From the Dust Bowls of the Canadian Prairies to the Parched Sahara of Africa – The Story of Harvey Stromme, Missionary to Nigeria
 
As told to Irene Ward

This book is no longer available.

 
Harvey Stromme, born in Viceroy, Saskatchewan in 1924, had a very difficult home life and endured the terrible dust storms and devastation of the ‘dirty thirties’. 

God had a plan for his life that he was not aware of until one day he heard the gospel on the street corner as a Salvation Army group sang “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and the granddaughter of the local barber sang “Jesus Loves Me” in her grandfather’s shop.  He went to church the next day and heard about that “Friend in Jesus and His love”.  That night he knelt by his bed and asked Jesus to be his Friend and Savior.  He had a deep hunger for the Word of God voraciously memorizing Scripture and eventually graduating from several Bible Colleges. 

Harvey pastored several churches until he answered God’s call to the mission field through SIM arriving in Nigeria in October 1966.  What was to be a short-term became a life-long ministry most of it in Gusau in the northwest area of Nigeria. 

One by one God brought needy children to Harvey’s doorstep whom he took into his own home to feed, clothe and educate.  In no time he had a ‘family’ to care for as well as pastoring a church and teaching 35-40 Christian Religious Knowledge classes each week in the schools and colleges.  More than 100 children in Nigeria have called Harvey’s house ‘home’ and he has over 500 grandchildren.

There were some anxious moments for Harvey wondering where food would come from and how to care for the children when they are sick.  But he taught them to take ‘everything to God in prayer.’
Harvey’s only passion has been to share the love of Jesus and His saving grace with everyone whether in Canada or Nigeria for the glory of God.
 
 
Note from Norma: It has been my privilege to have known Rev. Harvey Stromme for over 25 years and to have had a part in publishing his amazing story. All proceeds from the sale of this book go to supporting the ongoing work in Nigeria.