Nigeria (MNN) — Christians facing persecution can find comfort in knowing that Christ walks with them through suffering.
During a recent trip to Nigeria, Greg Musselman of Voice of the Martyrs Canada met with the local Christians.
“The idea is to really encourage believers in these nations with what the Bible teaches about persecution and to help them understand that what they’re going through is actually very rooted in Scripture,” says Musselman.
A church in Nigeria (photo courtesy of VOM Canada)
The teaching was both timely and much needed. One pastor told him, “We know that we’re going through these persecutions, but we didn’t realize the Bible taught so much.”
Understanding the biblical foundation for persecution is important. Musselman says, “It’s called the theology of persecution and discipleship, and it really spans from Genesis to Revelation in what the Bible teaches about suffering for righteousness.”
Nigerian believers were also encouraged to learn that Christians in many other countries face persecution for their faith. Knowing others share their struggles helped strengthen their resolve to persevere for the Gospel.
Diverse crowd enjoying a street festival, Nigeria (photo courtesy of via Kaybee Photography
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Musselman says stories of persecution are often accompanied by powerful testimonies of God’s faithfulness and protection throughout believers’ hardships. Read about the time 360 hostages were freed from a Boko Haram stronghold in northeast Nigeria here.
“You hear about the attacks, but then you hear about some of the supernatural interventions of the Lord protecting people,” he says.
Pray that the Lord will give Nigerian believers strength amid their trials. Pray also that those carrying out the persecution would turn from their ways and come to know the Lord. Musselman says God continues to work in the region:
“I met so many former Muslims during my trips back and forth to Nigeria. God is really working in the Islamic world, and we’re so grateful for that.”
Visit Voice of the Martyrs Canada to learn more about how God is sustaining and growing His Church amid persecution.
Header photo: Reading Bible (courtesy of Tima Miroshnichenko via Pexels).
