This week we publish the second of two articles by Open Doors SA ahead of the Amka Afrika Prayer Event for persecuted Christians in Africa on September 14
Also see: Pastor Barnabas’s story
With the help of Open Doors, we recently told the story of Barnabas, a Nigerian pastor who was violently displaced by Islamic terrorists. Now living in one of the countless refugee camps across African, Barnabas’ story isn’t unique or even novel. For over 16 million people have been displaced in sub-Saharan Africa to date. Much of this is the result of the Islamic insurgence, however not all of it is. Below is the story of Mary, another Nigerian, who was held captive by Fulani extremists for almost two months.
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Just as we saw in the previous article, stories like these rarely make international news, which means the global community is unaware. By telling part of Mary’s story, we hope to raise not only awareness but also support for the countless Africans being impacted by religious persecution and extremism, for sub-Saharan Africa is seeing unprecedented levels of violence.
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Attack during church service
Mary’s story starts on Sunday, during church: “We were in the Sunday service,” she recalls, “when we heard a gunshot. Everybody started running. Some were falling. They attack Christians because we worship Jesus, and they want us out of this land.” Amid chaos and killing Mary remembers hearing her sister crying out. So she went back. That decision and the subsequent weeks would change her life, forever. For together with three other women, Mary was captured. “They said if we didn’t go with them, they’d kill us.”
Over the next 54 days, Mary was sexually assaulted, over and over. The Fulani militants also mocked her for her faith, insulting her savagely while demanding that she cook for them. Apart from the physical harm and sustained mockery, the only other thing Mary received from her captors was animal food to eat.
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This ordeal, deep in the forests of northwest Nigeria, had one purpose: to destroy this 20-year-old woman’s faith in Jesus and destabilise her Christian community. It’s a tactic employed by Islamic extremists across Subsub-Saharan Africa as well, who are becoming increasingly brutal and murderous in their persecution of Christians.
Held on to her faith
Mary’s unimaginable suffering changed her forever, but it didn’t rob her of her faith. Amid the fear, pain and humiliation, Mary held onto Jesus. She even shared the Gospel with her captors. “If you give your life to Jesus,” she assured them, “He will forgive you and you can stop all these things you are doing.”
Eventually Mary’s family raised the money and paid the ransom for her release, borrowing more than they could and will ever repay. But her freedom would forever be tarnished by her ordeal. “The pain wasn’t over,” says Mary. “Every night, I dreamed of what happened to me. I couldn’t be around people. I laughed, but not in my heart. I didn’t have peace.”
That’s when the support of others, through Open Doors, made a difference. Mary was invited to an Open Doors trauma care centre, where she received trauma counselling and rediscovered her identity in Christ. Open Doors partners also helped buy essentials for the family and funded Mary’s education, since there was no money for school after paying the ransom.
Though Mary died last year from complications relating to surgery, her life didn’t end in despair. Your gifts and prayers strengthened Mary and fought back against violent persecution. Open Doors’ vision is that no one faces persecution or trauma alone, which is why we’re telling her story. In her final interview with Open Doors Mary said: “I thank God for the peace He brings to my life. And I thank Him for using people like you to help me.”
Please pray
- Give thanks for Mary’s life and faith and pray for her family as they live life without her.
- Pray for God’s protection over other young Christian women in Nigeria, who live with daily risk.
- Stand as one with the Church in Africa, and pray boldly for an end to violent persecution.
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