Friday 30 May 2014

Prayer for Nigeria abducted Girls



We are calling on Christians to pray for each of the girls by name. A list of 180 of their names follows this prayer written by Fred Drummond, director of prayer at the Evangelical Alliance:

Prayer for Nigerian captives
God of grace and comfort, we pray for your mercy.
We pray for the girls brutally kidnapped in our country, Nigeria.
We ask that you might be with them.
In their times of deepest darkness, be a bright beacon of hope.
We pray for your protection of them and ask that they may be freed quickly.
Lord, guide those searching for them.
Grant wisdom and discernment and perseverance.
We pray for the parents, family and friends of the girls.
Lord, strengthen them in their time of sorrow and fear and give them hope and the consolation of your presence.
Lord, we pray for all victims of violence: those who feel abandoned and forgotten; the nameless abused.
May they know that you love them and that others care.
In Jesus' name
Amen.
1. Deborah Abge Chrstian
2. Awa Abge
3. Hauwa Yirma
4. Asabe Manu
5. Mwa Malam pogu
6. Patiant Dzakwa
7. Saraya Mal. Stover
8. Mary Dauda
9. Gloria Mainta
10. Hanatu Ishaku
11. Gloria Dama
12. Tabitha Pogu
13. Maifa Dama
14. Ruth kollo
15. Esther Usman
16. Awa James
17. Anthonia Yahonna
18. Kume Mutah
19. Aisha Ezekial
20. Nguba Buba
21. Kwanta Simon
22. Kummai Aboku
23. Esther Markus
24. Hana Stephen
25. Rifkatu Amos
26. Rebecca Mallum
27. Blessing Abana
28. Ladi Wadai
29. Tabitha Hyelampa
30. Ruth Ngladar
31. Safiya Abdu
32. Na'omi Yahonna
33. Solomi Titus
34. Rhoda John
35. Rebecca Kabu
36. Christy Yahi
37. Rebecca Luka
38. Laraba John
39. Saratu Markus
40. Mary Usman
41. Debora Yahonna
42. Naomi Zakaria
43. Hanatu Musa
44. Hauwa Tella
45. Juliana Yakubu
46. Suzana Yakubu
47. Saraya Paul
48. Jummai Paul
49. Mary Sule
50. Jummai John
51. Yanke Shittima
52. Muli Waligam
53. Fatima Tabji
54. Eli Joseph
55. Saratu Emmanuel
56. Deborah Peter
57. Rahila Bitrus
58. Luggwa Sanda
59. Kauna Lalai
60. Lydia Emmar
61. Laraba Maman
62. Hauwa Isuwa
63. Confort Habila
64. Hauwa Abdu
65. Hauwa Balti
66. Yana Joshua
67. Laraba Paul
68. Saraya Amos
69. Glory Yaga
70. Na'omi Bitrus
71. Godiya Bitrus
72. Awa Bitrus
73. Na'omi Luka
74. Maryamu Lawan
75. Tabitha Silas
76. Mary Yahona
77. Ladi Joel
78. Rejoice Sanki
79. Luggwa Samuel
80. Comfort Amos
81. Saraya Samuel
82. Sicker Abdul
83. Talata Daniel
84. Rejoice Musa
85. Deborah Abari
86. Salomi Pogu
87. Mary Amor
88. Ruth Joshua
89. Esther John
90. Esther Ayuba
91. Maryamu Yakubu
91. Zara Ishaku
93. Maryamu Wavi
94. Lydia Habila
95. Laraba Yahonna
96. Na'omi Bitrus
97. Rahila Yahanna
98. Ruth Lawan
99. Ladi Paul
100. Mary Paul
101. Esther Joshua
102. Helen Musa
103. Margret Watsai
104. Deborah Jafaru
105. Filo Dauda
106. Febi Haruna
107. Ruth Ishaku
108. Racheal Nkeki
109. Rifkatu Soloman
110. Mairama yahaya
111. Saratu Dauda
112. Jinkai Yama
113. Margret Shettima
114. Yana yidau
115. Grace Paul
116. Amina Ali
117. Palmata Musa
118. Awagana Musa
119. Pindar Nuhu
120. Yana Pogu
121. Saraya Musa
122. Hauwa Joseph
123. Hauwa kwakwi
125. Hauwa Musa
126. Maryamu Musa
127. Maimuna Usman
128. Rebeca Joseph
129. Liyatu Habitu
130. Rifkatu Yakubu
131. Naomi Philimon
132. Deborah Abbas
133. Ladi Ibrahim
134. Asabe Ali
135. Maryamu Bulama
136. Ruth Amos
137. Mary Ali
138. Abigail Bukar
139. Deborah Amos
140. Saraya Yanga
141. Kauna Luka
142. Christiana Bitrus
143. Yana Bukar
144. Hauwa peter
145. HadizaYakubu
146. Lydia Simon
147. Ruth Bitrus
148. Mary Yakubu
149. Lugwa Mutah
150. Muwa Daniel
151. Hanatu Nuhu
152. Monica Enoch
153. Margret Yama
154. Docas yakubu
155. Rhoda peter
156. Rifkatu Galang
157. Saratu Ayuba
158. Naomi Adamu
159. Hauwa Ishaya
160. Rahap Ibrahim
162. Deborah Soloman
163. Hauwa Mutah
164. Hauwa Takai
165. SerahSamuel
166. Aishatu Musa
167. Aishatu Grema
168. Hauwa Nkeki
169. Hamsatu Abubakar
170. Mairama Abubakar
171. Hauwa Wule
172. Ihyi Abdu
173. Hasana Adamu
174. Rakiya Kwamtah
175. Halima Gamba
176. Aisha Lawan
177. Kabu Malla
178. Yayi Abana
179. Falta Lawan
180. Kwadugu Manu

