Nigeria (MNN/VCM) — Like countless Christian girls in Nigeria, Blessing’s life was anything but easy.
Blessing became a Christian at the age of 13 after secretly attending a Sunday school in her neighborhood. When Blessing’s father found out that she was attending church, he beat her and warned her not to go back. After discovering that she had resumed attending church, he beat her again; yet, this time, he also decided to lock her in a shed for two weeks. Then he arranged for Blessing to marry a much older man whom she had never met.
Many – if not all – acts of physical persecution often indirectly result in lasting psychological trauma.
(Photo, caption courtesy of VOM Canada)
After enduring abuse repeatedly from the husband of her arranged marriage over the course of the following year, Blessing eventually escaped to the home of her Christian uncle, whose pastor was able to smuggle her to the Christian Faith Ministries discipleship center. Blessing loved being able to freely fellowship there with the other Christians and appreciated the opportunity to receive foundational Bible training. As she had never been to school prior to arriving at the discipleship center, she began learning to read and write in her mother tongue.
After several months of her stay at the discipleship center, Blessing received a summons from the Sharia court in her town regarding her marriage. After pleading her case in court, Blessing was granted a divorce because she had been married against her will at 13 years old. Before she left town, under the guise that she would be meeting her brother at his friend’s house, she was violently raped by her sibling’s friend.
Telling no one about the upsetting incident, Blessing returned to the discipleship center now as a victim of sexual abuse. A couple of months later, deeply broken over the fact that she was impregnated during the rape, she arrived at the on-site doctor’s office and asked for an abortion. Panic-stricken and ashamed to face fellow students at the discipleship center, Blessing wanted to run away. However, after receiving wise counsel from the doctor and a motherly team member, Blessing agreed not to seek an abortion. Instead, she stayed at the residence of a ministry partner who cared for her throughout the pregnancy.
At almost 17 years old, Blessing delivered a healthy baby girl at a local hospital. During the naming ceremony, her beautiful little girl was given the names “Love” and “Thankful.” Blessing and her precious baby have received greatly needed support from the caring members of their Christian community, and she has since been able to return to her studies where she continues to learn practical vocational skills.
Blessing is one of the girls currently receiving help at Mara’s House, a center in Nigeria where traumatized women and girls are provided with necessary care and discipleship so they can flourish in a safe, nurturing community.
In partnership with Crossroads Cares, Voice of the Martyrs Canada is assisting Christian Faith Ministries Media with the completion of this dormitory building. Here’s how you can help.
Blessing and her precious baby have received greatly needed support from the caring members of their Christian community, and she has since been able to return to her studies where she continues to learn practical vocational skills. (Photo, caption courtesy of VOM Canada)
