| In the last newsletter I mentioned on-going tensions in Nigeria with the Fulani people group as an item of prayer. The Fulani herdsmen regularly break into people’s fields to graze their animals and if they are confronted or reported will attack and even kill the owners in retribution. On Thanksgiving we heard that there had been another attack where the Fulani killed 12 of the Ron people. Please continue to pray for peace and wisdom.
However, while I was in Nigeria, there was also news from the Fulani of a different kind.
At the very beginning of our workshop Reverend Ben started a story with a shocking opener: “I have a Fulani friend…” He then told us how he wrapped a Bible that is in the Hausa Arabic script five times and gave it to this friend (who is an imam). He begged forgiveness ahead of time, but the man was so excited he told Ben, “You have never shown me love until now. One day you will hear me preaching.” The Fulani imam hid the Bible when some other imam friends came over, but one saw it. When the others left he came back and said, “I saw you hiding a book, show me.” Having seen it he said, “I’ve been looking for this book for years.” He wanted to take the Bible, but Ben’s friend said, “When you kill me you can take it but until then I will keep it.” In the end he did give it to the other friend who now reads it every day. Now 18 imams in Rev. Ben’s friend’s circle have talked and are asking for more copies. As Rev. Ben continues to distribute Bibles, please pray for protection as those asking could be genuine seekers or could be hoping to identify the source to eliminate it.
We also heard about how audio Bibles are being distributed on small solar powered devices. Some of the Fulani herdsmen will place the Bible, solar panel up, on their wide-brimmed hat and listen all day while they watch their herds. There was a group of Fulani Christians who were captured by Boko Haram. Miraculously rescued, they decided to devote themselves to making ten converts a day. One of those men was caught and beaten almost to death. They were going to kill him but one man said, “Just leave him, he won’t make it.” Then they found his audio Bible/sermon/song device and asked him what it was. He just hit play and it started playing some of the teaching. The men walked off listening to it and leaving him behind. The man recovered and sometime later showed up to a mission with one of the guys who had beaten him–now a Christian–and now they are working together to distribute more of the audio players.
Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.” This is very true for the Fulani. Believers are often pursued to death by their families, and the Fulani have made themselves such a stench to the other people groups that new believers often have nowhere to turn to. However, amidst their conflict, Rev. Ben said several times, “Don’t kill the mission field.” May this spirit prevail.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! We pray for peace with God and peace in your family and with your neighbors in the coming year.
Thank you to each of you who has given to or prayed for our Wycliffe ministry in 2022. If you would like to give a year end gift to our Wycliffe ministry you can click below or mail to the address below. Mail must be postmarked by Dec 31 to be tax-deductible for 2022.
If you wish to mail contributions send them to:
Wycliffe Bible Translators
P.O. Box 628200
Orlando, Fl 32862-8200
Checks should be made out to Wycliffe Bible Translators, with a separate note that says “preference for the Wycliffe ministry of Benjamin & Shanna Wright, account #227489 |
