i've written briefly before about the terrible violence against Christians that's been going on in the place i call home, Nigeria. Jos post
but last night as i read my new Voice of the Martyrs magazine, i was reminded anew of what's going on in the real world between real Muslims and real Christians.
i feel strongly about sharing this story, so after a couple of my own comments, i will quote the magazine story, and all the credits are below, along with a way to receive your own free subscription to the Voice of the Martyrs.
it is important that we, as Christians, stay aware of what is happening to the rest of Jesus' body around the world.
"If one part suffers, every part suffers with it..." 1 Corinthians 12:26
persecution is VERY real today. it is a unique part of the Christian faith, because of its purpose and blessing. when we suffer for Christ, we consider it an honor to be counted worthy of sharing with Jesus. the original apostles were strong examples of this. after they were flogged for teaching about Jesus, they left, "rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name." Acts 5:41b
suffering is something we look forward to.
"I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His suffering, becoming like Him in His death..." Philippians 3:10
we do not desire it in our human selves (that would be crazy or masochistic!), but because it produces incredible fruit in us.
"...we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3
it also allows Jesus' name to be honored and spread to those who are still lost, and it can be endured because we know with certainty that we will spend unimaginably-wonderful eternity with Jesus in the end!
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18
please remember these things and think of your own response as you read this true account of what happened to a Nigerian family,
"... on Wednesday night, Nov. 28, 2012, when they heard men banging on the front door and threatening to force their way in.
"Before they could fully comprehend what was happening, the men entered their living room and ordered them to come out of their bedroom. Adamu dressed quickly and walked into the living room, followed by his wife and young son. They were met by two men, one of whom was holding a rifle.
"The men told Adamu's wife and son to stand aside and ordered Adamu to kneel down. They asked him several questions about his occupation and his religion as he knelt in front of them. After Adamu told them that he was a Christian, the men told his wife to bear witness of his death if he did not cooperate with them. At that point Adamu's wife realized with terror that the men were part of Bodo Haram, the Islamic militant group working to Islamize Nigeria through violence.
"The men told Adamu that they would give him an opportunity to live and to live a better life if only he would become a Muslim and recite the Muslim confession of faith. He replied that he was a Christian and that he would remain a Christian even in death.
"As one man continued the interrogation, the one with the rifle walked through the house with Adamu's wife, taking all the money they had as well as their cellphones. When they came out, the interrogator told the other man that Adamu had refused to yield.
"The armed man then placed the rifle against Adamu's face and said, 'Since you refuse to become a Muslim, here is your reward.' He pulled the trigger and shot him in the face. The bullet passed through Adamu's face and came out the other side. The men threatened to return and kill Adamu's wife and son if she tried to call for help or didn't stay quiet.
"Adamu had fallen to the floor, and blood was pouring from his wounds. The men stepped on his leg to see if he was still alive, and when he didn't move they assumed he was dead. A few minutes after they left the house, Adamu, still alive, told his wife to get help. She hurried out, but the attackers had locked the gate from the outside. She tried repeatedly to go through the fence, but she couldn't fit through it. When she returned to her husband, he insisted the she must find a way out to get help for him. He told her that if no one else would come, he knew that a Christian elder named Baba Jibir... would definitely come and help him get to the hospital. Adamu didn't know that his attackers had already killed Baba Jibir and his son.
"Adamu's wife finally made it through the fence and saw that the men had left the keys of the gate beside it after locking it. She asked their Muslim neighbors for help, but none of them would take Adamu to the hospital that night. One neighbor gave her the phone number of a police officer. She called the number repeatedly before getting an answer, but the police never arrived even after promising to come help them.
"The next morning at about 6 a.m., they took Adamu to the general hospital in Potiskum. Adamu is still healing from his wounds. On Dec. 14, I took him to Kano for further surgery. Pray for all of us in Nigeria."
-"From the Field: NIGERIA." The Voice of the Martyrs March 2013: 10. Print.
please contact Voice of the Martyrs to receive your own FREE magazine, or to donate, if you'd like, at:
The Voice of the Martyrs
P.O. Box 443
Bartlesville, OK 74005
email: thevoice@vom-usa.org
website: www.persecution.com
and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!
pray for endurance.
pray for true commitment of Christians, that leads their persecutors to desire Jesus themselves.
pray for new converts to be strong.
pray for Jesus' words and encouragements to flood these situations.
pray for miracles and deliverance.
and pray for yourself, to be ready when persecution comes your way.
but last night as i read my new Voice of the Martyrs magazine, i was reminded anew of what's going on in the real world between real Muslims and real Christians.
i feel strongly about sharing this story, so after a couple of my own comments, i will quote the magazine story, and all the credits are below, along with a way to receive your own free subscription to the Voice of the Martyrs.
it is important that we, as Christians, stay aware of what is happening to the rest of Jesus' body around the world.
