"LEAH SHARIBU INSPIRES NIGERIA'S CHRISTIANS, FACES EXECUTION BY BOKO HARAM" - Beleaguered believers rally behind Dapchi schoolgirl’s example of keeping the faith under pressure. - SUNDAY OGUNTOLA, OCTOBER 15, 2018;
https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/october/free-leah-sharibu-boko-haram-execution-dapchi-nigeria.html [NOTE: This article itself is very long but this post is made even longer with a look at persecution of Christians around the world. Please be sure to scroll down through the rather long but revealing second article at what tens of millions of fellow believers in Christ endure for their faith. May it all lead us to be in prayer for them, not just on this DAY but every day! P.S. - If YOUR church doesn't note TODAY as the Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, please send this on to YOUR pastor to encourage him to do it at some time in the near future. Our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are counting on our prayers!]
Christians in Nigeria are desperately praying for 15-year-old Leah Sharibu as the one-month deadline to save the only Dapchi schoolgirl left in Boko Haram captivity draws to an end this week.
The terrorist group’s ISIS-affiliated faction threatened last month to kill the teenager, who was held back for refusing to renounce her Christian beliefs. The other hostages, 104 of her schoolmates, were released following negotiations with the Nigerian government in March. Her resolute faith in the face of death has inspired evangelists, pastors, and everyday Christians across Africa’s most populous nation.
Boko Haram started in 2002 as a nonviolent sect meant to purify Islamic practices, but in recent years rose to the second deadliest group in the Global Terrorism Index, responsible for tens of thousands of deaths and more than 2 million people displaced.
In February, its ISIS wing abducted 112 female students preparing for final exams at Government Girls’ Science and Technical College Dapchi in the northeastern state of Yobe. Six of the girls from the all-female boarding school died during captivity while one escaped, leaving Sharibu the only Dapchi student still with her abductors. “The other nurse and midwife will be executed in a similar manner in one month, including Leah Sharibu,” the sect threatened on September 18 in a video of the execution of Saifura Khosa, a midwife with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Days before the execution video emerged, Sharibu pleaded for rescue in a 35-second audio clip. “I am calling on the government and people of goodwill to intervene to get me out of my current situation,” she said.“I am begging you to treat me with compassion. I am calling on the government, particularly the president, to pity me and get me out of this serious situation. Thank you.”
Sharibu’s family has pleaded with the Nigerian government to save her. Her mother, Rebecca, held a press conference in Jos, shortly after the video circulated. The family finally heard from President Muhammadu Buhari this month, who told them by phone that no effort would be spared to ensure her rescue.
But Sharibu’s father, Nathan, told CT he was losing hope of ever seeing his daughter again.
“We are very sad. The house is quiet,” he said. “We are so worried [the terrorists] could harm her. “We want the government to please help us. I believe they can rescue her if they want to. They can get her out if they try enough. They should please not allow her to get killed.”
Advocates for Sharibu’s release are spurred by similar efforts for 276 girls abducted by Boko Haram from Government Secondary School Chibok in the northeastern state of Borno in April 2014, publicized worldwide through the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Chibok and Dapchi, where Sharibu was taken, are just four hours apart in northeast Nigeria, which has been battered by deadly terror attacks since 2010; Yobe, Borno, and neighboring Adamawa state were placed under a state of emergency in 2013.
In both cases, Boko Haram kidnapped hundreds of girls. Following negotiations, 26 of the Chibok students were freed in October 2016 and another 82 in May 2017, in the wake of leading international figures, including former First Lady Michelle Obama, calling for their release.
But church leaders and Christian activists have been most vociferous in the campaigns for Sharibu’s rescue, inspired by the story of a teenager refusing to renounce her faith even when threatened with death.
Emmanuel Ogebe, an international human right activist who facilitated the relocation of 10 of the freed Chibok girls to the US, believes Sharibu’s case is strikingly appealing. “She is the modern-day heroine of the faith at just 15,” he told CT. “Leah’s bold stance for her faith has resonated with the Christian community across Nigeria unlike anything we have seen in several decades,” he said. “While there are dueling narratives about Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen atrocities, everyone can understand clearly Leah’s case—which is that she is a Christian child being held hostage for her faith.
“Incidentally, even Muslims have expressed displeasure with her captivity, saying there’s no compulsion in Islam,” he said.
Gideon Para-Mallam, a leader with the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) and one of the organizers of the Sharibu family’s recent press conference, is glad the campaign for her release has not been politicized thus far. “The advocacy is being pursued with decency. No political hijacking of this struggle,” he told CT. “Leah’s testimony is an inspirational one,” he said. “It is a defining moment of what Christians are going through in Nigeria.”
