A few months ago Taliban-trained militants from Iran marched to within 300 yards of one of our YWAM campuses, destroying much along the way. They had already burned 27 Christian churches in the area killing hundreds of Christians within a few hours. Thankfully God protected our brave and committed YWAMers and the army stopped them just 300 yards before they could burn us out too. They were beheading Christians who would not renounce Jesus. Their goal is to take over Nigeria, the largest and the most oil rich nation in Africa, to make it a Moslem nation.
The Nigerian President is a Moslem, though 45% of the population is Christian. 35% are Moslem, the rest animist. The stakes are high. As Nigeria goes, so goes the continent. In the "Christian" south, there are now thousands of militants, mostly angry university students, made bitter by corruption and injustice. They have grown stronger over the last decade. The militants now control much wealth, land and weapons and sell one-fifth of the nation’s oil supply on the black market to nations needing cheaper oil, to pay for the militants’ war.
After the attack the YWAM DTS outreach team, after much prayer, knew God was leading them on outreach to the camps of the militants. Into the camps went the prayed up YWAMers. One of the most ruthless murderers, armed with a large knife, approached the YWAMers with his knife poised over his head. The school leader, Alex, started walking toward the man. Alex spoke firmly but calmly “you need Jesus.” Over and over, he said it, as he drew closer to the drawn knife’s point. The man replied “No! Run or you die!”
When Alex was just a few feet away, the man fell to his knees, threw down his weapon and began weeping. He was saved and delivered, as were many others. Many of the militants had made oaths with Satan. One would go into a trance, moving like a crocodile and eat whole eggs, until the demons were appeased. He too was delivered and saved. As a result of this encounter the militants have started to encourage their men to go to YWAM. 300 former militants have just been through a YWAM three-week training course. Another 600 will start into a second course soon.
Three former militants gave their testimonies on the campus. One shared, “My job was to kidnap white people but I have been transformed by the power of God.” This is such a huge breakthrough! We now have a new base in a village controlled by the militants. The Government, has declared they want YWAM bases in each of the 36 states of Nigeria and have asked YWAM to rehabilitate the militants. Their testimonies reveal such darkness, satanic covenants, murders, the worst of the worst. But when they come to Jesus and get set free, they speak of freedom with such gratitude!
Rom 8:31 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]
