Jesus Continues to Build His Church in Nigeria Amid Severe Persecution
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Believers in Nigeria reside in the second-most violent country for persecuted Christians according to Open Door’s 2020 World Watch List. Here are some links to learn more about Christian persecution in Nigeria and how to help:
Morning Star News
In an article published on January 30, 2020, Morning Star News reported the following:
JOS, Nigeria (Morning Star News) – At least 32 people were killed and a pastor’s house and church building were burned down in two nights of attacks this week by Muslim Fulani herdsmen in Plateau state, Nigeria, sources said.
To read the full Morning Star News article, click here.
Christianity Today
In an article published on January 21, 2020, Christianity Today reported on the execution of a Nigerian pastor by Boko Haram:
Update (Jan. 21): “Boko Haram has beheaded a Brethren church leader in Nigeria, according to the same investigative journalist who shared the pastor’s hostage video which encouraged many with its testimony.”
To read the full CT article, click here.
In an article summarizing the 2020 Open Doors USA World Watch List Report of Christian Persecution (see below), Christianity Today relates the following grim facts from the report on persecution in Nigeria:
Nigeria, where Africa’s largest Christian population has no cheeks left to turn, ranked No. 12 overall but is second behind only Pakistan in terms of violence, and ranks No. 1 in the number of Christians killed for reasons related to their faith. Open Doors tallied 1,350 Nigerian martyrs in its 2020 list.
To read the full CT article, click here.
Open Doors USA 2020 World Watch List Report
According to Open Doors USA:
Christians in the northern region and in the Middle Belt suffer from violence perpetrated by Islamic extremist groups such as militant Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram. Such violence often results in loss of life, physical injury, as well as loss of property. As a result of the violence, Christians are also being dispossessed of their land and means of livelihood—and Christians with a Muslim background also face rejection from their own families.
For the complete Open Doors USA 2020 World Watch Report, click here.
U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2018
The U.S. State Department provides the following statistics on the practice of religion in Nigeria in its International Religious Freedom Report for 2018:
The U.S. government estimates the total population at 203.5 million (July 2018 estimate). A 2012 survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life estimated the population to be 49.3 percent Christian and 48.8 percent Muslim, while the remaining 2 percent belong to other or no religions. Many individuals combine indigenous beliefs and practices with Islam or Christianity.
For the complete State Department International Religious Freedom Report for Nigeria that includes sections on the religious demography, status of government respect for religious freedom, status of societal respect for religious freedom, and U.S. Government policy and engagement, click here.
Ways to Help
Here are two steps Christians can take to help their brothers and sisters in Christ in Nigeria:
Pray: We must do everything we can to keep persecuted Christians in our prayers. The apostle Paul exhorts believers to be “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” and to “keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Eph. 6:18).
Connect: Reach out to organizations with a long-term commitment to helping persecuted believers in hostile countries such as Open Doors USA, The Voice of the Martyrs, and Morning Star News, and learn how you can support their efforts to come to the aid of Christians in Nigeria and around the world.