ARISE AFRICA: Ayuba’s Story
Violent persecution in Sub-Saharan Africa is unprecedented. Christians are being murdered, raped and kidnapped. We must stand, united, with the African church.
Gunshots cracked across the sky and news spread: Boko Haram are coming. Twenty-year-old Ayuba* ran for his life.
“The next morning, everywhere was silent,” said Ayuba, who spent the night hiding in the bush. “When we approached home, I could see three bodies. I recognized my father by his clothing. I went to his side, dropped to my knees, and prayed.”
Ayuba’s father was one of nine Christians slaughtered by Islamic extremists that night, in northeast Nigeria. He refused to hide his faith in Jesus and was beheaded on the spot. But persecution didn’t end there for Ayuba.
“A few weeks after the attack, Boko Haram sent a list of people they were coming to kill,” said Ayuba. “My name was on it.”
“The next morning, everywhere was silent,” said Ayuba, who spent the night hiding in the bush. “When we approached home, I could see three bodies. I recognized my father by his clothing. I went to his side, dropped to my knees, and prayed.”
Ayuba’s father was one of nine Christians slaughtered by Islamic extremists that night, in northeast Nigeria. He refused to hide his faith in Jesus and was beheaded on the spot. But persecution didn’t end there for Ayuba.
“A few weeks after the attack, Boko Haram sent a list of people they were coming to kill,” said Ayuba. “My name was on it.”
Widespread persecution
More Christians are murdered in Nigeria than in any other country. In bandit-controlled areas in the north, extremists attack Christians and Muslims with impunity – but followers of Jesus are especially targeted for violent killings, kidnap, rape and intimidation.
As the jihadist movement seeks to expand Sharia/Islamic law across Sub-Saharan Africa, violent persecution has become systemic, widespread and brutal.
Stand up
With the survival of the church in real danger, it’s time for Christians everywhere to stand up, as one. Together, we must give, pray and encourage our persecuted family.
At Open Doors, our aim is to provide spiritual, emotional and physical support to four million believers by 2027. Your gifts and prayers are vital. Because when you stand with those risking everything for Jesus, it’s life-changing.
At the Open Doors Shalom Center in Nigeria, Ayuba received trauma healing and care. “I decided to let go of my anger and have peace,” he says now. “I learned forgiveness. I learned to leave everything at the feet of Jesus.”
*name changed and representative image used for security reasons
More Christians are murdered in Nigeria than in any other country. In bandit-controlled areas in the north, extremists attack Christians and Muslims with impunity – but followers of Jesus are especially targeted for violent killings, kidnap, rape and intimidation.
As the jihadist movement seeks to expand Sharia/Islamic law across Sub-Saharan Africa, violent persecution has become systemic, widespread and brutal.
Stand up
With the survival of the church in real danger, it’s time for Christians everywhere to stand up, as one. Together, we must give, pray and encourage our persecuted family.
At Open Doors, our aim is to provide spiritual, emotional and physical support to four million believers by 2027. Your gifts and prayers are vital. Because when you stand with those risking everything for Jesus, it’s life-changing.
At the Open Doors Shalom Center in Nigeria, Ayuba received trauma healing and care. “I decided to let go of my anger and have peace,” he says now. “I learned forgiveness. I learned to leave everything at the feet of Jesus.”
*name changed and representative image used for security reasons
Pray
Will you pray that every family affected by violence will receive spiritual, physical and emotional support.
Join our week of prayer, May 7-14, for the church in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Encourage
Write a prayer or message of encouragement for someone like Ayuba and add it to the “Tree of Prayer” that Open Doors is assembling in our trauma care centre in Nigeria
Give
Every $48 could help provide healing for three Christians who’ve experienced extreme violence.
Every $62 could provide food, medicine and other emergency relief to help two believers displaced by persecution.
Every $85 could educate 17 young people from persecuted families for a month, giving them hope for the future.
ARISE AFRICA is a four year campaign to see the persecuted church in Sub-Saharan Africa strengthened in the face of violent persecution. Our vision is to see Christian in Canada standing together with our persecuted family in Africa. Will you join us?
