We have been asked to pray for the work of a group in Nigeria.

In the north east of Nigeria Bible translation is in progress, translating Luke’s Gospel and the JESUS film script into five local languages.

However in the last few weeks, one of the Nigerian translators has been killed by insurgents and three have lost family members.  Five have had houses and vehicles deliberately burnt and others have lost livestock and things that they rely upon daily. Several workers have had to relocate, dealing with the trauma of frequent insecurity and attacks.

Despite the difficulties, translators have made great efforts and the work continues.

Please Pray For:

Peace in this devastated area and that God would change the hearts of the insurgents.

That God would provide for the material needs of the men, women and children who have been displaced.

That each member of these teams would experience “the peace that passes all understanding” and that God will heal them from the impact of the traumatic situations they have experienced and continue to live through.

That God will protect them each person in these projects and comfort those who are grieving.

That God will enable the translation work to continue.

UPDATE

Thank you so much for praying for Nigeria! I wanted to let you know about the positive news we’ve heard from Nigeria since you took part in the Nigeria Week of Prayer last month:

• A key figure in the Boko Haram terrorist group has been arrested (the group is responsible for the kidnapping of 200 schoolgirls in April);
• A plot to bomb a school in Gombe State was uncovered;
• A young boy alerted police to a potential car bombing, averting the threat;
• A bomb did explode in Kaduna State, but there were no deaths;
• Recent intelligence breakthroughs may help the police to contain the wave of terrorist attacks.

The international press continues to focus primarily on the attacks that take place, and this can obscure the encouraging news that is emerging slowly but surely in the midst of the crisis. Bomb plots have been uncovered and terrorist attacks foiled; but even when an attack has taken place, the police have been able to make arrests.

We need to persevere in prayer until the bombing and killing come to an end.

• Pray especially for southern Borno State, which is predominantly Christian and non-Kanuri – the major tribe in Borno State. As part of Boko Haram’s campaign of religious cleansing, the people of Chibok recently received a message telling them leave their ancestral lands or face annihilation.  They have reported this and other threats, but complain that they receive insufficient protection because they are non-Kanuri;
• Pray that the sponsors of Boko Haram are exposed and rooted out, otherwise all the efforts to ensure stability will be of no use in the end.

Please do keep praying – prayer resources are still available online.

Thank you for your prayers! Let’s keep asking God for justice and mercy to reign in Nigeria.