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Monks Abducted, Christians Killed in Northern Nigeria – ChristianHeadlines.com
ABUJA, Nigeria, Might 30, 2022 (Morning Big name Information) – Abductions of Christian church leaders persisted in northern Nigeria with the abduction of 2 Roman Catholic clergymen remaining week and two different priests previous this month in Katsina state, resources stated.
The abduction early on Wednesday (Might 25) of clergymen Stephen Ojapah and Oliver Okpara, together with two parishioners from the rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Gidan Maikambo, Kafur County, adopted the kidnapping of an evangelical pastor 3 weeks previous within the state, citizens informed Morning Big name Information.
Gunmen broke into the rectory after nighttime, stated the Rev. Chris Omotosho, spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, in a commentary.
“The parish priest and his assistant, the Rev. Oliver Okpara, and two boys in the home have been abducted,” Omotosho stated. “No knowledge as to their whereabouts. Fr. Ojapah is a clergyman of my congregation, the Missionary Society of St. Paul, and an excessively shut good friend of mine. Please stay him, his assistant and the 2 boys abducted to your prayers.”
On Might 8, the Rev. Matthew Moses of the Evangelical Church Profitable All (ECWA) was once abducted, stated James Saleh, coordinator of Evangelical Missionary Society of the ECWA.
“Some other missionary, Matthew Moses, serving in Katsina state, northwest Nigeria, was once abducted on Sunday, 8 Might,” Saleh stated in a commentary. “Kindly pray for divine intervention for his free up together with others.”
Gabriel Michael, a resident of Katsina state, informed Morning Big name Information that persecution has turn into common for Christians within the state.
“Katsina state is recently below the company grip of Islamic terrorists,” Michael stated in a textual content message. “They invade church buildings and Christian communities at will, and not anything has been executed by way of the government to finish those invasions.”
Muslim terrorists have taken over the spaces of Kafur, Zango, Kurfi, Baure, Bindawa, Danja, Ingawa and Kankara, he stated.
“Any Christian abducted in those spaces can by no means be rescued,” he stated. “Even native executive spaces like Katsina, Daura, Malumfashi, Dutsin-Ma, and Jibiya which many imagine to be quite more secure, are unhealthy zone for Christians in Katsina sate. Villages in those spaces are Islamic terrorist enclaves.”
On Might 19, a clergyman with the Anglican Church in Katsina, the Ven. Yohanna Haruna, was once abducted from his church by way of armed terrorists, in keeping with the overall secretary of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
In Zaria, Kaduna state, a priest abducted in March was once freed on Might 3. The Rev. Felix Zakari Fidson of St. Ann’s Catholic Church were taken away at gunpoint on March 24 from from Zangon Tama.
In northeastern Nigeria’s Bauchi state, 3 Christians have been killed in an assault in Tafawa Balewa County on Might 9, resources stated.
Ahmed Wakil, a spokesman for the Bauchi State Police Command, known the sufferers as Samaila Bello, Kefas Sarki (Cephas Tserki, in keeping with a space resident) and Paulina Alhamdu.
“We gained a misery name on Might 9 at about 21:30 hours that some armed with AK-47 rifles stormed the Num house of Sara village,” Wakil stated. “They opened hearth on contributors of the group inflicting the demise of 3 individuals, whilst two others, Gode Bulus and Zakka Mayo [Zaka Matthew, according an area resident] have been injured.”
House resident Joel Muntsira stated Muslim terrorists invaded the village, killed 3 Christians and wounded 5 others: Maryamu Yakubu, Naomi Taos, Yelwa Bala, Gode Bulus and Zaka Matthew.
Esther Damion, a resident of Tafawa Balewa, informed Morning Big name Information that apparently the world group has forgotten Christians dealing with persecution in northern Nigeria.
“The sector has utterly forgotten about terrorist assaults and invasions of Christian communities in Nigeria,” she stated in a textual content message. “Christians die right here on account of terrorist assaults, however the global is silent over those atrocities towards us.”
Ga’Allah Daniel, president of the Zaar Adolescence Construction Affiliation, is from the realm.
“We skilled a sequence of assaults on our other folks all the way through farming season remaining yr, and now that this yr’s farming season is atmosphere in, we’ve got began witnessing it once more with this provide assault,” Daniel stated.
Within the town of Bauchi, 5 Christians have been killed in comparable assaults in April, house citizens stated. A bunch of Muslims on April 22 invaded the house of a Christian couple conserving a “send-forth” prayer assembly for his or her daughter, who was once to be wedded the following day, and killed two Christians in attendance, stated house resident Emmanuel Habakkuk.
“A Muslim mob invaded the prayer program, attacked Christians on the tournament, and shot to demise two of them,” Habakkuk stated. “The incident happened in the house of a Christian, Mr. Ezra Yari, the daddy of the bride.”
5 days after the assault at the house within the Gudun Hausawa house of the town, Muslims on April 27 attacked Christians on the funeral of the 2 slain Christians, killing 3 extra Christians, he stated.
“3 extra Christians have been killed all the way through the funeral of the 2 Christians killed 5 days previous at a send-forth prayer program,” Habakkuk stated. “That is excluding properties of Christians within the house that have been destroyed and set ablaze.”
The Rev. Abraham Damina Dimeus, chairman of the Christian Affiliation of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi State Bankruptcy, showed the assaults in a press commentary.
“Let’s be prayerful and go away vengeance to God,” Dimeus stated. “I do know that we’re dealing with force from terrorists and Muslim mobs who’ve been attacking our communities, however please stay calm as we’ve got offered our plight to the federal government and are asking government to behave in opposition to protective us.”
State police spokesman Wakil showed the 2 assaults. He known the 2 Christians slain on April 22 as Reward Felix, 17, and Shalon Memdir, 18, either one of Gudun Hausawa.
Nigeria led the sector in Christians killed for his or her religion remaining yr (Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021) at 4,650, up from 3,530 the former yr, in keeping with Open Doorways’ 2022 International Watch Listing file. The choice of abducted Christians was once additionally best possible in Nigeria, at greater than 2,500, up from 990 the former yr, in keeping with the WWL file.
Nigeria trailed most effective China within the choice of church buildings attacked, with 470 circumstances, in keeping with the file.
Within the 2022 International Watch Listing of the nations the place it’s maximum tricky to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to 7th position, its best possible rating ever, from No. 9 the former yr.
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Photograph courtesy: ©Catholic Diocese of Sokoto/Morning Big name Information
Embracing True Friendship: The Friend Who Sticks Closer Than a Brother
Friendship is a valuable asset that enriches our lives by providing companionship, support, and a shoulder to cry on. But have you ever had a buddy who goes above and beyond—someone who remains closer than a brother? In a world where relationships can be fickle, a friend who sticks by us through thick and thin is a rare and priceless gift.
More Than Just Blood Ties
Consider the tie between siblings, which is based on blood and shared history. Consider a buddy who is more than just a family member. “One who has untrustworthy friends soon comes to ruin,” says Proverbs 18:24 (NIV), “but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
This verse describes a friendship that goes beyond basic conditions. It’s a bond founded on trust, loyalty, and real concern for one another.
Continuous Support
Consider a buddy who is present not only during happy times but also during difficult times. This type of friend is unconcerned about changing circumstances or personal gain. They provide their presence, encouragement, and steadfast support.
Jesus expresses the core of such friendship in John 15:13 (NIV): “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. This selfless affection serves as the foundation for a lasting connection.
Journeys Together
Consider a friend you’ve shared many stages of life with—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. This shared experience forges a link that extends beyond surface-level exchanges. The value of companionship is brilliantly captured in Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 (NIV): “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”
A friend who sticks closer than a brother is someone who goes beside us through life’s ups and downs, lending a solid hand and an ear to listen.
A Mirror of God’s Love
As a symbol of God’s love for us, consider the buddy who sticks closer than a brother. God Himself offers an unbroken, unchanging, and everlasting companionship. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” says the Bible in Romans 8:38–39.
God’s love is the ultimate paradigm of true friendship—a love that is not conditional but remains faithful regardless of what happens.
Conclusion: Value true friendship.
A friend who sticks closer to you than a sibling is a treasure to be treasured. This type of friendship is founded on love, trust, and mutual care rather than convenience or shared interests. May we seek to be that sort of friend to others in our lives, just as God offers us His unfailing love.
In a world where relationships can be fleeting, let us create friendships that will endure. Let us be the sort of friends who are present in both joy and sadness, who offer unconditional support, and who mirror God’s unfailing love. We are reminded of the beauty of true friendship, which clings closer than a brother, as we welcome and cherish these unique and valuable ties.
The Just God: The Divine Balance of Justice and Mercy
The concept of justice is intertwined with the fabric of human society. We seek justice, responsibility, and reparation for wrongs done. But have you ever pondered a God who is not only just but also perfectly just? The Just God is a lighthouse of truth and righteousness, providing a profound awareness of justice and kindness that transcends human comprehension.
Justice in Pursuit
Consider a world where wrongdoers go unpunished and the disadvantaged have no recourse. The pursuit of justice is a natural human goal that reflects a feeling of rightness and order. And if we as humans value justice, how much more should the Creator of the universe, who is completely just?
According to Deuteronomy 32:4 (NIV), “He is the rock; his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. He is a loyal God who does no wrong, who is straight and just. This verse reveals God’s character, which is characterized by unwavering justice.
Justice and Mercy in Balance
Consider yourself in front of a judge who holds you accountable for every action and decision you make. Imagine that same judge showing mercy and giving you a second opportunity despite the evidence against you. The just God is kind as well as just.
This delicate balance is captured in Psalm 103:10–11 (NIV): “He does not treat us as our sins deserve, nor does He repay us according to our iniquities. For his love for people who fear him is as high as the skies are above the earth. God’s justice is balanced by his unending love and kindness.
The Redemption of Justice
Consider a debt that you will never be able to repay—a debt of mistakes and wrongs that weigh heavy on your soul. In His perfect justice, the just God provides a solution. God provides a mechanism for justice to be served and redemption to be offered through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” says Romans 3:23–24 (NIV), “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. This is an example of justice being met via the redemptive act of Christ’s sacrifice.
A Call to Justice
Consider a society in which justice is not simply a notion but a way of life. In our interactions with others, the just God calls us to exemplify justice. Micah 6:8 (NIV) states unequivocally, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. What does the Lord expect of you? Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”
Living justly entails treating people with fairness, compassion, and respect, as the character of the just God requires.
Finishing: Adoring the Just God
The Just God asks us to comprehend the breadth of His justice—a justice that supports truth, requires accountability, and strikes a balance between mercy and justice. God’s justice and mercy merge in the person of Jesus Christ, offering us redemption and restoration.
May we turn to the just God as our ultimate standard as we traverse a world that frequently grapples with issues of fairness. May we seek His wisdom and counsel in order to live justly and treat others with love and justice. We find not only a paradigm of perfect justice but also an invitation to experience the transformative power of His kindness when we embrace the Just God.
The Pleasure of Serving Others: A Highway to Contentment
Have you ever ever felt the nice and cozy glow that effects from lending a serving to hand to a stranger, the enjoyment that lasts for days after the act of kindness? That emotion offers a way of the pride of serving to others. The straightforward act of serving to can give us a sense of function and pleasure in contrast to the rest in a society that incessantly pushes us to place our consideration on ourselves.
The Want to Serve
Believe a society the place everybody labored to fortify the lives of people of their instant neighborhood. The need to lend a serving to hand, proportion a load, and supply comfort is on the core of carrier. The instance used to be established through Jesus Himself when he stated, “For even the Son of Guy didn’t come to be served, however to serve, and to provide his lifestyles as a ransom for plenty of.” (NIV, Mark 10:45)
Serving others is extra than just a nice deed; it is a way to emulate the compassion and love that Christ proven for us.
Discovering Pleasure in Selfless Giving
Believe spending time with the aged or going to a neighborhood refuge to hear their stories and cause them to really feel essential. Those tiny acts of kindness won’t appear to be a lot, however they be capable to make any person’s day higher, create relationships, and toughen a sense of group.
A better feeling of pleasure emerges after we set aside our personal issues and be aware of the wishes of others. The Bible admonishes us, “Every of you can use no matter present you’ve gotten won to serve others, as trustworthy stewards of God’s grace in its more than a few paperwork.” (NIV) 1 Peter 4:10 We specific the particular talents God has given us through serving others, and it’s in those deeds of carrier that we discover authentic pleasure.
Have an effect on Unmeasurable
Take into consideration the impact if all of us realized to experience serving to others. If we take a bit spoil from our tense schedules to lend a hand a neighbor, supply a sympathetic ear, or donate cash to a reason we reinforce. Small acts of kindness have the facility to unfold, sparking a sequence response of generosity and optimistic exchange.
In step with the NIV translation of Matthew 25:40, Jesus stated, “Actually I inform you, no matter you probably did for this sort of least of those brothers and sisters of mine, you probably did for me.” No longer simplest can we fortify the lives of other folks we serve, however we additionally perform Jesus’ command to like and deal with the ones round us.
Development Relationships and Connections
Believe the sensation of camaraderie that comes from cooperating with others to reach a shared purpose. Folks come in combination via carrier, growing ties and friendships that differently won’t have took place. It serves as a reminder that we’re all part of a broader group, and that group would possibly take pleasure in the acts we do.
Serving others permits us to peer the arena from many angles and to realize the demanding situations and victories of other folks round us. Our lives are enriched and {our relationships} are deepened through this sensitivity.
Conclusion: Discovering Contentment Via Carrier
Every people has a skill that is able to be opened: the pleasure of serving to others. It serves as a reminder that our lives are meant to be about extra than just our personal pursuits; they’re an opportunity to fortify the lives of others.
Let’s thus embody the pride of serving to others, if it is by means of deeds of kindness, volunteering, or simply being conscious about their wishes. The easy act of serving would possibly supply mild and hope in a global that every so often turns out overwhelming. As we emulate Christ and prolong ourselves in love, we no longer simplest exchange the lives of others but additionally revel in a deep feeling of success and enjoyment that overflows into our personal hearts.
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