Defender of Widows, Father to the Fatherless

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D e f e n d e r o f W i d o w s , Fat h e r to t h e

Fatherless B ringing h ope t h ro u g h mi c r o e n t erprise , ed u c a t i o n , and interfait h efforts b y O bed M inc h a k p u

Takai Shamang

Sunday Agang

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n Nigeria, a three-headed demon roams the land, first creating and then devouring widows, orphans, and the weak. As religious conflict, AIDS, and poverty rob families of their loved ones, their health, and their well-being, women and children become increasingly vulnerable—to unscrupulous family members as well as to the ever-growing fundamentalist Muslim population. It is not uncommon to hear of teenage daughters of Christian widows being kidnapped and forced into Islam or being enticed with gifts to

convert to Islam without the consent of their Christian parents.The body of Christ in Nigeria is often overwhelmed with the burden of caring for this needy population. In response to these problems, Takai Shamang, a former labor leader in Nigeria and a trade unionist for 40 years, founded Ganty’s Aid to the Widows, Orphans, and the Needy in 1997. Sparked by his family’s desire to minister to the needs of the underprivileged both inside and outside the church, the ministry eventually grew to the point where Shamang

PRISM 2008

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Defender of Widows, Father to the Fatherless by Evangelicals for Social Action - Prism Magazine - Issuu