ORLANDO, FL — In an era where faith seems to waver, Christ for all Nations (CfaN) stands as a beacon of hope and revival, embarking on a historic series of gospel campaigns across Nigeria. This epic undertaking, led by Evangelist Daniel Kolenda, follows the 50th-anniversary launch event in Cape Town and started on February 21st,…
NIGERIA — In May 2023, Pastor Zachariah returned home to find his wife and son had been killed in an attack by Fulani militants. His home had also been burnt to the ground. To help him deal with his devastating loss, Nigerian Pastor Zachariah received trauma counselling and practical support from Open Doors partners. It…
NIGERIA, AFRICA — On Christmas Eve, Islamic militants attacked several Christian villages in Plateau State, Nigeria. The attacks went into the early hours of Christmas Day, and at least 113 people were killed. Many more were injured or have lost their homes. In this video, recorded by Open Doors local partners in the region, Nigeria…
NIGERIA, AFRICA — Mary*, 20 years old, was in church when Fulani militants attacked. In her village in northwestern Nigeria, there is always the threat of attacks from Islamic extremists. However, this does not prepare the community for the reality of experiencing an attack. Mary*: They attack Christians because we worship Jesus and they want…
NIGERIA — New reports highlight the growing kidnapping crisis in Nigeria, where Christians are regarded as soft targets for abduction. Release International is calling on Nigeria to protect vulnerable Christian communities. Andrew Boyd has the details. New reports confirm that Christians are being targeted for kidnap and ransom in Nigeria, sometimes by bandits hungry for…
NIGERIA — In the 2014 Nigeria kidnappings, Boko Haram kidnapped over 270 girls from their school in Chibok in northern Nigeria. Nine years on, nearly 100 girls are still missing, and their parents are in agony. Open Doors speaks to those mothers and fathers as they continue to deal with the trauma of their children…
NIGERIA — As violence escalates in Nigeria, there are warnings of a humanitarian crisis in the making. Partners of UK-based Release International, which serves persecuted Christians worldwide, warn if the new government doesn’t stop the violence, Christians will leave the country in droves. According to reports more Christians are killed for their faith each year…
NIGERIA — More Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces a vast humanitarian catastrophe, as a wave of religiously motivated violence nurtured in Nigeria has swept across the region, targeting Christian populations at an alarming rate in countries like Burkina Faso, Cameroon,…
NIGERIA — A new report highlights the alarming scale of rising violence in Nigeria as terrorists attempt to Islamise the nation — Much of that violence is directed against Christians. Andrew Boyd reports. Release International has warned that Nigeria is fast becoming a persecution hotspot. And Open Doors estimates more Christians are killed there than…
NIGERIA — When Pastor Andrew’s community in North East Nigeria was attacked by Boko Haram, he courageously chose to stay and rebuild his church. Now, there are more Christians in the community than before. Find out how Open Doors helped Pastor Andrew to impact his village despite the devastation. Pastor Andrew: “I went out and…
GUYAKU, NORTHERN NIGERIA — Support from Christian charity Open Doors is helping believers like Charity from Nigeria. She was able to receive trauma healing after her village, Guyaku in northern Nigeria, was attacked by Islamic militants Boko Haram. And now, she herself is shining a light for others who have suffered trauma by offering them…
PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA — Sele was very young when his father was murdered for his faith. It was part of a wave of violence in Nigeria’s Plateau State. Now Sele is 13, and has hope for the future to save lives a doctor through schooling paid for by Open Doors partners. For many Christian children…
NIGERIA – In Nigeria persecution is on the increase and so the trauma believers suffer is increasing. However through Open Doors partners working in trauma care, Christians are receiving hope and healing. Anuhu* (name changed for security reasons) who leads the trauma care programme shares the story of how a Nigerian widow, one of the…
NIGERIA – Last summer, Open Doors shared the story of Rose from Nigeria. Her husband, a pastor, had been murdered by Fulani militants. Their partners recently visited her again and she told them, despite her troubles: “The Lord has not forsaken me.” When Open Doors met Rose in June 2020, we found a woman who…
CHIBOB, NIGERIA — In the Middle Belt of Nigeria, militant Fulani herdsmen kill and displace Christians and take over their farmland. Hajaratu, a widow from Chibob, Nigeria, has suffered immeasurable grief after fleeing from one of these raids. Find out how Open Doors is helping more women like Hajaratu to heal. Hajaratu: “I woke up…
NIGERIA — According to reports from Christian Solidarity Worldwide armed men attacked the Karji suburb of Kaduna City in Northern Nigeria last month and abducted five daughters of a local church pastor and two other individuals, one of whom had been displaced by violence. The attacks are the most recent in increasing violence in southern…
NIGERIA — Christian charity Open Doors is calling for people to urgently pray for the release and safety of 300 kidnapped schoolboys still missing following a raid by gunman on their school last weekend in Western Katsina State, Nigeria. Boko Haram reportedly carried out the kidnappings. Many Christians have also been targeted in this region…