Thursday 22 May 2014

Religious Leaders condemn Jos Bombings




21 May 2014
After bombings on 21 May in the northern Nigerian city of Jos, in which more than one-hundred people have been killed, “heart-felt sorrow and condolences” have been expressed in a joint statement by Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan, chairman of the Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought (RABIIT).

“We strongly condemn the recent bombings in Jos, Nigeria. The location and timing of the bombings clearly were designed to cause indiscriminate and widespread casualties among passers-by, and among rescue workers who were coming to their aid,” read the statement.

Both religious leaders, who were in Jos and Plateau State in 2012 leading a Christian-Muslim delegation in Nigeria, have stressed that the horrific acts which have just occurred in Jos do not represent in any way either of their two religions.

“They have made us even more determined to find ways to support the people of Nigeria and those who are seeking to put an end to violence in the country,” says their statement.

“Peace is a blessing from God. Christianity and Islam call for peace and harmony among all of humanity, and do not condone or allow offensive warfare or aggression,” reads the statement.

The country is also in the news due to the abduction of more than 200 young women by the Boko Haram fighters, an event which prompted a “profound concern” from the WCC general secretary urging “swift and peaceful” action to restore these girls to their homes.

Thursday 15 May 2014

WCC Letter to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Nigeria's missing girls




06 May 2014

Dear Mr president,
On behalf of the World Council of Churches, I write to communicate our profound concern and to encourage swift and peaceful resolution of the abduction of reportedly more than 250 young women from the Chibok boarding school in northeast Nigeria.

This tragic situation is devastating not only to the immediate community, but also to all Nigerians praying and working for peace. It touches the World Council of Churches (WCC) directly, as many who have lost their daughters are members of our church families in Nigeria.

Our concern is intensified in the face of increasing global sexual exploitation of girls and women, and the possibility that these abducted students may become victims of just such injustice and violence. Following the rescue of these children for which we pray, the impact of exploitation may require long-term accompaniment of the young women and their families by the Nigerian government, faith communities and local networks of care and support.

The WCC stands ready to assist you, as best we can, in mobilizing the inter-religious and international communities to seek effective and peaceful means towards safely restoring these students to their homes, loved ones and communities.

Two years ago this month, I joined with Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan, chairperson of the Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought (RABIIT), in leading a Christian-Muslim delegation to visit Nigeria in response to the inter-communal strife that your country has been experiencing in recent years. Then, as now, we sought ways to prevent lives being lost in the name of religion.

The delegation representing the WCC and RABIIT encouraged Christians and Muslims in Nigeria to continue acting together for the sake of justice, peace and reconciliation.

We are in conversation with inter-religious and ecumenical partners, including our member churches in Nigeria and world-wide, seeking advice and offering our solidarity in the immediate crisis of the manipulation of religion for the purposes of violence and discord.

We are committed to explore with you and others of goodwill how we and our partners can be of service to all the people of Nigeria. Please do not hesitate to be in contact with us.
You and the Nigerian people are ever in our thoughts and prayers.
In Christian solidarity,
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
WCC general secretary