Four Nigerian delegates personally thanked United States Congressman Roscoe Bartlett for his help in securing visas to attend vital church meetings in the US.

The four leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nigeria, two of whom were able to bring their wives, originally had their visa applications denied, and were dismayed at the prospect of not being able to attend the church’s business session, held once every five years.

“It was looking [as if] we were not going to be able to get the visas,” explains Pastor Hakeem Smith, leader for the Adventist church in southwest Nigeria. “Our church members began to pray, and then with the help of the congressman we were asked to return to the U.S. Embassy for more interviews. I knew things were very different this time because as soon as I went into the office I was told ‘welcome, pastor.’ The official told me that he was satisfied that we all planned to return and would not overstay our visas. Then he asked if we would all come back and give him a report of our church meetings.”

Pastor Joseph Ola who heads up that section of the church in Nigeria says he was very pleased with this decision. “I feared that I would not be coming with my regional church leaders. They have gone through fire, but have come out on top,” he comments.

Congressman Bartlett, himself an Adventist, says he was very happy to help. He had contacted the US State Department, and after a call to Nigeria and further interviews the visas were issued. “I told the State Department that in order to be terrorists they would have had to join the church twenty years ago and be the best actors in the world,” he observes. “I explained this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and that I would personally guarantee that everyone would return. As far as I know, no one has ever not returned home after our church sessions, and I promised that if anyone [from Nigeria] didn’t go back, then I would go instead!”

Attorney James Standish, who represents the Adventist church to the United States Congress, expressed his delight that through liaison with Congressman Bartlett’s office many delegates had been able to receive visas.

“It is so important to the church to have world-wide representation at this world church session,” he notes. “I am especially pleased that visas have been secured for the vast majority of those needing to attend, and want to personally thank Congressman Bartlett for his generous assistance. We appreciate his help on Capitol Hill, not just in this instance, but also in many other areas such as religious liberty.”