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Despite Death Threats, Muslims Turning to Christ in Droves
Nigerian girls. In Nigeria, Muslims are converting to Christ, in spite of horrific threats. (Reuters)
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Persistent violence plagues these men and women, and the threat of death hovers around them, but they know God is worth the cost.
In Nigeria, it appears the diaspora fuels the spread of the gospel.
"In several areas in Northern Nigeria, the Christian presence has become virtually extinct or substantially diminished while in other areas church congregations have grown due to an influx of Christians fleeing violence and a number of Muslims converting to Christianity," according to a new report released by Open Doors.
The study states 1.3 million Christians have been forced to flee their homes due to persecution. But the "severely traumatized" Christians reportedly have seen an increased experience of connection with God and feeling His presence.
Boko Haram and other radical Islamic groups like the Muslim Hausa-Fuani herdsmen hunt Christians, especially those who left Islam.
As an example, take Raphael, whose last name is withheld for security reasons. As the son of an Islamic leader, Raphael was targeted after his conversion.
"I received several threats and warnings from the insurgents, telling me to revert to my former religion or face dire consequences," he said.
"I received written threats saying I could only run but could not hide, which I took to the Police and they told me they would do something about it, but nothing was done. If they had done something about it, I wouldn't have received the second note that said I could only run but could not hide."
Stories like Raphael's reveal the flip-side of Open Door's report; that is, while radical Islamists destroyed 13,000 churches in recent years, other churches boom with growth.
"Christianity in Northern Nigeria is threatened by marginalization, discrimination and targeted violence, but in several places, the church is growing in numbers through a steady influx of new Muslim converts and in spiritual strength through a rise in commitment of church members," according to the report.
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My friend Kelechi is a brave Nigerian evangelist who has gotten himself kidnapped several times so he could share Christ with armed militants. More recently he has been involved in dangerous evangelism efforts in northern Nigeria, where Islamic jihadists have killed 17,000 people in the past five years.
A few days ago, Kelechi sent me a disturbing email, asking for prayer. He had just learned that a young man he was discipling, Boulous, was killed by militants while trying to get some Christians out of a village that had been targeted for a surprise attack.
Kelechi wrote: "Please would you pray for me and ask your friends to lift us before the Lord? It is a very trying time. We are the only people doing evangelistic work there, so we cannot stop. Also pray for me as I go to the area next week when I think it will be safer."
I feel helpless trying to raise awareness of Kelechi's cause. One of the worst waves of terrorism on planet earth has hit Nigeria, yet the world's media gives it scant attention. The Islamic group operating there, Boko Haram, killed more people in 2014 than ISIS terrorists in Syria. Last week in the Nigerian village of Dalori, Islamic militants bombed homes and burned children alive.
The death toll in Dalori was 86. But did you hear anything about the attack? It wasn't on any news channel I listen to. All the major networks were talking nonstop about Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and the Iowa presidential caucus—along with the controversy stirred by Beyoncé's new music video.
In April 2014, Boko Haram kidnapped 276 Christian schoolgirls from the Nigerian town of Chibok—and for a few weeks people on this side of the Atlantic Ocean paid attention, especially after First Lady Michelle Obama tweeted her support for the girls.
Almost two years have now passed, and the girls are still missing. They are most likely living as slaves in a Boko Haram camp on the Chadian border. Most likely they have been forced to marry their abductors. And most people have forgotten about them.
All these foreign problems are just too stressful to think about. And too far away. Besides, we have a Super Bowl to watch.
I'm not trying to put anybody under a guilt trip. I am blessed to live in the United States, and there isn't much I can do to stop Boko Haram from torching African villages. But it concerns me that so many of us are completely oblivious to the needs of the rest of the world.
Just a few days ago, Islamic terrorists linked to the group Al Shabaab killed four Christian in Kenya. One of the believers was beheaded. I have to rely on a relatively obscure Christian news service for this information because mainstream media outlets rarely report on Christian persecution.