Sharibu’s refusal to renounce her faith has also become an inspirational theme for preachers across the West African nation evenly divided between predominantly Muslims in its north and predominantly Christians in its south.
Some of the rescued girls recounted how Sharibu refused to deny her faith despite her classmates’ pleas that she should recant and return home with them. “I am a Christian,” they reported she kept telling her abductors, even after being pressured to accept Islam as a precondition to her release.
Beyond the weekly prayer sessions in churches across the oil-rich nation, many Nigerian believers have challenged themselves to stand tall for Christ even in the most of the most grueling encounters. “If a girl as young as 14 [Sharibu turned 15 in captivity] could stand for Christ in the face of death, it is clear no reason is good enough to deny the faith,” said Abraham Olaleye, a popular Lagos-based evangelist and founder of Abraham Evangelistic Ministry. “I draw a lot of personal lessons from her travails, and I use it to challenge my members every Sunday to stand. I tell them if Leah can stand, you have no reason to fall.”
Ladi Thompson, founder of the Macedonian Initiative, a support agency for persecuted Christians in northern Nigeria, said Sharibu has earned the public status of sainthood. “She is the No. 1 Christian citizen of Nigeria at the moment,” he said. “To have stood for Christ in a jungle, surrounded by gun-wielding mean men, is a clear testimony of her personal walk with God. “I believe God raised her to reawaken our consciousness to be ready to die for our faith at all costs,” said Thompson.
Felix Meduoye, general overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, said Buhari’s administration must ensure that Sharibu survives. “If she is killed, it will speak volumes,” he said.
Despite the grim situation, Ogebe is optimistic Sharibu will be rescued. But in the extreme case that she is executed, “it will just prove that they couldn’t conquer a young girl’s faith,” he said, “and that their faith cannot be worth anything if they would execute an innocent child because of money.”
Para-Mallam, who has been in close touch with Sharibu’s family, believes the teen has redefined Christian courage in the face of persecution in Nigeria. “Rather than discouragement, there is a lot of inspiration the Christian community is getting from the courage displayed by this 15-year-old high school girl,” he said. “Leah is a heroine of the Christian faith to many Christians, not just in Nigeria but around the world. Leah is inspiring many young girls,” he said. “Some have asked, ‘if I were in Leah’s shoes, would I deny Christ?’ Some have now quietly resolved to stand for Christ no matter the cost.” Para-Mallam is also hopeful that she won’t be executed. “[But] if Leah were to die in the hands of the terrorists, many believers will be sad and angry, but never discouraged by the church.
“Leah is already an icon of faith, courage, and heroism. Nothing will change this fact and reality.”
[italics and colored emphasis mine]
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PERSECUTION AT A GLANCE - Open Doors; https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/
Christians remain one of the most persecuted religious groups in the world. While Christian persecution takes many forms, it is defined as any hostility experienced as a result of identification with Christ. Christians throughout the world continue to risk imprisonment, loss of home and assets, torture, beheadings, rape and even death as a result of their faith.
Trends show that countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East are intensifying persecution against Christians, and perhaps the most vulnerable are Christian women, who often face double persecution for faith and gender.
Every day we receive new reports of Christians who face threats, unjust imprisonment, harassment, beatings and even loss of family because of their faith in Jesus.
Every month:
255 Christians are killed
104 are abducted
180 Christian women are raped, sexually harassed or forced into marriage
66 churches are attacked
160 Christians are detained without trial and imprisoned
Every year, Open Doors releases the World Watch List—a global indicator of countries where human and religious rights are being violated, and those countries most vulnerable to societal unrest and destabilization. This is the 26thyear of the Open Doors World Watch List, and it remains the only annual in-depth survey to rank the 50 most difficult countries in which to be a Christian.
According to our research:
215 million Christians experience high levels of persecution in the countries on the World Watch List. This represents 1 in 12 Christians worldwide. North Korea is ranked #1 for the 17th consecutive year as the most dangerous country for Christians.
During the World Watch List 2018 reporting period: 3,066 Christians were killed; 1,252 were abducted; 1,020 were raped or sexually harassed; and 793 churches were attacked.
Islamic Oppression fuels Christian persecution in 8 of the top 10 countries.
MAJOR TRENDS IN CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION -
THE SPREAD OF RADICAL ISLAM
Islamic oppression is one of the most widely recognized sources of persecution for Christians in the world today—and it continues to spread—aiming to bring many parts of the world under Sharia law. The movement, which often results in Islamic militancy and the persecution of Christians, is expanding in Asia (Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia) and Africa (Egypt, Nigeria, Somalia).
