Persecuted Church focus for July

1. Please pray for:
NIGERIA
All information taken from Voice of the Martyrs Canada and Open Doors Canada

2. Demographics:
Population: approx 203 million
Religion: Islam (51.8%), Christianity
(46.9%), Traditionalist (0.9%),
Unspecified (0.5%)
Remains 12th on the World Watch
List for Persecution under very
high level of persecution
Was 12th in 2019 as well.
All information taken from Voice of the Martyrs Canada and Open Doors Canada

3. Demographics:
Leader: President Muhammadu
Buhari
Legal System: Mixed legal
system including English
common law, Islamic law in the
12 northern states, and
traditional law
All information taken from Voice of the Martyrs Canada and Open Doors Canada

4. Persecution:
The few slides below show only a
very small picture of the suffering of
our brothers and sisters in Nigeria.
The International Society for Civil
Liberties and Rule of Law report that
at least 620 Christians have been
killed in the first five months of 2020
according to Voice of the Martyrs
Canada
All information taken from Voice of the Martyrs Canada and Open Doors Canada

5. Persecution:
Jan 2, 2020: Eleven Christians were
killed by ISIS who claimed it was in
retaliation for the killing of a
prominent ISIS leader by the US. In a
video released by ISIS showing the
killing of these Christians, ISIS
message to the world was this: “This
message is to the Christians in the
world. Those you see are Christians
and we will shed their blood as
revenge.”
All information taken from Voice of the Martyrs Canada and Open Doors Canada

6. Persecution:
Jan 9, 2020: Pastor Lawan was taken
hostage on Jan 3 and on January 20
he was executed by Boko Haram
terrorists. However God used Pastor
Lawan’s life to bring glory to His
name as a video at the same time
was released in which Pastor Lawan
talked about the sovereignty of God
even in his dire situation. His message
to his family was to assure them that
God is still alive.
All information taken from Voice of the Martyrs Canada and Open Doors Canada

7. “But as for you, you meant evil against
me; but God meant it for good, in
order to bring it about as it is this day,
to save many people alive.” Genesis
50:20
All information taken from Voice of the Martyrs Canada and Open Doors Canada

8. Persecution:
 Sadiya: a 17 year old girl who was kidnapped
Jan 5. Her father was accused of preventing this
young girl from converting to Islam. The Sharia
court had a fake birth certificate that made her
age to be 19. Her parents were refused any
access to their daughter. She was confined for a
month and forced to “convert” and marry one
of her kidnappers. The Lord one day provided a
way of escape and she was able to return back
to her family.
 This is one of many examples of young girls
being abducted in Nigeria, forced to “convert”
and then forced into marriage
All information taken from Voice of the Martyrs Canada and Open Doors Canada

9. Persecution:
 Kajuru Region: May 11-22 Fulani militia
killed at least 37 and injured more as they
went from house to house in certain
villages killing anyone regardless of age.
Miraculously a 3 month old baby survived a
bullet to her head. Many others young and
old did not survive. Reports are that 63
attacks have taken place in this region since
January 2020. This region is predominantly
Christian. It is estimated that as many as
4,000 people do not have homes and have
very little to eat as a result of these attacks
All information taken from Voice of the Martyrs Canada and Open Doors Canada

10. Persecution:
Countless Christians and citizens of
Nigeria who don’t follow strict Islamic
religion have been killed in Nigeria by
the Boko Haram terrorist group as
well as the Fulani militia as their goal
is “to create an Islamic caliphate in
Nigeria”
All information taken from Voice of the Martyrs Canada and Open Doors Canada

11. Please Pray:
Pray for the fatherless, orphans, and
many families who have lost loved
ones for the sake of the Gospel.
Pray for the 3 month old baby girl
that survived the attacks and others
like her, that the Lord will continue to
protect those left behind.
All information taken from Voice of the Martyrs Canada and Open Doors Canada

12. Please Pray:
 Pray for the many girls who have been
abducted including the remaining Chibok
girls who are still being held hostage, that
the Lord would provide a way of escape, as
well as provide and protect them and show
them His love while in captivity.
 Pray for Sadiya and other girls who have
been able to escape or been released, that
the Lord would heal their many wounds
All information taken from Voice of the Martyrs Canada and Open Doors Canada

13. Please Pray:
Pray for the Christian families who are
struggling to live day to day, that the
Lord would provide for their every
need
Pray that the churches may grow in
boldness and strength in the midst of
the persecution
All information taken from Voice of the Martyrs Canada and Open Doors Canada

14. Please Pray:
 Pray for President President Muhammadu
Buhari: pray for his salvation as well as for
courage for the government in Nigeria to
stand up against those causing the violence
in Nigeria
 Pray for the leaders of the terrorist groups
and those doing the killings that they may
fall on their knees in repentance before the
Lord and coming to a saving knowledge of
the real Savior of the world.
All information taken from Voice of the Martyrs Canada and Open Doors Canada