Source: www.persecution.org
Date: April 12, 2020
Solomon and his wife, Mercy, founded an orphanage in Nigeria in 1996. The orphanage has helped hundreds of children since it opened more than two decades ago, giving vulnerable children a future and teaching them to fall in love with Jesus and to follow Biblical truth.
However, the orphanage is located in one of the most fundamentalist Islamic areas of Nigeria. In 2002, the state government attempted to close the orphanage, but failed.
Last year, however, despite having all of the legal paperwork, the orphanage was shut down by the state government on Christmas day.
The state moved all 27 of the orphans to state-run homes, where they would be forced to study Islamic teachings. These children most likely will not see aBible again until they are adults.
But here’s an amazing turn in the story!
Six of the kids were so hungry for the Gospel that they escaped their state-run home in March to attend church. It was their first church service in months and they were overjoyed!
Later that day, a pastor associated with the church called Mercy to tell her he had the children with him. Mercy retrieved the children, but was legally required to return them to the state-run home they had run away from.
Jesus was asked by His disciples, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Remember what He did? He called a child out from among them and had him stand in the midst of them. And then He said something profound:
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus was saying that the way to greatness in Heaven is by first adopting the humble faith of a child. To trust and follow with a whole heart.
In the end, this is what’s heartbreaking about this case. These kids love Jesus and they love His truth.
They love Him so much that they were willing to risk everything to find Jesus again.
As you can imagine, Mercy’s heart broke when she returned them to the Islamic state-run homes they had been assigned to. Unfortunately, this is part of persecution ministry. When extremists have the power of the state behind them, there is little to be done in a case like this.
We are investigating the case to see if we can get traction in terms of advocacy on the case and would appreciate your prayers for the children and for wisdom for us in how to approach this case.
Jesus also told us something sobering about the cost needed to pursue Him and the inheritance we stand to gain.
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”
- Luke 14:26, Matthew 19:29
These young orphans have lived out the first part of the passage above. They have demonstrated their great love for Jesus and their faith has cost them dearly. They are carrying their cross despite its weight.
They have paid a heavy price and will keep paying the cost for years.
Please keep them in prayer.