Arrived Safely

When about to leave the UK for Nigeria on Thursday we heard several reports concerning Nigeria. One was of a threat to security due to the health of the President and the possibility of an the Vice President ( an Easterner - where the oil is) taking over office. Another was an election to be held yesterday (Saturday) in Anambra State, whereupon many were expecting civil unrest that could spread. (It went fine.) When we arrived in Abuja we heard that a well known “church leader” in Nigeria had “prophesied” that Northern Nigeria would be thrown into civil war which would start on Saturday February 6th. So according to this we were driving north right into it the day before.

Arriving in Jos we met people working in the college getting it ready for classes which start tomorrow, Monday. Students have arrived from Nigeria and Cameroon, with some on their way from Chad. We have heard that many are coming this week.

We continue to hear of reports of the riots. One of staff had his car in a panel beater shop the day the crisis broke out. The car stayed there all week, in one of the worst affected areas. The shops and cars all around his were all destroyed in flames, but his wasn’t touched. He drove it home yesterday.

One of our churches is in a village not too far from the college. They held service there this morning and many youth heard the word of God. These are mainly pagan but locals, not Muslim who have settled in the region over the years. The locals are also often called Christians in this state. Anyway, when the attack on Christians started in Jos, a group of locals from another village approached to attack the Muslims in the village where our church is. The locals hid the Muslims so they wouldn’t be hurt, because they had grown up together. But then they discovered that these Muslims had guns and started killing those who had saved them. (Where did they get the guns from?) So the locals of that village then defended themselves and fought back with whatever they had.

I was discussing with one of our staff on the way to another service this morning and he told me of his experiences over many years in Kano, about 4 hours from here. The Christians (a term which can mean either real Christian or southerner) were attacked on many occasions over the years and turned and fled or were killed, or lost their families and properties. Eventually they met together and decided they couldn’t keep doing this but must defend themselves and so they made native make shift guns and were ready. On the next attack they stood their ground and the attackers ran back. There hasn’t been a major attack since then in that region. 

Coming from the West we don’t normally have to do that. It is done by competent governments and armies. But last week in Jos we had renegade police involved – not people pretending to be police as the media said. That is now fixed.

So the situation is complex, but with Paul we are convinced that this shall work out for the furtherance of the gospel and that this is what matters in any situation. I thank you so much all who have written and encouraged us and our staff. One shared from Phil 1:12-27 and another from Ex 13:14. I preached on both passage this morning. Locals still threaten that this our building must be destroyed since it is the only Muslim building left in this area. We don’t want to be presumptuous, neither flee when God hasn’t said, so we are looking to Him at all times. We value your continued prayer.

We believe the Lord is going the bless this year with the salvation and training of many. Many pagans and Muslim are being saved at our Bauchi Mission Station outreach and we need places to look after them in Jos. Once they are taught for two years they become strong and resist persecution and even become leaders in their families and regions. It is vital. Jos is being attacked because it is a Christian enclave to the north and God willing it shall continue to be.