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JANUARY 2016
PERSECU ION
Nigeria Hanging by a Thread
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INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN
Table of Contents
In This Issue: FEATURE
14 | Shrouded in Violence
A look at our most recent trip to Niger and Nigeria, where more Christians die for their faith in Christ than anywhere else on earth.
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FEATURE
18 |Niger: One Year Later
ICC staff visit the remains of churches in Niger one year after the Charlie Hebdo riots. INTERVIEW
20 | Guarding the Sheep
A Nigerian pastor and church planter tells the story of the attacks of Boko Haram and shares how he and his family have survived. INTERVIEW
22 | From Down The Hill
Surviving members of the horrific Fulani herdsman attack in Vatt, Nigeria, tell their stories. INTERVIEW
26 | I Was Blind, But Now I See
The story of a church suicide bombing through the eyes of an unwavering believer.
Regular Features
3 Letter from the President A few words from ICC’s president, Jeff King, on the suffering people behind the death tolls in Nigeria and Niger. 4 News A snapshot of the persecution that impacts our brothers and sisters daily, in every corner of the world
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8 West Watch A look at recent news reflecting growing opposition to Christianity in the United States and the Western world. 10 Your Dollars At Work Learn how your gifts are providing comfort, relief, Bibles, education and new business ventures to the persecuted.
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JANUARY 2016
President’s Letter
No words I write could ever say How sad and empty I feel today The Angels came for you A thousand words won’t bring you back I know because I’ve tried Neither will a thousand tears I know because I’ve cried So go and rest in peace now — “A Tribute to Tyrone” by Kiley Dunbar
Jeff King, President International Christian Concern
Lenin famously said that one death is a tragedy but that a million is a statistic. That’s the problem with mass murder. In Nigeria, the number of those killed by Boko Haram and their counterparts in murder, the Fulani tribesmen, is massive; possibly as high as 50,000 over the last 15 years. The problem with those kind of stats is that they paper over the immense pain and loss that even one death brings to the circle of loved ones around them. In our recent trip to Niger and Nigeria, we met too many of those loved ones who wander through life as emotional ghosts after their loss. Their grief is palpable and yet possibly made worse when the “dead” are living (as in the parents of the Chibok girls that we met) or for those whose grief is mixed with guilt over having to choose between dying with your loved one or leaving them to save your own life. See Arthur’s* story on page 17 and Phillip’s* story, “An Impossible Choice,” on page 25 for examples of what I mean. Persecution’s effect is complex. Yes, it strengthens the body and sometimes creates living saints. But most of the time, the cost for that growth is not something you or I would be willing to pay. So as we go about our blessedly safe lives, remember that another died that we should live. Pardoned and set free, we must live with a purpose and escape the Western curses of narcissism and materialism. Remember your broken brother and sister. Please come with me to pick them up. Together, we will stoop down and lift their arm over our shoulders and carry them for a while. We cannot take away their pain, but we can weep with them, ease their way and even carry them when they can only fall. God draws close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), and so, therefore, should we. The persecuted are worth your time, treasure and talents. Whatever you give to us for their care will be used ethically, efficiently and effectively. I promise!
Jeff King President International Christian Concern / Persecution.org *Names changed for security.
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News
ISIS Releases 50 Christian Prisoners
8,000 Christians Flee Islamist Attacks
Islamist Terror Group Rising in Mali 1 | MALI For many years, the country of Mali has been affected by an aggressive Islamist insurgency from Al Qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The French had previously driven the terrorist group out of Mali, lifting the oppression of Sharia law that was imposed on locals. However, the terrorist group is now returning, and attacks are on the rise, including in the capital city of Bamako. The violence has already begun to seep into surrounding countries, causing great concern in the region. Many Christian Malians are leaving the country via cargo ship as shown in the above photo. Representatives from Chad, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mauritania recently gathered in Mali to establish a collaborative force to combat the growing insurgency. While AQIM poses a deadly threat to Muslims and Christians alike, Christians, who represent approximately five percent of Mali’s population, are the most vulnerable, facing displacement, job discrimination, threats and lack of freedom to worship. As has happened the world over, AQIM’s extremist ideology is beginning to influence the moderate Islamic culture in Mali, causing them to shift closer toward extremism and leaving Christians in danger at the hands of their persecutors.
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2 | INDONESIA In mid-October, Islamic fundamentalists attacked a church in Aceh, Indonesia. The fundamentalists had decided that there were too many churches in Indonesia’s strongest Islamic area. Somehow, the radicals were able to attack and burn down the church despite the fact that the government had deployed hundreds of police and military to the area to prevent violence. As a result of the attack and the government’s refusal to protect them, thousands of Christians fled the area in search of relief from Islamist violence. As many as 8,000 Christians may have fled the region. According to local authorities, at least one person was killed and many were injured when a group of radical Muslims tried to destroy a second church. These attacks follow a disturbing pattern in which radical Islamists attack Christian churches in the region that do not have the required permits. Starting in 2006, church leaders were required to obtain permits to build a church, but the permits are almost impossible to obtain and are a means to legally keep out churches without being seen as discriminating. In 2012, local government officials began to close churches they declared to be illegal. According to police, approximately 20 people were arrested in connection to this recent attack that led to the mass evacuation of local Christians.
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3 | SYRIA According to reports, the Islamic State recently released 50 Assyrian Christians who they were previously holding captive. Those who were released were part of a larger group of 250 captives who were abducted by ISIS militants in Qaryatain, Syria, last year. Estimates indicated that this group of captives consisted of approximately 100 families, including women and children. Many of those who were captured during the initial attack were abducted from a Catholic monastery in central Syria. Although the reason for the release of these 50 individuals is not clear, ISIS has previously released hostages following the payment of the jizya, which is a tax imposed on religious minorities to be paid to their Muslim authorities (in this case, it was basically a ransom). Although a bright spot on a certain level, the crisis still continues for Christians in the Middle East.
JANUARY 2016
ISIS Executes Three Assyrian Men 4 | SYRIA A video released by the Islamic State on October 7, 2015, depicted the brutal execution of three Assyrian men. The men killed in the video were identified as Dr. Abdel-Maseeh Aniyah, Ashur Rustam Abraham and Bassam Issa Michael. It is believed that these men were among the 250 captives taken hostage by ISIS in February 2015. In the video, ISIS calls for ransoms for hostages who remain in captivity.
China’s Human Rights Lawyers Continue to Face Persecution
5 | CHINA A former judge in China’s Zhejiang province, Zhong Jinhua, recently fled to the United States in the face of the ongoing government crackdown on human rights advocates. Jinhua views the campaign as “unprecedented” and predicts it will not stop in the near future. Along with hundreds of others, Christian lawyer Zhang Kai (below) was detained after speaking out against the cross removals in the region. Even those who are only detained for a short period of time continue to live under surveillance, instilling fear in human rights lawyers throughout China. Estimates indicate that roughly 300 human rights lawyers, activists, staff and family members have been detained throughout this crackdown.
