YOUR PRAYERS ARE NEEDED FOR NIGERIA
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YOUR PRAYERS ARE NEEDED FOR NIGERIA
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Why should you pay attention to Nigeria?
Well, with over 200 million people — split relatively evenly between those identifying as Christians and Muslims — it has the biggest population in Africa. Actually, the United Nations estimates Nigeria will overtake the U.S. as the world’s third most populous nation behind China and India by 2050.
Nigeria also has Africa’s largest economy after edging out South Africa earlier this year. And it is organized as a democracy. It is poised to be a leader on the continent and an influential global player.
But Nigeria now also bears the dishonor of being listed as a Country or Particular Concern (CPC) by the U.S. State Department for its practices related to “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.” It is the first democracy to receive this designation — a label that puts it in the company of countries like China, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.
When announcing this news earlier this week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did not go into details about Nigeria — a significant American trade partner. However, the State Department’s latest International Religious Freedom Report is full of alarming stories and trends. Particularly concerning is a spiral of unchecked terrorism.
Speaking to reporters about all the CPC designees this week, U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback said of Nigeria, “You’ve got expanded terrorist activities, you’ve got a lot of it associated around religious affiliations, and the government’s response has been minimal to not happening at all.”
Brownback noted that he and other key U.S. officials had been communicating with Nigerian leaders about this crisis, but they were receiving “an inadequate response.”
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent watchdog agency, welcomed Nigeria’s addition to the CPC list. Chair Gayle Manchin pointed out that the listing of a fellow democracy for the first time “demonstrates that we must be vigilant that all forms of governments respect religious freedom.”
(Notably, USCIRF’s press release reminds readers of its concerns with India, which is both the world’s largest democracy in the world and paradoxically one of the most perilous places for Christians. Could this be an encouragement for a pivot for India, as well as Nigeria, on matters of religious freedom?).
Another USCIRF commissioner, Reverend Johnnie Moore, has also been paying particularly close attention to the struggles in Nigeria. In an interview with the Heritage Foundation’s Daily Signal last week, he said:
I think a lot of people would be surprised to learn that in 2015, when ISIS was at its very height in Iraq and Syria, and the destruction was on the news every single day, that simultaneously in Africa’s largest country, Nigeria, there were ISIS-like terrorists that had already that year killed more Christians and basically anyone that stood in their way, including plenty of Muslims, than ISIS killed in Iraq and Syria. In fact, they have probably killed as many as 100,000 people over the last couple of decades. All of this has been escalating very, very quickly.
Following the CPC designation, Moore, along with his colleague Rabbi Abraham Cooper, posted an article challenging the Nigerian government to take it as a prod to action — to move to protect its people, particularly Nigerian Christians, who are “are approaching this Christmas with a sense of dread.”
Moore and Cooper declared, “The United States is sending a clear message: enough is enough.”
Editor’s note: Have you noticed the prayers in the comments on articles on this site from Nigerian Christians? They are passionate about praying for America.
Will you pray for Nigeria — this nation with tools to lead in Africa and in the world? Will you pray for our fellow Christians and all those persecuted for their faith?
May the light, love, and peace of Christ shine in that land in this Christmas season.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
Aaron Mercer is a Contributing Writer with two decades of experience in Washington, D.C.’s public policy arena. He reflects on faith, technology, and the public square at FTPolicy.com. (Photo Credit: Unsplash.)
Share your prayers for Nigeria in the comments below!
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Absolutely, I will pray for these people and for this that nation.
I am praying for Nigeria….all of Nigeria…but especially for Christians in that country. I pray for evil to be found out wherever it is and for freedom from persecution to be for all the people there. I pray that the leaders there will step up to the plate to protect the citizens and that human rights will be a priority there. I thank them for their prayers for the United States.
I decree protection over the people of NIgeria. LOrd help their governement put a priority on protecting their people. If there is any governmental elite capture from enemy nations in their government, expose it and secure their righteous government. Root out people in powerful positions in Nigeria not aligned with the best interest of truth and justice for their people. I decree confusion and chaos to the demonic networks that are partiacularly targeting democratic nations where free speech and freedom prevail such as Nigeria, USA, Brazil and other nations. Communistic infiltration and marxist groups and other antichrist groups are bound. I agree with the prayers across the globe for God’s destiny purposes to prevail and am thankful for all the people in other countries praying for America. Protect the ekklesia and give us your strategies from heaven to be territorial takers in this war season. No king but Jesus and he is our director in this battle.God bless Mark Pompeo and
Lord, I pray for the leaders of Nigeria. May they have an opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel. I pray that they would understand that they have an important commission to protect the lives of all citizens in Nigeria. I pray for those who are persecutors, that they too may encounter the person of Jesus Christ and be transformed. Protect the innocent, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. May they have boldness to tell others of Jesus. Amen
Heavenly Father, We cry out to you on behalf of the people of Nigeria. We ask for your warring angels to bring a halt to the murder of Christians and others, as religious liberties are trampled by the rebellion and pride of unprincipled men. We ask for faith to rise in every believer and for the power of the Gospel to spring forth into every area of Nigeria. We ask You, oh God, to use every sacrifice of the Godly ones, to build Your kingdom in Nigeria. We pray the Word of God will spread across the country like wild fire that cannot be stopped, and that every Word of truth will accomplish Your purposes, Lord God; for Your great glory, amen.
