adopting villages in Africa.

Missionary Brian Johnson arrived on the Island on Thursday to preach about God's work and to help build new relationships with parishioners.

Tonight, tomorrow and Wednesday, he will address members of Crawl Gospel Hall in Hamilton Parish, and could also be visiting schools and other churches before he leaves on Friday.

The national co-ordinator of the Co-operative Missions Network of the African Dispersion (COMINAD), said the aim of his visit was to bond churches in Bermuda with villages and churches back home.

Mr. Johnson said: "I am here to help generate some involvement in Bermuda.

"I want to try to build relationships between people here and people in Africa. I am asking churches here to adopt villages in Africa.

"Church leaders can take trips to the villages in Africa to help form the relationships. They can pray for the villages and then undertake projects to help them.'' He said many villages in Africa were in need of support and the people of Bermuda could make a noticeable difference.

Mr. Johnson added: "All of the villages are different and all have different needs. Some projects undertaken could involve education and schooling, others might be housing or other facilities, what ever is necessary.

"But these projects will come later. The main objective is to form the relationships and help each other.'' Dean Furbert, a member of Crawl Gospel Hall, said he was thrilled the missionary had accepted the invitation to come to Bermuda.

The meetings will take place at 8 p.m. at Crawl Gospel Hall and are expected to last until about 9.15 p.m.

Anybody interested in speaking to Mr. Johnson about the adoption initiative or who would like to arrange a meeting with him at their church, should call Mr.

Furbert on 293-0035.