MY ACCOUNT
What does a pastor who has lost everything, whose congregation lives in a displacement camp lacking basic necessities, have to say every single day?
You might expect to hear a litany of complaints, cries of despair or an understandable questioning of God’s goodness.Not from Pastor Paul.*
“Our daily word is gratitude.”
Pastor Paul’s Journey of Persecution and Perseverance
This astonishing statement from a spiritual leader in Yola, Nigeria, exemplifies the remarkable faith of a persecuted Nigerian pastor, one who leads his flock amidst extremist violence. He is one of over 2 million Nigerian Christians uprooted by extremist violence, living where faith in Jesus invites persecution. His home is now a sprawling displacement camp, a place born of necessity and sorrow, yet it is from here, amidst the dust and the daily struggle for survival, that his unwavering faith shines.
Pastor Paul explains this steadfastness, saying, “The Lord’s works are wonderful. The prophecy is being fulfilled, and we are grateful.”
That prophecy Pastor Paul points to is John 16:2: “They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God.”
According to the Global Christian Relief Red List, Nigeria is the deadliest country in the world for Christians. Nearly 10,000 Christians were killed at the hands of Boko Haram, radicalized Fulani herdsmen, and other extremist groups between November 2022 and November 2024.
This stark reality underscores the profound courage behind the faith of a persecuted Nigerian pastor like Paul. In 2011, he was forced to flee his home and ministry. Extremists descended upon his community, and he escaped with little more than his life. “All our properties were destroyed,” he recalled. It’s a story echoed by so many who have been displaced.
The life he had carefully built was gone. The church he nurtured, the very ground he walked – all violently stripped away.
Today, Pastor Paul serves within the challenging confines of an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camp. He is a shepherd to a flock scattered by violence, now re-gathered amidst profound trauma and loss.
Standing Shoulder to Shoulder with Pastor Paul
Despite the ongoing struggles of Pastor Paul and his congregation — lack of clean water, food insecurity, limited education opportunities for children, etc.—the Nigerian church remains resilient, faithfully counting their blessings despite the setbacks.
Pastor Paul expresses this remarkable spirit: “We are happy all the time,” he says with conviction, “because God has informed us through the Bible.” This deep-seated joy is rooted in God’s unchanging Word rather than their fleeting and harsh circumstances.
Christians like you are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with persecuted believers in Nigeria, such as Pastor Paul and his congregation. Your compassionate giving through Global Christian Relief directly funds crucial initiatives like schools for children in IDP camps, clean-water projects, trauma counseling for women and children, and spiritual support programs (like Bible studies).
Fueled by your partnership, these projects are lifelines. They provide tangible help and hope, empowering the very faith and resilience that Pastor Paul so powerfully embodies.
Pastor Paul and his congregation are not distant statistics. As Pastor Paul himself reminds us, “We are one body, one spirit. God is one, our baptism is one. Our prayers are also one and the same.” They are our brothers and sisters, courageously pointing toward the gospel in one of the darkest places for Christians on earth.
When you stand with believers like Pastor Paul through Global Christian Relief, you affirm they are not forgotten. Your prayers and generosity become tangible expressions of that shared spirit, fueling their resilience and enabling their powerful witness.
This is how we become part of God’s answer to their prayers—a conduit of His provision and comfort. It’s a reflection of this truth Pastor Paul shared: “The Christians in America are praying for the Christians in Africa, and the Christians in Africa are praying for the ones abroad, because we are brothers of each other.”
Pastor Paul own prayer for his nation is rooted in God’s sovereign timing. “God Himself has said in the book of Ecclesiastes 3,” he explains, “‘Everything has a season.’ …Therefore, my prayer request is for God to bring peace to the country.”
Let us join him in that prayer.
Will you come alongside of Pastor Paul and his congregation as they share the good news amidst heartache in a Nigerian IDP camp?
* Pastor Paul is a pseudonym used to protect the identity of this Christian leader in Nigeria.
Vulnerable Christians like Pastor Paul face increasing levels of persecution, not only in Nigeria but all around the globe. Become a Frontline Partner today and your monthly, recurring gift can provide emergency relief and long-term support—plus Bibles, safe shelter, trauma counseling, medical aid, food and more for those in dire need.
