Nigeria (MNN) — Over 100 schoolgirls were kidnapped on February 19th by Boko Haram militants in Dapchi, Nigeria. Two weeks ago, Boko Haram released all of the girls except one – Leah Sharibu, a 15-year-old Christian girl who refused to convert to Islam.
The name Boko Haram means “Western education is forbidden”. Boko Haram is a Muslim militant group bent on driving out Western influences from Nigeria, including Christianity.
According to USA Today, Leah’s father, Nathan Sharibu said, “They told her they would release her if she converted, but she said she will never become a Muslim.
“I am very sad, but I am also overjoyed because my daughter did not denounce Christ.”
The Nigerian government negotiated the release of the other Dapchi schoolgirls, and President Muhammadu Buhari vows they will keep negotiating Leah’s freedom as well. But so far, there is no telling when that could be.
Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014. (Video snapshot courtesy of YouTube)
Lauren Libby with Trans World Radio (TWR) says the Dapchi girls’ kidnapping is similar to the kidnapping of the Chibok girls back in 2014. “That’s not the only time [a Boko Haram kidnapping] happened. You remember back four or five years ago when the same thing occurred. This is a group that is very violent and supposedly religiously-oriented.”
As our young sister in Christ who is being held captive by Boko Haram, Leah desperately needs the prayers of the Body of Christ.
“What we’re praying is that God would directly intervene,” says Libby.
The only thing that is going to change the heart of radical militants like Boko Haram is something even more radical – salvation in Christ. “So the question is, how do you get the truth and how do you bring the grace of Jesus Christ into that group?”
TWR has a radio station in West Africa broadcasting the hope of the Gospel. But they are currently working to build a new 200,000-watt radio station on the AM band to broadcast into Niger, Togo, and northern Nigeria — right in the heart of Boko Haram territory.
“That is where the Boko Haram groups operate from. So to be able to talk about Jesus into a primarily Muslim audience is quite an undertaking, not only technically, but from a programming standpoint as well,” Libby explains.
“When you begin to talk about Jesus into a culture, it is interesting how the Holy Spirit can begin to work in hearts, not just of the average person, but of leadership as they listen.”
(Image courtesy of Open Doors USA)
For now, TWR is waiting on the license to finish this new radio station. They already have many of the radio station’s components and much of the funding.
“The Lord has already provided about 50 percent of the funds and we look at that as being an affirmation that God wants us to move forward.”
Click here if you would like to support TWR’s ministry in Africa.
Libby says, ultimately, the battle with Boko Haram in Nigeria is a spiritual battle. And the prayers of God’s people truly do make a difference. “We’ve found that when groups of people begin to pray for a particular area or a particular process, it is interesting how that begins to energize the spirit of God in that area.”
Pray for God to miraculously transform the hearts and minds of Boko Haram fighters, that they would repent and come to salvation in Christ Jesus.
Please pray especially for Leah as she remains in Boko Haram captivity. Ask the Holy Spirit to give her strength of heart and to hold steadfast to her faith. Pray for Leah to be released soon and reunited with her family.
