Gospel Outreach

Below is today’s email from Emmanuel Razack in Jos. We have been in constant telephone communication and have hired armed police to help protect the properties. Jos is a very important hub for getting the gospel out to the north, which is why it is under attack. If we were in a different northern city it would be worse as our ministry would have a larger profile. We are praying and looking to the Lord and understand it is vital to get the gospel out, not only for this nation, but for the overall situation Christians worldwide are now facing. Being a believer just involves these types of choices.

I have inserted explanatory comments in bold.

Please also get your friends to pray. We believe this year we shall see the hand of Lord in a mighty way and many people saved.

“The majority of the people in Jos will not come out of their houses up till now for fear of the situation. I came out today with my family, also Ps Blackson and Paul Shettima (these staff live away from our college campus).

The schools (Bible college and children school we run) and the staff houses on our campus are still safe up till now, but some of the ‘Christian youth’ (just thugs who aren’t Muslim) felt that Alhaji’s buildings (our landlord’s buildings) should be burnt down and they are still threatening the people in our estate (i.e. our staff in the college building and in their homes on the same estate – and other people who also live on the estate). The estate is almost empty by now (these other people have largely left for fear of the thugs, but most of our staff are still on the estate in the college and in their homes).(There are some 3,000 people in Jos in camps who have left their homes for fear or have lost their homes.)

I will be having a meeting with the staff today and the security agents (our police) to find a way of continuing to protect our properties because we do not know if the youths will come back or not come, for their mission to burn Alhaji’s estate.

Keep praying for us and we taking all necessary steps possible and we believe that God will help us through the situations.”

We are Christians occupying premises owned by a Muslim (except for Razack, Blackson and Shettima and their families who reside in a different location, which was also very seriously threatened. A house just opposite Razack’s was burnt to the ground yesterday, with many gun shots around.) Re the college and staff houses on the college campus, Muslims wont attack it because it is Muslim property, and Christian thugs wont attack it because Christians occupy it. But the later are still threatening.

This all just shows how important it is to continue reaching out with the gospel. Please continue to pray and to support us. We are serious about continuing this work and in getting the gospel out for the sake of the people God loves and for the future generations who will follow.

Below is an email I received yesterday from a friend in Egypt. So many Christians are facing the same: 

“How are you? I hope all things would be well in Jesus name.  I am really sorry to hear about the conflict in Nigeria, Jos.  I pray that God give his people there patience and wisdom in facing these persecutions.  We have the same thing in Egypt.  From time to time, we find Muslim people attacking the churches specially the Coptic ones.  Recently, one shot about 8 persons and many were injured in Nag' Hammady. Pray for us.”

Love from the Hodges, Kent