“They don’t ask for us to pray that persecution would stop. They pray instead, that they would be strong in the midst of persecution,” Carl Moeller, president of Open Doors USA, explained. Many Christian were killed during a series of attacks by the militant Islamic group Boko Haram in Borno and Yobe states. Several churches were destroyed in the city of Damaturu and others were bombed over the summer in Maiduguri. But Moeller says they pray for God “to empower them to be bold witnesses despite the obvious persecution in many places.”
“Boko Haram is another one of the extremist offshoots that has advocated the complete Sharia law rule in Nigeria,” Moeller explained. ”But the aggressiveness of Boko Haram has resulted in Christian villages being raised. Over a hundred churches alone last year were burnt to the ground.”
In recent years, many attacks have occurred in the predominately Christian Plateau state. About 53 percent of the people there are Christian, while 41 percent are Muslim. Most of the Muslims live in the north where Sharia Islamic law is now in place in 12 states. Nigeria’s Christian President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to combat terrorism and bring Boko Haram under control.
Moeller said , “When we unite with them in prayer, we really affirm the prayer of Jesus in the upper room with his disciples where he prayed that we would be one body,” Moeller said. “And we are able to then demonstrate that we do care for our suffering brothers and sisters around the world.”
Source: CBN News.
BIBLE STUDY: Acts 26:9-16
PRAISE: God that true believers remain confident in Christ, despite death and persecution. Pray for an end to the harassment and violence.