Persecuted Brethren in Africa
Persecuted Brethren in Africa
by: Dale Stoffer
by: Dale Stoffer
At the recently concluded 126th General Conference, Dale Stoffer asked
those in attendance to be aware of and pray about the persecution of
Brethren brothers and sisters in Africa who are part of the larger Brethren
family of churches. The request was made at the conference to share this
information with the wider Brethren Church so that we can expand the
prayer support for these persecuted Brethren.
At the recently concluded 126th General Conference, Dale Stoffer asked
those in attendance to be aware of and pray about the persecution of
Brethren brothers and sisters in Africa who are part of the larger Brethren
family of churches. The request was made at the conference to share this
information with the wider Brethren Church so that we can expand the
prayer support for these persecuted Brethren.
The two largest Brethren works in the world are found in Africa: the work
pioneered by the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria and the field in present
day Central African Republic, Chad, and Cameroon overseen by the Grace
Brethren. The Brethren Church played a part in both of these works:
missionaries from the Brethren Church partnered with the Church of the
Brethren in Nigeria from 1948 until 1976. The African fields presently
overseen by the Grace Brethren were begun by the Brethren Church by
James and Florence Gribble in 1921. At the time of the division with the
Grace Brethren in 1939, this mission field went with the Grace Brethren.
Today there are over 180,000 members in the Nigerian church and an
estimated 500,000 in Central African Republic, Chad, and Cameroon.
The two largest Brethren works in the world are found in Africa: the work
pioneered by the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria and the field in present
day Central African Republic, Chad, and Cameroon overseen by the Grace
Brethren. The Brethren Church played a part in both of these works:
missionaries from the Brethren Church partnered with the Church of the
Brethren in Nigeria from 1948 until 1976. The African fields presently
overseen by the Grace Brethren were begun by the Brethren Church by
James and Florence Gribble in 1921. At the time of the division with the
Grace Brethren in 1939, this mission field went with the Grace Brethren.
Today there are over 180,000 members in the Nigerian church and an
estimated 500,000 in Central African Republic, Chad, and Cameroon.
Both of these areas of Brethren activity have experienced ongoing violence
at the hands of Islamic Fundamentalists (Cameroon is, however, still
relatively safe). Churches and homes of Brethren have been burned and
Brethren pastors and people have been murdered. In Central African
Republic, which has a Christian majority, the situation has become more
complex, however, as reprisals against the Muslim minority are occurring at
the hands of Christian and animist militias.
Both of these areas of Brethren activity have experienced ongoing violence
at the hands of Islamic Fundamentalists (Cameroon is, however, still
relatively safe). Churches and homes of Brethren have been burned and
Brethren pastors and people have been murdered. In Central African
Republic, which has a Christian majority, the situation has become more
complex, however, as reprisals against the Muslim minority are occurring at
the hands of Christian and animist militias.
The violence against Brethren in Nigeria has especially been severe. The
vast majority of the over 200 girls who were kidnapped in April from the
school in Chibok, Nigeria, by Boko Haram, were Brethren. Boko Haram is an
Islamic sect in northern Nigeria violently seeking a "pure" Islamic state.
Richard Winfield, former Brethren Church missionary in Nigeria, indicated
that the girls were from an area in which Brethren Church missionaries had
served.
The violence against Brethren in Nigeria has especially been severe. The
vast majority of the over 200 girls who were kidnapped in April from the
school in Chibok, Nigeria, by Boko Haram, were Brethren. Boko Haram is an
Islamic sect in northern Nigeria violently seeking a "pure" Islamic state.
Richard Winfield, former Brethren Church missionary in Nigeria, indicated
that the girls were from an area in which Brethren Church missionaries had
served.
This persecution brings the plight of
persecuted Christians home for us as
Brethren. Please be in prayer for these
brothers and sisters who are suffering
severe persecution because they are
Christian. If you would like more
information about how you can help, especially in the case of the Nigerian
Brethren, please read the helpful suggestions on the following website:
http://support.brethren.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=27761.0
This persecution brings the plight of
persecuted Christians home for us as
Brethren. Please be in prayer for these
brothers and sisters who are suffering
severe persecution because they are
Christian. If you would like more
information about how you can help, especially in the case of the Nigerian
Brethren, please read the helpful suggestions on the following website:
http://support.brethren.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=27761.0
Additional resources and information on this horrific persecution of our
brothers and sisters in Nigeria visit:
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/06/29/gunmen-torch-churches-killdozens-in-nigeria/
Additional resources and information on this horrific persecution of our
brothers and sisters in Nigeria visit:
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/06/29/gunmen-torch-churches-killdozens-in-nigeria/
http://www.brethren.org/news/2014/situation-in-nigeria-is-awful.html
http://www.brethren.org/news/2014/situation-in-nigeria-is-awful.html
http://www.christianpost.com/news/nigeria-4-churches-burned-downscores-killed-in-deadly-boko-haram-attack-on-christians-122439/
http://www.christianpost.com/news/nigeria-4-churches-burned-downscores-killed-in-deadly-boko-haram-attack-on-christians-122439/