WASHINGTON — Family Research Council (FRC) today applauded the U.S. State Department for adding Nigeria to its list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPCs) for the first time. A CPC designation is given by the U.S. Secretary of State to a nation whose government is engaged in or tolerates severe violations of religious freedom under the…
NIGERIA — Following the death of her husband in an attack by militant Fulani herdsmen in April – during which most of the family’s belongings were burnt – Abigail* not only faced the grief of losing a loved one but the anguish of not knowing if there was enough food the next day to feed…
ORLANDO, FL — Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that empowers mother-tongue Bible translators and partners with local churches in the advancement of Bible translation, reports that Nigerian Bible translators are asking for help after suspending Bible translation projects in 30 languages. The global pandemic, terrorism, and economic collapse have brought Bible translation to a halt…
NIGERIA — Living in Plateau State in the middle band of Nigeria, Rose is in one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian. Nigeria is number 12 on Open Doors World Watch List, but it’s at the top of the list for Christians murdered because of their faith. And on…
WASHINGTON — The International Committee on Nigeria (ICON), a nonprofit working to secure a future for all Nigerians, launched a new Data Tome (“report”) today proving the religious persecution and genocide that has been occurring in Nigeria over the last 20 years. The report includes recent testimonies of some of the more than 60,000 victims…
NIGERIA — Last year attacks by nomadic Fulani herdsmen forced an entire Christian community in Naka, Nigeria to flee their homes. But in February this year, Open Doors was able to deliver vital aid to 1,500 families before Covid-19 travel restrictions were introduced. Pastor Sunday shares his appreciation for the impact this crucial help has…
WASHINGTON — The International Committee on Nigeria (ICON), a nonprofit working to secure a future for all Nigerians, released a statement today, applauding a new executive order signed by President Trump advancing international religious freedom. The order directs the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to take action to…
The International Committee on Nigeria (ICON) launched a campaign Wednesday titled the “Silent Slaughter” to raise awareness about the estimated more than 60,000 Nigerians who have died as a result of religious conflicts since 2001. Already this year, ICON reports more than 400 Nigerians were killed because of their Christian faith, with thousands more displaced….
NIGERIA – The Nigerian government now agrees with what church leaders have been complaining for years: Christians are the target of jihadist terrorism. “In the wake of a renewed onslaught by our tireless military against Boko Haram and their ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) allies in recent times, the insurgents have apparently changed their…
ABUJA, NIGERIA – Faith-based organizations Action Against Hunger and Mercy Corps were forced to suspend operations in northeastern Nigeria in mid-September. The Nigerian army closed two Action Against Hunger offices and four Mercy Corps facilities based on allegations that both agencies were aiding terrorist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State. Action Against Hunger vigorously…
ABUJA – Conducting charitable humanitarian work in any developing country or crisis situation is difficult at best. Working in disease or conflict-ridden regions is not only hard but sometimes downright dangerous.This is rapidly becoming the scenario for NGOs working in strife-torn Nigeria where Boko Haram rebels are attempting to establish the Islamic State in West…
PORTLAND, OR — At the invitation of faith leaders in Nigeria, as well as long-time ministry partner Firm Foundations in Christ Ministries (FFICM), Wendy Palau – wife of international evangelist Andrew Palau and daughter-in-law to Luis Palau – will share hope and encouragement with hundreds of displaced people in an IDP camp just outside Jos,…
MAIDUGURI – Open Doors UK first met Esther (20) in a settlement for internally displaced people (IDP) in Maiduguri, northern Nigeria in 2017. Since then, layers and layers of her story have gradually been unfolding: her terrifying capture by Boko Haram in Gwoza, her three-year horror-filled captivity, her daring escape and the harsh judgment she…
Orlando, FL — Wycliffe Associates, an international organization involving people in the advancement of Bible translation, hopes to soon launch new Bible translation projects for 250 language groups in Nigeria that are without the Scriptures in their heart language. “The Christians there are pleading with us for the tools, technology, and training so they can…
ABUJA – The country of Nigeria is an enigma. While, on the one hand, the Nigerian Minister of Health announced today that the country’s efforts to eliminate polio within its borders “are beginning to yield results, considering the fact that we have spent 18 months without a case of poliovirus,” the country stands at the…
DAPCHI, Nigeria – Leah Sharibu is 15 years old. She is one of more than a hundred Nigerian school girls who are either missing or held in captivity by the Boko Haram. Although the terrorist group, known for kidnapping school girls en masse, agreed to return the girls in exchange for the release of several…
