Field Report: NIGERIA
Humbled by the faith and obedience of the people we met.
Laying burdens at the cross and walking away feeling lightness, joy and freedom.
These are the lasting memories I believe the Lord impressed upon me during this mission. The people are leading no ordinary life – from poverty-stricken men and women who’ve lost everything to people who are deliberately stepping into danger for the sake of the gospel and the care of the victims; we heard stories that are so awful and yet so inspiring. Some of the individual stories mirror those of the early missionaries who were instrumental in Christianity arriving and thriving in Nigeria.
In the run-up to the mission the team had met several times on Zoom to pray, and greeted one another at Heathrow, flying to Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, before heading north to Jos.
The smiling face of the excited Venerable Reverend Mark Mukan welcomed us, and within minutes we found ourselves in a circle in the car park holding hands with him and staff from the Stefanos Foundation, giving thanks for our arrival and praying in expectation of what the Lord would do in and through us during this mission. The mission was a joint invitation from Rev Mark Mukan, Director of Relief and Welfare in the Anglican Diocese of Jos, and Mark Lipdo, Director of the Stefanos Foundation.
Laying burdens at the cross and walking away feeling lightness, joy and freedom.
These are the lasting memories I believe the Lord impressed upon me during this mission. The people are leading no ordinary life – from poverty-stricken men and women who’ve lost everything to people who are deliberately stepping into danger for the sake of the gospel and the care of the victims; we heard stories that are so awful and yet so inspiring. Some of the individual stories mirror those of the early missionaries who were instrumental in Christianity arriving and thriving in Nigeria.
In the run-up to the mission the team had met several times on Zoom to pray, and greeted one another at Heathrow, flying to Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, before heading north to Jos.
The smiling face of the excited Venerable Reverend Mark Mukan welcomed us, and within minutes we found ourselves in a circle in the car park holding hands with him and staff from the Stefanos Foundation, giving thanks for our arrival and praying in expectation of what the Lord would do in and through us during this mission. The mission was a joint invitation from Rev Mark Mukan, Director of Relief and Welfare in the Anglican Diocese of Jos, and Mark Lipdo, Director of the Stefanos Foundation.
Rob, a retired minister on our team, was asked to preach on John 15 on Sunday 9 February at a very large Anglican church. He did a fantastic job of weaving in a flavour of the Flame teaching, including forgiveness, as well as some testimonies of the Lord’s work the previous day.
Over the next three days in Jos there was plenty to do. We prepared our own hearts through confession, repentance and forgiveness and began to consider the situation of the country as a whole and particularly the people we would meet. We had a great time of intercession and prophetic declarations culminating in producing a declaration based on Isaiah 61, which was very helpful fuel for our prayers throughout the mission.
There are tensions between Christians and Muslims in many parts of Nigeria, but these are particularly problematic in the north of Nigeria, with many people (mainly Christians) suffering from attacks by Muslim Fulani herdsmen. While the Nigerian government often attributes these attacks to resource conflicts - criminal elements, and historical grievances - all the people we met consider it to be religious persecution. Nigeria is 7th in the Open Doors World Watch list of Christian persecution, and their research shows that more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined. The testimonies we heard were of Fulani herdsmen destroying the crops of farmers by bringing their cows to feed on the land - sometimes returning multiple times. Burning down homes – often with people inside them - violent attacks, rapes and killings – including horrific mutilations. Pastors and churches are particularly targeted. Subsequently, communities are being abandoned or taken over by the Fulani. Sharia law is being introduced, some churches have been converted into mosques. There are very many IDPs – one church leader we met is overseeing 10,000 within his community. Many Christians are living in over-crowded homes as those fleeing have been given shelter with family members. All of this is in the context of suffering, shock and trauma, loss and grief from all that they have witnessed or experienced. Rev Mark can identify with the IDPs as he himself lost his house and all the contents some 3 years ago in a fire. Many of the pastors we met are living in very poor conditions, some with no electricity or running water.