THE RISE OF RELIGIOUS NATIONALISM
In a resort to preserve power, insecure governments are using the country’s majority religion to marginalize Christians and other religious minorities. This phenomenon has been observed in some parts of Asia with Hindu nationalism (India, Nepal) and Buddhist nationalism (Myanmar, Sri Lanka) both gaining ground.
INTENSE CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IN CENTRAL ASIA
Christian persecution in Central Asia is on the rise in countries like Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan—and Azerbaijan is new to the list at #45. There is a grassroots revival of Islam in Central Asia, and that means more pressure from the nationalist pro-Islamic governments and within society—causing increased persecution levels on two fronts.
CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION BY REGION
MIDDLE EAST
Dramatically increasing persecution against Christians in all areas of their lives, Afghanistan models an alarming trend that reverberates through the top ten on the list: no central government, extremist Muslim factions trying to control the country and an intense conservative Islamic population.
Afghanistan and North Korea nearly tied. Never before have the top two countries been so close in incidents. Both countries are extreme in intolerance and outright persecution of Christians in every area Open Doors monitors. Afghanistan now meets the same level of persecution as North Korea in five out of the six areas. This is a tragedy considering the efforts being made by the international community to help rebuild Afghanistan and yet failing to ensure freedom of religion. Reports of violence and human rights atrocities from North Korea are pervasive, while the situation faced by Christians in Afghanistan may be underestimated. It is hard for westerners to imagine a second country could nearly meet the levels of persecution seen in North Korea, but Afghanistan has reached that level this year.
In addition to Pakistan being the most violent toward Christians, the country also scored the highest in churches or church buildings being attacked, abductions and forced marriages.
ASIA
Led by North Korea, Christians living in many Asian countries continue to face intensifying persecution. Twenty-two of the 50 countries on the list are in Asia. India experienced a dramatic rise in Christian persecution, moving from No. 15 in 2017 to No. 11 this year. Radical Hinduism and Indian nationalism are driving factors in the increasing levels of unrest and instability Christians face. In 2014, India scored only 55 points, while in 2017, Open Doors World Watch List researchers assigned 81 points to the nation—one of the fastest and most intense increases seen. Nepal appears on the list for the first time and lands stunningly at No. 25 due to India’s religious nationalism spilling into the country.
AFRICA
Ethnic cleansing based on religious affiliation is becoming common in a number of sub-Saharan African countries like Somalia (No. 3), Sudan (No. 4), Nigeria (No. 14) and Kenya (No. 32). Terrorism connected with extreme Islam continues to plague many African nations, resulting in increased persecution of Christians.
THE AMERICAS
Mexico (39) and Columbia (49) remain the only two nations outside the region of the Middle East, Asia and Africa to make the list. Both experienced increases in persecution, primarily attributed to organized crime, corruption and governmental instability.
TOP TEN COUNTRIES WHERE IT’S MOST DANGEROUS TO FOLLOW JESUS
According to research calculations, the top ten nations where Christians found it most dangerous and difficult to practice their faith in 2017 were:
North Korea (94 points)
Afghanistan (93 points)
Somalia (91 points)
Sudan (87 points)
Pakistan (86 points)
Eritrea (86 points)
Libya (86 points)
Iraq (86 points)
Yemen (85 points)
Iran (85 points)
Syria dropped out of the top ten list down to No. 15, while Libya jumped back on the top ten list at No. 7 (since being No. 10 in 2016).
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PRAYER MATTERS:
"To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world." - Karl Barth; "Prayer is inviting God into a seemingly impossible situation and trusting/resting in His love and grace to accomplish His perfect will in His perfect time and for His greatest glory. Intercession is the one of the great privileges AND responsibilities for EVERY believer." - Stan
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Praying Through the Open Doors World Watch List for persecuted believers:To learn more, please go to -https://www.opendoorsusa.org/take-action/pray/monthly-prayer-calendar/
*Name has been changed to protect identity.
Focus for November: Praying for Pakistan -It is No. 5 on the 2018 World Watch List and has almost 4 million believers (out of a general population of 197 million). Converts who gather for worship face great risk. They are followed and monitored, and anyone who meets with them is investigated as well. Throughout November, Open Doors is focusing on strengthening our persecuted family in Pakistan.
November 4 | PAKISTAN - Pray with the parents of Sharoon Masih, whose son was killed last
year by a Muslim student during school. Pray for continued strength and that his family will continue to live in the hope and truth of one day seeing their son and brother in Heaven.*Name has been changed to protect identity.
Like the Christians cited in this article, I am encouraged by Leah's example of standing firm. I pray that God rescues her and Alice, the other woman with her. I hope I can also be brave, remembering that our sufferings on this earth cannot be compared to the glory that awaits us in heaven.
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