Pastor Barnabas’ story

Pastor Barnabas looks out over hundreds of tightly-packed makeshift tents, sprawling in every direction. This camp, with its appalling conditions, is home to thousands of people.

“Each one you see here… we are all Christians,” says Pastor Barnabas. “We are here because of violence.”

Pastor Barnabas, his wife and five children have lived in this informal camp for internally displaced people (IDPs), in Benue State in northern Nigeria, for four years. Along with everyone else, they’ve been driven here by persecution.

“Politicians don’t talk about it, the news doesn’t care about it, nobody talks about it,” says Pastor Barnabas. “We are remaining in darkness. How would you feel to be forgotten?”

Life in the camp is unbearably hard. The space inside Pastor Barnabas’ tent is smaller than a double mattress, so some of his family must sleep elsewhere. The men go out in search of food, but they risk attack. There’s no running water or toilets. No school. “People are losing their hope in God because of the situation they are in,” says Pastor Barnabas.

But people are here because life outside the camp is even worse.

Pastor Barnabas fled home after Fulani militants raided his farm. His brother and sister-in-law were killed, and Barnabas still carries injuries from a machete attack.

“I lack words,” said Pastor Barnabas. “My prayer is that God will intervene. Our eyes and our hope are on Him. I believe a day shall come when we will live a good life. God will restore back.”

Nigeria

Pray for Nigeria

1. Nigeria is 7th on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watchlist, with Islamic radical violence the most prominent type of persecution. In the Muslim-dominated north, Christians live under immense pressure from Islamic militants. More believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year than anywhere else in the world combined. Thank the Lord for the Church’s courage amid danger. Pray for grace to remain courageous in growing danger. Pray that believers will receive sufficient spiritual care.
2. In the northeast and parts of the Middle Belt Christians face brital attacks resulting in injury and destruction of property. Survivors suffer grief and trauma. The need for care outweighs resources of churches. Pray for more workers.
3. The attacks displace great numbers of Christians who often do not feel safe in formal displacement camps, so take refuge at churches and/or with fellow Christians. This puts severe socio-economic pressure on Christian communities. Pray for comfort to displaced believers. Pray for those caring for the displaced to find the physical and emotional strength to continue this work. Thank the Lord for every contribution of help and the generosity of hosting communities.Pray for provision in the needs of hosting and displaced communities. Pray for wisdom to find sustainable ways for the displaced
   to provide for families.
4. Countless women in Nigeria have suffered abduction and/or sexual violence. Apart from the trauma this causes, there is often also shame to deal with. Pray fervently for God’s intervention. Pray for more workers to bing help and provision for all.
5. In this onslaught men are often killed, lose their ability to work or have his property seized, impoverishing his family. Many leave try to find a safer and better life far away. Pray for discernment for the Church to find the spiritual, emotional, and physical solutions.
6. The median age in Nigeria is 17. Young people often feel marginalized. Pray for efforts by the government and Church to bring hope. Pray for thorough discipleship and sound view on economics coupled with practical help to uplift and create a hopeful future.
7. About 18.5 million children, the majority girls, have no access to education in Nigeria (UN, 2022), mostly because of the jihadist attacks on schools. Pray for more physical and emotional care to children, that they will receive the education they need.
8. Groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP often act with impunity against Christians (and Muslims who do not support their ideology). Pray that the Holy Spirit will bring many to salvation.
9. Islamic militancy occurs in the context of complex environmental and socio-economic challenges. Pray for wisdom and transparancy for the government to find solutions to the drivers of the crisis.
10. Nigeria is a Federal Presidential Republic led by Pres. Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu. When he took office in 2023, prioritized action against violence. Pray for wisdom and courage to not give up in protection for all Nigerians, no matter their tribe or faith.

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