Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt are subject to bloody attacks by several ISIS-related terror groups as well as by the Islamic Fulani tribe. With thousands killed and many more abducted, displaced and deeply traumatised, we wanted to find a way to bless these brothers and sisters and show them that the wider body of Christ has not forgotten them. We chose the Christmas season, as many attacks are concentrated around days when Christians traditionally celebrate, such as Christmas and Easter. As well as distributing food, we also provided a safe place where different groups of persecuted believers could come to be ministered to.
More on the background of our Christmas appeal you can read by clicking here. We want to share some of the testimonies of the people that came to this place. They reflect on both the depth of the pain, as well as the work God is doing in them despite all this.
As well as comfort, prayer and fellowship, there was teaching on anger and reconciliation during the meetings. People were asked what kind of things they were angry with. These were some of the things they mentioned the Fulani did to them:
- They burned my house and took all my food
- They killed my brother and burnt my brother
- They killed my father and took all I have
- They burned 8 of our villages, we cannot return
- They chased me from my house, my husband went to check our house and they killed him
- They killed my son, my husband and my younger sister
- I don’t have anywhere to sleep, I want the Fulani to disappear
- They killed my husband – they burned the house and took all I have
- I am angry with the government and the soldiers who did nothing to protect me
- They killed my son and my younger brother
- They destroyed my farm produce – last Friday they killed my uncle – they cut off his head and burnt his body, I am angry with the government – they are not helping!
One of the pastors, called Harris, saw people massacred like animals and his student’s made orphans, deeply traumatised because they had seen their parents butchered. He felt angry with God. Right from the first session, God started to deal with him, he had to forgive himself and realise God is still God. He later said it was as if the conference was made for him.
These were some other comments people made:
“After the teachings yesterday, I went back home and slept. I have not slept well for a long time. I read my bible and then slept. I woke up at 5am and prayed.”
“I felt as though I was going to die but with these prayers I feel I have peace of mind”
“This teaching has impacted me and touched my heart. When the Fulani people chased us out – I vowed I must kill them. But when I heard the teaching, I have left everything in the hands of God.”
“Before I got here, I was really grieving – the Fulani took all our food and destroyed our community. I hated the Fulani. But I have begun to see the light of God and have been liberated from the darkness. I have been able to forgive the Fulani. I also feel that I have received forgiveness as well.”
Thank you for making it possible to minister to these brothers and sisters in our need. Please continue to keep the church of Nigeria in your prayers. Also remember those from the Fulani tribe who have become believers and are now sharing the hope of the gospel with their tribe, despite the huge risk. May those who were once enemies may be made one in the body of Christ.
Thank you for sharing this update from Nigeria. I live on the East Coast of the U.S. and serve the LORD in an international Messianic Church. I will share this story with my Nigerian Sister in Christ. She has not returned to Nigeria for many years, but she tells me all is well there. Your account is quite the opposite.
Dear Sister and Friend, thank you for your reporting, and let’s rejoice for our own written expression. Because the Glory of the LORD lives among us, the Sons and Daughters of The LORD, His Glory and Voice can be heard in our written expression! What a blessing to share this with one another.
God bless and continue His expression through your writing!!