Bold Believers in

Kids of Courage

Kids of Courage is a division of The Voice of the Martyrs, Inc. (VOM), a Christian missionary organization dedicated to serving today’s persecuted church. Kids of Courage/The Voice of the Martyrs, Inc. P.O. Box 443 Bartlesville, OK 74005 Tel: (918) 337-8015 Fax: (918) 338-8832 Email: [email protected] Website: www.kidsofcourage.com

Unless otherwise marked, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version.

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© Copyright 2006, The Voice of the Martyrs Table of Contents Nigeria Facts 4 of Nigeria Prayer Reminder 5 Map of Nigeria 6 Nigeria Crossword Clues and Puzzle 7 Bold Believer Stories & Activities 1. Mary Slessor 14 Activity: Fascinating Food 2. Godswill 17 Activity: Mancala 3. Saul of Nigeria 20 Activity: Make an African Bead Necklace 4. Joshua 22 Activity: Forward and Backward 5. Hausa Hannah 24 Activity: Nigerian Groups and Languages 6. A Miraculous Change 28 Activity: A Nigerian Game 7. Helping the Widows and the Fatherless 30 Activity: Pray for Nigeria 8. Former Spy Urges Love for Muslims 36 Activities: Muslim Beliefs at a Glance and What Muslims Do Not Believe 9. Bridgett…Pork and Shariah 40 Activity: Learning About Shariah Q and A 10. After the Persecution 44 Activity: What Would Jesus Say? Additional Coloring Pages & Activities 49 Answer Key 56

The Voice of the Martyrs 3 Bold Believers in Nigeria Nigeria Facts Capital: Abuja is the current capital. Lagos, the largest city, was the capital until 1991.

Size: In area Nigeria is larger than Texas and smaller than Alaska. Nigeria has the largest population of any country in Africa.

Time: At 6:00 a.m. U.S. Central Standard Time, it is 1:00 p.m. in Nigeria.

Religion: Southern Nigeria: About 70 percent of the people are Christian, and 20 percent are Muslim.

Central Nigeria: About 55 percent are Christian, and 30 percent are Muslim.

Northern Nigeria: About 70 percent are Muslim, and 15 percent are Christian.

Shariah: Muslims and Christians get along peacefully in some parts of Nigeria. However, some Muslims in Nigeria would like their entire nation to be ruled by Muslim law, called “Shariah (shah-REE-uh) Law.” A law in one state said all public school girls, even non-Muslims, must wear Muslim headscarves, and all students must take classes in Islam. (Islam is the religion of Muslims.)

Suffering At times Christians have protested against Shariah Law. They have also disagreed with Muslims on other issues. As a result of the Christians: disagreements, riots have occurred and Christians’ homes, stores, and churches have been destroyed. Many Christian families have suffered greatly.

The Voice of the Martyrs 4 Bold Believers in Nigeria Flag of Nigeria

To make a flag of Nigeria: Draw two vertical lines on a rectangular piece of paper, dividing the paper into three equal sections. Color the outer sections green and leave the middle section white. Hang up your flag as a reminder to pray for the people of Nigeria.

Make a small Nigerian flag to use as a bookmark in your Bible or in a devotional book.

Laminate a larger-size flag to use as a placemat. Pray for Nigeria at mealtimes.

Tape small to toothpicks and give them to Christian friends as prayer reminders.

The Voice of the Martyrs 5 Bold Believers in Nigeria Nigeria became an independentMa countryp o inf 1960. Ni gThee countryria was divided into only a few regions at that time. By 1996, had split their land into 36 states and one territory. The states and territory are shown on the map below. Color the states on the map, perhaps one each day. Pray for the people in each state.

Many strict Muslims live in the states north of Kwara, Abuja, Nassarawa, Taraba, Plateau, and Adamawa. Pray the leaders in those states will treat the Christians in their states fairly.

SOKOTO

KATSINA YOBE JIGAWA ZAMFARA KEBBI BORNO KANO

GOMBE BAUCHI KADUNA

NIGER ADAMAWA KWARA

ABUJA PLATEAU (F.C.T.)* NASSARAWA OYO TARABA KOGI OSUN EKITI BENUE OGUN ONDO

EDO EBONYI LAGOS ENUGU DELTA IMO CROSS RIVER

BAYELSA AKWA IBOM ANAMBRA ABIA RIVERS

*F.C.T. stands for Federal Capital Territory

The Voice of the Martyrs 6 Bold Believers in Nigeria Nigeria Puzzle Clues = Nigeria was named after the Niger River. Niger is also the name of a country north of Nigeria.

= Another main river of Nigeria is the Benue River. Benue is also the name of one of Nigeria’s states.

= Lagos, the largest city in Niger River Nigeria, used to be the capital. Abuja became the new capital in 1991.

= Nigeria is just a little north of the equator. The equator is an imaginary horizontal line that divides the earth in half.

= The Atlantic Ocean is between Nigeria and the U.S.

= Nigeria is north of the Gulf of Guinea.

= Chad and Cameroon are east of Nigeria.

= Nigeria has an Army, a Navy, and an Air Force.

= The unit of money in Nigeria is the naira. and kobo (100 kobo equal 1 naira.) Approximately 130 naira equal $1.00 in U.S. Coins are rarely used money; or one naira equals .007 U.S. dollars. in Nigeria any more.

= Popular sports in Nigeria are soccer, basketball, field hockey, rugby, and volleyball. Nigerians also enjoy watching track and field competitions and boxing matches. Many Nigerians play table tennis and billiards in their spare time.

= Hakeem Olajuwon was a famous National Basketball Association All-Star player in

The Voice of the Martyrs 7 Bold Believers in Nigeria the U.S. He was bornNi ing Nigeriaeria and P isu a zMuslim.zle Clues

= The Nigerian government is joining forces with an American computer company to try to stop dishonest Nigerians from robbing people by e-mail. The Nigerian thieves send people false stories by e-mail and ask for money from those who receive the e-mails. They promise great rewards in return for the money, but their intent is to rob people.

= Some of the main farm crops of Nigeria are corn, cocoa, nuts, beans, rice, sorghum, yams, and plantains.

= Parts of Nigeria have a rainy season from about April until October.

= Nigeria has the largest population of any country on the continent of Africa.

= The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is a Christian group in Nigeria. CAN’s leaders try to see that Christians are treated fairly in their country.

= English is the official language of Nigeria, but there are more than 250 languages spoken. Names of some lesser known Nigerian languages are Sha, Boga, Pe, Fum, Koma, Kwa, Uda, Wom, and Dong.

Boys watering crops = Three main are Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa. “Welcome” in Yoruba can be spelled “ekaabo.” It is pronounced “ay-KAH-boh.”

= Both Christian and Muslim holidays are celebrated in Nigeria. Ramadan is a holy month of fasting to Muslims. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate a holiday called “Eid el Fitr.”

The Voice of the Martyrs 8 Bold Believers in Nigeria Nigeria Puzzle Clues = “One uses their horn more often than their brake when driving in Nigeria,” said one visitor to the country. “It is madness, no doubt about it,” a Nigerian official in Lagos said about the traffic there. Traffic jams, poor roads, and reckless drivers make driving difficult in some parts of Nigeria.

Traffic in Nigeria (Photos courtesy of Motherland Nigeria Web

The Voice of the Martyrs 9 Bold Believers in Nigeria Nigeria Crossword Puzzle Read the facts about Nigeria on the previous pages. Then solve the following puzzle using the facts to help you.

ACROSS 1. River in Nigeria, or country north of Nigeria. 6. Lagos is Nigeria’s largest _____. 8. The imaginary line south of Nigeria. 10. E-mail scammers intend to ___ people. 13. Nigeria has an Air Force. Abbreviation for “Air Force.” 15. Sha, Boga, and ___ are three languages in Nigeria. 17. Eid __ Fitr is a Muslim holiday. 19. Beans and rice are ___ crops in Nigeria. 23. The new capital of Nigeria. 26. Nigeria gets much ___ between April and October. 27. The main color of the Nigerian flag. 28. ___ is a Nigerian crop. Hot chocolate is made with it. 30. Billiards is popular in Nigeria. A billiards stick is called a ___. 32. ___ and it will be given to you (Luke 11:9). 33. Abbreviation for a country across the Atlantic Ocean from Nigeria. 35. Olajuwon was an NBA All-Star. Abbreviation for “All-Star.” 36. Parts of Nigeria get more than 100 inches of rain yearly. Abbreviation for “inches.” 37. Chad is ___ of Nigeria. (Hint: a direction)

DOWN 1. Abuja is the ___ capital of Nigeria; not old. 2. An “intelligence test” measures this. 3. The ___ of Guinea is south of Nigeria. 4. Each naira equals about .007 U.S. dollars. Abbreviation for “each.” 5. Sudan is to the right (east) of Nigeria on the map. Abbreviation for “right.” 6. Corn is a main farm ___ in Nigeria. 7. Homonym for “too” and “two.” 9. Distress __ persecution shall not separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35). 11. A main river of Nigeria. 12. Nigeria is near the Atlantic ___. 14. Egypt is northeast of Nigeria. Abbreviation for “northeast.”

The Voice of the Martyrs 10 Bold Believers in Nigeria Nigeria Crossword Puzzle 16. Nigeria’s continent. 18. Nigeria’s old capital. 20. “Welcome” in Yoruba can be spelled EK__ __BO. 21. A food crop in Nigeria; rhymes with “nice.” 22. Three of the four middle letters of the alphabet. 24. Nigeria drivers are said to use the horn more than the ___. 25. Some Nigerians are persecuted for their faith in ___. 29. Abbreviation for the Christian Association of Nigeria. 31. Deliver __ from evil (Matthew 6:13). 34. Borno and Delta are states in Nigeria. Abbreviation for “state.”

The Voice of the Martyrs 11 Bold Believers in Nigeria

Bold Believer Stories & Activities

REMEMBER THEM THAT ARE IN BONDS, AS BOUND WITH THEM; AND THEM WHICH SUFFER ADVERSITY, AS BEING YOURSELVES ALSO IN THE BODY. HEBREWS 13:3 (KJV)

In the following stories and activities, some of the names have been changed to protect the identities of the people involved.

The Voice of the Martyrs 13 Bold Believers in Nigeria Mary Slessor Working for God Mary Slessor was the second oldest of seven children. Her family lived Story 1 in Scotland in the late 1800s. They were poor and unhappy.

At the age of 11, Mary had to go to work to help support her family. When she got paid, she hid the money from her father who was an alcoholic. He wanted to spend the money on liquor instead of food for his family.

Mary became a Christian through the influence of a neighbor woman. She then had a strong desire to follow God’s will for her life.

One day Mary and her church group decided to clean a dirty hallway as a service project. The group’s leader objected, saying it was not a job for “ladies.” Mary disagreed. She did not think any job done in God’s service was beneath her. She was willing to work hard and take on difficult challenges.

Paving the Way for Others When she was a young woman, Mary volunteered to be a missionary to Calabar, a part of what is now Nigeria. Mary’s willingness to work hard was useful in Calabar! She had to wash her clothes in river water, hack her way through jungle trails, and learn an African tribal language.

Mary started schools in Calabar, nursed the sick, adopted seven homeless children, and visited tribes that had never heard about Jesus. She struggled with homesickness, loneliness, and illness. Photo courtesy of Dundee Central Library Mary also fought witchcraft and superstition among the tribes of Calabar. Cruel customs were part of their tribal religions. Little by little because of Mary’s teachings one tribe gave up some of their superstitions.

Mary saw herself as a pioneer. She wanted to make things easier for missionaries who traveled to Calabar after she was gone. She died in Mary Slessor with Nigerian girls

The Voice of the Martyrs 14 Bold Believers in Nigeria Africa in 1915, at the age of 66. Today Nigerian churches send more than 1,000 missionaries to other nations. They spread the Good News brought to them by Mary and the brave missionaries who followed her to Calabar.

Activity: Fascinating Food

Missionaries to foreign countries are often offered foods that are unfamiliar. Some of the foods are delicious to them, but others may take some time to get used to. “Our family has eaten dog, sea slugs, chicken feet, snake, eel, and monkey,” said one missionary from the U.S.

Mary Slessor was once invited to a tribal feast in Calabar. She handled the situation in a way that allowed her to make friends with the chief of the tribe. A book about Miss Slessor describes what happened:

“Lord, give me strength,” prayed Mary as she studied the platters and bowls. She must eat anything that was offered….

Mary stared at a soup that looked like tar. What was in it? She couldn’t tell. She ladled some of the soup into a bowl. She pretended the thick black soup was split-pea soup.

“Excellent!” she exclaimed.

But she soon discovered she was expected to take a portion of everything. Another soup was served, this one a slurry of manioc (a plant) and fish heads.

“Superb,” she gushed, avoiding the staring fish eyes.

(Source: Mary Slessor: Queen of Calabar by Sam Wellman (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour Publishing, 1998).

You may want to try one of these less challenging recipes on the next page!

The Voice of the Martyrs 15 Bold Believers in Nigeria Chin Chin: A Nigerian Snack Combine 2 cups flour, 1 1/3 sticks softened butter, 1 egg, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup milk, and 1/4 cup sugar. Mix until smooth. Knead the dough about 20 times on a floured surface, then roll it out until it is about 1/2 inch thick. Cut the dough into 1/2- to 1-inch squares. Fry the cubes in a deep fryer until golden brown. Drain on paper towels before serving.

Baked Plantain Snack Peel a plantain and bake it in a shallow pan at 350 degrees until it is golden brown. Slice and eat. Serves one or two.

Note: Plantains are Mango Dessert just one of many crops Peel and slice one mango and two grown in Nigeria. See bananas, then mix them together. the Additional Coloring Sprinkle with 1 tbsp. lemon juice Pages and Activities and 4 tbsp. orange juice. Serve over section for a word ice cream. search activity about crops in Nigeria.

The Voice of the Martyrs 16 Bold Believers in Nigeria Godswill Godswill Elisha is a Christian boy who lives in Nigeria. He has written about Story 2 his life and about a riot in his town in which radical Muslims attacked Christians. The following story is edited from what he wrote.

“Before I was born, my mother gave birth to twins who did not live. Then for nine years she did not bear a child. She dreamed that an angel appeared to her and told her she would have a baby named ‘God’s Will.’ I was born on February 15, 1992. My mother named me Godswill.

Godswill “My father was an active Christian community leader. He had a broken leg. When he heard there was a riot, he went out to help his Christian brothers. There were three going to help, but when the other two saw the rioters rushing toward them, they ran away. My father could not run due to his bad leg. He was ‘arrested’ by the rioters and killed.

“Now I live in a hostel (dormitory) at a Christian boarding school. Five boys live in the room where I sleep. We have houseparents to help us.

“We eat in a dining hall. It is a large room with chairs to sit down on. I like the hall where we eat.

“We take the following subjects: math, English, literature, science, home economics, social studies, agriculture, technology, French, Nigerian languages, fine arts, music, physical education, computer, secretarial studies, and Christian knowledge.

“These are some of the things I have learned at home and at school about following Jesus. I have learned that the day you accept Jesus as your Savior, you are saved. Once you know Christ, you are a new creature and God will be with you. There will be peace and joy in your life.”

The Voice of the Martyrs 17 Bold Believers in Nigeria Activity: Mancala

Godswill and his friends at school live, learn, pray, and play games together.

Children in many parts of Africa play a game called mancala. (The game is known by different names in different countries.)

Mancala game boards consist of two rows of six cups each. Sometimes fancy boards carved out of wood and gemstones are used as game pieces. But many times children simply dig two rows of six holes in the ground and use seeds or pebbles as game pieces or markers.

Preparing to Play You may use an empty egg carton with the lid cut off as a mancala game board. Place four small objects like buttons or beans in each of the 12 cups as markers. Set a bowl or other container at each end of the carton to store captured markers.

Mancala is played by two people who sit on opposite sides of the board. The six cups closest to a player belong to that player. The players also “own” the storage container to their right.

Different rules for mancala are used in different countries. Two common versions are shown below. You may also invent your own version. A made-up version is also described on the next page.

Mancala Rules—Version 1 1. Decide which player will go first. Players take turns.

2. The first player picks up all the markers from any one of his cups. He then places one marker in each of the next four cups, moving counterclockwise. As the game continues, the number of markers in the cups will vary.

3. While dropping markers, if a player comes to his own storage bowl, he drops a marker in it. But he may skip his opponent’s storage bowl. If the last of the markers from a cup is placed in an empty cup on that player’s own side, he gets to take all his opponent’s markers in the cup directly opposite it. He puts them, plus the last marker he placed, in his storage bowl.

The Voice of the Martyrs 18 Bold Believers in Nigeria 4. The second player takes a turn. The game ends when one player has no more markers. The other player then takes all the markers that are left on his side and puts them in his storage bowl. Whoever has the most markers in his bowl wins.

Mancala Rules—Version 2 Version 2 is the same as Version 1, except for Step 3. In Version 2, there is an additional way to capture an opponent’s markers. If the last marker is placed in one of the cups that has either two or three markers in it, the player whose turn it is takes all the markers in that cup and puts them in his storage bowl.

An Easy Made-Up Version 1. Using crayons or felt-tip markers, players number the cups on their side with the numbers one through six.

2. Use a number cube or spinner with the numbers one through six on it. The first player rolls the cube or spins the spinner. The player then takes all the markers out of the opponent’s cup that is numbered with the same number that he rolled or spun. He places the markers in his storage bowl.

3. The second player tries to capture some of his opponent’s markers in the same way.

4. If a cup is empty when the opponent rolls or spins that cup’s number, no markers are captured and that player’s turn ends.

5. Players continue taking turns until one player has no more markers. The other player is the winner.

A mancala board

The Voice of the Martyrs 19 Bold Believers in Nigeria Saul of Nigeria Saul was the tenth of sixteen children from a family in northern Nigeria. He devoted Story 3 himself to the study of the Koran at an early age. The Koran is the Muslim holy book. By age 10, he could recite the entire book from memory.

Saul went to a university to study Higher Islamic Education. He was specially trained to debate and challenge the Christian faith.

After he graduated, his imam sent him to a Christian meeting to disrupt it. (An imam is a Muslim leader.) Nigerian boy Saul’s assignment was to interrupt the sermon by asking one question after another.

He carried out his assignment very well, but he felt no peace in his heart as he interrupted the preacher. After the meeting, Saul prayed to God, “If You are there, reveal Yourself to me. Give me courage. If I follow You, I will die.” Muslims who convert to Christianity in Nigeria are often severely persecuted.

The next day was Sunday. Saul went to a Christian church and told the pastor, “I have come to meet Jesus.”

Some of the people inside the church were afraid. They feared they would be attacked if radical Muslims discovered a new Christian in their midst. A few bold Christians stayed at the church, but others fled.

Muslims had seen Saul going into the church. A group of them began to surround the building. “Lock the doors,” said the pastor. “We will die with you. We are ready.”

The police came and stopped the Muslims from attacking that day. However, when Saul went back to his home, he found all his belongings destroyed. The Muslims offered to give money to anyone who would kill him, so the pastor took Saul to a safe hideout.

Even though he is suffering persecution, Saul has the peace of Jesus in his heart. He attended Bible college, and he now leads several churches where he shares his peace and joy with others.

The Voice of the Martyrs 20 Bold Believers in Nigeria

Activity: Make an African Bead Necklace

Nigerians frequently wear jewelry with traditional clothing. You can make a colorful chain to use as a necklace, bracelet, or witnessing tool.

Instructions 1. To make “beads,” cut strips of paper about 1-inch wide and about 8 inches long. Use colorful strips from magazine pages, gift wrap, origami paper, wallpaper samples, or construction paper.

2. Place a straw on one end of a paper strip, perpendicular to the strip. Fold the end of the strip over the straw and tape it to the strip. Roll up the straw in the paper to the other end of the strip. Tape the end shut, then gently pull the straw out.

3. Repeat with more strips. String the “beads” on yarn, ribbon, fishing line, or thin wire. You may string other objects between the beads, such as buttons, metal washers, macaroni, paper clips, or sequins.

Note: If you want to make a “witness chain,” make your beads yellow, black, red, white, and green.

Yellow represents heaven, where God lives and everything is perfect. Black stands for sin, which is not allowed in heaven. Red symbolizes the blood that Jesus shed to save those who believe in Him so they can be with Him in heaven forever. White represents the clean heart of those who admit their sin to God, believe in His Son Jesus, and call on Him to save them from sin. Green is the color of growing things. Your relationship with God grows when you pray, read the Bible, gather with other believers for worship, and share the Good News of Jesus with others.

The Voice of the Martyrs 21 Bold Believers in Nigeria Joshua Joshua had no place to go. Like Jesus, he had nowhere to lay his head (Luke 9:58). Story 4 His Muslim family did not want him anymore. His father, who was a teacher of Islam, had kicked Joshua out of his house.

Joshua, at age 13, was no longer welcome in his own home because he had become a Christian. After his family rejected him, his church sent him to a Christian town where they thought he would be safe.

Radical Muslims in Nigeria sometimes attack ex-Muslims who decide to follow Christ. Joshua’s new town turned out not to be safe from those who wanted to harm him.

He was passed from church to church and from town to town until he finally found safety in the home of a pastor named Keith. Pastor Keith took care of other former Muslims and taught them about the Christian faith. The pastor helped Joshua enroll in school and start a new life.

While staying with Pastor Keith, Joshua completed five grades of school in two years. “He catches on quickly,” said Pastor Keith.

Joshua’s troubles were not over. His father was still angry, so he spread a false rumor that Christians had kidnapped Joshua. Joshua had to go to a police station to clear up the matter.

Christians in Nigeria pray for the salvation of Muslims who seek to harm them. Pray God will give Nigerian Christians opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus with those who don’t know His peace.

Nigerian Boy

The Voice of the Martyrs 22 Bold Believers in Nigeria Activity: Forward and Backward Joshua lived in a number of towns in Nigeria. Many Nigerian towns have interesting and unusual names. The following is a list of places in Nigeria:

Elebele Akataka Uburubu Amassama Izzi Efife Kulluk Abiriba Okomoko Aakaa

All the names in the list have something in common that you can discover by looking at them. Do you know what it is?

All the names are palindromes. A palindrome is a word, phrase, or sentence that reads the same forward or backward.

Some three-letter palindromes: eye, pop, mom, gag. Some four-letter palindromes: noon, sees, peep, deed. Some five-letter palindromes: level, solos, kayak, civic.

The sentences below are palindromes, but they are unfinished. To finish them, fill in the blanks by reversing the order of the letters at the front of the sentence. Hint: It might be easier to start by filling in the last blank with the first letter of the sentence, then filling in the next to the last blank with the second letter of the sentence, and so on. Answers are in the Answer Key.

1. Step on ______.

2. Was it a bat ______?

3. Too bad I hid ______.

4. Madam, in Eden ___ ’ ______.

5. Live not ______.

The Voice of the Martyrs 23 Bold Believers in Nigeria Hausa Hannah Hannah is a young Christian woman who lives in northern Nigeria where most of Story 5 the people are Muslims. She belongs to the Hausa tribe, the largest tribe of people in Nigeria.

Hannah’s Trip to the Village Hannah loves Jesus and wants everyone to know about Him! One day she walked many miles to a Muslim village. She stopped at every house in the village to ask the people if they would like to hear about Jesus.

The villagers laughed at Hannah. No one invited her Hannah inside, so she had to sleep in the “bush” (woods) that night. A thief stole all her belongings while she was asleep. He even stole a stack of Bibles she had hoped to share with the villagers!

At the Market Hannah did not give up. She went to the village marketplace the next morning. She sang a Christian song and talked about the Good News of Jesus—right in the middle of the marketplace! The words to her Hausa song said:

Truly Jesus saves. We are calling on women, men, rich, and poor to come. Jesus truly saves. Jesus is the solution to every problem.

Again the villagers mocked and laughed at her.

God Works Through Hannah As Hannah turned to leave the marketplace, a village elder stopped her. He wanted to hear more about Jesus! As a result of Hannah’s bold witness, the elder gave his life to Christ. Others followed his example, and a new church was started in the village.

Hannah slept in the home of a villager instead of in the bush that night. She learned that a very sick child lived in the village. The child’s parents had tried everything they knew to help him get well. Nothing had worked, and the child was near death.

The Voice of the Martyrs 24 Bold Believers in Nigeria The parents brought the boy to Hannah. “Will you please pray for him?” they asked. Hannah prayed. The child did not die, but instead began to get better! The next morning, Hannah found all her stolen Bibles dropped outside the door of the house where she was staying. The thief had returned them.

Struggles for the New Believers Soon Hannah left the village to share the Good News in other places. The new believers she left behind discovered how difficult it can be to follow Christ in a Muslim village. Their relatives and neighbors laughed at them because of their new faith, just as they had mocked Hannah.

When the Christian villagers gathered for worship on Christmas Eve, a mob of men attacked them. The men had been hired by the village chief.

Policemen arrived, but not to arrest the mob. Instead, they arrested the Christians! Hannah came to the police station and asked the police to release the Christians, and she offered to take their place in jail.

Hannah’s Future Thankfully, the Christians were released, and Hannah did not go to jail. She did not stop telling people about Jesus, either. A new church started in another village she visited.

“The future is in the hands of the Lord,” said Hannah. “In the past I was greatly persecuted, but now many people are asking questions and coming to the Lord.”

In Bible times, God gave another Hannah the strength to bear her burdens and faith to continue trusting Him. Her son Samuel changed the course of a nation. (See 1 Samuel 1.) Praise God for the faith and perseverance He gives Nigerian Christians like Hannah. Pray they will continue to bring the light of Jesus to the areas of darkness in their nation.

The Voice of the Martyrs 25 Bold Believers in Nigeria Activity: Nigerian Groups and Languages

English is the official language of Nigeria, but many of the more than 250 ethnic groups also have their own main language. Three of the largest groups are the Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo (pronounced “EE-boh” and sometimes spelled “Ibo”). Most Hausa/Fulani people are Muslims, and many Yoruba and Igbo people are Christians.

Say it in Hausa Jesus loves me: Y AY-soo YEHN-ah KOW-nah-tah Jesus loves you (to a woman): YAY-soo YEHN-ah KOW-nah-kee

Jesus loves you (to a man): Nigerian boy reading a Bible storybook Y AY-soo YEHN-ah KOW-nah-kah

Wazobia For many years members of the main ethnic groups (tribes) in Nigeria have been rivals in politics and other areas of life. “Wazobia” is an invented word that emphasizes welcoming members of other groups as fellow Nigerians instead of fighting with them.

The word for “come” in three Nigerian languages = “wazobia” Yoruba Come = “wa” Hausa Come = “zo” Igbo Come = “bia”

The Voice of the Martyrs 26 Bold Believers in Nigeria Yoruba—A Tonal Language Yoruba is a tonal language. In tonal languages, the same word can have different meanings if it is spoken in different tones (pitches), or if a different syllable is accented.

For example, Ogun (oh-goon) is the name of one of Nigeria’s 36 states. It is also the name of a Nigerian River. In addition, depending on the tones used to say it, the word can have the following meanings: = A basket used to catch lobster = An inheritance = Medicine = Sweat = War = Twenty (Source: The Web site of Motherland Nigeria)

Yoruba Manners In some languages it is rude for children to use the same words when talking to older people as when talking to people their own age. For example, ose and ese are two ways to say “thank you” in Yoruba.

Ose (pronounced oh-shay) is used by children talking to someone their own age or younger.

Ese (pronounced eh-shay) is the way children say “thank you” to someone older.

Practice using the Yoruba words for thank you, choosing the correct form, depending on the age of the person you are thanking.

Note: See the Additional Coloring Pages and Activities section for a Yoruba activity.

The Voice of the Martyrs 27 Bold Believers in Nigeria A Miraculous Change Nasara was sad. She wept throughout Story 6 the 10-hour ride from her boarding school in Lagos, to her home in Kaduna, Nigeria. She had received the worst grade in her class on her final exams! The students who came in first, second, and third received prizes. But Nasara got nothing.

Something even sadder had happened when Nasara lived with her parents, her brother, and her three sisters. Radical Muslims attacked Christians in Kaduna and killed her father.

Nasara “My father was a farmer,” said Nasara. “He was known as an active Christian in the community. He was killed by the rioters when he was coming home from the farm.”

After the riot, Nasara and her brother, Yashim, went to a Christian boarding school.

King David said, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13). No one would have blamed Nasara if she had lost heart after experiencing sadness and failure, but God helped Nasara to trust Him.

Things were different when she went back to school for the next term. “There was a miraculous change in her life,” said Mr. Isaac, the founder of the school. At the end of the next school term, Nasara came in first on her exams. “I changed to do better by listening to my teacher,” she said.

Nasara didn’t forget about the prize for students who come in first! “Where is my gift, Big Uncle?” she cheerfully asked Mr. Isaac. (Nigerian children call respected adults “Aunt” and “Uncle.”) She was delighted to receive her prize package of pencils, a pen, a ruler, and books.

Nasara, now 10 years old, regularly comes in first in her classes. She looks up to Job in the Bible as an example. Job also trusted God, even when sad things happened to him. “He feared God and stayed away from evil,” said Nasara.

The Voice of the Martyrs 28 Bold Believers in Nigeria Nasara now has hope for the future. “I want to become a nurse,” she said.

Praise God for helping Nasara during her sad times. Pray she and the other Nigerian children will continue to experience God’s “miraculous changes” in their lives.

Activity: A Nigerian Game

One player is chosen from the group to be “It,” and another is chosen to be the “Baby.” “It” hides where he or she cannot see the other players. “Baby” lies down on the ground or on a large piece of paper or cardboard. Using sticks, chalk, or markers, the other players draw around “Baby” to make an outline. “Baby” gets up, and “It” comes out of hiding and guesses whose outline is on the ground. If the guess is correct, “It” gets another turn. If not, another “It” is chosen to continue the game. (Source: Web site of Motherland Nigeria)

The Voice of the Martyrs 29 Bold Believers in Nigeria Helping the Widows and the Fatherless Note: Parents and teachers may want to preview the stories below before sharing them with younger students. Story 7 Many Christian families have been left fatherless after Muslim attacks in Nigeria. Christian workers from The Voice of the Martyrs in Nigeria help widows, orphans, and fatherless children whose families are suffering because of the attacks. More than 100 children from those families are students at a school that was started to help riot victims. The name of the school is Stephen Center Sign outside SCI . International (SCI). Many of the children speak out about their lives, their struggles and their faith. Some of their comments and Benjamin stories are shown below.

Benjamin’s Family “My sister was a choir leader in the church. During a riot, the rioters surrounded our house. When they came, they couldn’t enter our house. My father said he would prefer to die for the whole family so that my mother can take care of us. He stood in defense of the family and was shot. The rioters rushed in and I fell into the burning fire Hajara but I was saved by my brother.” Benjamin’s mother, Hajara, had to find a way to take care of her children after her husband sacrificed his life for his family. Sarah “When the poor—the widows in particular—cry out, our heavenly Father always pays attention,” said a worker from The Voice of the Martyrs in Nigeria. VOM opened a vocational school where Hajara is learning to sew. “Hajara is now able to handle the sewing machine well,” said a VOM representative. She will be able to earn money to take care of her family with her new skill.

“All Things Are Possible” Elizabeth Sarah is another widow who is learning to sew. She has

The Voice of the Martyrs 30 Bold Believers in Nigeria seven children. One of her children, Elizabeth, is 7 years old.

“My father was a teacher,” said Elizabeth. “He was shot while Dennis we were trying to escape the rioters. The rest of the family escaped.” Dennis is Elizabeth’s 13-year-old brother. He and Elizabeth are working hard to do well in school in order to be a blessing to their mother. “I spend much time doing my homework to be careful not to fail it,” said Dennis. “My favorite Bible story is Daniel in the Lion’s Den. It tells me with God by your side, all things are possible.” Janet Jenipha and Jessica “My father was wounded during the riot. He managed to get home. But he could not be taken to the hospital because of the rioters. He died at home.”—Jenipha, age 5

Jenipha and her 9-year-old sister Jessica speak both Jessica Hausa and English. Their mother, Janet, is taking computer training. Jessica is also learning to use computers, and she would like to be a teacher when she grows up. Her favorite song is, “Lord I Give You My Life.”

Bold Brothers and Sisters Joseph, age 13, and Monday, age 10, are brothers. They have two sisters, Alheri, age 15, and Deborah, age 8. Their Jenipha family comes from the Nigerian state of Kano, where Islam is very strong. In May 2004, radical Muslims attacked Christian homes and churches in Kano. Some Muslim youth approached Alheri the children’s father, Mathias. The youth ordered Mathias to deny Jesus by reciting the Muslim statement, Joseph “There is no god but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet.” (Muslims worship Allah, whom they believe created the world. Mohammed was the man who started Islam about 600 years after Christ rose from the dead.) Monday Deborah

The Voice of the Martyrs 31 Bold Believers in Nigeria Mathias refused to deny his Lord and Savior. The Muslims attacked him, and he died from his injuries. Now his children attend the SCI school. They miss their father but know they can see him again someday in heaven. Alheri, the oldest of the children, has a very special birthday. She was born on December 25. Her favorite subjects are science and business. She wants to be a doctor when she finishes school. “My prayer to God is for my life to be pure,” said Alheri. “I would ask students in the U.S. to pray that God would give me wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. I will pray that God will cover them with the blood of Jesus and provide for their houses.”

“Always Be Faithful” Muslims in Kaduna celebrated when Shariah (Muslim law) became the law in their part of Nigeria. Christians held demonstrations to peacefully protest Shariah. Riots began, and many Christian families suffered. “My father was a reverend (pastor) in Kaduna,” said 11-year-old Gevah. He went out on the first day of Shariah riots in Kaduna, and that was the last time we saw him. Gevah and her brother “We are three in number now,” Gevah said of her Revel family. Gevah’s favorite Bible verse is Psalm 91:7, “A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand. But it shall not come near you.” “It assures me that God is my refuge,” said Gevah. Gevah’s favorite toy is her teddy bear, and her favorite subject is science. She would like to be an economist someday. When asked if she had a message for other youth, Gevah said, “I would like to tell people to win more souls for Christ and always be faithful.”

Best Friends in Hard Times “My father loved me so much, and he was ready to educate me to any level. But he

The Voice of the Martyrs 32 Bold Believers in Nigeria was shot by the rioters and died. When I heard it, I felt it. Well, I forgive those who killed my father. I ask God to forgive them. My best friend is Noroh. I like her because she is kind to me.”—Esther, age 9 Esther “My father was one of the church elders who served God with his whole heart. He was ready to die for the truth. My father was coming from the hospital after visiting his sister who was operated on. Then he met the rioters who caught him.”—Noroh, age 9 Noroh More comments from Nigerian students who lived through riots in Nigeria “Sometimes I am scared. God has helped me find peace with myself and other people.”—Ruth, age 15 “I want to tell you that your Bible should be your friend. When you are in trouble, believe that God is Ruth there with you, and you should not be afraid. I want you to know that Jesus is the Savior, and He is the only way that can save you.”—Tabitah, age 13 “My favorite Bible story is about Ruth and Naomi. I like it, because it teaches me how to be faithful Tabitah to someone. God helps me when I’m scared by letting me know I am worth more than many sparrows.”—Blessing, age 11 “I want to remind you that God created heaven and earth and the Son of Man is coming soon. He said, ‘In my Father’s house, there are many mansions.’”—Peter, Blessing age 14 “My family lived in Kaduna. My father was a pastor at the Baptist Church in the Army barracks. He was a soldier in the . He died in the 2002 riot. My mother died in 2003. Then I lived with my brothers and sisters. My sister later married. Peter “I want to become a teacher. My school subjects are

The Voice of the Martyrs 33 Bold Believers in Nigeria English, mathematics, social studies, science, verbal reasoning, health, agriculture, Yoruba, and French.”—Nancy, age 11 “I want to be a surgeon. My favorite Bible stories are the Prodigal Son and how Jesus overcame temptation. The Bible teaches that we should not be greedy and we should Nancy always be content with everything people give to us and appreciate it. It also teaches us about temptation. Temptation is not a sin. It is when we listen and accept temptation that it becomes a sin.”—Joshua, age 11 “When I feel scared, I immediately take my Holy Bible and read and pray. That is the way I find peace when I Nicodemus feel scared.”—Nicodemus, age 15 “God has set me free from the way of trouble.”—Joseph, age 15

Joseph

Activity: Pray for Nigeria Use the 30 prayer squares on the following page to help you pray for Nigeria. You may want to photocopy the page, cut out the squares, and glue or tape them on a calendar. Ask friends or family members to join with you in person or on the phone to pray regularly for the Nigerian people.

The Voice of the Martyrs 34 Bold Believers in Nigeria Prayer Calendar

Pray Nigerian Churches in Pray for Pray Nigerian Muslims have Ask God to orphans will Nigeria send translators Muslim children missionaries in help Nigerian feel their out Christian who are will learn of Nigeria. Pray Christians Heavenly missionaries. working on God’s love for they will learn forgive their Father’s Pray for their Bibles for all them. the truth. persecutors. comfort. work. Nigerians.

Ask God to Millions have Pray Muslim Ask that Pray the Ask God to provide for become schoolteachers Nigerian president and reveal Himself Christians Christians in will be kind Christians leaders of to Muslims whose homes the past 50 to Christian work together Nigeria will do who don’t have been years. Praise students. in unity. God’s will. know Him. burned. God!

Pray people’s Ask God to Pray Nigerians Pray Christian Pray Nigerian desire for Pray Nigeria provide for won’t follow radio and TV judges and Jesus will be will have true children too superstitions programs will courts will be stronger than freedom of poor to go to and false reach more fair to their desire religion. school. religions. Nigerians. Christians. for money.

Pray for Pray Muslim Ask God to Many Nigerians Some tribal Pray Nigerian pastors whose youth will protect don’t have groups are officials will churches not use Christians jobs. Pray hostile to each be honest and were burned violence to who witness their needs other. Pray not corrupt. in riots. get their way. to Muslims. will be met. for peace.

Pray for Pray American Pray Ask God Nigerians Muslims who Christians Pray God’s persecuted to comfort who use become will help their peace will rule youth will Christian e-mail and Christians are Nigerian in the hearts stand firm widows in other means persecuted. brothers and of Nigerians. in their faith. Nigeria. to get money Pray for them. sisters. dishonestly.

The Voice of the Martyrs 35 Bold Believers in Nigeria Former Spy Urges Love for Muslims Solomon was a spy. His fellow Muslim leaders told him to join a Christian church so he could pretend he was a Christian. Story 8 Solomon was well-trained in Islam. The Bible says, “The time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God a service” (John 16:2). Like other radical Muslim terrorists, Solomon believed Allah would let him into paradise if he destroyed Christians.

So Solomon spent five years in the Christian church, reporting the activities of the Christians to his fellow radicals. He told the radicals the best ways to attack the Christians. He even led some of the attacks! Then on Sundays he returned to church and pretended to be a Christian again.

Freed From Sin One day in church, the pastor began to talk about making a decision to follow Christ. “How long will you remain undecided between two opinions?” he preached.

Solomon felt the pastor must be talking directly to him about his double life. He was overwhelmed by his own sinfulness and his need for Christ. He stood up and went forward to confess his sins and to receive Jesus as his Savior!

Showing Love to Muslims Solomon enrolled in a Bible college and began to seriously study the Bible. He now teaches pastors the best ways to lead Muslims to Christ. As a result, his former Muslim friends hate him.

One day Muslim rioters surrounded his house. They were prepared to kill him. By the grace of God, Solomon escaped unharmed, but the rioters destroyed his house.

Solomon is not bitter toward his former friends. “My message to the Christian community is this,” he said. “Let them love the Muslims, because many of them fight Christians out of ignorance. Show love to them.”

To Think About Solomon said, “If Christians are Christians in words and deeds, there will be no Muslims.” What did Solomon mean by this? Do you think it is a true statement?

The Voice of the Martyrs 36 Bold Believers in Nigeria Activities: Muslim Beliefs at a Glance and What Muslims Do Not Believe

Muslim Beliefs at a Glance A Muslim is someone who follows the teachings of a religion called “Islam.” The founder of Islam was Mohammed, a man who lived from about 570 to 632 A.D. Mohammed was born in the city of Mecca, in a region that is now part of Saudi Arabia.

Muslims believe in: = Allah as the creator of the universe. = Angels. = The Muslim holy book (the Koran) and other Scriptures. = Mohammed and many other prophets as messengers of God. = A Day of Judgment.

Those beliefs are mentioned in Chapters 2 and 4 of the Koran. Many Muslims also believe that good and evil are the will of Allah and are decided by him in advance.

Muslims believe they must do five things in order to be good Muslims: = Recite: There is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his messenger. = Pray five times a day at certain times while facing Mecca. = Give money to the poor. = Fast from sunrise to sunset during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. = Take a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

What Muslims Do Not Believe The following pages contain information about what Muslims do not believe. You may want to photocopy the pages and cut them apart on the lines to make cards, then laminate them or glue them to thick paper. Use the cards as prayer reminders to guide your prayers for Muslims.

For example, one card says, “Muslims do not believe that Allah loves those who are sinners.” That card could remind you to pray: “Dear God, thank You for loving all people, including Muslims, while we were still sinners. Thank You for sending Jesus to save us. Please send workers to share this Good News with Muslims and others who haven’t heard it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Voice of the Martyrs 37 Bold Believers in Nigeria Muslims do not believe… Muslims do not believe… …that they can know Allah as a …that Jesus is the Son of God. The loving father. They believe they can Koran makes it clear that Muslims only know about him. Christians believe Jesus was just a prophet. believe God is a loving Father who Christians believe, “God so loved enjoys giving His children good gifts. the world that He gave His only (See Matthew 7:11 and James 1:17.) begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Muslims do not believe… Muslims do not believe… …that Jesus was crucified (Koran …that Allah loves those who are 4:157). Many Muslims believe Allah sinners or who don’t love him first substituted someone else for Jesus (Koran 3:32 and 4:107). Christians on the cross so it would just look believe “God demonstrates His own like Jesus died. They think Allah took love toward us, in that while we Jesus to heaven before He died. were still sinners, Christ died for us” Christians believe, “Christ died for (Romans 5:8; also see Ephesians our sins according to the Scriptures” 2:4,5). (1 Corinthians 15:3; also see Philippians 2:8).

The Voice of the Martyrs 38 Bold Believers in Nigeria Muslims do not believe… Muslims do not believe… …people are saved by the grace of …that Jesus’ death on the cross God through faith in His Son Jesus, could be a victory. Such a death as Christians believe (Ephesians 2:8, would be a disgrace and a failure, 9). Muslims believe they are saved Muslims believe. Christians believe by doing good deeds rather than we can have victory over sin and bad ones. The Koran talks of scales death because Jesus died, was that will be used to weigh good buried, and rose again on the third deeds on Judgment Day (Koran 7:8, day. (See 1 Corinthians 15:56,57.) 21:47, and 23:102). Christians believe that no one can do enough good works to deserve eternal life (Ephesians 2:8,9).

Muslims do not believe… Muslims do not believe… …that today’s Bible is true. Muslims …that forgiveness of one’s enemies say they believe in some Jewish and is required by Allah. Koran 42:37-43 Christian holy books. However, the says that it is good to forgive those Bible does not agree with the Koran. who have wronged a Muslim, but So Muslims are falsely taught that it is also quite acceptable to get Christians have changed the Bible. revenge. Chapter 24:22 tells Muslims Christians believe that the Bible is to forgive relatives and other inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). Muslims, while 2:179 and 22:60 They agree with the findings of speak well of revenge. Jesus archaeologists which show that the commands love and forgiveness teachings in the Bible have not toward enemies and persecutors. changed throughout the centuries (See Matthew 5:38-47 and Matthew since they were first written down. 18:21,22.)

The Voice of the Martyrs 39 Bold Believers in Nigeria Bridgett...Pork and Shariah One day, radical Muslims Story 9 came to the home of 16-year-old Bridgett Osagie of Nigeria. The Muslims accused Bridgett, a Christian, of selling pork. Eating pork is against Muslim Shariah Law. Bridgett’s family says she has never sold pork.

The Muslims who came to Bridgett’s house had pronounced a “death sentence” on her family. The “sentence” was not handed out in a Shariah court. In fact, the state Bridgett lived in was not even one of the Nigerian states ruled by Shariah. In addition, Christians are not subject to A Nigerian girl Muslim law. Therefore, the radicals were acting outside the laws of their state.

Bridgett had fled her home when she heard about the “sentence,” so she was not harmed. “Fortunately, we had already sent her into hiding,” said her father. “I was beaten up, but the timely intervention of our Christian neighbors saved me.”

Mr. Osagie reported the attack to the police, but nothing was done about it. Fearing further attacks, Bridgett stayed hidden. “She cannot go to school, attend a church service, or even (go outside),” said her father. (Sources include the Charisma Now Web site.)

The Voice of the Martyrs 40 Bold Believers in Nigeria Activity: Learning About Shariah Q and A

Question: What does the word “Shariah” mean in Arabic?

Answer: Some definitions from various sources are: = The path to a watering hole. = The right path. = The path on sand created by camels walking to water spots. = A break in a riverbank allowing access to water.

Q: What is “Shariah Law?”

A: Shariah Law is a set of rules and guidelines for following a traditional Islamic way of life. In some countries, the rules are the law of the land and are enforced by government officials and courts.

Q: Who makes the rules?

A: 1. Some of the rules are found in the Koran. 2. Others come from the Hadith and the Sunnah. The Hadith are written records of the things Mohammed did and said. Several Hadith collectors compiled reports of Mohammed’s life, just as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wrote different accounts of Jesus. A man named Bukhari compiled the collection that is probably the most accepted and most used. Bukhari lived in the ninth century. Sunnah is the word used to describe Mohammed’s teaching and way of life. The Hadith is the main source of information about the Sunnah. 3. A third source of Shariah rules is the consensus—or general agreement—of Muslim scholars in authority. The Arabic word for this source is ijma. 4. A fourth source is opinions based on previous Shariah cases. Different kinds of reasoning and logic are used to form these opinions, called qiyas.

Q: Is there a book or collection of books containing all the Shariah rules ?

A: No. For one thing, Muslim rules differ from place to place in the same way that U.S. states have different laws. Not all Muslim scholars follow the same set of

The Voice of the Martyrs 41 Bold Believers in Nigeria ideas about how Shariah cases should be decided.

Like students of non-Muslim law, Muslims can go to school to learn how to apply Shariah Law in Shariah courts. Just as a non-Shariah law library has many books to help lawyers learn and interpret the law, knowledge from many sources is available to guide Shariah legal scholars.

Q: What types of cases are heard in Shariah courts?

A: Shariah Law has rules for all areas of life, including worship, clothing, banking, family life, eating, criminal law, war, and other activities.

Some Muslim-majority countries around the world have both Shariah courts and non-Shariah courts. In those countries, the Shariah courts deal mainly with marriage, divorce, and other family matters. In recent years Muslims have tried to get government permission to set up voluntary Shariah-based courts for Muslims in Canada. More than 75 percent of Canada’s population is Christian.

A few countries have Shariah courts that cover all areas of Shariah Law. Saudi Arabia and Iran are two of those countries.

Q: What kinds of activities are not allowed under Shariah Law?

A: Shariah Law does not deal only with forbidden behavior. It also spells out what behaviors are allowed and required. According to Muslim belief, all behavior falls into one of the categories shown on the chart (see next page), though the rules may differ from place to place. For example, some Muslim leaders say it is wrong to play music or watch television. Others say those activities are permitted.

Another word for “permitted” or “lawful” is halal. Halal food is food that contains no ingredients forbidden to Muslims. Halal meat is meat that has been slaughtered and prepared according to Muslim rules. Eating in school cafeterias or restaurants can be a problem for Muslims in places where most people are not Muslims because the food might not be halal.

The Voice of the Martyrs 42 Bold Believers in Nigeria Types if Behavior Under Shariah Law

Category of Behavior Meaning Punishment/ Examples of (Arabic Word) Reward (in this life behavior (may and/or in the differ from place “hereafter”) to place)

Fardh Required actions that Doing is rewarded. Not Praying five times a must be done. doing is punished. day. Men supporting their families.

Mandub Recommended or Doing is rewarded. No Extra prayer and desirable. punishment for not fasting. Keeping doing. written records of debts (Koran 2:282).

Mubah Allowed. Neither rewarded or Eating apples. punished. Drinking Coca-Cola. Using the Internet for decent purposes.

Makruh Not recommended. No punishment for Divorce. Growing Hated, but not doing. Reward for long fingernails. forbidden. avoiding. Proposing marriage to someone who is already engaged.

Haram Forbidden. Punishment for doing. Stealing. Lying. Reward for avoiding. Drinking alcohol. Eating pork. Men wearing gold jewelry. Attending a prom.

Q: What are the punishments for haram activities?

A: Shariah courts may enforce harsh punishments, though in most Muslim-majority countries, they do not often do so. However, in 2001, a man in Nigeria was sentenced to have his hand cut off for stealing a $40.00 goat. Others in Nigeria have also suffered very harsh punishments.

The Voice of the Martyrs 43 Bold Believers in Nigeria After the Persecution Below are portions of news reports published about Nigeria in recent years. Story 10 Thousands Seek Nigeria Sanctuary Some 22,000 people have sought shelter in police stations in the northern Nigerian city of Kano. They are mostly Christians from other parts of Nigeria who fled Muslim youths with knives and machetes. (Source: BBC News)

Nigeria Explodes in Violence Again Despite massive efforts by security officers in the northern Nigerian city of Kano, Muslims continue a deadly riot against Christians in the suburbs of the city. It looks like the violence will get worse before it gets better. “Everywhere the hoodlums are taking laws into their own hands,” Kano’s police chief told reporters. (Source: Christianity Today Web site)

When violence breaks out in Nigeria, hundreds of newspapers around the world report it. But few report what happens after the riots.

What do the Christians do AFTER the persecution?

A Difficult Time Early one year Nigerian Christians held a peaceful demonstration in downtown Kaduna. They were protesting the Muslims’ plan to rule their state with Shariah Law. (Learn more about Shariah in the activity following the story “Bridgett…Pork and Shariah.”)

Suddenly the Christian demonstrators noticed smoke coming from the area where their homes and churches were located. Some of the women quickly gathered together to pray for their families and neighborhood.

Soon they discovered that radical Muslims had destroyed their churches, cars, homes, and businesses. Christians who were not at the demonstrations were attacked as well.

It was a very difficult time for the Christians.

The Voice of the Martyrs 44 Bold Believers in Nigeria One Year Later The Kaduna Christians struggled to get their lives back in order after the rioting. Some fled the area to find homes in safer places.

After a year the Nigerians had not yet been able to rebuild their churches. But on Sundays, the congregation at one church put on their best clothes, went to the site of their crumbled church, and sat on stones to worship. Their wooden pews had burned.

At another church the worshippers made an altar out of the rubble that was left after their church was destroyed. They, too, gathered together to praise God. Worshippers dress in their best Some Muslims were not happy that clothes to worship God sitting on the Christians continued to worship stones instead of amid the destruction and debris. on the pews they used to have. Muslims returned to one church destroyed in the riots and knocked down the few remaining walls. The next Sunday the Christians swept aside the rubble, then prayed and worshipped in their roofless church with no walls. The Nigerians did not “forsake the assembling” of their congregations (Hebrews 10:25).

Persecution Not Accomplishing Its Purpose The radical Muslims want to discourage the Christians. But the persecution is not accomplishing its purpose.

The membership in one pastor’s church increased after his church was burned. “The

The Voice of the Martyrs 45 Bold Believers in Nigeria Word of God becomes real” to Christians suffering persecution, said the pastor.

According to a Christian in Kano, fewer Muslims went to mosques after radical Muslims attacked Christians in the city. “Muslims are coming to Christ,” said a persecuted Nigerian Christian, “Christians are more united and show more boldness in winning souls since the attack on their church.”

Pray Nigerian Christians will continue their bold yet gracious witness during times of violence in their land.

Activity: What Did Jesus Say?

To find out one thing Jesus said about persecution, complete the math under each letter on the next page. The answer stands for the letter above it. Use this information to decode the words from the Bible verse. One letter has been done for you. The answer is in the Answer Key.

“Christians are more united and show more boldness in winning souls since the attack on their church.”- Nigerian Christian

The Voice of the Martyrs 46 Bold Believers in Nigeria What Would Jesus Say?

P

A B C D E F G 2 + 5 = 3 + 2 = 9 - 1 = 8 - 7 = 25 + 1 = 6 - 3 = 2 + 2 =

H I J K L M N 5 + 5 = 22 - 1 = 9 + 8 = 4 - 4 = 7 + 6 = 17 - 1 = 9 + 9 =

O P Q R S T U 20 + 3 = 6 + 6 = 12 22 + 2 = 3 + 3 = 2 + 0 = 6 + 3 = 10 + 10 =

V W X Y Z 7 + 7 = 6 + 5 = 10 + 5 = 11 + 11 = 30 - 5 =

The Voice of the Martyrs 47 Bold Believers in Nigeria

Additional Coloring Pages & Activities

The Voice of the Martyrs 49 Bold Believers in Nigeria Coloring Page out for hippopotamuses trying to capsize their canoes. hippopotamuses trying to capsize out for Slessor and other early missionaries to Nigeria had to watch Mary Slessor and other early missionaries to Nigeria had watch

Coloring page by Naomi S.

The Voice of the Martyrs 50 Bold Believers in Nigeria Activity: Yoruba – A Tonal Language

Yoruba is a tonal language. In tonal languages, the same word can have different meanings if it is spoken in different tones (pitches) or if a different syllable is accented.

For example, ogun [oh-goon], depending on the tones used, can mean all of the following:

a. Ogun (one of Nigeria’s 36 states) b. the name of a Nigerian river c. a basket used to catch lobster d. an inheritance e. medicine f. sweat g. war h. twenty

Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with the letter beside the meaning of ogun that best fits in the sentence. Discuss with your family or class what might happen if someone used the wrong ogun in the sentence. Answers are in the Answer Key.

1. The lobster was stuck in the ______.

2. We saw a flock of ______birds.

3. He sailed the toy boat on the ______.

4. When the hot sun came out, ______poured down our faces.

5. Her grandfather left her ______when he died.

6. Many people died in the ______.

7. The ______made the sick man well.

8. We went to see relatives in ______on our vacation.

The Voice of the Martyrs 51 Bold Believers in Nigeria Activity: Crops of Nigeria

Find the hidden words below that name crops grown in Nigeria. The crops to find are listed on this page. The words can be found running up and down (vertically), from left to right (horizontally), or diagonally. Answers are in the Answer Key.

BEANS

CASHEWS G R O U N D N U T S

CASSAVA P L A N T A I N S O

COCOA B Z C Y C X D K W R

GROUNDNUTS C O C O A E V O F G

KOLA NUTS B E A N S M U L R H

MAISE R G S T H H S A U U

PLANTAINS I S S I E R J N B M

RICE C Q A K W P L U B Z

RUBBER E O V A S M N T E B

SORGHUM Y M A I Z E C S R X

YAMS

The Voice of the Martyrs 52 Bold Believers in Nigeria Coloring Page A postage stamp from Nigeria Coloring page by Naomi S.

The Voice of the Martyrs 53 Bold Believers in Nigeria Activity: Animals of Nigeria

Nigeria has many animals with unusual names. Try to draw a line from the names of the Nigerian animals below to the correct description of the animal. Their names contain clues about what they look like. Answers are in the Answer Key.

a. a pink-faced bird with a white 1. Red-capped Mangabey head; eats animal scraps b. smoky colored bird that feeds 2. Goliath Heron on fruit c. a dog-like animal with one stripe 3. Western Grey on its flank Plantain Eater d. monkey with a chestnut-colored crown 4. Bar-tailed Trogon e. forest bird that has a tail with black and white bands 5. Side-striped Jackal f. a bird whose call sounds like “pea-up pea-ack” 6. White-headed Vulture g. with a length of 4’8” from bill to tail, this bird is the longest of its 7. Piapiac kind in the world

Some of the animals in Nigeria are named in the Bible. Using the biblical clues below to find Nigerian animals, write the name of each animal in the blank. Scripture references are from the KJV. Answers are in the Answer Key. 1. The third bird named in Leviticus 11:16 ______2. The animal named in 2 Timothy 4:17 ______3. A spotted animal in Jeremiah 13:23 ______4. The first animal named in Matthew 7:6; some of these are wild in Nigeria ______5. The last bird named in Isaiah 34:15 ______

The Voice of the Martyrs 54 Bold Believers in Nigeria Coloring Page Baobab trees grow on the dry savannas of Nigeria. The trees provide food for giraffes. Coloring page by Naomi S.

The Voice of the Martyrs 55 Bold Believers in Nigeria Answer Key Nigeria Crossword Puzzle:

Forward and Backward: 1. Step on no pets. 2. Was it a bat I saw? 3. Too bad I hid a boot. 4. Madam, in Eden I’m Adam. 5. Live not on evil.

What Would Jesus Say?: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (Matthew 5:10, KJV).

Yoruba – A Tonal Lanuage: Crops of Nigeria:

1. C 5. D G R O U N D N U T S 2. H 6. G 3. B 7. E P L A N T A I N S O 4. F 8. A B Z C Y C X D K W R

C O C O A E V O F G

Animals of Nigeria: B E A N S M U L R H 1. D 5. C 2. G 6. A R G S T H H S A U U 3. B 7. F 4. E I S S I E R J N B M

C Q A K W P L U B Z 1. Cuckoo; 2. Lion; 3. Leopard; 4. Dog; 5. Vulture E O V A S M N T E B

Y M A I Z E C S R X

The Voice of the Martyrs 56 Bold Believers in Nigeria