"If one part suffers, every part suffers with it..." 1 Corinthians 12:26
persecution is VERY real today. it is a unique part of the Christian faith, because of its purpose and blessing. when we suffer for Christ, we consider it an honor to be counted worthy of sharing with Jesus. the original apostles were strong examples of this. after they were flogged for teaching about Jesus, they left, "rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name." Acts 5:41b
suffering is something we look forward to.
"I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His suffering, becoming like Him in His death..." Philippians 3:10
we do not desire it in our human selves (that would be crazy or masochistic!), but because it produces incredible fruit in us.
"...we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3
it also allows Jesus' name to be honored and spread to those who are still lost, and it can be endured because we know with certainty that we will spend unimaginably-wonderful eternity with Jesus in the end!
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18
please remember these things and think of your own response as you read this true account of what happened to a Nigerian family,
"... on Wednesday night, Nov. 28, 2012, when they heard men banging on the front door and threatening to force their way in.
"Before they could fully comprehend what was happening, the men entered their living room and ordered them to come out of their bedroom. Adamu dressed quickly and walked into the living room, followed by his wife and young son. They were met by two men, one of whom was holding a rifle.
"The men told Adamu's wife and son to stand aside and ordered Adamu to kneel down. They asked him several questions about his occupation and his religion as he knelt in front of them. After Adamu told them that he was a Christian, the men told his wife to bear witness of his death if he did not cooperate with them. At that point Adamu's wife realized with terror that the men were part of Bodo Haram, the Islamic militant group working to Islamize Nigeria through violence.
"The men told Adamu that they would give him an opportunity to live and to live a better life if only he would become a Muslim and recite the Muslim confession of faith. He replied that he was a Christian and that he would remain a Christian even in death.
"As one man continued the interrogation, the one with the rifle walked through the house with Adamu's wife, taking all the money they had as well as their cellphones. When they came out, the interrogator told the other man that Adamu had refused to yield.
"The armed man then placed the rifle against Adamu's face and said, 'Since you refuse to become a Muslim, here is your reward.' He pulled the trigger and shot him in the face. The bullet passed through Adamu's face and came out the other side. The men threatened to return and kill Adamu's wife and son if she tried to call for help or didn't stay quiet.
"Adamu had fallen to the floor, and blood was pouring from his wounds. The men stepped on his leg to see if he was still alive, and when he didn't move they assumed he was dead. A few minutes after they left the house, Adamu, still alive, told his wife to get help. She hurried out, but the attackers had locked the gate from the outside. She tried repeatedly to go through the fence, but she couldn't fit through it. When she returned to her husband, he insisted the she must find a way out to get help for him. He told her that if no one else would come, he knew that a Christian elder named Baba Jibir... would definitely come and help him get to the hospital. Adamu didn't know that his attackers had already killed Baba Jibir and his son.
"Adamu's wife finally made it through the fence and saw that the men had left the keys of the gate beside it after locking it. She asked their Muslim neighbors for help, but none of them would take Adamu to the hospital that night. One neighbor gave her the phone number of a police officer. She called the number repeatedly before getting an answer, but the police never arrived even after promising to come help them.
"The next morning at about 6 a.m., they took Adamu to the general hospital in Potiskum. Adamu is still healing from his wounds. On Dec. 14, I took him to Kano for further surgery. Pray for all of us in Nigeria."
-"From the Field: NIGERIA." The Voice of the Martyrs March 2013: 10. Print.
please contact Voice of the Martyrs to receive your own FREE magazine, or to donate, if you'd like, at:
The Voice of the Martyrs
P.O. Box 443
Bartlesville, OK 74005
email: thevoice@vom-usa.org
website: www.persecution.com
and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!
pray for endurance.
pray for true commitment of Christians, that leads their persecutors to desire Jesus themselves.
pray for new converts to be strong.
pray for Jesus' words and encouragements to flood these situations.
pray for miracles and deliverance.
and pray for yourself, to be ready when persecution comes your way.
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