Nigeria (MNN) – Tragedies, crises, heartbreaks—these are the
moments in life where we must answer this one question: Where is our
hope?
When all else is stripped away, we know that the conditions and
promises of this world cannot sustain us or heal us. This is the reality
for many Nigerians—both Christian and Muslim—living in refugee and IDP
camps.
Carl Moeller of Biblica reminds us that despite the uncertainty these people face, there’s something we can do to give them hope.
Photo courtesy of European Commission DG ECHO via Flickr: https://flic.kr/p/q8MZWL
Moeller says, “As many people will no doubt be aware, […] radical
Islam is moving dramatically from northern Africa into southern parts of
Africa. And Nigeria is really a fault line, a dividing line
between radical Islam and the Christian-majority southern part of
Nigeria where Evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity is really very
vibrant.”
Terror: a daily reality in Nigeria
Christians in the north have faced constant persecution from radical Muslims, mostly belonging to Boko Haram.
Photo courtesy of Conflict & Development at Texas AM via flickr: https://flic.kr/p/DHNRy8
They’ve been forced to leave their villages. Their churches have been burned and their homes and possessions taken from them.
One story most people remember from two years ago is about the
kidnapping of nearly 300 girls from a Christian school in Chibok.
Moeller says most have not been heard from again, and they’ve likely
been enslaved.
This was not an isolated incident of violence, and while the general
population has forgotten the plight of Nigerians, they continue to
suffer.
“Many of them live in refugee camps. In fact, over 700,000 people by
internal estimates in Nigeria are displaced and well over 20 churches
that we know of were burned to the ground during that time,” Moeller
says.
Christians are one targeted group. When they are on the run, their Bibles are left behind with the rest of their possessions.
One question that arises in light of this is why the daily reality of terror attacks in Africa garners little attention?
While Moeller has his suspicions, he says, “Our purpose is not to
necessarily wonder why the world doesn’t care. We need to start creating
opportunities for the world to do something and to raise the awareness
of the situation here by helping organizations, churches, and other NGOs
provide the resources that those people need.”
While they are working with churches to provide for the physical
needs, Biblica’s focus is to provide the spiritual help these people
need.
An answer to the greatest need
“The situation in these camps is frighteningly desperate. And
among the other needs besides the physical needs of food, clothing, and
shelter and even psychological counseling, the thing most desperately
needed in a camp like that is hope.”
Biblica needs a total of 12,000 Bibles to distribute in the camps.
“We know that each Bible distributed will impact many, many dozens of
people. Our current project– We need 12,000 people to provide a Bible
for some of these refugees who have been displaced. It’s a tragic
situation, but again they can’t live one minute without the hope found
in God’s word, and they must be given the opportunity to find Jesus
there.”
Because of a generous donor, each Bible you buy will be
matched. This promotion is especially for those who have never given
through Biblica before.
“We really do need thousands of people to respond to the call for Bibles,” Moeller says.
One thing Moeller says is often overlooked is that it’s not just
Christians who are targets of Islamic extremism, but moderate Muslims as
well. “This is a problem across Africa and across the Middle East and
now it’s coming into Europe.”
Photo courtesy of Biblica.
While this is a tragic reality, it’s important to realize it’s also an opportunity to share the Truth with people.
“During these times of great crisis, people look for hope. They look
for something that will bring some ray of good news into their lives.
And when we are there to provide for them a Bible in their mother
tongue–in this case Hausa and also English–the hope that is transmitted
through that act, people are desperate and they find Jesus Christ as the
anchor for their souls.”
Praying for Hope
Please pray for the men and women in these camps to find true, unfailing hope so their lives can be changed.
Pray for more people to join the initiative in funding Bible distribution.
Pray for the Church in Nigeria, that they would stand and serve these refugees and other victims of hardship.
Pray for Biblica to continue to work effectively in these places with
their partners. Ask God to protect their frontline workers who are
working in the camps and are at risk every moment.
If you would like to fund the donation of a Bible, click here!
Source: Mission Network
News
Topic: Hope: the greatest need for Nigerians on the run
