First-hand report of a native missionary ministry leader supported by
Christian Aid.

Thank God for His grace and mercy. Today, we buried Jacob Eloiyi, one of
our ministry supporters who was killed by Islamic terrorists. The
funeral was highly attended by believers, and we prayed for the peace of
our city and Nigeria. Continue to pray with us as we trust the Lord that
all will be well. It seems we are more peaceful for now even though
three people were shot yesterday in a beer parlor."

I received this message on 16 January from an indigenous missionary
ministry leader supported by Christian Aid. He had called me late at
night on 6 January to ask for prayer. He and his family were behind
locked doors with others from the ministry, keeping vigil so they would
not be slaughtered in their sleep.

"We could never have imagined what would happen next when those two
buses drove into town filled with Boko Haram Muslim fanatics.
Authorities did nothing, and the next day, two of their young men on a
motor cycle sped toward the Christ Apostolic church, raised their
AK47's, and coldly and brazenly opened fire on believers gathered for
prayer. Twelve people were killed, openly gunned down in daylight, while
their eyes were closed in prayer. Twelve died, including three Christian
brothers who support our missionary work. Anyone could be a target as it
is now. We have no weapon but prayer, and we want you to join with us as
the Lord and His kingdom are attacked."

At funeral: Jacob's family kneels as native missionary ministry leader
and attendees pray for them.

Those murdered comprise only a small percentage of the total number that
have been massacred in ruthless attacks by Boko Haram, an Islamic
terrorist group intent on driving Nigeria's Christians from the nation's
Muslim-dominated northern regions and imposing Shariah law throughout
the nation.

After the church attack, still thirsty for blood, the killers went to a
beauty salon, opened fire, and murdered four more. When several dozen
Christians gathered together to mourn the loss of fellow believers
murdered the previous day, Boko Haram members surrounded the crowd and
began shooting, killing more than 20 people and leaving others severely
wounded.

The attacks intensified throughout the Christmas season, leaving more
than 50 people dead in a wave of bombings, mostly outside church
buildings as services were ending.

Though Boko Haram admits to targeting Christians, even Muslims are not
exempt from their attacks. The feared group has bombed schools,
universities, banks, and bars. Even mosques. Soldiers and police
officers are targeted and killed.

The militant extremists suicide-bombed UN headquarters, killing 23 in
Abuja, Nigeria's capital city. Immediately after, a plot to bomb the US
Embassy there was discovered and stopped.

Apart from declaring a state of emergency in several regions, Nigerian
officials, either unable or unwilling to act, have left the people to
defend themselves. It is well known that some high level official in the
military, and even the governor of one state, are actually helping the
group. See Mastermind of Madalla Christmas Day Bombing Arrested in Borno
State Govt Lodge Abuja - Naija Pundit. Many fear a civil war will ensue.

In the face of the escalation of violence, some nominal Christians are
threatening a bloody "eye for an eye" retaliation if the government
continues to do nothing.

"Pray for our missionaries serving in the Muslim north," the leader
writes. "More than 40 Christians in the region have been killed in a
single week by the Islamic militants."

For years, his indigenous ministry has been working tirelessly to take
the gospel to Nigeria's unreached Islamic northern states which are
dominated by the Muslim Hausa and Fulani tribes.

Despite the extreme difficulties involved in reaching Muslims with the
gospel, the ministry has made incredible inroads into several Islamic
communities.

The incessant terrorist attacks have forced the ministry leader to delay
the opening of his school of missions. As his ministry headquarters is
located in an Islamic area now targeted by Boko Haram, Christian Aid is
praying with him for the means to move the headquarters to a safer area.

No missionaries plan to leave their fields in spite of the danger, but
the ministry base should be in a centralized and neutral place in order
to properly function. He writes, "We only need your prayers and
continued support for our missionaries in the Islamic north. Doors are
opening, and we are also reaping some fruit as many nominal Muslims who
hate this terrorism are coming to know the Lord."

Christian Aid has enabled the ministry to purchase land. Now $50,000 is
needed for housing three families and an office. Click here to give to
enable this native Nigerian ministry to move its headquarters out of a
Boko Haram target zone.

In addition to the fear inflicted upon the nation by the terrorists,
high fuel prices have brought the country to a standstill. Nigeria is
Africa's largest producer of oil and has long provided it at low cost
for its people. The government's recent decision to remove fuel
subsidies has caused gas prices to more than double and precipitated
nationwide strikes. The ministry leader reports that the cost of
transportation, food, and other necessities has risen by more than 50
percent, causing great burdens on the work of the Lord through increased
costs for everything.

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites