Nigeria is number six on the World Watch List for most persecuted Christians. Therefore, the need to encourage and strengthen believers in this nation is great.
DPM is supporting these Christians by translating Derek’s materials into Hausa, and freely distributing them in the different places where persecution is taking place.
Suffering
Mary*, one of our local outreach workers in Nigeria, recently told us how many people from northern Nigeria have been dispersed from their villages.
“There is a lot of fighting and terrorism in this area”, she said. “People have been kidnapped; others have been driven away from their homes. This does not uniquely happen to Christians only, but Christians are targeted specifically. There is fear and anxiety.”
In a country with over 3 million displaced persons, there are no easy solutions. But according to Mary, encouraging Christians through literature is vital.
“Derek’s biblically sound teaching is going a long way to strengthen and support the church”, she said. “Because of all the suffering they go through, Christians start to wonder, ‘Where is God?’ Others are tempted to go back to traditional beliefs. Not only the older generation, but the younger generation as well.”
Being deeply rooted in God’s Word, His promises, comfort, and hope, is essential for these persecuted believers. That is why Mary is so committed to continuing to translate and distribute Derek’s Bible resources in Hausa.
“Our hope is to build the faith of the Church, so that the next generation will have a strong and sound foundation for their faith against what they are going through. That is why it's so important now to train pastors and teach lay people, and bring the Word that will build the spiritual life of the Church.”
Streams of Hope
Despite the extreme persecution of Christians in northern Nigeria and in Niger, God is doing a new thing. The power of the gospel is bringing forth a harvest. In 2023 and 2024, our outreach in Nigeria has gradually matured. We have recently appointed a qualified representative, and the organization is officially registered in Nigeria to enable us to expand the work throughout the nation. From our base in the north, our team is also working with church groups in Niger.
See how you can support persecuted Christians in Niger and Nigeria.
*Mary’s name has been changed for security reasons
