Helping Nigerian Christians Increase Their Harvest
In Kano State, Nigeria, Christians are a minority.
This part of the country sees frequent incidents of persecution, in particular the marginalization of indigenous Christians. One sad result of this is that Christian communities are less likely to receive government support and incentives.
Last year, Open Doors partners had the chance to support Christians in this area of Nigeria. They came alongside 150 farmers and provided them with irrigation machines to support their farming activities during the dry season.
“Because we don’t have irrigation machines, we must borrow them from our Muslim neighbours whenever we farm during the dry season. When they see that our crops are coming up well, they collect back their pumping water machines and we are forced to harvest our farm produce earlier than is expected. This leads to very low yield”, said Abdu*, one of the recipients, on the challenges he faces as a Christian.
Open Doors provided 150 Christians in Kano state with irrigation machines to help them pump water to their farms. Thanks to the machines, the Christians enjoyed a successful harvest this year.
"There is nothing we can say other than thank you."
“In the past years, I could hardly get between 15 to 20 bags of onions but this year I harvested 40bags of onions and my rice and groundnut (peanut) on the farm is coming up well,” Abdu shares.
“My ground is very good, I am seeing it and I’m admiring it, and I am happy. And my rice has started producing seed… there is nothing we can say other than thank you.”
Your support means that Abdu, and many other Christians, can stand firm in their faith amid the persecution they face on a daily basis.
“We have faith that Jesus is the way the truth and life…because of that, no matter the pain, or prosperity or marginalization that we face, we have already depended on Him. Because God’s Word says, we are not of the world, if we were, the world would have loved its own.”
“May God continue to increase you so that you will continue to understand what is happening to us. Because by doing this you are strengthening us in our faith in Christ. May God continue to prosper you in the knowledge of Christ.”
Strengthening the Nigerian Church
Open Doors has been involved in Nigeria for thirty years. The goal is to see a church that is holistic in its mission, responding to emerging persecution trends and becoming visible in the political and socio-economic space through:
– Persecution preparedness training and support
– Economic empowerment
– New believer care
– Discipleship
– Mobilization
Pray
Will you pray for Abdu and other Nigerian Christians today?
Pray that God will continue to bless and prosper these Christian farmer so that they may be salt and light in their villages.
Pray for good relationship with Muslim farmers so Christians can live peacefully with their families.
