Isolated And Alone

Isolated And Alone  Cameroon is a beautiful and diverse country in Africa located on the border of Nigeria. After being divided by the French and British during World War I, Cameroon finally claimed her independence in the 1960's. While the economy in the larger cities in Northern Cameroon is seemingly successful, the welfare of the natives in the smaller villages is desolate and isolated. Islam is the primary religion in this area and Christians are persecuted by Boko Haram members regularly. It is common for Boko Haram members to cross the border from Nigeria into Cameroon and cause havoc. The only authority in the area is the local Muslim Chief.  Many of Christ followers today are Muslim Background Believers (MBB), which makes them an even greater target from family, friends and the government. Seeing how there is no church in the area, the believers' decision to follow Christ is met with great hostility. Marian, a believer in North Cameroon, lives in a small, isolated village. Just days before Open Doors visited the area, her husband, along with two other men, were deliberately attacked by Boko Haram members. Marian became a widow that day. Prior to the tragedy, groups of converts would meet in secret, and always at a different location. But, after the attack, Marian was completely cut off from Christian contact. Kept behind a curtain, away from everyone, she spent her days eating, sleeping and breathing in absolute solitude until it became clear that she was not pregnant. Any child born after the customary observation would be labeled illegitimate. Since released, Marian now endures psychological pressure from other women in the village who accuse her of being stubborn. They taunt her by saying, "If you and your husband stayed Muslims he would be alive today." Marian has 12 children and the loss of their father has had a great impact on them as well. One With Them Please be One With Them today as you join in this prayer for Marian and other Christians in North Cameroon: "Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercies, fresh and new each day. Thank You for the gift of Your Son. Thank You for giving all believers Your very own Spirit to reside in us, to comfort us, to guide and direct us. Father, You created all, You know all, and You have seen all. No one knows the situation in North Cameroon like You, Father. We are comforted that You also know what tomorrow, and every tomorrow thereafter, will bring. Please sustain the faith of Marian and all Your Cameroon children in the face of their present difficulties and continue to shine the light of the Gospel in this remote area. May they remain strong and effective witnesses for Christ. Shine Your light so that many may be liberated from the yoke of tradition and ignorance. I lift up these prayers in Jesus’ name. Amen."  One With Them CHALLENGE Marian’s story of a husband martyred for Christ, and now alone with no visible means of supporting her children, is repeated again and again in countries where Christians are persecuted. One of the Open Doors ministries is to provide entrepreneurial skills training so that these widows can support their families. Please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry today at the Open Doors website. Click here. 2013.07.05

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37)