While many of us in the West were safely gathered in church celebrating Palm Sunday, gunmen were attacking and killing murdering people in Nigeria. Among the victims was a woman and her unborn child.

Gideon, our first Field Minister in Nigeria, rushed to the scene immediately. He was there all morning. When he finally returned, he told us:

"The bodies were evacuated to the hospital only this late morning...I'm tired, and it's disheartening, but we will not give up."

This is not the first time that Gideon has witnessed overwhelming brutality. Nigeria is one of the most dangerous countries in the world to profess faith in Jesus. Over 3,500 Christians were martyred there last year.

Yet, at the same time, Palm Sunday is a reminder that God is with us in our suffering. Jesus knew everything that awaited him as he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. He knew that He would be betrayed, tortured, and crucified, and yet He did exactly that to accomplish our salvation.

It's because of what Jesus has done for us that we can say with confidence that the Christians in Nigeria have not been abandoned. They are not alone in their suffering, for the love that rode into Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago is one we can cling to when everything else around us falls away. Today, our Field Minister Gideon is on the ground, sharing that love with his fellow Nigerians.

Please join us in prayer for the families of the victims and those who were injured.

- Pray for the grieving families, that God would draw near and bring comfort.
- Pray for Gideon as he serves on the ground, pointing people to their only hope in Christ.
- Pray for Nigeria, especially Christians during Holy Week, for protection and peace.

Thank you for standing with the persecuted.