PRAISE GOD! Pastor Bulus Yakuru Released on Execution Day
Today, we thank God with the church of Nigeria that Pastor Yakuru was released instead of executed on the day the ultimatum, which Boko Haram had set, ran out. Many feared that this case would end like previous ones, where pastors had lost their lives. But, by God’s grace his life was spared and he is now in a secure
Continue ReadingPersecution: Nigeria moves to the top ten
On the new watch list of Open Doors for 2021, rating the severity of persecution against Christians, Nigeria has moved from number 12 in 2020 to number 9 today. It now falls in the most extreme category, together with nations like Afghanistan, Yemen and Iran. It scores higher than even Iraq and Saudi Arabia. We have written several articles about
Continue ReadingBecause of GateKeepers
In August of last year, disaster struck Beirut. The blast from the explosion destroyed most of the city and was described by one witness as being like 15 years of war in 15 seconds. Because of our GateKeepers, we were immediately able to send funding to teams on the ground, who began distributing aid. The BTJ missionaries there were able
Continue ReadingTerrorists on the move in Nigeria
Last Saturday, Boko Haram showed the world once again that Islamist extremism is not just a religious issue. Yes, Christians have been targeted over and over by the blood thirsty militias operating in Northern Nigeria. But targeting day labourers for hurting their pride is not beneath them. A group of labourers gathering the rice harvest in Borno state in the
Continue ReadingNigeria: Death is not the only danger
We have been reporting regularly on the fate of Christians in Nigeria, who are being killed at alarming rates. However, the number of deaths does not adequately reflect the magnitude of suffering. Christian Concern recently shared a report that about 100 villages in Kaduna state in Nigeria’s Middle Belt have been taken over by Fulani militants. This means that an
Continue ReadingKidnapped for ‘Marriage’; Persecution of Christian Girls
‘Mum, can we pray for this girl?’ my daughter asked me as she was scrolling her phone. She had read about a victim of what must be one of the most tragic forms of persecution, the kidnapping of (often very young) Christian girls, for the purpose of forced marriage to a Muslim man. It is common in several counties where
Continue ReadingChina and Nigeria; Two Continents, one Spirit
Two weeks ago, we wrote about the Nigerian church as a force for mission in Africa and beyond. What impact is the Nigerian church already having? What vision do they have for the future of mission? And what challenges do they face as they seek to obey the great commission? To get an inside perspective, I contacted the NEMA, the
Continue ReadingYoung Nigerians and their cry for justice
Nigeria has been in the news this past week with nation-wide protests and unrest. For those far away, this may seem like yet a typical African problem. A corrupt government, lots of unemployed young people, and poverty made worse by Covid, it all forms a perfect recipe for some chaos on the streets. But let’s not jump to conclusions quickly
Continue ReadingBack to Jerusalem with the Nigerian church
In previous articles we have talked about the types of persecution the Nigerian church faces and who is after them. But why is Nigeria such a persecution hot spot? And why should we pay attention? As Christians we believe both a seen and unseen reality. And when it comes to persecution there are causes that are earthly and causes that
Continue ReadingWhy is persecution in Nigeria so bloody?
Nigeria is a country with a Christian population of over a hundred million and freedom of religion. It does not fit the mould of many of the 10/40 window countries where Christianity is outlawed. How is it that persecution is such a problem there? And why is it so violent? There are two main types of persecution. One type is
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