Then in despair I bowed my head, “There is no peace on earth,” I said,
for hate is strong and mocks the song of “Peace on earth, goodwill to men.” This verse of a familiar Christmas carol
rings so true. Hatred is a strong force in the earth, but it is being bravely
met by those who desire to demonstrate God’s love as shown so magnificently in
Bethlehem and at Calvary.
Today, December 14, Pastor
B____ and two of his fellow students will begin a perilous journey. A student
at the School of Evangelism in Jos, Nigeria, B____’ commitment to training has
been seriously tested.
Two months ago he learned of
bomb blasts carried out by Boko Haram, a militant Muslim terrorist group in
northeastern Nigeria. The bombs had struck in Maiduguri, B____’ home town, the
city where his wife and children still live. Frantic phone calls were unsuccessful
because the blasts had so damaged the infrastructure. He lived with uncertainty
regarding his family’s safety for days, until at last he was able to connect
with them.
A short visit home came a few
weeks later, and B____ seriously considered staying with his family.
Ironically, it was they who insisted
that he return, deeming his training in evangelism too important to abandon.
Tearfully, they parted again, trusting God for safety and protection.
In early December, B_____’ great
concern was renewed. He received a report that on December 3rd,
terrorists had attacked his neighbors, dragging them into the streets and
killing six of them. B_____’ family
huddled inside their home, uncertain of what would happen next. The danger of
death is real for Christians in northeast Nigeria–Boko Haram has warned
Christians to leave the region or face execution.
As you read this blog, Pastor
B____ may still be traveling. Terrorism has made the journey not only
dangerous, but arduous. A trip that normally would take 9-10 hours now is
expected to take at least 24 hours. Checkpoints have been established by
government forces in an attempt to keep order, but at times violence has broken
out between the soldiers and the terrorists.
Traveling nevertheless into the
fray, B____ and his classmates carry within them the light of Christ–the only
hope for bringing true peace, and yet the very characteristic the terrorists
are seeking to eradicate. This is true warfare–the Kingdom of Light versus the
Kingdom of Darkness.
Please pray for these dear
brothers in the Lord! They are determined
not only to return home to celebrate Christmas with their families, but to
complete their training and return to ministry in that very region. This is true courage.
This Christmas, celebrate the
birth of Christ rejoicing in the blessing you have of living in a peaceful
land. If you are reading this blog from a region where there is no political or
religious peace, remember that peace can reign in your heart even when war
rages in this world. May God’s peace be
ours this Christmas season.
