Nigerian Christians. 1.28.24
Will you please join me this week in praying for persecuted and martyred Christians in the country of Nigeria? You might recall, just two years ago, the widely publicized Penentecost Sunday attack on St. Francis Catholic Church that killed 50 people. The horrific videos were shown on the news. Since then the persecution of Christians in Nigeria seems to be intensifying, with killings reported on an almost weekly or daily basis.
While we celebrated Christmas just a few weeks ago, some of the worst attacks were made in the Plateau State of the Middle Belt. Many of these attacks are done during our Christian Holy Days and just this past year, between Dec 23 – 25 there were at least 200 Christians slaughtered in that region of the country. Sine then, in the first three weeks of 2024, 41 more Christians in the Kaduna State have been killed and many others kidnapped.
Open Doors, a credible watch source of Christian persecution states: “More believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year than everywhere else in the world combined. The attacks are often brutal in nature and can involve destruction of properties, abductions for ransom, sexual violence, and death. Believers are stripped of their livelihoods and driven from their homes, leaving a trail of grief and trauma.”
I realize this is not “feel good” news and it’s easy for us here in the U.S. to isolate ourselves and ignore the plight of our brothers and sisters. But the Bible tells us we are “one body.” We should hurt when our brothers and sisters are being mistreated in such a terrible and evil way. I wish there was more we could do, but for right now, I would humble ask that you join me in simply spending some time each day praying for persecuted Christians in Nigeria and around the world.
Thank you!