Mass Turned Massacre in Nigeria

Dozens of worshippers died in a brutal attack Sunday at a Catholic Church in Owo, Nigeria. Gunmen rode up on motorcycles and then open-fired, detonating explosives, killing about 70, including children, and abducting others. The church, which seats as many as 1,200, was full for the celebration of Pentecost.

Thousands of Christians are martyred every year in Nigeria, due to Muslim attacks by Boko Haram and, recently, Fulani herdsmen. Sunday’s still unsolved tragedy comes little more than a week after 31 people died in a stampede at a church charity event in Rivers State, and not quite two months after a Fulani raid on a Catholic church in central Nigeria that left 19 dead.

Lord, have mercy on those who worship You in Nigeria. Be a Shield around them, keeping believers from harm. Psalm 91. Rise up and fight for the innocent. Protect the children. Give them a hope and a future in You. Send Your angel armies to stand guard around churches, Christian villages, homes, and every person who bears Your name. Block evil attacks in such visible and miraculous ways, persecutors will see You, tremble in fear, and fall on their faces in repentance.

Give authorities the facts, clues and evidence they need to find those who did this and bring them to justice, blocking them from harming others. As they question the Christians to gain information, shine through those believers, giving them peace, hope, and even forgiveness for their attackers, so the officers will see Your love, hunger for You, and choose You as Savior.

Heal those who are wounded, O God, and comfort those who mourn. Meet them in powerful ways, recovering their minds and hearts from trauma, and setting them free to forgive. Bring Christian counselors to them who will pray with them, care for them, and help them on the journey to healing.

Shield those who have been abducted. Keep them safe from torture, harm, sickness and death. Provide the way for their escape, and clear instructions on how to take it. Send them walking out of captivity uncontested and unharmed, as You did in the miracle in Haiti. Let them feel You near to them right now, filling their minds with the mind of Christ, and giving them the words to speak in the face of evildoers. Empower them to forgive, to demonstrate Your peace, faith, hope, joy and love in such powerful ways those who guard or beat them will stop, listen to them sing to You, drop their fists and weapons, and choose You as Savior. Lift the clouds of darkness from over persecutors’ minds and hearts and pierce them through with Your light. Let them see You are the One they’ve been longing for, that only You can give them the joy, peace and meaning they so desperately seek. Break the chains that bind them to do Satan’s bidding, and set them free to surrender to Your grace.

With You, O God, all things are possible. Matthew 19:26. So, what we ask of You is not out of reach. Save the mass murderers, Lord. Transform their hearts. Turn them to Christ. And stop the violence. Bring about a great awakening to You all throughout Nigeria, a mighty roaring of the waterfalls of Your love cascading across every heart, washing away the years of bloodshed and bringing forth a new era of salvation, peace and revival. For every Christian who is martyred, bring 1000 Muslims to faith in Christ. Build Your church, O God, and multiply it abundantly. In Your name. Amen.

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