I am writing as I prepare to leave Nigeria back to the United States. I have enjoyed my time with several Christians and non-Christians I have met in this great country. Many people I have had the opportunity to share Jesus with, others whom I have witnessed their committed spirits firsthand, and their involvement in disciple-making also encourage me. I had to opportunity to speak at the Nigerian Christian Bible College (NCBC) annual lectureship at Ukpom Abak, South-South of Nigeria, where thousands of people came to hear the word of God. The event lasted three full days and resulted in 65 baptisms in total. I was amazed at the number of people who left their homes and stayed at the college campus for four days (many arrived one day to the event), came from far away under challenging conditions so they can hear the word of God. I walked around the dormitories to see people sleeping on the floor with no mattresses, but they were more excited about the gospel of Jesus Christ than their level of comfort. The living conditions notwithstanding, but these people’s great joy and enthusiasm bring Paul’s missionary journeys to mind. I love the spirit l saw; I love those men, women, and children, and they have taught me humility, inspired me to do more, and humbled me about seeking God’s face more than anything else in life.
I was blessed to speak at the 57th Convocation and Matriculation of NCBC, where 25 students graduated with Bachelor’s and Diploma’s in Theology while 30 students enrolled. I donated study Bibles l carried with me to the best graduating students and presented an award to the best evangelism student. These students are going into different ministerial fields to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Above many other responsibilities, I encouraged them to spread the news about World Christian Broadcasting, share the websites, engage in preaching through social media, use and promote the shortwave radio programs. I want to encourage you to keep these 55 students in your prayers as they embark on their discipleship-making journey.
Visiting Nigeria continues to be of concern because of kidnappings for ransom all over, killing of Christians is intensifying, Boko-Haram and ISWAP terrorizing innocent people and killing them in droves daily, and burning down of properties the people they do not like. Many roads are no longer safe for travel because bandits stopped vehicles and kidnapped passengers, took them to unknown places inside thick forests, and demanded a large sum of money as ransom before they were released. It has been very challenging as I move around quietly and mostly unnoticed and disguised. As they are called, the Bandits are becoming very sophisticated and sometimes use high power ammunitions better than what the security forces (Nigerian police and army) are using. The bandits recently went into Nigerian Defense Academy (the equivalent of West Point in the USA), where senior army officers are trained, seized senior officers in the ranks of Majors and higher, killed some, and kidnapped others. The Senior officers that were either killed or kidnapped were all Christians. Bandits recently besieged Jos in the middle of the country and killed hundreds of people during a night’s raid. University students are fearful, and below is a remark from one university student:
I am a student of the University of Jos and also an indigene of Plateau State. I fear for my life with every move I make; I cringe at the sound of the slightest noise; I’ve been deprived of the right to be called a graduate. I have sleepless nights because of the fear of unknown shooters.
In the state of Kano in Northern Nigeria, the Islamic police known as the Hisbah is terrorizing young people. Hisbah bans any hairstyle that does not conform with the Islamic way of life, arresting young barbers who cut the “not approved” labeled hairstyles because, according to them, those styles as un-Islamic and an insult to Islam. Kano state recently bans the use of mannequins by tailors and boutique owners because, according to them, it contradicts Islam. Secular songs are banned from parties, and young Nigerian men and women living in Kano cannot dance to secular music. When the president’s son recently got married in Kano, secular music was allowed, and the young men and women were also allowed to dance as an exception. When contacted, the director of the Islamic police, Aliyu Kibiya, remarked, “it is against the tenets of Islam to publicly criticize a leader, and although we call on everybody in the society to do the right thing, we make the call on a case-by-case basis. It is against the tenets of Islam to mount the podium and call out leaders.”
Reporting from Nigeria.
