This is the reality of one man we met.
Could you imagine waking up to rebels coming to burn down all the Christian homes, businesses, and churches in your entire village?
Could you imagine being the one who decided to leave his
home with his brother and sister to protect the church from being burnt down, looking back and seeing your own home on fire, completely destroyed?
This is the reality of one man we met.
Could you imagine being the head of a village of over 500 people and waking up to your home on fire?
Could you imagine leaving your home and seeing your entire village being surrounded, burnt, and massacred?
Could you image being the head of a village and not only losing 250 villagers but also 10 of your own children and 4 of your own grandchildren?
This is the reality of one man we met.
Could Imagine waking up to multiple armed men in your room who not only cut off your nose and severely slashed your arm, but they also killed your mother and sister who are in the same room as you?Could you imagine being 20 years old and being the only survivor
of your family?
But these stories are the harsh reality of the villages of Nigeria who have been affected by the senseless tragedies that have occurred recently.
Each of the stories of the people that we met today have been different and each have been affected in different ways, but one thing unites them all… hope. Each and every one of them embraces hope and will not stand for fighting any longer. Some of these people we have met that have lost everything and still have even gone to neighboring villages to see how they can help out.
children, and children are singing songs of joy to their creator. Hope, joy, and peace is what these villagers are now claiming!
Could you imagine, despite hardships such as the ones of these experienced by these amazing people, claiming the hope of Christ? I know, now I can. For God works everything for good. Jos will be a place looked up to across history for their hope in Christ and stand for peace.
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Wow, that’s intense stuff. No, I can’t imagine…but there response is what community is all about. The courage and faith to be able to love and have hope after all they’ve been through…what an example!
Wow. Difficult to imagine that is “normal” for so many. Thanks for sharing, Seth.
I have been learning in life that there must be a “holy state of discontent” where we realize God is more interested in our character than our comfort. Thanks for being a tool for that this morning.
I can’t imagine…but I somehow can grasp, just barely, through suffering like this when I think of Jesus, that this is why Christianity is spreading in areas of the world where there is suffering. Comfortable complacency is not what Jesus died for.