FW: Nigeria update

Dear Prayer Partners

As I had asked for all of you to pray for peace in Nigeria combined with wisdom for us in all that we do and to press on in His service, I want to quickly update you before I leave for the weekend on Evangelism in the South East of Kaduna, to the villages of Rafin Gora, Matuak, and 2 other villages that are close by each of these.  I know a good number of those that normally go with us are planning to go out in spite of the suspicions of more trouble to come.

 

Last Friday the 16^th began a new policy of no vehicle traffic passing by places of worship during service times in and around Jos; Fridays, no traffic allowed to move by Mosques, and Sunday mornings, no traffic allowed to move past Churches. Our Sunday service last week saw a smaller than usual attendance; some were fearful of more bombs or revenge attacks, others unsure of exactly how the no movement around worship centers would flesh out. In Rayfield there are some side streets that allowed us to travel within less than a mile of our church, park the car on the road and walk the rest of the way. It was so encouraging to see those who persevered, overcoming fears and the discomfort that might come with walking on dusty dirt roads in the hot sun, uncertain of exactly how far one would have to walk.

 

In our community and throughout the City of Jos, most churches have put up concrete barriers so cars can no longer get near the buildings; as well as the police stations, banks, and military installations.  The metal detectors that some have been using are now everywhere and those that have the responsibility take it very seriously.

 

Please do not get the idea that we think we are impervious to all that is happening around us, the stress of living and serving in Nigeria has increased tremendously. Everything here is more difficult to accomplish, yet our Lord remains faithful. His Grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in our weakness, II Corinthians 12:9     

 

·         Please pray for God to change hearts in Nigeria, bringing about peace and reconciliation.

·         Please pray for wisdom and protection for us as a family.

·         Please pray for souls in the villages of Rafin Gora and Matuak to be saved through the preaching of the Word this weekend, and for safety for the outreach team.

 

Keep praying,

Bob DeVoe   

Part of His Workmanship

 

FW: Nigeria Prayer update

Dear Prayer Partners

I know many of you have been following the troubles in Nigeria with concerns and Prayers. Regrettably, a suicide bomber attacked the Catholic Church in our community of Rayfield this past Sunday leaving 11 people confirmed dead and 22 injured.  It is only 2 weeks since a similar incident took place in the city of Jos, where the Headquarters Church of Christ in Nigeria was attacked and several lives were also lost. Youths around the area went on a rampage, as soldiers shot sporadically to prevent further escalation of the violent protests that greeted this most recent suicide bombing. Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for both of these bombings.

Meredith was leading worship music at the Hillcrest Chapel so we were not in Rayfield when the bomb went off. The church in Rayfield we normally attend was shaken by the blast and members were detained for over an hour after the bombing for their own safety and then released to go home. Hillcrest School has closed the elementary and middle schools for the week and our community and Jos are oddly quiet and tense.  

We are, of course, praying very seriously for wisdom in all that we do or do not do. But we do not feel afraid or that the threat is toward us. The Churches chosen as targets thus far are churches where political figures and the more prominent residents of Jos are members and it would seem the agenda is to intimidate Christian leaders. The sobering thing seems to be the degree of hatred displayed toward innocent people; which Christians are also guilty of, as many of those killed have been in retribution.

On Feb. 29- Mar. 4 we held evangelism programs around our own area of Rayfield in Fwavwei, Shehe, Gut & Topp with almost 500 people coming out and 167 of them making decisions of Salvation. Our Church members really put their best effort forward inviting neighbors and friends and then spending time with them before and after the program. We were able to get a copy of The Cross & the Switch Blade,  a film made back in the 70’s about gangs, violence, retaliation, drug abuse and Jesus Christ, which we used in Gut & Topp areas of Rayfield (we live in Gut and our Church is in Topp and the Catholic church that was bombed is in between). This side of heaven we may never know the real impact of our service here, but I do believe that some of the people that we interacted with on those evenings had a change or heart and mind and were not caught up in the violence of this past Sunday because of it.

Some of those that came forward in Gut

Keep praying for peace in Nigeria, wisdom for us in all that we do and that the troubling times we find ourselves in are not a discouragement but a catalyst to press on in the service of Jesus Christ.     

Bob DeVoe

Part of His Workmanship