MY ACCOUNT
Christian persecution in Nigeria reached a personal level for many U.S. believers this week as Boko Haram abducted Fr. Alphonsus Afina, a former Alaska priest serving in one of the world’s most dangerous places for Christians.
The news has sent shockwaves through both his Alaskan church family and the Nigerian community he now serves.
“I ask for your urgent prayers for Fr. Alphonsus Afina,” Alaska Bishop Steven Maekawa said on a June 2 social media post, according to an article in the Alaska Watchman. “As many of you know, Fr. Alphonsus served in our diocese for six and half years and returned to Nigeria in April 2024. Pray for his freedom from captivity and for his physical and spiritual strength.”
Fr. Alphonsus’ abduction is a sobering reminder of the risks Christian leaders face in Nigeria, where extremist groups like Boko Haram routinely target pastors, priests, and church workers. Despite the dangers, believers like Fr. Alphonsus continue to serve courageously—sharing hope, shepherding their communities, and trusting God in the midst of uncertainty.
Boko Haram’s violent campaign has made Nigeria one of the most dangerous places in the world for Christians. Over 2 million believers have been driven from their homes by relentless attacks—many forced to flee with nothing but their faith. According to Global Christian Relief’s Red List, extremists killed nearly 10,000 Christians between November 2022 and November 2024. The group routinely targets priests, pastors, and church workers, aiming to silence Christian witness and devastate entire communities. In northern Nigeria, where Fr. Alphonsus was serving, Christians face not only violence but also deep discrimination and insecurity, making ministry both courageous and costly.
In the face of this crisis, Global Christian Relief is working alongside local partners to bring holistic support—spiritual, emotional, and practical—to those suffering at the hands of Boko Haram and other extremist groups. Through education programs for displaced children, mobile medical clinics, trauma counseling, and income-generating projects for widows and single mothers, GCR is helping restore hope and dignity to families who have lost everything.
Your prayers and support make a tangible difference. When you give, you help provide clean water, vocational training for youth, and vital healthcare to those living in camps with little access to basic necessities. Most importantly, you remind our Nigerian brothers and sisters that they are not forgotten—that the global Church stands with them, even in the darkest valleys.
Give today to stand with our brothers and sisters in Nigeria.
Pastors and priests like Fr. Alphonsus Afina risk abduction, violence, and loss for sharing the hope of Christ in Nigeria—one of the world’s most dangerous places for believers. But they’re not alone—and your prayers matter. Stand with our Nigerian brothers and sisters.
