Gunmen reportedly rounded up the students and demanded to know their names. If they gave a Christian name, they were given a chance to deny their Christian faith and convert to Islam by reciting the shahada (Muslim prayer of faith). If they refused and stood firm in their Christian faith, they were either shot or stabbed to death on the spot. Survivors say some Muslims were also murdered, either mistakenly or intentionally. Those who gave Muslim names were required to say a Muslim prayer to prove their faith. If they could not recite the prayer, they were killed…”
You can read the rest of the article here: http://www.persecution.net/ng-2012-10-11.htm
This is one of the many events happening in Nigeria recently where our brothers and sisters are being murdered. Churches in Nigeria are attacked weekly and many Christians are being killed, their belongings are being stolen or destroyed, and those that survive are living in fear. The violence in Nigeria has resulted in 50,000 deaths since 1999. God has called believers in Nigeria to live as sheep in the midst of wolves. Can you imagine waking up every day knowing that someone could come into your village or city and demand that you deny Christ or die?
Nigeria is just north of and has a very strong influence on Cameroon. Though this type of persecution is not common in Cameroon, we beg you for your prayers that the Lord would spare Cameroon, and the Christians in Nigeria as well.
If you are not currently praying for the persecuted church, we would strongly recommend that you sign up for the Persecution and Prayer Alert through Voice of the Martyrs. You can sign up here: http://www.persecution.net/pnpord.htm. Being on this email list allows you to know what is happening with our brothers and sisters around the world and helps keep them in our prayers. I find that at times my mind is stretched to think of things to pray for. Since I have been on this email list, I always know that people needing prayer are in my inbox. It also helps me to have a realistic picture of what it means to be a Christian in much of the world today.
Please take some time right now to pray for the persecuted church. Pray that what was true of the Thessalonians that Paul wrote to might be true of them as well:
