WEBINAR | Lifting Up Leah

WEBINAR | Lifting Up Leah

4:30 pm ET, Thursday, April 28

Leah Sharibu is a courageous Christian teenager stolen from her family by radical Islamic extremists who have said they intend to keep her as a ‘slave for life.’  Taken with over 100 other female students in February, 2018, Leah alone was kept when the others were released. She was kept, said her captors, for refusing to renounce her faith in Jesus. She was just 14.

Her classmates said when the gun-toting terrorists demanded to know “who here is Christian?” Leah’s arm would shoot up even as her classmates tried to pull it down.

Nigeria and the world have been inspired by her heroic show of faith over fear.

Nonetheless, as her 19th birthday approaches on May 14, Leah—like so many thousands of other Nigerian women and girls—languishes in captivity. She’s been forcibly married to an ISWAP commander and has two young children born in captivity. Those who could rescue her, have not. Promises were made to the family by various members of the Nigerian government. None have been kept. They seem to have forgotten her.

But, her family has not forgotten Leah and neither have we.

Christian women and girls are among the most vulnerable and targeted population for Nigerian terrorists be they Boko Haram, ISWAP, Fulani Herdsmen, or so-called ‘Bandits.’

What more can be done to elevate the story of Leah and draw international attention to the religious-based violence and kidnappings plaguing Nigeria?

Join us for an important conversation with Leah’s family, Dr. Gloria Puldu, president of the Leah Foundation, and others who have advocated for her return.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of joining Pastor Greg Young of Chosen Generation Radio for a LIVE interview with Pastor Vitaly Dudukaloff from The Light Church (Svitlo Church) in Plesetske, located 30 miles southwest of Kyiv. Pastor Vitaly, who joined us for our webinar in March, and his church community have provided care and assistance to communities near Kyiv. He related stories of atrocities and miracles from the towns and villages left behind after Russian troop withdrawals—including an amazing story relating how a community's prayer seemingly confused a Russian convoy causing them to turn back. He also discussed Russian disinformation campaigns and the danger of facing godless Russian troops. WATCH HERE

On Tuesday, Apr. 19, I talked with Pastor Sam Rohrer on Stand in the Gap Radio in an interview entitled "Wake Up America" about the alarming increase in heavily persecuted Christians worldwide. In 2018, when STPC was formed, there were 215 million heavily persecuted Christians in the top 50 countries identified by Open Doors USA. Today, that number has increased 67% in four short years to 360 million. LISTEN HERE. 

USCIRF 2022 Annual Report Launch, Monday, Apr. 25 at 2 pm ET. Register HERE. Also see, FIACONA's report on persecution in India. We are eager to see USCIRF's recommendations to the U.S. State Department on India and how it does—or does not—compare to FIACONA's report.

And finally, please TAKE ACTION to stop Wallstreet from investing U.S. federal pension funds in Communist Chinese state-owned or -operated companies—many of them sanctioned for human rights abuse. And watch the webinar, "Are You Investing in America's Destruction?" at the Committee on the Present Danger: China's newly launched "Mad as Hell Campaign."

Happy Easter, everyone!
And, for those who have celebrated Passover, Chag Pesach Sameach!

With Easter joy,

Dede Laugesen
Executive Director
Save the Persecuted Christians