Lawan Andimi was a pastor in the Michika area for the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria. Last year he was kidnapped by the Boko Haram Islamic terrorist group. A few weeks ago he made a video giving his testimony of faith in Christ and willingness to die for Him (see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqed21AT-Qk). Last week Andimi was beheaded by his captors. About a week earlier eleven other Christians in Nigeria were also killed by Boko Haram.
These are just a few of the growing numbers of believers who are facing severe persecution and martyrdom around the world. This fact was made evident this week in the Open Doors 2020 World Watch List of the 50 nations where it is most difficult to be a Christian. Number one worst on the list was, as usual, North Korea where worship of any god but Supreme Leader Kim Jon Un is prohibited. It was followed in the worse ten by Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, Eritrea, Sudan, Yemen, Iran, and India. Of the 50 countries on the list, 35 are predominantly Muslim, three are communist/atheist (China is cracking down on house churches), three are Buddhist, and two are Hindu. To see the full list of 50 visit the Open Doors website: https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/.
As believers in Christ we should be keenly aware of the suffering of our brothers and sisters around the world who are facing often violent opposition from radical anti-Christian forces. It is easy for us in America to take our freedom for granted, but we must remember that it is not that way for millions of believers.
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time —houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions —and eternal life in the age to come. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:29-31- Christian Standard Bible)