A few days ago violence between Christians and Muslims broke out in Jos, Nigeria. SIM's Acting Nigeria Director calls the situation "very fluid," commenting on 21 January, "Currently Jos is peaceful, but we are getting reports of trouble in surrounding areas. There is free travel today from 10 AM to 5 PM, but stores are not open. [We are] hoping things will return to normal in a few days." Please join us in prayer for the safety of SIM missionaries in Jos as well as the people they work with every day.

	Soldiers walk past a burned truck in Jos.

A SIM missionary in Jos recently sent out this update which contains helpful prayer points:

An eerie silence stifles human sounds today in our city of Jos. The sun overhead in the cloudless sky seems not able to bring an accustomed warmth to this dry and a bit cool January midday. We are confined to the stillness of our compound. No noise of motorcycles and cars, of grinding mills, of hammering of new construction, or even of human voices across the compound walls. Only the pops and sometimes bursts of gunfire in the distance break the silence.

I cannot join my friends and colleagues at [JETS] five miles away. The noise of gunfire that they hear has been intense at times. The campus buzz of classes and huddles of joyful students should have commenced yesterday. Instead we mourn the loss of one of our students to the violence on Sunday. Last Thursday I had approved of his registration for classes this semester, though he lacked full payment. During December exam week after fellowship and prayer in my office, I had provided means for his holiday travel. In November he ate happily with us and my faculty group of 14 students in our home. Now this faithful servant is with the LORD; his active ministry with youth complete.

Our compound, currently three households, prayed with confidence this morning to the God who remains sovereignly upon his throne. The Plateau State Governor, a Christian, has called for a 24 hour curfew. Occasional radio contact has informed that some targets of burning have included churches. Pray for wisdom and righteousness for all decision makers in this disconcerting situation; for just actions by the military to restore order; for peace in Jos amidst a populace now beleaguered with repeated instances of violence; for the LORD’s protection of his people; for his empowerment of grace upon them to faithfully seek the purposes of his kingdom amidst evil forces.

[My wife] and I are thankful for the safe return two weeks ago of three of our adult children after our wonderful fellowship together over the holidays. We can skype and email while we wait in hope for tomorrow.

Thank you for being there for us in your prayers. We are greatly encouraged to know we are not alone.

Love in Christ.

Luke Johnson with SIM USA writes about his correspondence with this missionary, "In a further email, he said that there have been reports of violence spreading outside Jos. While the compound where he is currently at seems to be safe for the moment, he said 'the Evangel Hospital compound reported stray bullets in one area'—a hospital staffed by many SIM missionaries."

"Please continue to pray for the safety of these SIM missionaries as well as Christians throughout Jos. This missionary (who we are not identifying for security reasons) ended his email with this statement: 'The prayers of the righteous [...] will effect God's purposes in Jos through his people. Thanks for praying.'"