Listeners Speak from the Storm: Helping Christians in Nigeria
[Estimated reading time: 3 minutes]
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According to Open Doors, Nigeria is the seventh most difficult place in the world to be a Christian — and the deadliest. More Christians are killed for their faith in the West African nation than in any other country.
Conflict isn’t just about war. Conflict can occur within families, in the marketplace, even in places of worship.
At TWR, we’ve begun an exploration of “Hope Within Reach,” particularly looking this month at how hope is within reach during seasons of conflict in the West African nation of Nigeria.
Sometimes, hope is as close as a radio dial, or a link on the web.
Let’s hear directly from Nigerians who found hope within reach via TWR. All the stories are true, but names have been changed and some details redacted.
‘My faith did not falter’
My name is Aisha, and I come from Zaria. The day I gave my life to Christ was the day a storm began in my home. My parents did everything in their power to silence my faith. They starved me – days without food. They refused to pay my school fees, as though knowledge could be chained to belief. I was beaten severely, sometimes until my body gave way. I remember the sting of peppery water poured over me, the raw burning on my skin meant to quench a fire they could not see.
For over a month, they seized all my clothes, leaving me in shame and helplessness. I was locked out of the house repeatedly — punished for attending Bible studies, for daring to find comfort among fellow believers. Once, they even reported me to a fiery, unforgiving imam who was known for his harsh judgments. I trembled — but not in fear of man.
Their torment was creative, cruel, consistent.
But my faith … my faith did not falter. It did not flounder. Each time I was pushed down, God lifted me. When they shut me out, he drew me in. When they tried to burn away my hope, the Spirit fanned it into a flame. Today, I stand — still on the journey of faith. I thank God, not only for bringing me through every trial, but for giving me a joy that suffering could not steal. His strength has become my song.
Thank you, TWR, for being there from the very beginning, to show the way, to encourage and to comfort – may God bless you for all that you do.
‘We escaped … empty-handed’
A listener from Nigeria to The Way of Righteousness in the Kanuri language posted this via social media in April 2024:
We escaped our homes empty-handed. That made most of us want to lose hope. But as we continue to hear the Word of truth, they keep giving us reasons to continue to live rightly every day.
‘They observed me listening’
A Nigerian listener to Heralds of Hope in the Hausa language sent this text message in March 2024:
I am having problems with my parents because they observed me listening to your program, so they cut off my phone. Please, do you have any device that I can listen to your program on without my parents knowing? Please help me because I love your program.
‘Please pray for them’
A February 2024 text message from Nigeria regarding Thru the Bible in the Hausa language wrote:
There are some Fulani people converted to Christianity through your program. Currently they are building a church. Please pray for them to stand firm.
Sources: David Irondi, “Stories from the Oasis,”; TWR listener responses