We are praying for you, Nigeria. May the Light of His Presence be your comfort and hope! Our God is MIGHTY to save! Blessed be His Name. May He give you an opening to share His Good News and may He help you to share it fearlessly, as you should. (Eph. 6)
Father we cry out to you for your people in Nigeria that you would deliver them from the hand of the enemy. Lord when the enemy comes like a flood the Holy Spirit raises a standard. Lord we ask that you would push back the powers of darkness which seek to destroy your church in Nigeria. Lord we ask that you would rebuke the enemy. Lord we know that Boko Haram works with Isis. Lord pour out your Holy Spirit on Boko Haram and shake them and convict them. Lord bring many out of the deception of the enemy and save them. Lord the enemy comes to steal and to kill and to maim. Lord hear the cries of the martyrs crying how long? Lord you are a righteous judge but you are a deliverer. When your people prayed, you sent President Trump to deal with the caliphate in Syria. You will not ignore the prayers of your people. Move quickly to deliver and send your warring angels to fight this battle. Lord you will build your church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
In Jesus name. Amen
Received a letter from Pastor Greg Tweddell of Ignition 633 ministries. Currently there are 740,000 Christian refugees – mostly farmers – in Benue State, Nigeria who have lost everything. About 150,000 are crowded into tiny, dirty camps, living in horrific conditions. The others have fled to cities, living on the streets with no work. These brothers and sisters are trusting God to deliver them.
Please visit the website, Ignition 633 ministries to learn how you can help.
I pray for Nigerian and other Christian’s in other African nations that God will “rend the heavens and come down” in answer to our prayer and theirs. That God will give protection to them and deliverance from the ongoing killings.
Lord of Hosts, we pray for our brothers and sisters in Nigeria, please strengthen them, protect them. Send Your angel armies to defeat the works of the devil in Nigeria. In Jesus name we pray, amen!
Dear Father,
You have raised up Godly young people and others in Nigeria. My sweet spiritual daughter I sponsor through an organization which has raised her up and trained her as one of many young leaders raised like her in Nigeria – Please give her and all like her the courage to stand strong. Give them your angels to protect them and others like her. Make them bold that many will know You because of her faith. I pray to that you will tear down the strongholds of the enemy over Nigeria. That many will be saved and Your name will be glorified in their place. In Jesus name, amen.
I asked the Lord what to pray and He brought Psalm 27 to my mind and heart and also especially for Nigerian believers’ physical provision in these days of such chaos:
Copy-Paste Scripture Reference attribution:
https://classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+27&version=NKJV
A Psalm of David.
27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
2
When the wicked came against me
To eat[a] up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
3
Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.
4
One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the [b]beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.
5
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
6
And now my head shall be [c]lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of [d]joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
7
Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8
When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
9
Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.
10
When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the Lord will take care of me.
11
Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12
Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14
Wait[e] on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Yes, Lord, we lift up the believers in Nigeria, your precious people, and ask you that their faith be increased, that your hand of favor might rest upon them, that you might multiply you church, even as the enemy seeks to destroy it.
Jehovah-Nissi extend your banner wide over your body of believers persecuted only for their Love of you and how great you are. We long for you. May your peace and grace be upon them. And May the world see that no one can hold back your plan of mercy and grace to those that belong to you. You are Love…In Jesus’s name I ask you to hear my cry Abba. Amen and Amen.
I have been so encouraged when I see people from other countries praying with us for America. I honestly did not know what was going on in Nigeria. I will be praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Nigeria and also for the salvation of those that are coming against them. I pray that if any of you see this from Nigeria, that you are encouraged now as we pray for you the way we have been encouraged as you pray for us! Hallelujah to our Father God who binds us together in love!
The news of all persecuted people needs to be spread to all the body of Christ. Too many know nothing of the suffering church around the world.
I agree, I know of a lot of other situations around the world where believers are being persecuted. But I had not heard of what is going on in Nigeria. So it is good to know so we can pray!
God bless whoever brought the persecution of Nigerian Christians to the attention of the United States Government. I believe that this is timely and an answered prayers. Now, let’s pray that those concerned will get to the ROOT OF THE PROBLEM AND DEAL WITH IT ONCE AND FOR ALL. Because PRAYERS AND STRATEGIC ACTION MUST GO TOGETHER (Matthew 7:7) Thanks and have a Merry Christmas.
