A Methodist church I visited for the first time this past Sunday prayed during their worship service for Nigeria’s stolen girls. I’m sure you have been following this sad story. The fanatical Muslim group Boko Haram kidnapped more than 300 schoolgirls in northeastern Nigeria, and as of this writing, the majority of them are still missing.
I have attended a number of church services since this story first broke on April 15th, but this was the first time I heard what’s been happening ever mentioned by someone on a Sunday morning. It was the high point of the service, as far as I was concerned. This was the worldwide Church of Christ being His Body in a truly compassionate manner.
I have had a keen interest in this tragedy because I had the privilege of being part of a missions documentary that was filmed in Nigeria a little over a year ago. Since being there, one of my key Nigerian cameramen has died. Nigeria is Africa’s most-populous country, and probably the most like America in many ways.
I have not included mention of the stolen girls in my Soundbytes because I write those a week ahead of time and this given story has changed almost daily. But, I don’t believe it should be overlooked by our American churches. Please make sure that you call attention to the situation if it hasn’t yet been resolved. And at the very least, pray for these young girls and their heartbroken parents.
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Please click here to visit David Mains’ Sermon-Coach.com website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Please click here.
