In Nigeria
On the cover of Voice of the Martyrs‘ November newsletter is a vivid photograph of a bloodstained Bible from Nigeria. Although the blood is from a deadly church attack at the beginning of this year, the violence in Nigeria has only persisted. Below is a recently-posted prayer update from VOM.
“Suspected Islamists attacked two villages in Borno state on Dec. 1, killing at least 10 villagers and burning four churches. The attackers, thought to be members of the Islamist group Boko Haram, went from house to house in a predominantly Christian area of Chibok on Saturday evening, killing nine Christians and one Muslim man. They also attacked 20 homes and a church in Chibok. The same night, extremists burned three churches and several other buildings in Gamboru Ngala village, near the border with Cameroon. Several police officers were killed in the second attack. State officials met with community leaders and senior church leaders on Monday, Dec. 3, to discuss how best to help them. Pray for those affected by these recent attacks, and pray that Nigerian Christians will support their persecuted brothers and sisters in Nigeria.”
Pray
- Pray that the Lord would comfort His people who are suffering, guard them from bitterness, and draw them even closer to Him.
- Pray that believers in Nigeria have the courage and strength to follow Christ faithfully despite the threats on their life.
- Pray that God would use the witness of His followers to reach those who are hostile toward Him.
- Pray that God would send more laborers into the harvest in Nigeria.
- Pray that God would be glorified in Nigeria, as well as in other parts of the world because of what is happening there.
- Thank God for encouraging Nigerian Christians through His Word and for using persecution there for His good purposes.
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ’A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.” – John 15:18-20
"We believe the scripture that Jesus told us, that if they persecuted him they will do the same to us. We are not discouraged, but rather our faith on a daily basis has been increased." – Rev. Dr. Soja Bewarang, Nigeria
Information for this post was gathered from VOM. To receive their free monthly newsletter, sign up here. To read more about the Bible pictured in this post, go here.
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