Prise par Zouzou Wizman In early July, Lagos, Nigeria was hit by torrential rains and thunderstorms. This caused flooding in the city. Per CNN, “Lagos, one of Africa’s most populous cities, has been hit by torrential downpour and thunderstorms over the weekend that has left many parts of the city flooded.” The thing that caused…
Photo by Unknown CDC employee People are returning to their homes in northern Nigeria after Boko Haram raided in 2014. One of the farmers hid under maize crops with the rest of his family. Per CNN, “Jafiya Nuhu, a 52-year-old commercial farmer, hid under maize cobs in his farm with his wife and two children…
Photo by Oshomah Abubakar Between April and June of last year, a recession hit Nigeria. This was partly caused by low oil prices, which Nigeria depends on for importing to other countries. BBC reports, “The price of oil has fallen from highs of about $112 a barrel in 2014 to below $50 at the moment.”…
Photo by Dr. Lyle Conrad In Nigeria, an outbreak of Meningitis has killed dozens of people. CNN reports, “A meningitis outbreak has killed 489 people in Nigeria this year, the World Health Organization said Thursday. The country’s Center for Disease Control reported 4,637 suspected cases.” The problem is that there is a shortage of vaccines…
NIGERIA, AFRICA — On the sixth anniversary of Leah Sharibu’s kidnapping in Nigeria, friends of kidnapped share how they’ve been encouraged by her courageous faith – and how they’re hopeful they’ll one day see her again. Leah Sharibu’s Friends: Leah is like a sister to me, a very good friend. At the boarding school, we…
ORLANDO, FL — 2024 is a milestone year for Christ for all Nations, marking 50 years since the ministry’s inception in 1974. Founded by the late Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, and now led by Evangelist Daniel Kolenda, Christ for all Nations (CfaN) has an astonishing track record in mass campaign evangelism, particularly across the African continent….
NORTH KOREA — Longstanding Christian communities could disappear in parts of sub-Saharan Africa through a double blow of violent instability and authoritarian control. Christian minorities across east and west Africa face twin existential threats: violent disorder exploited by radical jihadists and autocratic governments backed by larger powers outside the region.This is one of the disturbing…
WASHINGTON — Prison Fellowship International’s flagship in-prison program, The Prisoner’s Journey® (TPJ) has reached its 10-year anniversary. This program, launched in South Africa and Nigeria in 2014, now runs in 35 countries across six continents. TPJ takes those in prison on a journey of self-discovery through the Gospel of Mark where they encounter Jesus the…
WILLS POINT, TX — Mission agency GFA World (www.gfa.org) has launched an appeal to help thousands of “ostracized widows” around the globe at risk of starvation and abuse after being abandoned by their family and neighbors. “Millions of widows live in societies where they are blamed for their husband’s death, regardless of the illness, accident…
SOMALIA —According to the tradition of the Church, June 29th marked the martyrdom of the apostle Paul. This year, several Christians around the world took time on June 29th and throughout that weekend to honor the legacy of those who sacrificed their lives for the advancement of the Gospel.Abdiwelli Ahmed descended from a long line…
AMSTERDAM — The Empowered21 Amsterdam2023 EveryONE conference concluded Saturday with a global worship, prayer and commissioning service for the thousands who gathered in The Netherlands this week before returning to their home countries. More than 5,000 individuals from over 125 nations attended the conference in person at the historic RAI conference center, with thousands more…
NIGERIA, AFRICA — Mary* from Nigeria was kidnapped by Fulani militants and experienced awful violence and sexual assault at their hands. After she was freed, Open Doors partners cared for her at a trauma care centre where she found peace. Sadly, shortly after Mary shared her story with us, she died from an unrelated illness…
AMSTERDAM — The Amsterdam2023 EveryONE conference concluded recently with a global worship, prayer and commissioning service for the thousands who gathered in The Netherlands this week before returning to their home countries. More than 5,000 individuals from over 125 nations attended the conference in person at the historic RAI conference center, with thousands more joining…
NIGERIA — Ayuba’s* father was killed by Boko Haram militants in 2020. Ayuba swore to take revenge on the man who had betrayed his father to the militants – but has found healing through a trauma centre, supported by Open Doors. *Ayuba is portrayed by an actor and his name has been changed for security…
NIGERIA — This month, Leah Sharibu from Nigeria turns 20. Her teenage years were spent mostly in captivity after bravely refusing to renounce Jesus after she was among more than 100 girls kidnapped in February 2018. Open Doors caught up with her mother, Rebecca, to find out how she and her husband are doing as…
BARTLESVILLE, OK — Four more African countries have been added to the list of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places to follow Christ. The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) added and designated Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique and Niger as “hostile” nations in their annual 2023 Global Prayer Guide. VOM added…
NORTH KOREA — More than 360 million Christians worldwide suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith – that’s a staggering 1 in 7 believers. Open Doors has launched this year’s World Watch list highlighting the 50 countries where faith costs the most, with North Korea returning to number one as the world’s…