Animism Attacks 6 | ETHIOPIA In August 2015, animists in Ethiopia murdered one pastor and injured 30 Christians in a machete attack during a Sunday service in the village of Guder. Shortly after, a woman from the same church was strangled and left for dead. Thankfully, she survived, though not without a traumatic emotional toll. Further still, a third attack took place in September, during which members of the church were beaten with sticks and machetes until some of them managed to fend off the attackers.
Christian Imposters Assault Pastor 7 | BANGLADESH In October 2015, a Christian pastor in Bangladesh, Luke Sarker, was brutally attacked by a group of individuals pretending to be interested in Christianity. As the pastor began to answer their questions, they attempted to murder him by slitting his throat. Thankfully, Sarker was able to fend off his assailants, but was rushed to a hospital soon after the attack. While recovering, five individuals were arrested in connection to the attack — one for physically attacking Sarker and the others for helping to plot the attack. Although violence against Christians in Bangladesh is relatively rare, a recent increase in attacks is leading many to suspect a regional spike in Islamic extremism.
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News
“Many denied refugee status in Cambodia are forced back to Vietnam ...” ISIS Propaganda Video Boasts of Forcing Syrian Christians to Sign Subservience Contract or Face Death 1 | SYRIA In a recent video produced by ISIS, the terrorist group explained that they are forcing Christians in Qaryatayn, Syria, to sign a subservience contract. They have threatened the men who refuse to sign the contract with death and the women and children with enslavement. The narrator of the video explained that for those who are unwilling to convert to Islam, the contract of subservience will officially establish them as inferior to Muslims and be used in conjunction with the jizya tax that all non-Muslims in the region are forced to pay. The video also depicted a group of ISIS militants raiding a church and discarding its cross. The narrator spoke directly to American Christians and the rest of the Western world. In a familiar message, the spokesman for ISIS explained that if Western Christians convert to Islam, ISIS will bring them no harm. The city of Qaryatayn was captured by the Islamic State in early August 2015. Reports indicate that during the capture of the city, ISIS militants specifically targeted Christians. This city in western Syria holds great strategic importance due to its location along the Damascus-Homs Highway. This route is vital to the group’s efforts to transport materials and personnel from one city to the next. According to a recent report by the U.S. State Department, terrorist groups, such as ISIS, are now the greatest threat to Christians around the world, specifically in the Middle East. Rising violence and acts such as these recent contracts have caused countless families to flee their homes and countries in the hopes that they will find refuge and safety elsewhere.
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Cambodia Turning Away Refugees 2 | CAMBODIA Throughout 2015, there were multiple attempts by Montagnards, a Christian minority group, to flee government persecution in Vietnam, hoping to seek asylum from the U.N. Human Rights Commission in Cambodia only to have their attempts thwarted by the government of Cambodia. In 2014, only 13 of approximately 200 applications for asylum were granted, according to Asia News. Despite international outcry from NGOs and other experts who have repeatedly stated that the Vietnamese government has systematically persecuted the Montagnards, Cambodia continues to deny asylum to those in need. The Montagnards are an ethnic group from Vietnam that is largely Christian. According to UCA News, ever since the Montagnards began to call out for greater religious freedom during the early 2000s, they have found themselves facing government-led persecution. Recently, the government of Cambodia instituted a three-month maximum for the U.N. refugee agency to deport these minority Christian refugees back to Vietnam. Unfortunately, many denied refugee status in Cambodia are forced back to Vietnam, only to face the same persecution they were fleeing in the first place. JANUARY 2016
300 U.S. Troops Land in Cameroon to Fight Boko Haram 3 | NIGERIA U.S. President Barack Obama recently announced the deployment of 300 American troops to Cameroon in an effort to support the African task force in defeating the Islamic radical group Boko Haram. Boko Haram has increased the frequency of their attacks in the region since Cameroon began supporting Nigeria’s military in their fight against the terrorists. American troops will assist local forces with intelligence and surveillance operations in order to effectively confront Boko Haram.
Radical Hindus Push for Anti-Conversion Laws
Kenyan Woman Rescued from Muslim Radicals
4 | INDIA Following reports of many tribals in Jharkhand, India, converting to Christianity, Hindu nationalists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) recently demanded that an anti-conversion law be added to the state’s laws. They also demanded a probe into the conversions, targeting the funding of missionaries working in the region. Hindu nationalists have already made it clear that they intend to propose a national ban on non-Hindu conversions, threatening the rights of Christians and other religious minorities alike.
5 | KENYA In an effort by Kenyan defense forces, Judy Mutua alShaba was rescued in Difa, Somalia, after being abducted earlier by al-Shabaab. Following her rescue, al-Shaba received treatment and was airlifted to Nairobi by members of the Kenyan Air Force. She was initially captured during an ambush when the vehicle she was traveling in was attacked by armed militants. Religious freedom advocates have praised the successful rescue of al-Shaba from the grips of radical terrorists.
Pakistan’s Infamous Blasphemy Laws to be Reformed? 6 | PAKISTAN In late October 2015, Christians and human rights activists rejoiced over a noteworthy judgment from the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The court decision opened the door for Pakistan to make positive reforms to the country’s infamous blasphemy laws. Time after time, these laws have been used for personal gain, to settle scores and to persecute already vulnerable religious minorities, including Christians. During this case, the court upheld the death sentence for a man who assassinated former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer in 2011 for allegedly committing blasphemy. A few weeks later, the three-judge bench issued a judgment that called for reforms to be made to the blasphemy laws in order to create a safeguard against their misuse and false allegations. This decision is widely considered a step in the right direction toward greater religious freedom in Pakistan.
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est atch InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Wins Case Against California State University (CSU) System After Being Banned
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he InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, which identifies itself as an “evangelical campus mission,” lost its recognition as an official student organization in 23 state institutions in the California university system based on their requirement for leaders to be believers in Christ. The student organization lost its recognition based on an executive order in 2011 that stated no school may recognize any group that discriminates on race, religion, origin, age, gender or sexual orientation.
According to the Director of Public Affairs for the California State System, all organizations must sign a non-discriminatory agreement, but InterVarsity did not comply. If the group had signed the agreement, it would enable non-Christians to hold leadership positions within the organization. In June 2015, the decision was reversed when the CSU system agreed to recognize the 23 school chapters, allowing for the group to regain all privileges afforded to student organizations.