For this first 3-day conference, we headed down to Miango Rest Home where we stayed for 3 nights, along with the delegates. The Stefanos Foundation have three strands of work – providing for the practical needs of victims, supporting victims emotionally (including trauma counselling), and advocacy and awareness of the situation on the national and international stage. Jan and I had met all their 20 head office staff and completed a short programme with them 7 months previously. We only realised just before our arrival, that their reach goes way beyond Plateau State, having more than one representative in each of the 36 States of Nigeria plus Abuja Federal Capital Territory. Our trauma healing conference brought together one representative from each area. We were so encouraged to be teaching and praying with pastors, teachers, politicians, evangelists, apostles, farmers, businessmen, a social media influencer, and a university professor - people who were in positions of influence to take the teaching out to so many places in this huge nation. We are expectant that blessings will follow as they repent of sins that have defiled the land.
It appeared the delegates expectation was to be equipped to take out our teaching, but of course Flame, and even more so the Lord, also wanted them to get greater revelation of Jesus, to be touched and healed - praise the Lord that many of them were!
Here is a selection of quotes from the Stefanos Conference:
“This is the best programme I have ever been on. We are not proud but grateful for the Lord’s favour.”
“I dealt with bitterness and anger yesterday. I feel peace and serenity. I can’t explain it. Even yesterday someone upset me, but it didn’t affect me.”
“I thought I knew much, but I have learned how to use the word of God. I love my wife very much, but I realised she does not make me happy, but it is someone else that is causing problems. I need to cleave to my wife.”
“This teaching has helped me to surrender my heart to Jesus and put the cross before denominations.”
Once we finished with the State representatives, we travelled to Barkin Ladi, a town that has been severely impacted by conflict and where instability and fear remain. Many people were seriously traumatised from all they had experienced and yet we were humbled by their willingness to respond to our teaching and prayer opportunities. One of our own team said that in human terms, what we brought them didn’t seem the most compassionate response – we present a robust gospel message, including the need for forgiveness of those who have committed atrocities – and yet the delegates willingness to be obedient to Christ and his presence with them is what ultimately brings hope, peace, joy and freedom. 100 people had been invited but those attending invited others and 141 people attended at least some of the sessions.
Three people all said our programme was organised especially for them. One had cried through most of the day then gone home feeling lighter, enjoying much joy as she shared her testimony with her daughter. One man’s crops had been destroyed by the Fulani for 3 years and one of his grandchildren had been burned alive. Tears rolled down his face, but when he released the Fulani from his judgement, he felt a large relief inside. Several listened to the teaching on forgiveness and were thinking, ‘If you knew what the Fulani had done to me, you wouldn’t ask me to forgive’. One had made a vow never to forgive. But as they bravely came to the cross, things changed – one had released the desire for revenge, one felt joy, another felt relieved.
Over the next three days in Jos there was plenty to do. We prepared our own hearts through confession, repentance and forgiveness and began to consider the situation of the country as a whole and particularly the people we would meet. We had a great time of intercession and prophetic declarations culminating in producing a declaration based on Isaiah 61, which was very helpful fuel for our prayers throughout the mission.
There are tensions between Christians and Muslims in many parts of Nigeria, but these are particularly problematic in the north of Nigeria, with many people (mainly Christians) suffering from attacks by Muslim Fulani herdsmen. While the Nigerian government often attributes these attacks to resource conflicts - criminal elements, and historical grievances - all the people we met consider it to be religious persecution. Nigeria is 7th in the Open Doors World Watch list of Christian persecution, and their research shows that more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined. The testimonies we heard were of Fulani herdsmen destroying the crops of farmers by bringing their cows to feed on the land - sometimes returning multiple times. Burning down homes – often with people inside them - violent attacks, rapes and killings – including horrific mutilations. Pastors and churches are particularly targeted. Subsequently, communities are being abandoned or taken over by the Fulani. Sharia law is being introduced, some churches have been converted into mosques. There are very many IDPs – one church leader we met is overseeing 10,000 within his community. Many Christians are living in over-crowded homes as those fleeing have been given shelter with family members. All of this is in the context of suffering, shock and trauma, loss and grief from all that they have witnessed or experienced. Rev Mark can identify with the IDPs as he himself lost his house and all the contents some 3 years ago in a fire. Many of the pastors we met are living in very poor conditions, some with no electricity or running water.
