Your prayers are once again urgently needed on behalf of the church in Nigeria. Pastor Bulus Yakuru was kidnapped by Boko Haram two months ago, in a Christmas Eve attack on a Christian village near Chibok. Seven people were killed and Pastor Yakuru was taken alive. His captors have now set an ultimatum for this Wednesday. If the government does not comply with their demands, which have not been made public, Pastor Yakuru will be killed.

In a hostage video he is seen pleading with the government to intervene on his behalf. If his release is not secured, he may join a long list of Nigerian Christian leaders who have paid the ultimate price.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have echoed his call to intervene. Christians in Nigeria have long been frustrated by the lack of government action on their behalf. They have felt unprotected from the bloody attacks and kidnappings at the hands of Boko Haram, ISWAP, Fulani militants and common bandits. In a statement to the press, CAN puts it bluntly: “Why should the government leave the citizens of this country at the mercy of insurgents, bandits and kidnappers? What then is the essence of having a government in place?” They argue the urgent threat to the life of Pastor Yakuru is a test for the ability of the government to act against terrorists.

We hope the government of Nigeria will be both willing and able to intervene on behalf of this brother, and we support our Nigerian brothers and sisters in their cry for justice and demand for better protection against those who try to kill them.

However, our ultimate trust is not in governments to do the right thing, but in the God Pastor Yakuru believes in. Let’s pray earnestly for God to protect his life, but more, may God keep Pastor Yakuru and his family secure in His peace. May they know that nothing in heaven and earth, even death itself, can separate them from the love of Christ.