Houston Pastors File Suit Against Abusive Lesbian Mayor
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n October 2014, Christians across the United States were shocked when the city of Houston sent subpoenas to five area pastors demanding that they hand over emails and sermons dealing with homosexuality, gender identity or the city’s first openly lesbian mayor. If the pastors refused,
Mt. Soledad Cross Memorial Sold to Private Organization After Years-Long Legal Battle
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t. Soledad Memorial has been a prominent fixture in San Diego, California, since it was created in 1954. It was originally created to honor American Korean War veterans, both living and deceased. Beginning in 1989, the memorial began a legal battle that has finally come to a close after a quarter of a century. In 2006, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit on behalf of several California residents that culminated in a court ruling in December 2013 stating that the cross was unconstitutional and must be removed within 90 days. The ruling was then appealed and had been on the court’s docket until July 17, 2015, when the site was sold to a private organization by the Department of Defense.
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they would be held in contempt of court. The subpoenas were issued in an aggressive legal attack by the mayor’s office as a bid to crush resistance by the churches to a new city HERO ordinance allowing adults to use public bathrooms of the opposite gender if they self-identified as that gender. Since Mayor Parker backed off in October 2014, Houston pastors filed suit against the mayor in August 2015, claiming that their civil rights were attacked when the mayor subpoenaed their sermons. The HERO ordinance will be included on the November election ballot as residents vote on whether to allow “gender-neutral” public restrooms.
Crazed Gunman Targets Christian Students in Mass Shooting
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n October 1, 2015, a crazed gunman entered Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, approximately 180 miles south of Portland, opened fire and killed 10 students while injuring 20 more. Students present during the attack reported witnessing the gunman ask his victims whether they were Christian and, if they were, asking them to stand up immediately. For those who said they were Christians, the gunman responded, “Good, because you are going to see God in just about one second.” He then proceeded to shoot them in the head. Little is known about his motive for directly targeting Christians, but it sheds
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light on the reality that religious persecution of Christians is no longer isolated to the international community.
JANUARY 2016
IRS Surveillance of Churches Could Go to Court After Advocacy Group Files Lawsuit
Christian High School Football Coach Under Fire for Post-Game Prayers
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n 2012, the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) sued the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), demanding that they enforce the Johnson Amendment, a provision that strips a church of its tax exempt status if they involve themselves in political rhetoric or activity. In the summer of 2014, both organizations agreed to the enforcement if violations were brought to their attention. The details of the agreement were not disclosed to the public. As a result, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a legal advocacy group, filed suit against the IRS in April 2015, requesting that the federal entity divulge the details of their agreement with FFRF. It is possible that their suit, filed in District Court, could reach a hearing which would plunge the IRS into a legal battle against religious organizations and their involvement in the church. Currently, there are no updates as to the progress of the lawsuit, but it does remain a focus of interest by the ADF.
Atlanta Fire Chief Terminated for Distributing Book Containing His View of Same-Sex Marriage
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evin Cochran spent his childhood dreaming about the day he would become a firefighter. In 2015, the Atlanta fire chief was forced to watch his career crumble after voicing his beliefs in a devotional book that he authored. In one section of the book, Cochran made a brief reference to his opinions on homosexuality and stated his belief that marriage is intended to take place between a man and a woman. Cochran was accused of distributing the book to staff. Atlanta’s Mayor Kasim Reed then publicly condemned Cochran on his official Facebook page and suspended him without pay. Cochran was subsequently fired over the matter. In February 2015, Alliance Defending Freedom filed a lawsuit against the city of Atlanta and Mayor Reed on behalf of Cochran. In spite of the fact that an internal investigation conducted by city officials concluded that Cochran was innocent of discriminating against anyone, the city upheld his termination.
Washington High School football coach has been under fire and investigation since September 2015 for leading prayers at the conclusion of each game. Reports indicate that neither students nor staff are compelled to join in prayer as the act is considered purely voluntary. At times, students on both sides of the field do join the coach in prayer and, on the occasions where they choose not to, Joe Kennedy prays alone, as he has done since 2008. The school district has now placed a prayer ban on the coach after concerns were raised from unknown sources. With legal support from the Liberty Institute, Kennedy has rejected the ban under its constitutionality. Since rejecting the school’s prayer ban, he was placed on leave after continuing to pray at the end of the games.
Christian Woman in the U.K. Loses Battle Over Job Suspension for Evangelizing
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n employment tribunal ruled against Victoria Wasteney, a Christian woman in the United Kingdom who was suspended from her job for allegedly attempting to “convert” a Muslim coworker. Wasteney and her co-worker had many discussions regarding their faiths until one conversation led to Wasteney offering prayer and religious literature. The Muslim co-worker filed a complaint, and Wasteney was subsequently suspended for nine months. In April 2015, Wasteney appealed her suspension, but the case was ruled in favor of the employer as they determined there was no malice or wrongdoing in their decision. It was a controversial ruling, as the European Convention on Human Rights “enshrines the freedom to be able to speak about faith in the workplace and not be disciplined for it.”
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Your Dollar$ at Work Sandals for Kids Victimized by Boko Haram Kids Care
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or the past six years, Boko Haram has devastated majority Christian communities in northern Nigeria, murdering, kidnapping and using young girls as suicide bombers. Their work has displaced millions, including 1,000,000 children. In August 2015, ICC staff visited a camp in Jos, Nigeria, where nearly 600 people are packed in a small schoolyard, including 300 Christian kids who run around barefoot. ICC stepped in to provide 300 pairs of sandals, enough for every child in the camp.
Strengthening Churches Underground Pastors
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he growth of house churches in China presents a wonderful opportunity to train and mentor new believers. In the 21st century, it is important to provide those in need with tools to grow in their personal faith while also strengthening the broader church body. Unfortunately, as many churches are rising up in China, church leaders do not have adequate training or material to be the shepherd each congregation requires. Direct training methods are not the best approach in China as Christian leaders are routinely targeted by the Communist Party and often imprisoned if their involvement in the house church movement is discovered. Alternative methods to aid leaders and members of these home churches are required, so ICC is distributing nearly 1,000 DVD sets including a multi-dialect Jesus film, worship songs, Bible studies and a training on how to avoid secular influences in China to meet the needs of their growing Christian population.
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JANUARY 2016
Pastor Support Educating Kids Kids Care
Underground Pastors
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ate last year, Pastor Z, a pastor ICC supports through its Underground Pastors Fund, was attacked by a mob of Muslims in Bangladesh. The Muslims broke into Pastor Z’s home, destroyed most of his belongings, beat him, and told Pastor Z they would kill him and his family unless they left the area immediately. Pastor Z’s crime? Spreading the Gospel among his Muslim neighbors. ICC provided Pastor Z food and rent assistance.
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wice a year, every child in Egypt takes governmental exams that they must pass to move on to the next grade. These ultimately determine their potential for future education. Christians are often discriminated against in education and even abused by teachers. With your help, ICC is helping more than 70 kids in Egypt to get educational support from a Christian leader who ensures they are learning and prepared for the exams and for the future.
Providing Medical Care Hand of Hope
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he levels of medical care and services in Egypt are very poor in the rural areas. In some of these villages, people can die due to very minor medical conditions that go untreated. For this reason, we are partnering with Christian medical professionals to care for those in need and to share the love of Christ. We are partnering to send medical outreaches that go into villages and show the love of Christ to those in need and provide care for Christians in difficult places. On these trips, we perform medical screenings, test for hepatitis C, liver enzymes and blood tests, as well as provide the basic care and medicine that these people desperately need. These efforts that meet practical needs are connected with local churches to ensure that spiritual needs are met, as well.
Bibles to Pakistani Christians
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Bibles to the Persecuted
ue to widespread discrimination and abuse, Christians in Pakistan predominately exist on Pakistan’s lowest social and economic rungs. In many cases, Christians are unable to afford a copy of the Bible, limiting their potential spiritual growth. In October 2015, ICC helped 100 Christians in Pakistan’s Kasur District by giving them a free copy of the Bible in their native language. Many of
these Christians work in brick kilns and are considered less than human by their Muslim “superiors.” In many cases, these Christians are treated like slaves. Javead Masih, one of the Christians who received a Bible, said, “I am very happy and excited to have my own Bible. Before, I was not able to have a Bible. Now, I will keep my Bible close to me and read the Scripture every day.”
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Your Dollar$ at Work
Rebuilding With Music
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Underground Pastors
hristianity in Indonesia has experienced a tumultuous time in recent years as radical Islamists have increased their attacks on Christian communities. Mobs of violent Muslims storm local churches, prompting members to flee or face death by fire as their church buildings are set ablaze. Regardless of their actions, local authorities typically allow these acts to occur and, on occasion, take part in closing the church buildings. In December 2014, a group of radicals supported by local police raided the GPDI Jatinangor Church, destroying their sound system and musical instruments. While the government has allowed the church to reopen, these items needed replaced. As part of its mission to serve the persecuted church in Indonesia, ICC provided the GPDI Jatinangor Church with a new sound system and the various musical instruments they needed to start the rebuilding process.
Farming Aids for Parents of Chibok Girls
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Hand of Hope
here is Naomi? Is she alive? That’s what her parents wonder every day ever since she was abducted by Boko Haram in Chibok, Nigeria, in April 2014. Her family is devastated and struggling with depression. Her mother has trouble finding the energy to work on the farm. Despite worldwide attention on the “Chibok Girls,” Yaga Lawan and his wife have to live each day with crushing uncertainty about whether Naomi is alive. When you look into Yaga’s eyes, he glares with a semi-hollow stare. The only life in his eyes shows when he catches a glimmer of hope that he may one day see Naomi again. Anything we could do to help would fail to bring Naomi back, but ICC is still trying to encourage Yaga with fertilizer and new farming tools as he struggles to persevere through this trial.
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JANUARY 2016
Your Dollar$ at Work
Radio Broadcasts Seeing Results
T Starting Family Businesses
Broadcast
he rise of ISIS has driven hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Christians and other religious minorities out of their homes, with more than 3 million people living in refugee camps or other temporary shelters. There is also growing violence between Muslims, as Sunni and Shi’a groups are attacking each other. In the midst of this, many are thinking about their faith, seeing the violence in Islam, and
searching for something new. ICC’s partner radio ministry broadcasts Christian programs across the country and is seeing a huge response from those who are finding peace and love in Christianity. With ICC’s help, our partners are launching broadcasts in a new city, reaching another 1.2 million people who can now hear the message of the love of Jesus.
Suffering Wives & Children
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n March 15, 2015, suicide bombers from the Pakistani Taliban attacked two churches in Lahore’s predominately Christian neighborhood of Youhanabad. As a result of the attack, 19 were killed and over 70 others were wounded. Soon after the bombings, an ICC team was on the ground in Pakistan to connect with the most impacted Christian families. After an initial survey, 28 Christian families whose breadwinner was either killed or handicapped in the bomb blasts were specially selected for a small business assistance plan. ICC invited these families to propose various small businesses which they could support themselves, but were just short on funds to start these businesses. The results have been amazing! ICC has helped launch 20 successful small businesses with these Christian families and is in the process of developing the final eight. From livestock to grocery shops to autorickshaws, ICC has empowered these persecuted Christian families and allowed them to develop and manage their own businesses. Nothing will replace those they lost on March 15, but at least these projects have allowed Christian families to live empowered and dignified lives.
Pastors’ Families Need Support
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Underground Pastors
n some parts of China, it is a typical church day when local police interrupt the service and tell the church that they are there to remove the cross from their steeple because of an ordinance banning religious symbols on public display. Frustration ensues as the brave pastor calls for a public prayer vigil in protest. Unfortunately, the pastor’s leadership almost
inevitably leads to his arrest and imprisonment for “disturbing social order.” Tragically, when pastors like this are imprisoned, their families are left devastated. These families are the families ICC feels God’s call to support. Through the generous donations given to ICC by donors, we are able to serve these brave brothers and sisters in Christ.
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JANUARY 2016
WEST AFRICA: SHROUDED IN VIOLENCE By Troy Augustine
ICC visits Niger and Nigeria, where more Christians die for their faith in Christ that anywhere else on earth. Parents and family members of the kidnapped Chibok girls gather for prayer.
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could never have appropriately prepared for what I heard and saw on my first trip to my region as Regional Manager for Africa for ICC. While I knew I was traveling to the one place in the world that has seen the most Christians murdered for their faith in the last five years, no shocking statistic can ever quite fully describe the horrors that brothers and sisters in Christ are facing every day in Nigeria and Niger. Anyone in the world with a radio, television or access to the Internet has likely heard of Boko Haram and the grisly devastation the radical Islamic terror group continues to wage across northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger. The world was awakened to their barbarism particularly through the popular social media campaign which demanded that Boko Haram “#BringBackOurGirls” after they kidnapped 276 mostly Christian girls from Chibok, Nigeria, in April 2014. While it’s easy to send a tweet or watch a video, the experience becomes unavoidably real when you are sitting face to face with a father who lives each day praying through tears that God would bring Naomi back. This is the face of radical Islam’s persecution of Christians in West Africa — unimaginably tragic, crushingly intense, helplessly frustrating, but also somehow hopeful. Sometimes the sweetest reminders of the great salvation and communion we have with Christ show up when we experience or behold extreme suffering and realize that God even uses the most severe persecution to make His people look more like Jesus. Christians in Nigeria and Niger are persevering under the ever-present threat of radical Islam with incredible flourish and resolve. Extremist influence sweeps across the region, resulting in Islamic riots targeting Christians in Niger in January 2015 as well as kidnapping, rape and murder at the hands of terror groups like Boko Haram.
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‘Boko Haram and Fulani are one and the same because they are working for the same goal.’ – PRESIDENT DACHOLLOM DATIRI, CHURCH OF CHRIST IN NATIONS
However, through it all, a pastor perseveres in Gospel ministry in Diffa, Niger, with a price on his head, having already lost a church member to beheading. Church leaders in Niger sacrificially forgive those mobs that burned their churches. In Nigeria, pastors bearing the mantle of leadership over churches facing systematic murder continue to preach peace and perseverance. My journey across the region from Niamey,
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Niger, to Abuja, Kaduna and Jos, Nigeria, can be described most exquisitely through the several heart-rending stories of survival and deepened faith the Lord is working through His persecuted people. Kaduna state, Nigeria, has been rocked by Islamic extremist attacks in two forms — constant Boko Haram attacks in the North and extermination of Christian farmers in the South by radicalized (Islamic) Fulani tribesJANUARY 2016
Top Left ICC provided much needed sandals to displaced children in Jos, Nigeria.
Top Right Children in Niger are all smiles after receiving clothing and toys from ICC.
Bottom Left A Bible sits in the remains of a church burned down during the riots in Niger.
Bottom Right An ICC staff member and Nigerian pastors survey a church burned by Boko Haram. *Names have been changed to protect the security of believers
men. It was in Kaduna State where we jumped into the deep end of the pool of Christian persecution in Nigeria. When you’re sitting with people who still need to regularly undergo surgery to remove shrapnel from underneath their skin three years after surviving a Boko Haram bombing, you come to expect despairing stories. You think to yourself: “How would I handle the trial they are enduring?” However, God’s evident work in peoples’ lives becomes all the more beautiful when, in the throes of traumatic recovery, Christians continually praise the Lord for the opportunity to magnify the name of Christ as joyful survivors of persecution.
Joy and trauma are both incredibly present emotions for Christians in West Africa. On one hand, nearly all of the Christians we met expressed some form of great happiness in being counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ. On the other hand, the ever-present danger that they live in leaves them in a constant state of hyper-vigilance, experiencing all the symptoms of PTSD. They are exhausted, emotionally stressed and worn out to the point that they hardly even emote anymore. That was true of Arthur* from southern Kaduna, who lost his father when radical Fulani militia attacked his village along with five others simultaneously on one night. Arthur’s persecution experience is terrifying.
Though he escaped his house alive before the attackers arrived, his aged father could not escape. Arthur hid within earshot of his house and experienced the sounds of his beloved father’s last words. “Don’t kill me for no reason,” he heard his father cry out before the gunshots. His plea echoes in Arthur’s mind, daily struggling with guilt and despair. Arthur’s story is all too common in northern Nigeria, where Christians face persecution on two fronts. In the far Northeast, Boko Haram ravages mostly Christian settlements, and the stories from survivors tell of the terror that their own Muslim neighbors have even sold them out during an attack. Throughout Nigeria’s central, Middle Belt states of Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Taraba and Nassarawa, radical Muslim Fulani militias armed with gasoline, AK-47s and machetes are systematically depopulating the region of Christians. The tragedy should be understood as nothing short of a religious cleansing at the hands of Islamists. The frequency, brutality and coordinated nature of the attacks from Fulani tribesmen reveal that there is much more to the story of violence in the Middle Belt than the media has revealed. The Nigerian government has persistently described these raids through the lens of historical tribal disputes over land for farming versus cattle grazing. However, when Christian farmers regularly face this scale of atrocity, it becomes clear that the key part of the story is being hidden. The Christians we met in Nigeria view Boko Haram and radical Fulani as an identical threat. “Boko Haram and the Fulani are one and the same because they are working for the same goal,” Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) President Dachollom Datiri told ICC. “Their agenda is to take over the whole of Nigeria with Islam.”
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NIGER: ONE YEAR LATER
‘They covered the motorcycles with bottles of fuel and used them to set everything on fire.’ – PASTOR’S WIFE ON JANUARY RIOTS By Troy Augustine
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s I stepped through the sanctuary of Round Point Baptist Church in Niger’s capital city of Niamey in August 2015, I was bombarded with memories of the attacks of January 17, 2015, as if I had witnessed them myself. The cracked and charred ceramic floor tiles made brittle by intense fire crunched beneath my feet. The metal-sheet roof that once protected the worship space from weather was now heaped in a rusted and twisted pile in the corner. Even if someone didn’t know that this was once a church building, blackened musical instruments, mangled pews, and hollowed out sound boards strewn across the floor tell the story of a place once filled with praises to God and preaching every Sunday morning. Round Point represents a microcosm of what Niger’s Christian minority lived through for one horrible weekend in mid-January one year ago. ICC marks the anniversary of riots that raced across Niger, from Zinder to Goure, from Maradi to Niamey — an entire nation that for a
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moment reached a fever pitch of hatred directed at Christians. Sadly, Christ’s body in Niger is still picking up the pieces, still suffering, and the scars remain fresh one full year into their path of perseverance.
Persecution Erupted The world was stunned on January 7, 2015, when radical Muslim terrorists stormed the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, murdering 11 people and injuring others. While global media provided wall-to-wall coverage of the European tragedy and the mourning that followed, this obscure and destitute francophone nation in the western half of the Sahara Desert was seething and about to explode. The violence started in Zinder on January 16, 2015, and, just one day later, had reached Niamey. By the end of the weekend, at least five Christians had been murdered, dozens more injured, and scores of churches burned down. Angry Muslim mobs took their anger over the Charlie Hebdo “blasphemy” of the
Muslim prophet Muhammad out on their minority Christian neighbors. Once the hatred metastasized into physical expression, Nigerian Muslims who had lived in relative peace with Christians for decades marauded Niger’s cities in droves searching for victims. They were armed with axes, cutlasses, clubs and gasoline drums, seeking to destroy everything Christian they could find. “They were breaking, beating, destroying everything,” one pastor’s wife told ICC. “They covered the motorcycles with bottles of fuel and used them to set everything on fire.” Rioters burglarized Pastor Alex’s* church while he, his wife and his two daughters hid in the bathroom. Three times, different waves of attackers discovered the family hiding in the bathroom. The first two decided to continue looting the church property, and the family survived. By the third wave, Pastor Alex was convinced they were going to die. “My family and I thought they were going to set us ablaze with their fuel and matches, but before they could do that, the police
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When most of the church was burned down, these inspiring words remained visible on one of the few walls still standing: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
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Wife of pastor relives the tragic assault as she describes it in detail to our staff members in the field.
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Pastor explains the destruction at Round Point Baptist Church. ICC then provided them with new musical instruments for worship.
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A man surveys the remains of a burned church after the January 2014 riots in Niger. *Names have been changed to protect the security of believers.
came and rescued us,” he said. The result of the devastating attacks left gaping holes in church buildings and numerous church roofs perforated and charred. Pastors all over Niger grieved the loss of some of their most prized possessions: their theology libraries. Countless Christians were left homeless when their houses were targeted and destroyed. “Everything that took 40 years to build has vanished,” evangelist Alice* told ICC. And yet, one year later, the Church of Jesus Christ perseveres in Niger through the continued suffering. JANUARY 2016
Rising From the Ashes Despite the destruction, Round Point still holds two services every Sunday in the same compound serving two congregations. The French-speaking and Yoruba-speaking church bodies are, for now, assembling in a temporary shelter next to the destroyed sanctuary, where they’ve erected a semi-permanent roof and set up pews just inside the walls. Pastor Alex prepares for Sunday’s sermon with the most important book that remains in his library: his Bible. His Anglican denomination responded with the love of Christ after
the tragedy, financing much of the structure’s rebuild. Countless Christians in Niger continue to meet in perilously unstable, crumbling buildings to worship God. The plaster that once covered the walls at the Pentecostal Church in Koudia district, Niamey, is completely gone, but indelible reminders of God’s grace and faithfulness remain. You have to look very closely, but you can still spot one faded, French-text banner across the back wall of the sanctuary in a tan shade. It’s just enough lighter than the dust-colored
sandstone wall that you can still make out the message. It used to be boldly obvious, declared in bright crimson paint against the white plaster backdrop and serving as a steady reminder for a Christian congregation in times of prospering. But now, the Bible verse seems even more fitting as its quieter, yet steady presence preaches to Christians in Koudia recovering from persecution. “Ma grâce te suffit, car ma puissance se déploie dans la faiblesse,” or, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV).
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GUARDING THE SHEEP FROM BOKO HARAM “I am alive because of the love of God. Only God can keep us safe.” By Todd Daniels
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f you have been paying attention to world news lately, you likely know that West Africa has become the hot spot for Islamist extremism over the past few years. Outrage from the Charlie Hebdo depiction of Muhammad and attempts by Muslims to cleanse the land of Christians have left their toll on the Christian population in both Niger and Nigeria. For the past six years, the Islamic terror group Boko Haram has been ravaging northern Nigeria and southeast Niger in an effort to rid all presence of Christianity from the land. Yet in spite of this heavy persecution, God is still building His church and using fearless men and women to accomplish the task. One of those men is Pastor Samuel Dali. Pastor Samuel is the President of the Brethren Church in Nigeria (EYN). He says that there are around one million members within the church. In a recent trip to Nigeria, staff from International Christian Concern (ICC) were able to meet with Pastor Samuel and get the inside story on persecution in Nigeria. According to Pastor Samuel, the Brethren church felt called to center their mis-
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sions work in Borno State. Not long after, Boko Haram decided to make its headquarters there as well, and began to bring down heavy persecution on the church. ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, Troy Augustine, says that “the Brethren church is a perfect picture of what Boko Haram has done to the [Nigerian] church in general.” According to Pastor Samuel, the entire congregation of one million members became displaced. In order to save his church from extermination, Pastor Samuel moved the Brethren headquarters to Jos, which is one of the first safe cities for displaced Nigerians as they head south to escape Boko Haram in the north. When we met with Pastor Samuel in Jos, he had recently returned from a trip to Germany, where he met with an official from the United Nations (U.N.) to plead for help. According to Pastor Samuel, the U.N. told him his church does not represent even two percent of the population of Nigeria, thus, they are unable to offer any help. When Pastor Samuel heard this, the only thing he could do was weep. Boko Haram’s barbarous reach has also touched south-
ern Niger. ICC staff met with Pastor Andrew*, who ministers among the Fulani people in the Diffa region of Niger. Pastor Andrew was raised in a Muslim home, but miraculously came to faith in Christ when he heard the Gospel preached. He told us that one time, in the middle of Ramadan, a missionary came to his village teaching John 3:16, and Pastor Andrew said that it changed his life. For the first time, he realized that there was a God who loved him, which was a foreign concept in Islam. This new revelation brought him hope that awakened an emotion he had never felt before. Full of this newfound hope, Pastor Andrew decided to go to Bible college, where he learned everything he could about the love of God. Upon graduating, Pastor Andrew was sent to a small village on the border between Nigeria and Niger. One night, gun shots began to ring out in the darkness. Pastor Andrew quickly gathered his family, and they fled into the wilderness. That night, Boko Haram fighters completely destroyed his village and murdered more than 100 people. Unforgettably, Pastor Andrew remembers the grisly image of one of his church members being beheaded by
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Pastor Samuel Dali’s fearlessness in the face of Boko Haram has allowed him to establish long-lasting churches in the region.
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“If I could meet that man who threatened us, I would tell him … Jesus loves Him,” says Pastor Andrew.
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Naomi’s parents are so devastated by her abduction that they can hardly perform their daily tasks. ICC assisted them with farming materials to help them sustain their farm and income. *Names have been changed to protect the security of believers.
Boko Haram in the streets. He said it was the first time he had ever seen a dead body. Since the attack, Pastor Andrew has been fearlessly bringing the Gospel to the Fulani in Diffa. However, where the church grows, persecution is never far away. Recently, Pastor Andrew was preaching to some men in the village center when a few Boko Haram soldiers were nearby and overheard him talking. The men approached Pastor Andrew and declared they were going to kill him, as well as all the pastors in Diffa. When we asked him why the soldiers didn’t kill him there, he said, “I am alive because of the love of God. Only God can keep us safe.” When asked what he would say if he could meet the man who threatened him, Pastor Andrew smiled and said, “If I could meet that man who threatened us, I would tell him I am praying for him, and that Jesus loves him.” JANUARY 2016
#BRINGBACKOURNAOMI The afternoon of April 14, 2014, was a typical one for the Lawan family. Before heading back to her school dormitory, Naomi helped her father with collecting water for the family. She then returned to the dormitory of the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Nigeria. That night, around 9:00, more than 100 armed Boko Haram militants stormed the school, abducting 276 girls. After shooting their way past the school guards and setting some of the buildings ablaze, the militants forced the girls into trucks and drove them into the forest. Naomi Lawan was one of those girls. “She was a very obedient and hardworking girl,” her father, Yaga, told us as we talked with him nearly 18 months after the abduction. She aspired to be a nurse. Church was central to her life. Like nearly 200 of the other girls abducted, she was a member of the Nigerian Church of the Brethren (EYN), where she sang in the choir and loved to dance. News of the kidnapping quickly spread. The families tried to mobilize a search party, but to no avail. Boko Haram is a well-armed and well-funded insurgency. Since 2009, they have been fighting the Nigerian military and have terrorized communities in northern Nigeria with murders, suicide bombings, kidnapping and rape. But the abduction of the Chibok girls soon went viral. In an April 23, 2015 speech, Nigeria’s former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili said, “Bring Back Our Girls,” which launched the #BringBackOurGirls hashtag that was quickly retweeted more than a million times in the first two weeks. It became the model of “hashtag activism.” The awareness brought by social media pushed governments and political actors to pledge their support to try to rescue the girls, yet the efforts have largely been unsuccessful. While social media feeds have moved on to the next fad, the heartbreak for the Lawan family has not passed. “I have become very discouraged,” Yaga said. “I can hardly work. My wife has been unable to carry the hoe to the farm. She is almost empty.” There are rumors that trickle out that the girls are alive, still held in Nigeria’s Sambisa Forest, but the likelihood of Naomi’s return is slim. “I would rather know that she was dead than to live with this uncertainty and to imagine what she is going through,” Yaga said. “If my daughter was dead ... people die, but I pray every day that God will bring back my daughter. I pray that God Himself will mourn for me and bring back my daughter.” These words spoken from the broken heart of a father have also given witness to the faith that has sustained him. His final message? “I am still very grateful to God.”
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“THEY CAME FROM DOWN THE HILL...” By Philip Sabella
A pastor and village leaders gather in a church destroyed by radicalized Fulani herders to hear about the attack for the first time.
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he sound of singing is lifted by the wind across the top of the tall grass of Vatt in the Plateau state of North Central Nigeria. Close your eyes and you can almost see the owners of these voices, adorned in colorful robes, dancing around the church, singing praises to their Heavenly Father. You also hear the children as they play and the voices of their mothers chatting about their daily chores and the fathers discussing the growth of their crops. Now open your eyes and look around the town of Vat and you will see the destruction from the attacks of Islamists and you may wonder if those voices were merely echoes of the past. For many Christians living in Plateau State and around Nigeria’s central, Middle Belt region, daily life represents a struggle to survive. Since 2001, radical Muslim militias made up of members of Fulani tribesmen have been ravaging villages across the region with nearly a weekly frequency. A generations-old squabble over land between Muslim Fulani cattle herders and Christian farmers has become so violent toward Christians, so appalling in scale, and so sadistic in brutality that it has to be understood as nothing short of religious cleansing. The manner of war that the Fulani have waged against Christians across the Middle Belt is horrific, and the death toll massive. Villages are being burned, women and children are cut down in nighttime machete attacks. Those that escape the machete are often shot in the back as they sprint for the cover of the bush. In May 2015 alone, at least seven attacks across the Plateau and Benue states left 200 Christians murdered. Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas in Plateau State represent some of the most intensely devastated areas. The majority-Christian Birom tribe, which predominates in Riyom and Barkin Ladi, has seen some of the worst persecution from the Fulani. Vatt village became one of these targets during the rampage in May. ICC staff visited Vatt in August. Vatt can only be reached by 4x4, about a two-hour drive outside Plateau’s capital city of Jos over treacherous dirt roads. The villagers make their living by growing both corn for food and grass for roof thatching and lived a relatively docile life next to a tribe of Fulani herdsman for some time. That all changed on the night of May 3, 2015. Over the course of a few days in early May, the Birom villagers noticed their Fulani neighbors began to pack up and leave the area for no apparent reason. They had never witnessed this before and they found it quite odd. They were unaware that this is usually the first sign that an attack is imminent. Then, on May 3, three men from the vil-
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lage were out tending to their crops as they always do. As they were walking through the tall grass, they stumbled upon a number of armed Fulani hiding in the shadows. They immediately turned around and ran as quickly as they could back to their village where they raised the warning alarm so that the women and children could flee to safety. A handful of the men decided to stay behind and defend their homes and land. Crops are the means of livelihood to the Birom, and if they lost the crops, they might starve before the next harvest. The only weapons these men had to protect themselves with were homemade rifles called “Den Guns,” which were the equivalent to .22 caliber rifles. That night, reportedly 200 to 300 Fulani carried out an attack. They invaded the village under the cover of darkness on horseback with murderous plans. They quickly filled the village like a fog and began to burn the houses and reign down terror on the people. The Birom houses were made of mud and clay with grass roofs and, once sent on fire, they literally became clay ovens with grass kindling. The heat was so intense that most of the windows began to bow and melt, but thankfully, most had evacuated the village to safety. The Fulani then set their sights on the church. In an effort to rid the land of Christian influence, during each attack, they strategically target the churches. After finding the village church, the militia began to burn the musical instruments and shot the glass pulpit several times. Once again, due to the construction materials, the church became like a furnace. Although not completely destroyed, the main wooden support beams of the church were severely damaged and unsafe. As for the men who stayed behind, they were no match for the Fulani with their AK-47s and other “sophisticated” weapons. At the end of the night, 15 Christian men lost their lives. During our August 2015 visit, ICC staffers met with the victims of the attack and prayed with them. Upon arriving in the village, our staffers were met with smiles and thankfulness. This village was truly pressed but not crushed, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. ICC staff was given a tour of the village where we witnessed the extreme damage that the Fulani inflicted. We saw the houses that were reduced to rubble and the church that was heavily damaged. We met with the families who lost loved ones and saw the fields that were cut down. After just a short time, it was evident some-
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thing needed to be done. Thanks to your partnership, ICC was able to immediately act and deliver much needed food aid to the villagers. When the Fulani attack, they often cut down the crops just before fruiting in order to disrupt the local economy and starve their victims. In response, ICC purchased and distributed over 8,000 pounds of corn to the villagers, which will sustain the 80 people until harvest time. We wouldn’t have been able to provide that without your help. As we were distributing the grain, a woman approached us and said, “Our village isn’t even located on the map of the globe, yet God has surprised us by sending people from far away America to come and visit us and help us in our difficulty. We are grateful.” As is always the case, one of the worst aspects of persecution is the feeling of loneliness and abandonment that soon follows. Every time we share with our brothers and sisters that Christians around the world see their struggles and are praying for them, their eyes are filled with hope and wonder and they thank God for His faithfulness. The sounds of singing soar on the waves of the wind in Vatt. The villagers gather together in their burnt out church, singing praise to our God and Father. Strengthened and encouraged, they worship knowing that their family in the West stands with them. Please remember to pray for Vatt village. As James 5:16 says, “The prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective.”
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A Vat villager points to where the Fulani Islamists came from.
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Phillip* shares his compelling story of survival, loss and peace.
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The Fulani herders devastated Christian churches and homes, leaving the people of Vatt in great need.
“...God has surprised us by sending people from far away America to come and visit us and help us in our difficulty. We are grateful.”
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AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE
NIGERIAN SON MAKES HEART-WRENCHING DECISION TO LEAVE HIS FATHER BEHIND IN ORDER TO SURVIVE It was 1:30 a.m. when the shouts of “Allahu Akhbar” rang through the darkness of a rural village in Borno state, Nigeria. Boko Haram militants, armed with AK-47s, stormed the village. The limited military presence was quickly driven away, and the attackers moved on and destroyed the Brethren (EYN) church before going house to house. As the militants made their way through the village, the townspeople fled in the darkness to the Mandara Mountains. Seven people were killed in the village before they could escape; for the rest, the fight for their lives was just beginning. Phillip* was one of nearly 5,000 who escaped the village into the mountains on November 4, 2014. For nearly four months, they would survive on the mountains before they were able to escape down the mountainside and into Cameroon. As we sat and talked with him, nearly one year after the attack, the wounds of the incident were still raw in his mind. Phillip recounted for us what it was like on the mountains. Food was scarce. They largely survived on beans that grew on top of the mountains. When the food supply ran too low, some of the women would sneak into the village and bring back food. Some of them never
made it back. “Even when you are on the mountain where you think you are safe, we will pursue you up the mountain,” Boko Haram sent in a message. Yet, even as they lived in fear of when the next attack would come, they still worshipped together, Phillip remembered. They lacked any formal church, but they elected a leader who would head up prayer services. The refuge on the mountain did not last. Boko Haram militants started shelling the mountain on one side, and had troops stationed on another. Christians were forced into caves to survive, but were without food or water. After four days, the people were beginning to starve. “Whatever happened, we had to take risks to survive,” Phillip said. The only thought of escape was to form small groups and to flee down the mountains under the cover of darkness past the militants and across the border into Cameroon. This was a journey that was going to be treacherous, and there was no way that the sick or elderly would be able to make it. Phillip then had to make the devastating choice to leave his father among those still on the mountain. “It is like a new dimension of life entirely to see your father experience that
kind of agony,” Phillip said. It is a pain that he lives with every day. It is a scar that will not go away, knowing that he lost his father on that mountaintop. In a group of 150, he was able to slip through the darkness and make it into the African bush and away to safety. This is the kind of persecution that haunts the dreams of the survivors. As life moves on for them, it is not without loss. The memory of saying goodbye to his father is one that he will have to live with forever.
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I WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I SEE Interview with a Church Bombing Survivor By Troy Augustine
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aid up in his hospital bed for months, blinded and in pain, Thomas wondered as he prayed. Would he ever see again? “The eye is gone. You will not see again,” his doctors told him. “There is blood at the back of your eyes. It is out of our hands. It is in God’s hands.” The news hit Thomas with a wave of grief. All he could do was weep.
Just when the priest was about to raise the host to consecrate it, the blast rang out, initially causing a chaotic confusion. “We thought it was an accident,” Thomas told ICC. In actuality, according to the BBC, the driver was initially stopped at the security gate outside the church and began to reverse, suddenly careening into a wall on the outside of the building and detonating the bomb.
Anatomy of a Boko Haram Suicide Bombing
Hard Recovery
Though he was blinded, Thomas John Abah’s life was spared after a Boko Haram suicide bomber drove a jeep filled with explosives into the side of his church — St. Rita’s in Kaduna, Nigeria — during a worship service on October 28, 2012, killing eight people and wounding more than 100. Among the injured and dead, 95 percent were members of the St. Rita’s Catholic Church choir because the vehicle struck a wall right behind where the choir had been standing. Thomas was one of six people who lost at least one eye when hot shrapnel from the blast sprayed the choir. One of the dead included a five-year-old girl. According to Thomas, the service began at around 7 or 8 a.m., and the choir had already been joyfully praising the Lord much of the morning. Before the bombing, they were patiently awaiting the service of the Eucharist.
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After the explosives went off, Thomas was brought nearly to the point of death. His body was shredded by shrapnel that went into both of his eyes, covered his face and stretched down his neck, shoulders, chest and abdomen. Thomas and two other survivors we met in August 2015 in Kaduna still bear the scars of the attack. Now, more than three years later, they still require periodic surgeries to remove foreign objects their bodies are rejecting and pushing to the skin’s surface. Their faces are textured with irregular shapes from the shrapnel just beneath their skin. Viewing the stack of pictures Thomas keeps from that day, it is no surprise why he was initially feared dead. After the blast, Thomas fainted from the pain and blood loss and was rushed to the hospital, where he eventually awoke. Thomas keeps the gruesome photos so he can continue to thank God for what He has done in his life.
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“The eye is gone. You will not see again,” his doctors told him. “There is blood at the back of your eyes. It is out of our hands. It is in God’s hands.” JANUARY 2016
But Then, A Miracle…
After three months and ten days blinded in the hospital, Thomas slowly began to glimpse light through his remaining eye. He looked around and told his nurse how surprised he was that she was “plumpy and fat.” Instead of getting a slap or rebuke, Thomas’ bluntness brought praise to God from all the medical staff. “Everyone, started praising, ‘Jesus! Jesus!’” Thomas recalled. Much like dozens of the other surviving St. Rita’s victims, Thomas is still recovering. He cannot yet raise his arm enough to draw water from the well and still lives with severe pain. However, Thomas’ faith teaches us something about the work God accomplishes through His people in suffering. His survival
serves as a witness to God’s power and faithfulness. “Even the Muslims were jubilating that the Christian God has kept me alive,” Thomas rejoiced.
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Shrapnel from the explosion scars the arms of one of the very few survivors of the St. Rita bombing. Thomas, blinded in the attack, shares how he miraculously regained his sight.
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Many of the church members of St. Rita were either killed or left permanently injured in the attack.
PRAYER REQUESTS God’s Word instructs us to “remember those who are mistreated, since you are also in the body” (Hebrews 13:3). Hear from their own mouths how you can be praying for persecuted Nigerian Christians:
Dachollom Datiri, President, COCIN:
“Pray for wisdom and discernment in leadership. Pray for the victims because their trauma is unbelievable. Pray that God would provide relief. Pray that I would walk closely to God and live a life pleasing to him.”
Ignatius Kaigama,
Catholic Archbishop of Jos:
“Pray for the government to lead well and to make people safe. Pray for shelter where desperate people can stay. Pray that the government would tackle the insurgency. It is better to light a candle than to cause the darkness.”
Benjamin Kwashi,
Anglican Archbishop of Jos: “Pray that the Lord would raise alarm for those in authority and bring the Fulani issue to a halt. Pray that Christians may not lose their faith. Pray for us as leaders, that our voices would not fall on deaf ears.”
Samuel Dali,
President, Nigerian Brethren Church
“Pray for church members and leaders to stand firm and not lose hope. Pray that the world would understand.”
Boko Haram Survivors: “Pray for Muslims to turn to Christ. Pray for elderly people who are displaced from their land. Pray that Jesus would reveal himself to Boko Haram.”
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