For this first 3-day conference, we headed down to Miango Rest Home where we stayed for 3 nights, along with the delegates. The Stefanos Foundation have three strands of work – providing for the practical needs of victims, supporting victims emotionally (including trauma counselling), and advocacy and awareness of the situation on the national and international stage. Jan and I had met all their 20 head office staff and completed a short programme with them 7 months previously. We only realised just before our arrival, that their reach goes way beyond Plateau State, having more than one representative in each of the 36 States of Nigeria plus Abuja Federal Capital Territory. Our trauma healing conference brought together one representative from each area. We were so encouraged to be teaching and praying with pastors, teachers, politicians, evangelists, apostles, farmers, businessmen, a social media influencer, and a university professor - people who were in positions of influence to take the teaching out to so many places in this huge nation. We are expectant that blessings will follow as they repent of sins that have defiled the land.
It appeared the delegates expectation was to be equipped to take out our teaching, but of course Flame, and even more so the Lord, also wanted them to get greater revelation of Jesus, to be touched and healed - praise the Lord that many of them were!
Here is a selection of quotes from the Stefanos Conference:
“This is the best programme I have ever been on. We are not proud but grateful for the Lord’s favour.”
“I dealt with bitterness and anger yesterday. I feel peace and serenity. I can’t explain it. Even yesterday someone upset me, but it didn’t affect me.”
“I thought I knew much, but I have learned how to use the word of God. I love my wife very much, but I realised she does not make me happy, but it is someone else that is causing problems. I need to cleave to my wife.”
“This teaching has helped me to surrender my heart to Jesus and put the cross before denominations.”
Once we finished with the State representatives, we travelled to Barkin Ladi, a town that has been severely impacted by conflict and where instability and fear remain. Many people were seriously traumatised from all they had experienced and yet we were humbled by their willingness to respond to our teaching and prayer opportunities. One of our own team said that in human terms, what we brought them didn’t seem the most compassionate response – we present a robust gospel message, including the need for forgiveness of those who have committed atrocities – and yet the delegates willingness to be obedient to Christ and his presence with them is what ultimately brings hope, peace, joy and freedom. 100 people had been invited but those attending invited others and 141 people attended at least some of the sessions.
Three people all said our programme was organised especially for them. One had cried through most of the day then gone home feeling lighter, enjoying much joy as she shared her testimony with her daughter. One man’s crops had been destroyed by the Fulani for 3 years and one of his grandchildren had been burned alive. Tears rolled down his face, but when he released the Fulani from his judgement, he felt a large relief inside. Several listened to the teaching on forgiveness and were thinking, ‘If you knew what the Fulani had done to me, you wouldn’t ask me to forgive’. One had made a vow never to forgive. But as they bravely came to the cross, things changed – one had released the desire for revenge, one felt joy, another felt relieved.
For the final 4 days we had 48 pastors and leaders from several denominations all brought together to enjoy rest, recuperation and fellowship as well as attending our sessions. Rev Mark was very influential in supporting our work and led by the spirit, he encouraged the delegates to engage in all the times of ministry. We have rarely been so confident that our teaching will continue to be used to bring transformation after our departure as Mark assured us that he would be following up with all those attending. Some were already planning in small groups, how they were going to use the teaching, including translating into other local languages.
Here are some testimonies from this conference:
One man had loss and grief since 2022 when he lost his father who was very precious. He has a picture of his father which he looks at every day. This morning, he had no pain.
A young woman came and hugged Jan before saying she had never liked white people. She was angry because of the history and thought they were less human. She had no heart of love for them but on Tuesday she received a hug from us and realised we were human.
After the blessing and curses teaching, one man went home and blessed his wife. She was amazed and happy, and his 6-year-old boy, who he thought was mischievous, seemed to have changed.
During the teaching on Healing the Land, the team got on their knees and repented of ungodly aspects of our nation’s presence in Nigeria. There was a real sense of bonding between the team and the delegates, everyone humbling themselves before God.