Wars are going on today in Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Ukraine, Israel, Iraq, Nigeria and South Sudan—which is also dealing with a famine. But when I checked the latest headlines in USA Today, the focus of the news was on the New Hampshire presidential primary and pro football star Peyton Manning's legacy.
And this just in! Beyoncé will perform during the Super Bowl halftime show!
That's a shame. Especially when you do the math and realize that the United States has a population of 319.4 million while the global population is about 7.2 billion. That works out to a 4.4 percent share of the world's population. Who do we think we are?
We are not the center of the universe.
I'm not going to hold my breath until mainstream media improves its reporting. People are always going to be more interested in Kim Kardashian's latest reality show than in how we can stop global sex trafficking, how we can help abused women in Somalia or how we can protect Syrian refugees while they flee the terror in their country.
But Christians should care. We may live in the United States, but we are citizens of God's kingdom and we are called to pray—and care—for the whole world. Paul told Timothy: "Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone, for kings and for all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty" (1 Tim. 2:1-2, MEV).
Please be a global Christian. Look at the big picture. Stay informed of world events so you can pray with understanding. Make friends with people from other cultures and see the world through their eyes. Pray for the nations.
You can start by praying for Nigeria—and for my friend Kelechi, who will be risking his life to share the gospel this weekend while millions of Americans watch a 17-minute halftime show that will cost $12 million.
J. Lee Gradyis the former editor of Charisma. You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady. He is the author of several books including 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, 10 Lies Men Believe, Fearless Daughters of the Bible and The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale. You can learn more about his ministry, The Mordecai Project, atthemordecaiproject.org.
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Israeli security forces have arrived in Nigeria to aid in the search for up to 200 young Christian girls recently abducted by the radical Islamist group Boko Haram.
On Monday, international media was abuzz after the publication of a video showing many of the captive girls dressed in Muslim garb (pictured) and reciting passages from the Koran. In the video, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau says the girls will be held and continued to be forcibly converted to Islam until jailed members of his group are freed by the Nigerian government.
The government of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan rejected the demand, and turned to the international community for assistance. Israel was quick to answer the call.
“Israel expresses deep shock at the crime against the girls,” read a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We are ready to help in finding the girls and fighting the cruel terrorism inflicted on you.”
Members of a Nigerian delegation currently in Israel told Channel 2 News that their government had accepted the offer of Israeli aid, and confirmed that Israeli counter-terrorism experts were already en route to the West African nation.
An Israeli military official who just returned from Nigeria told popular Internet news site Buzzfeed that “in the wake of this crisis, Israel increased its assistance and we have been providing support in any manner possible. We have been involved on this from the beginning.”
It was reported that at present, Israeli forces are helping to gather intelligence and guide Nigerian forces on how to best tackle the Boko Haram threat. Some Israeli radio commentators also suggested that Israeli special forces could be taking part in reconnaissance and combat operations.
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In Nigeria, Christians in the Muslim-majority North have been the targets of relentless deadly attacks by Islamic extremists.
More than 200 pastors in the Northeastern Borno state have either fled, closed their churches, or have been murdered by the militant Islamic group Boko Haram.
Christian leaders who remain have committed to fasting and praying for the region one week each month.
"We have to stay and uphold the name of Christ in this state," one pastor named James told the international ministry Open Doors.
"We are willing to pay the price for our calling. We don't only share the Gospel when things are rosy," he continued. "It is to be done in every situation. Hunger and want will never discourage us. Swords and guns, even the roar of the devil, will only encourage us to stand first for Christ."
"If we die, our blood will speak about Christ to our killers," he said.
"We are seeking the face of God in this situation," Rev. Pona, whose full name we cannot reveal for security purposes, told Open Doors. "Brethren are being killed all over the state. Thousands of homes have been destroyed. Our churches have not been spared. We are being struck from every direction. Only Christ can deliver us from this trial."
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