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Questions about Global Missions?

Summary

As Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria represents 2.5% of the global population. Their rich diversity is beautifully represented in over 500 people groups. Mangroves and tropical forests in the south, savanna and grasslands in the north, and wetlands along the coast emphasize this diversity geographically. Striking differences also exist between the northern and southern parts of the country. Northern Nigeria is largely Muslim, fuedalist, and impoverished with over 80% of the nation’s poor. Meanwhile, southern Nigeria is more developed and majority Christian. Deep ethnic and religious divisions threaten the nation as a whole.

Constant tensions exist between tribal rivalries — particularly in the northern and central states where Muslims and Christians co-exist. Since 1999, 12 northern states have partially or fully imposed Sharia law, causing many human rights abuses. In 2009, Boko Haram — one of Africa’s largest Muslim extremist groups — launched an insurgency in Nigeria declaring they intended to root out corruption and establish Muslim rule. The group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2015. Though Boko Haram has lost control of much territory, they remain a grave threat, primarily in the northern states. They continue to kill, loot, attack schools, abduct women and children, and conscript men and boys into their army. Years of devastating violence has left roughly tens of thousands dead and displaced millions of people. In addition, nomadic Fulani herdsmen are a violent threat across central Nigeria, brutally killing many farmers and competing for their land. Militias, a self-serving elite, and political and religious corruption continue to hold the nation back. Though Nigeria is Africa’s largest producer of oil, nearly half the population remains in poverty. Over 30% of the rural population lacks clean water. HIV/AIDS has also left an estimated 2.5 million orphans.

Nigeria is home to a large majority of West Africa’s Evangelicals and Africa’s largest church by membership, with roughly 65,000 weekly attenders. The Nigerian Church has sent several Christian missionaries throughout the country and overseas. But with the nation’s north-south divide, believers in the Muslim-majority north have suffered decades of persecution, including the destruction of thousands of churches. Even so, Muslims are being drawn to Jesus and the Church has experienced substantial growth. Yet, some places of Nigeria have seen such fast Church growth that the new believers lack proper discipleship and spiritual guidance. Second-generation nominalism, syncretism, tribal and denominational divisions, materialism, and immorality all threaten the Body of Christ. The false teachings of the prosperity gospel are also rampant. About 16% of Nigeria’s people groups remain unreached, many of which are being rapidly Islamized.

quick facts

continent:
Africa
religion:
Christian 46%, Muslim 46%, Ethnic religions 7%
capital city:
Abuja
language:
English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani, Kanuri
government:
Federal presidential republic
GDP per capita:
$5,700
literacy rate:
62%
population:
236,747,130
major groups of people:
17% Hausa (Hausawa); 17% Yoruba (Oyo, Ekiti, Ijebu); 12% Igbo (Ibo); 5% Toroobe Fulani; 3% Yerwa Kanuri (Beriberi)
POPULATION IN UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS:
31%

prayer points

01

Increased efforts, fresh approaches and more workers to reach Muslims in Nigeria while the door is open (John 9:4), especially in the north

02

Effective, contextualized ministry to Muslim-background believers

03

Revival in the national church and an increasing passion for gospel-focused ministry

04

Faithful Witness workers to raise adequate support to continue Fulani ministry

05

Adjustment to a new Director, Deputy Director and Personnel Coordinator in 2025

06

Persecuted believers to endure hardship, receive trauma healing and practice Christ’s love and forgiveness

07

Our urgent need for theological educators, medical professionals, educational consultants, teachers and a coordinator for our anti-human trafficking ministry

08

Establishment of a new school in Kano to facilitate relationships with Muslims

09

Strategic development of our new MK school in Kano

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