What is your educational background? I took primary one to five and then stopped, i struggled again and entered Bible training school after primary five. Well ,I just completed primary 1 to 5 and ended up, then struggled afterward before attending Bible Training School Kufayi, Biliri Local Government Area. My parents struggled with selling groundnut harvested for them to see me through school they used some of the proceeds from the farm for consumption and for raising funds. Some of my peers, maybe not 5, but about 3 or 4 scaled to further their studies, but in my case there was no help.
How did you get in Bible Training School? There was consistent announcement in church that there is a school that you can go after primary school education that would not only advance your knowledge in western education but in the work of God. At first I didn’t want to accept the call until the announcement became more frequent and I decided to give it an attempt.
Apart from the announcements made in the church was there any spiritual leading? The announcements made in Church inspired me as many people were lost so I sought to be a minister to disciple and to bring them back and make them to the right path. The announcement served like the much required guidance to choose the path I chose in life which is the life of ministry, service to God and humanity.
So it wasn’t a direct call from God to be a Reverend?
Yes, it was the announcements that drew me and the feeling to contribute my quota in the depopulation of the kingdom of darkness and populating kingdom of God.
What year did you make up your mind to go to BTS? It was in 1951
How many years did you round off from BTS? It took me 4 years, I concluded the training programme in 1955.
When did you meet your wife?
I married in 1951, before I went to BTS and we attended BTS together as couple. Those days a man and his wife will be in same class and school and then it was a practice to be married and attend Bible School together.
So what was your experience during the four years in Bible school as a student?
My major problem was that we were taught in English and I don’t understand English, it was very difficult for me to write, speak and even sing songs in English. So, for those who could understand I learnt from them slowly and gradually i started hearing it and also started writing English Language.
So, how did you finally understand English?
When i started hearing English it was quite interesting, like I said earlier it was gradual but interesting. Whenever a word is written in English they provided it meaning in Hausa from there I began to develop interest. They write in English explain in Hausa and even in my language, so, we started picking up because we were taught with English, Tangale my dialect and Hausa.
After rounding off BTS where was your posting, What’s your experience? I started the work in my village a place called Wili. It was difficult because when I say something many people do not understand because they didn’t go to school, comprehension was difficult for them and some were ignorant of not knowing God not essentially about language because I thought in Tangale not even in English, many of them were into traditional worship.
Where else did you go from Wili? I felt like doing missionary work with my wife and then we had 3 children. We moved to Yola in Adamawa as a missionary and there were 2 churches in Yola namely; Roman Catholic and ECWA, soon leaders of the church put Yola and Taraba under me at that time, with the acronym SIN meaning Superior International Mission (ECWA) and CM Catholic mission (Catholic church), In 1979, i worked solely for SIN, ECWA because that’s where I attend before I came to Yola, due to age and family growth I was moved back to Gombe State.
What position did you attain before retirement?
I attained pastoral position as Revered from ECWA Kalarubo in 1979 . i was transferred from Kaltungo District Church Council (DCC) to Ture Local Church Council (LCC).
When did you retire? I retired in 1997, in Gombe State.
What was the last post you held? Local Overseer in an ECWA church.
Can you tell us about your tenure as a local overseer, what developments happened under your reign? I was able to heal people through the power of God, guide them to read, write and understand the Bible. I didn’t limit my teaching and mentoring to the church, my impact was felt in the secular world too I taught them too. I learnt in Bible Training School to gather not just the religious setting but secular world too. I encouraged them to know God and achieve things for themselves, help themselves and the church. My achievement was my ability to bring people to God and i stand on my faith which made people to understand my work and i remained resolute till the end.
What is your best moment?
My best moment usually is when I see my disciples doing what is right, following the dictates of God in the interest of humanity, it makes me joyful and each time I come across such, I’m usually excited.
What is your worst moment? When a person is a thief, steals something and denies it. I feel provoked. Truth or better still honesty is one virtue that no one should joke with, each time I come across such I become sad.
Best food? At my age I still love tasty or well cooked meals like Tuwo. I like tea and pap and our native food corn and beans cooked together.
What is the secret to your good health? Well it’s the grace of God, maybe because I have determined to listen to all that God tells me that maybe why he has been sustaining me. There is nothing unique that I eat or do aside from my decision to be faithful to God.
Do you regret not furthering your studies like some of your peers?
Well it is my joy that God called me for his use, I have no regrets I have never thought of that and am happy for those God made to attain various professional positions because they completed their education and I am joyful about it. I don’t have regrets whatsoever.
What kind of music do you like? I love gospel music it usually moves me to joy and I enjoyed reggae music too.
What is your advice to young people ?
Well as the Book of Joshua says “Let this word not depart from your mouth they should stick to word of God and listen to their elders and portray the word of God by showing good examples. They should do what makes them good in the sight of God and man.
What is your advice to leaders and politicians as we move to 2023?
I enjoin politicians to have the fear of God and be good to their followers. Nigerian politicians should endeavour to show good example to young ones, especially youths because they are watching.
What is your advice to those who have not been called as ministers of the gospel, as someone who is retired in service?
Since they were not called this is a call to them; that they should leave it because if they don’t repent they will lead the sheep (members) astray and its the truth. If they are not working on the truth they claim to speak, what then are they doing? Let them leave it because God needs those who are dedicated, ready to show genuine examples to serve him.
Since retirement from active service what have you been involved in?
I retired January 1997, immediately after that i went back to farming activities; I cultivated Maize, groundnut, beans and millet. Presently I can’t do that anymore due to my age.
Are you satisfied with present day Nigeria compared to Nigeria in your active years? There are great differences between life now and life during the olden days. Our period was difficult but we enjoyed it but present day Nigeria we have a lot of technological advancement but yet many are suffering, with overwhelming pains and challenges.
How many children do you have? I had 11 children but 7 of them are alive, with 20 grand children and 8 great grand children.
How do you relax? I usually relax more during meal time, anytime am hungry and I get food to eat. I usually pray for those providing for me as well as my sleep time, those are moments of relaxation.
Is there one thing that will be of delight to you?
Well there is nothing exactly, than when it is my time and God calls me I have finished the work that the lord committed to my care. I am happy i have a son called Moses who says he has a father alive it gives me joy. The living lives for himself everything comes from God so one day we will all go, so let us all think of how, where and when we are going even those God given mantle of leadership should know what is right and good, let us do it because the reward will be on earth and in heaven.
What is the way out of religious fights crises, tribal conflicts your fatherly advice?
The Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa people are all God’s creatures let us come together as one and not fear each other because living together enables peoples growth and unity, such challenges will come if where there is no love. We must always see ourselves as one despite the glaring differences in the system, there must be conscious efforts to make things right without which we are not going anywhere.
