‘Our faith is now even stronger than at any other time…’

The news from Nigeria so far this year has been heartbreaking: abductions, executions, attacks on Christian communities and a campaign targeting a Christian orphanage. Yet we’ve been inspired by the incredible faith and courage shown by these Christian communities.

In January Rev Lawan Andimi, the Chair of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Adamawa state, was abducted by a faction of Boko Haram, and was forced to make a video plea for his release.

His faith-filled words in the midst of adversity wouldn’t look out of place in the Apostle Paul’s teachings to the early Church, or coming from David’s words of faith and resolve in many of the psalms. Rev Andimi shared his confidence that he might return to family and colleagues ‘by the grace of God’, adding, ‘If the opportunity has not been granted, maybe it is the will of God.’ He concluded by saying, ‘Don’t cry, don’t worry, but thank God for everything.’

A few weeks later he was executed, beheaded as negotiations for his release were still underway.

Speaking shortly after his death, his wife said, ‘Our faith is now even stronger than at any other time…I know my husband to be a great man of faith; I was sure after seeing the video that even if he died in the hands of his captors, it would not be a loss because he knew where he was going. I was strengthened by my husband’s message in the video; he spoke like a man of faith, a man who was already prepared to meet with the Lord.’

It’s hard to imagine being able to speak with such faith in the midst of grief, but that’s exactly what Mary Andimi found the grace to do. And she wasn’t alone.

In Plateau state, David Daciya inspired many after his 22-year-old son was executed by a child terrorist. Ropvil Daciya Dalep was studying biology at the University of Maiduguri, and was abducted along with two other students in January. A few weeks later, a video emerged of Ropvil’s execution, with the child terrorist brandishing a pistol behind a kneeling Ropvil, declaring the execution was in revenge for ‘bloodshed’ allegedly by Christians, particularly those from Plateau state.

Speaking shortly after his son’s death, David declared, ‘If you kill a Christian you only killed the flesh because we shall rejoice again on the day of resurrection. Let us assure Boko Haram that we are stronger and cannot be intimidated…’ He also encouraged prayer that, ‘God should touch the heart[s] of our leaders to provide security for our children.’

Rev Yunusa Nmadu, CEO of CSW’s Nigeria office and General Secretary of ECWA, his denomination, told us, ‘The unrelenting rise in violence and insecurity since December is deeply worrying…Civilians across Nigeria are bearing the brunt of violence from multiple sources, with limited government intervention. In particular, the Christian communities in the centre and north east of the country are suffering relentless attacks and abductions…’ He joined with church leaders across northern Nigeria in asking us to pray, ‘seeking an end to the violence afflicting Nigeria and the healing of our ravaged land.’

As we seek God’s intervention for this nation in crisis, we do so remembering Rev Andimi’s words shortly before his death that ‘all conditions [in which one] finds himself is in the hands of God…’ and holding fast to the truth that God will bring forth justice to the nations (Isaiah 42:1).