Father I beseech you now on behalf of the Nigerian people to encourage your church there and to bring peace to this land. Strengthen the faith and resolve of your church in Nigeria that they may stand firm in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout their land and around the world. I also thank you for their prayers and I thank you for people like pastor Jonnie Moore; a man whom you have called to stand in the gap and proclaim the name of Jesus to all the world while being a voice to the world for your persecuted people. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!
I pray for Nigeria and all of Africa. My son-in-law is from Nigeria and I have two 1/2 Nigerian grandsons.
Holy God, I plead the blood of Jesus over Nigeria. I lift up everyone of my brothers and sisters in this country. Please send your angels to guide, guard and protect them. May your Holy Spirit empower them to do the works of the Lord boldly. I declare justice, healings and miracles over the beautiful people of Nigeria.
In Jesus name
Father thank you that the Nigerian Christians are praying for us. We pray now for them and for their government to follow you in every way. Father we pray for the conversion of Muslims At a supernatural rate! Father give dreams and visions of Jesus. Show your light there. Protect your people with visible angelic hosts and angelic sightings that caused the fear of God to be known in Nigeria. May the light of your love bring forth your gospel of peace in that country!
Father, protect Your people wherever they are, and especially we lift up Nigeria to You. Let Your Shalom reign over the country and destroy the evil within it. Expose and remove those who are in authority who have turned a blind eye to what is happening. We come together and pray for this country and where two or more are gathered in Your Name, You are there. Let our prayers rise to You and as You hear, You move. Strengthen the leaders who are for religious freedom and against the killing of innocents because of their faith. Raise up a new army of leaders who walk in Your Word so that this country becomes a beacon of light on a dark continent. Let them become a shining example that others will follow. In Jesus Name, Amen
I have been praying for Nigeria – and all of Africa, along with China and North Korea. May the Lord pull down evil in their governments as He is doing in America so that Christians can worship Him openly and spread the gospel. May the Lord grant us a world-wide revival so that there can be a great harvest of souls for His kingdom. I believe He is coming for His church very soon and pray that many accept His free gift of salvation before His judgment comes. All honor and power and glory be to the Name of Jesus! Amen!
To my brothers and sisters in Nigeria, China, and North Korea – know that you are loved and are being prayed for in America! ❤️
IFA – please let us know of other countries we should be praying for (from this article it looks like India should be added to my prayer list).
I’m not sure if this would help you, but you may want to look into The Voice of the Martyrs. I have their APP on my phone and check in on a daily basis. They highlight a country on a daily basis with specific information to pray about. Example: The country of Kyrgyzstan is being prayed for today.
Thank you for your heart to pray regularly for persecuted Christians.
Father God,
We ask that YOU would expose and remove any one in the Nigerian government that is either affiliated or turns their heads because of bribes or fear of the Boko Haran. Father convict the government of Nigeria to raise up an army to eradicate this violence and Terrorism by the Boko Haran and hold them accountable for the evil that they do in Jesus name.
I pray your divine protection and healing grace over all Christians and especially those who have been hurt harmed in anyway and for healing to happen in this nation of Nigeria.That YOU will be glorified above all else in Jesus name.
Praying is always great, but after so much inaction on the part of the government, action has to be taken to force the government ot intervene and eliminate Boko Haran from her territory. If the US applied sanctions to Iran, North Korea and now China, an evaluation has to be done whether this method would be effective in the case of Nigeria, or whether putting Nigeria on the list of terrorist nations, or any other method. Continuing not doing anything to pressure the government will only encourage the terroristsm to kill and rape more!
Oh our Father, intervene on behalf of those you have adopted as sons and daughters in Nigeria. We are one family and we Christians in America stand with our brothers and sisters against evil and lawlessness. We come in the mighty name of Jesus, the Christ, and declare that the gates of hell will NOT prevail against your praying Church. Disperse Your angels, Lord Jesus, to protect and fight for your people. We ask all this in the Name of Jesus the Messiah!
Oh Lord we lift up our brothers and sisters in Nigeria who are suffering violence because they love you. Please protect and strengthen them and give them a deep supernatural peace that only you can give. Turn the hearts of those who seek to hurt them into hearts of flesh that would come to know you as Lord and Savior. Please bind the demonic spirits over this great nation and strengthen their churches and pastors as they wait for your deliverance. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray!
Heavenly Father, we lift up Nigeria to You. Oh Lord, we know You love Nigerians and want Your Word to spread throughout their country that they would come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Father we ask for Your Holy Spirit to pour out upon Nigeria so that bondage, fear, hate, and destruction would cease and be replaced with Your perfect love and peace.
Fill their land with peace, love, and joy in the mighty name of Jesus – Amen!
Amen