A pastor and an elder in Jos, Nigeria, recently shared how the past months of unrest have impacted their church.

“In November 2008 part of our church building was burned; in January 2010 they succeeded in burning the entire church, including the part we had rebuilt. It happened just after our morning church service. All of our members managed to escape safely. Fifteen of our members lost their homes during that crisis and several had gunshot wounds [but none were killed]. We used to have 250 to 300 on a Sunday morning but now we average only 100 adults, because most of them have moved to safer parts of Jos.” The pastor continued quietly, “Those who have stayed in the area, well, their courage encourages me — to the point where I don’t care if I live or die.”

What about the future—is it likely that the church will again be targeted if it is at some point rebuilt?
“It is God that planted this church; if we leave they will advance and take over the area completely.” The plan is to rebuild the church using iron rather than wood or even cement.

What is your relationship with the surrounding community now?
“Before, some of the youths in our church were friends with the youths [of the other group] in the community and they used to come close. But now, there is fear.”

	Destroyed church in Malumfashi, Nigeria (not the church of the leaders interviewed)

Do the youths in the church have a heart to evangelize the community?
“Yes, 40 percent of those who went on the evangelism outreach in the community last week were youth.” The elder indicated they would like to plan further church outreach programs, but because of continuing tension, the security task force in Jos is not allowing public gatherings. For now they are encouraging personal evangelism.

How have you been meeting since the church was destroyed?
“We’ve put up a temporary structure, but when it rains we can’t meet.”

A committee which represents SIM missionaries and City Ministries (ECWA/SIM) has been meeting to address how to help the eight ECWA Jos churches most affected by the unrest in the last two years, as well as the needs of a widow whose missionary husband was killed during the post-election violence in a neighboring state. Our committee’s primary mandate is not to provide monetarily or try to rebuild churches and homes but to come alongside with encouragement in other ways. Please pray as we begin visits to churches and decide how to help. Most of all, please remember our brothers and sisters who have lost homes, church buildings, and family members, and are traumatized.

Pray

• for the churches in Jos and elsewhere affected by the trouble, and wisdom for the committee as we respond.
• that Nigeria’s newly-elected leaders will honor God and help people with meaningful programs.
• for the Community Health Evangelism team whose desire is to tie evangelism into meeting physical needs. Ideas from this program could be used to help some of these affected churches to reach out in new ways within their communities.

Thank you so very much for your prayers and your support. We are so glad to be here and see God working despite the hard things!