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Do you remember Pastor Barnabas*? We introduced you to him and his family in 2024. At the time, he, his wife, and eight children were living in an informal IDP (internally displaced persons) camp in northern Nigeria's Benue State. They were forced to flee when Fulani militants attacked their village, yelling "Capari" ("you don't have any religion"). Barnabas explained that the militants don't value Christians' lives because they are considered infidels.
An Open Doors team met him and his family in the IDP camp. He was ministering to thousands who had also fled their homes, many due to violence. He invited us into his life and story, allowing us to take photos of his makeshift shelter made from tarp, palm leaves, and mosquito nets. He showed us how tiny the tent was—smaller than a double mattress—and shared that at night, five of his children had to sleep elsewhere in others' tents. There was only room for him, his wife, and their three younger children. He told us about the camp's challenging living conditions, including no running water or toilets and poor sanitation.
"Millions of Christians are displaced in the whole of Africa. The news doesn't care about it, politicians don't talk about it, government don't talk about it, global politics don't talk about it."
Pastor Barnabas*, Nigerian believer
Pastor Barnabas also brought powerful words, intentionally calling the global Church and the world to wake up and speak up against the ongoing violent persecution of Christians in Nigeria and throughout sub-Saharan Africa:
"Millions of Christians are displaced, here in Nigeria," he shared with us during our first meeting. "Millions of Christians are displaced in the whole of Africa. The news doesn't care about it, politicians don't talk about it, government don't talk about it, global politics don't talk about it. Nobody talks about it. We are remaining in darkness."
Open Doors' partners recently visited Barnabas again and returned with an encouraging update we wanted to share with you. Because of your support, he and his family are now in a new home. In the same way he showed us his tiny tent in the IDP camp, Barnabas invited the team to step inside and see the house built with your prayers and gifts.
"I just want to appreciate God Almighty for where He has kept me today," he shares. "This is a new house I'm occupying with my family. We have access to everywhere. We can freely move inside. You can take a look: we even have chairs and tables, wall curtains all over.
"I have a personal room with my wife. I have a room for my children. We also have a kitchen. We also have a toilet and water system. We can easily cook even when it is raining."
Step inside Pastor Barnabas' new home
In addition to a new home, Barnabas shared more encouraging updates about his children and wife. When we first met him, he lamented that his children were not in school. He knows the importance of education and the advantages it brings. Today, he can now pay the school fees for three of his children to be students once again—also through your support.
"Before, they were there in the camp with me, just moving here and there. But now, if you take a look around, three of them have gone to school now. So, that is part of how they have helped me."
Barnabas' wife is also finding purpose again. She now has a shop where she does her skilled work, Barnabas says. "Now she has something she's doing," he explains. "She's a designer."
And Barnabas continues to pastor people from the IDP camp, returning several times a week to minister: "On Wednesday we have a midweek service; Tuesday, we go into Bible studies. So, each of these days, I always strive to go there and share the Word of God with them, before I come home."
Coupled with this gratitude and praise for these positive changes, Barnabas reports that the number of Christians being displaced and killed continues to increase.
"We are children of God," he says. "We are created to serve God. And if we are being deprived of our right to serve God, then what are we doing?"
He stressed the urgency and importance of continuing to stand with persecuted Christians in sub-Saharan Africa. He urged us to sign and share Open Doors' Arise Africa petition that will be presented to world leaders.
"It is very, very important for people to speak about the Christians in sub-Saharan Africa because every day, we are attacked. So, we want people to spread this news to everybody.
Watch a message from Pastor Barnabas
"It's not only important to speak out, but it's also important for you to pray, because prayer is the only key," says the man who has brought his pain and worries to God throughout his family's displacement. "When you pray to God, it's only God that can step into the matter and the matter will be solved. So, when you're praying for [persecuted Christians], it will restore them. It will help them to stand." He also shared four specific prayer requests:
*Name changed for security reasons.