Here are some testimonies from this conference:
One man had loss and grief since 2022 when he lost his father who was very precious. He has a picture of his father which he looks at every day. This morning, he had no pain.
A young woman came and hugged Jan before saying she had never liked white people. She was angry because of the history and thought they were less human. She had no heart of love for them but on Tuesday she received a hug from us and realised we were human.
After the blessing and curses teaching, one man went home and blessed his wife. She was amazed and happy, and his 6-year-old boy, who he thought was mischievous, seemed to have changed.
During the teaching on Healing the Land, the team got on their knees and repented of ungodly aspects of our nation’s presence in Nigeria. There was a real sense of bonding between the team and the delegates, everyone humbling themselves before God.
Forgiveness is one of our key teachings and one which we see repeatedly bringing freedom. This mission saw a total of approximately 180 people nailing discs to the cross signifying their forgiveness and others in Sunday services hearing the message of forgiveness. Here are some of the testimonies that resulted directly from that act:
One young man said that a pain in his chest that had been there for more than 15 years had gone.
A lady who had pains in her stomach which went away after nailing her judgement to the Cross. She didn’t say anything at first, but after 3 days with no re-occurrence. She spoke out about how God had healed her.
One man who lost his job as a pastor because of lies told about him, had been suicidal and was planning revenge by breaking a leg or killing someone else who had also lied. This week, he forgave, and the feelings of revenge have gone.
“I’ve noticed unusual joy in my wife, and we’ve regained hope. Nailing our pain on the cross and forgiving has healed our family, church, and community.”
“Through forgiveness and taking my pain to the cross, I’ve found relief from emotional and physical pain. I praise God and thank Flame International for their love and support.”
One young man said that a pain in his chest that had been there for more than 15 years had gone.
A lady who had pains in her stomach which went away after nailing her judgement to the Cross. She didn’t say anything at first, but after 3 days with no re-occurrence. She spoke out about how God had healed her.
One man who lost his job as a pastor because of lies told about him, had been suicidal and was planning revenge by breaking a leg or killing someone else who had also lied. This week, he forgave, and the feelings of revenge have gone.
“I’ve noticed unusual joy in my wife, and we’ve regained hope. Nailing our pain on the cross and forgiving has healed our family, church, and community.”
“Through forgiveness and taking my pain to the cross, I’ve found relief from emotional and physical pain. I praise God and thank Flame International for their love and support.”
A final unexpected opportunity came during a visit to a Christian-run hospital. As the team were leaving the hospital, a family asked if we could pray for their little girl, who was lying down, eyes closed and having breathing problems. A doctor was attending to her. The father looked desperate and upset but had heard us praying next door, hence the request. Jan and Sharon prayed for her healing, using the name of Jesus on multiple occasions. Later, we discovered that the family were Fulani. The Lord asks us to pray for our enemies and we felt that this had been a divine appointment!
This mission was covered in even more prayer than Flame usually has. In addition to our prayer supporters, some of whom sent very helpful words and scriptures, Rev Mark also had a team of 35 local intercessors praying in 2 hour shifts to cover us 24/7 for our whole stay. This must surely be one of the reasons we had such a great mission where the Lord’s presence was often tangible, and testimonies of a supernatural dimension were seen. We believe that the Lord made considerable progress towards the declaration we began with. We certainly saw people released from burdens, lies, and curses; there was a release of grief and emotional pain; we saw expressions of joy and wonderful spirit-filled prayer and worship. Praise the Lord for all he did. What a privilege to see it happening before our eyes.
This mission was covered in even more prayer than Flame usually has. In addition to our prayer supporters, some of whom sent very helpful words and scriptures, Rev Mark also had a team of 35 local intercessors praying in 2 hour shifts to cover us 24/7 for our whole stay. This must surely be one of the reasons we had such a great mission where the Lord’s presence was often tangible, and testimonies of a supernatural dimension were seen. We believe that the Lord made considerable progress towards the declaration we began with. We certainly saw people released from burdens, lies, and curses; there was a release of grief and emotional pain; we saw expressions of joy and wonderful spirit-filled prayer and worship. Praise the Lord for all he did. What a privilege to see it happening before our eyes.
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