RECCE: Nigeria
Sharon Borland and I left for Nigeria on 9 June and flew to Abuja and then on to Jos. The purpose was to recce possible ministry to war survivors of the Fulani Herdsmen who appear to be supported by a Jihad sponsor. We were asked to go by Release International who we have worked with in the past and they facilitated this.
On arrival in Jos, we drove to the Conference Centre and saw a herd of cattle being driven along the road with the Fulani Herdsmen. Their way of operating is to put their herd on the land of the mostly Christian population in the rural areas and then kill the occupants and drive the others off the land so that their cattle have good fertile land to stay on or move on.
On arrival in Jos, we drove to the Conference Centre and saw a herd of cattle being driven along the road with the Fulani Herdsmen. Their way of operating is to put their herd on the land of the mostly Christian population in the rural areas and then kill the occupants and drive the others off the land so that their cattle have good fertile land to stay on or move on.
We met for two hours on Monday 10 June with 20 war survivors and Sharon and I interviewed 10 each. We heard stories which were hard to listen to, they were very traumatised people. On Tuesday we taught our core subjects, and the testimonies given in the short time we were with them were extraordinary. The Lord does not need a long time to work, he is the God of the impossible. I will give you a flavour of them:
On 24 December 2023 it was a terrible night with a killing spree - many were targeted, some killed and many driven from their land and homes. Some of the survivors we met had up to 31 blood relatives killed. We prayed into this trauma with them on Monday and on Tuesday morning we found they all felt well and had unusually slept well.
On 24 December 2023 it was a terrible night with a killing spree - many were targeted, some killed and many driven from their land and homes. Some of the survivors we met had up to 31 blood relatives killed. We prayed into this trauma with them on Monday and on Tuesday morning we found they all felt well and had unusually slept well.
Salome said after the forgiveness teaching there was no more pain and bitterness. She had learned to let go of the pain. Several told us how difficult it was for them to even consider forgiveness, however eventually at least five stated they had forgiven the Fulani Herdsmen.
Rebecca said she was completely free from fear and told that in the past she would only sleep for 2 hours because of fear but she had slept without any sense of fear. She had lost her son and in-laws. “I pray that what we have learned, we will put into practice to get healed and to heal the land.”
At least three ladies said that they now had joy which they certainly did not have before. Nankyer said, “HONESTLY, I am now filled with joy!” During the teaching she had seen the face of the Fulani who killed her son. She had felt feverish but at the end she felt delivered.
Mary said “We now have JOY we can hardly express. You removed poison out of us!”
John said he thought he had forgiven the Fulani Herdsmen but because they keep repeating their attacks he was confused. He learned that forgiveness is about helping ourselves. He had been keeping the pain inside, but he learned how to pray to be healed!
Bona, the interpreter, realised he’d been deceived, and he felt bitterness inside.
Rebecca said she was completely free from fear and told that in the past she would only sleep for 2 hours because of fear but she had slept without any sense of fear. She had lost her son and in-laws. “I pray that what we have learned, we will put into practice to get healed and to heal the land.”
At least three ladies said that they now had joy which they certainly did not have before. Nankyer said, “HONESTLY, I am now filled with joy!” During the teaching she had seen the face of the Fulani who killed her son. She had felt feverish but at the end she felt delivered.
Mary said “We now have JOY we can hardly express. You removed poison out of us!”
John said he thought he had forgiven the Fulani Herdsmen but because they keep repeating their attacks he was confused. He learned that forgiveness is about helping ourselves. He had been keeping the pain inside, but he learned how to pray to be healed!
Bona, the interpreter, realised he’d been deceived, and he felt bitterness inside.
We were with the Stefanos Foundation on 12 & 13 June, who brought their whole HQ team of 20 (about 17 of whom stayed throughout) to hear and take part in the teaching. They are all Trauma Counsellors and run trauma workshops for people who have had their communities devastated by the Fulani Herdsmen and so we emphasised that we were just building on the work they were doing.
Jenny received deliverance from Jezebel spirit from her father’s second wife!
Michael came for a hug and received prayer.
Nnamdi, who always put on a brave face at work, said he had pain which affected him but after the teaching, it has lifted!
Jacob told us some information he’d received at work had upset him and he was irritated with his family even when they said “welcome”. He said he was struggling with it and did not know what to do but after 2 days teaching, he cannot remember the pain and feels peace.
Adeya said she had a series of challenges at work and personally, and she felt the Lord was not hearing her prayers but for the first time last night she slept without fear. She feels peace and she believed the teaching was especially for her!
James said he was in pain, but he forgave and feels better.
Aaron – I often feel things in my body but in the teaching, I learned that being healed in soul and spirit can bring healing to the body. Now I know what to do!
Nem - said the teaching was broken down and did not gloss over anything. “It challenged my thinking and gave me clarity and revelation.”
We will be working with the Anglican Church of Jos and the Stefanos Foundation when we return to Northern Nigeria on 30 January to 15 February 2025. We need to raise funds for this - we pray the Lord will provide.
Jenny received deliverance from Jezebel spirit from her father’s second wife!
Michael came for a hug and received prayer.
Nnamdi, who always put on a brave face at work, said he had pain which affected him but after the teaching, it has lifted!
Jacob told us some information he’d received at work had upset him and he was irritated with his family even when they said “welcome”. He said he was struggling with it and did not know what to do but after 2 days teaching, he cannot remember the pain and feels peace.
Adeya said she had a series of challenges at work and personally, and she felt the Lord was not hearing her prayers but for the first time last night she slept without fear. She feels peace and she believed the teaching was especially for her!
James said he was in pain, but he forgave and feels better.
Aaron – I often feel things in my body but in the teaching, I learned that being healed in soul and spirit can bring healing to the body. Now I know what to do!
Nem - said the teaching was broken down and did not gloss over anything. “It challenged my thinking and gave me clarity and revelation.”
We will be working with the Anglican Church of Jos and the Stefanos Foundation when we return to Northern Nigeria on 30 January to 15 February 2025. We need to raise funds for this - we pray the Lord will provide.
Read more Burning Issues articles here.
Posted in Burning Issues
Recent
Archive
2024
March
July
October
November
2023
July
October
Middle East August 2022South Sudan October 2022Armenia May 2019Armenia September 2022Middle East 2023Uganda August 2022Arua September 2023Armenia 2023Seeking Allah, Finding JesusThank you, JesusIntercession HUBS for the NationsBespoke CoursesFlame at Refuel '23Field Report - Istanbul TurkeyGod’s Special PeopleThe Flagship Programme at EllelHassan’s StoryUnmasking the Shadows of ShameBarriers to the Great Commission - Part2