As Sheep to the Slaughter

by Rolaant McKenzie

Jonah, his wife Sarah, and their two small children, son Emmanuel and daughter Mercy, lived in a village near the city of Barkin Ladi in Plateau State, north central Nigeria, just over 100 miles from the country's capital, Abuja. Jonah was pastor of the Christian church in his village, which was known for its love of Jesus and faithfulness to Him. He proclaimed the gospel, taught the word of God, and conducted weddings and baptisms, and he was deeply involved in community outreach. Sarah led the women's ministry and organized food distributions to the poor, especially to widows and orphans.

For several years violent attacks had been on the rise in northern Nigeria from Islamic militants, especially from Boko Haram, Islamic State in West African Province (ISWAP), and Fulani herdsmen, who would often raid villages on motorcycles using automatic weapons and explosives. Churches were particularly targeted for destruction. Many of them were burned down, many of their congregants were killed, and others were kidnapped and held for ransom.

Though these attacks were taking place closer to his own home, Pastor Jonah and his family were determined to remain faithful in their service to the Lord, for the word of God in Isaiah 43:2, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you," encouraged and strengthened them.

On February 11, 2024, near the end of the Sunday church service, Pastor Jonah and the congregation heard the sound of motorcycles coming toward the church. They knew this was a sign of an imminent attack. As the people ran toward the back of the church to escape, it was hit with a barrage of gunfire and explosions, which caused the church to catch fire.

After the Islamic militants' attack, many of the church members were killed or severely injured. The church was destroyed, and much of the village lay in ruins. Though Pastor Jonah, Sarah, and their Emmanuel survived the attack, their beloved little girl, Mercy, was shown no mercy and was among the dead.

For a period of time in the aftermath of this brutal attack, Jonah was crushed by the weight of his loss, and he struggled with his faith. Like the Psalmist, his heart cried out to God:

"But for Your sake we are killed all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." (Psalm 44:21)

Accounts such as this have become commonplace in northern Nigeria, even encroaching into southern areas of the country, over the last decade. This has been made much worse due to government inability or unwillingness to protect its Christian citizens.

Currently headquartered in the United Kingdom, Open Doors exists to encourage, support, and strengthen Christians suffering in some of the most hostile places in the world. It supplies Bibles and Christian literature, discipleship training, and material aid to Christians suffering for their faith. It also seeks to raise awareness of global persecution to solicit prayer and support among Christians.

Approximately 107.3 million Christians live in Nigeria, comprising 45.7% of the country. Muslims comprise 46.9% of the population at 110.1 million. According to the Open Doors' World Watch List, Nigeria currently is the most violent place to live for followers of Jesus Christ. In the northern areas of the country, 12 states have implemented Sharia (Islamic law) where Christians are treated as second-class citizens and made vulnerable to well-armed Islamic militants who often launch attacks on schools and churches with impunity, kidnapping believers and holding them for ransom. Others are killed, and more flee and become displaced persons. The Islamic militant groups follow a strategy of specifically killing Christian men because they are usually the family's main source of income, and eliminating them would lead to depopulation of Christian communities.

In spite of the danger, Christians continue to gather together to worship the Lord, comfort and help one another, and encourage each other in the faith, taking to heart Hebrews 10:23-25:

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

It is the unfortunate habit of some Christians to shun in-person fellowship with other believers and find excuses not to attend church when they are not hindered by illness, infirmity, or trouble with transportation. For those of us who live in Western countries where there still generally exists the freedom to assemble at church in peace with other believers to worship God and build up each other in the faith. Would we still attend if things changed to the point where it meant risking severe injury or death?

That is a question that many Nigerian Christians experiencing persecution have faced and have answered in the affirmative. Sometimes, after an Islamic attack that included the burning down of a church, the surviving congregants of that church would meet in the ruins the following Sunday to worship the Lord Jesus and sing praises to His name and encourage and help one another, knowing that they could be attacked again that day and die.

Jonah's faith in God was renewed through the prayers and support of his wife Sarah and of his community. He took comfort in God's word, particularly in Romans 8:28, which reminded him that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Jonah also saw that the anguish expressed in Psalm 44:21 was quoted by the apostle Paul, who turned it around into a message of hope and assurance:

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, 'FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.' But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39)

Despite the overwhelming loss of his daughter Mercy, Pastor Jonah knew that Jesus had suffered and died for him and that she was safe in the presence of God, in the fulness of His love. He would see her again when his sojourn on Earth was done. This strengthened him to reach out to other survivors and persecuted believers, ministering to them in the name of Jesus and providing hope and comfort in the face of adversity.

For those of us in Western countries or other parts of the world that still have some degree of liberty, make every effort to attend a Biblically-sound church this Sunday. Do not take it for granted but consider it the blessing from God that it is. Seek to encourage and build up each other's faith in Jesus. Do not forget to pray for the persecuted church in Nigeria and other parts of the world (Ephesians 6:18; Hebrews 13:3).

Remember the oppressed and afflicted Lamb that was led to slaughter to secure forgiveness and redemption for sinners like you and me (Isaiah 53; Revelation 5). Blessed forever are all those who take refuge and trust in Him!