Damascus Road Community Baptist Church, Cockeysville, Maryland, is praising God that its Bible institute in Benin City, Nigeria, is now officially recognized in the country. This authorization from Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission means that the degrees the school awards are now also officially recognized.
“We thank God and God alone that this day has finally arrived,” says Tony Lawson, pastor of Damascus Road Community Baptist Church.
The church started the school three years ago as a campus of its Damascus Road Bible Institute. Campuses are located in at least a dozen areas worldwide.
“My desire is not to [have] the biggest Bible institute in all of Africa, nor is my desire for my name to be up in the lights,” Tony says, “but rather that this school, that our Lord and Savior instituted, will continue to make more and more disciples and to plant more Biblical-doctrine churches . . . around the world.”
Tony (left in the photo above) serves as president of Damascus Road Bible Institute. Nosa Omo-Ogbebor (right) is provost of the Nigeria campus and a pastor in Benin City.
Many people believed that starting Damascus Road Bible Institute was impossible, Tony says. “We were laughed at [and] told we were out of our league. . . . But the Bible tells us not to be weary in small beginnings. Trust in the Lord and lean not to your own understanding.”
The Maryland church, which began in 2018, is a small congregation that has “a deep passion for missions and outreach,” Tony says. Now that church is training believers for ministry worldwide.
“I am so proud and so humbled by what God has allowed [Damascus Road Community Baptist Church] to do all around the world,” Tony says. “The almighty God is the one who gets all the honor and all the glory.”
Pastor Tony Lawson leads the first meeting to begin Damascus Road Bible Institute. “This photo is historic,” he says.
