The Christian Association of Nigeria, Plateau State wants to appreciate the work of Stephen Centre International (S C I) for the spirit of love, care and help to our children whose parents were killed during the crises in our state. By giving education to 19 children from the three senatorial zones of Plateau state, it is our hope that their good works will bring life and hope in future. In addition to this gesture on children from Plateau State, they have taken more than fifty children from other crisis affected areas in the Northern parts of Nigeria to Abeokuta Ogun State of Nigeria to receive free education including feeding and clothing. I believe that many of these children will grow to become great men and women of tomorrow.

I therefore appeal to the general public to assist Nigeria Special Children of Stephen Centre International (S C I) by helping to provide a better life for these children. In doing this, we shall be fulfilling the purpose for which the Lord came; to give life and hope to the poor.
 

Rev. Yakubu Pam (Chairman)
Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN)
Plateau State

Prior to the year 2000 AD, the Northern States of Nigeria had witnessed many religious riots. Many Christians are always killed and large number of Churches destroyed.

However, the religious riot in Kaduna, as a result of the introduction of Sharia law was unprecedented. This particular riot destroyed many Christians and rendered children fatherless.

Stephen Centre International (SCI), founded by Voice of the Christian Martyrs Nigeria was the only organization among others, who took particular interest in rehabilitating and educating the children, who lost their parents.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the Northern States is very much proud to associate with Nigeria Special Children and Voice of the Christian Martyrs Nigeria and their cause.

Stephen Centre International in Abeokuta, where these children are kept and trained, has assisted in no small way, not only in rehabilitating these Children, but has also done so much to de-traumatize them.

The recent religious conflicts in Plateau and Kano States added a large number of Children who lost their parents, during the conflicts in the two states. It is of great delight that Stephen Centre International now cares for 100 of such Children.


In James 1:27, we are told that "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction”. This is exactly what Stephen Centre International had demonstrated and is continuing to do.

Of good note is our beloved Brother Isaac Oluwole Newton-Wusu who, to the Glory of God, had worked tirelessly to make this effort a reality. These children today have succor, because an organization like Voice of the Christian Martyrs and people like brother Isaac showed concern.

It is our prayer that our loving and caring God will bless tremendously the effort of our brothers and sisters at the Stephen Centre International (S C I) and move other concerned citizens to contribute generously toward this good cause.

Elder Saidu Dogo
Secretary, Chairman Association of Nigeria (CAN)
Northern States and Abuja.

 

During my 40 months incarceration by the forces of injustice and retrogression, the tons of letters and cards I received from all over the world - expressing commiserations on my plight - were heartwarming and a pleasant surprise. The messages they carried with inspiring quotations from the Holy Bible truly assuaged my anguish and encouraged me to resist the persecution which the atrocious conditions in the cooler visited on my psyche and the will to live.

It is gratifying to testify, that the hope and confidence which such messages brought to me brought me much closer to the Lord for my own good than hitherto. I kept on wondering as to how so many believers in the world knew so much about our plight in Zangon Kataf to the point of the timely action they took which in large measure contributed to our surviving the 40 months of hell in the cooler from May, 1992 - September, 1995.

My thoughts were however put to rest with gusto on 20th October, 1995, when I received, in my Kaduna home, a delegation from the Nigerian Chapter of the Voice of the Christian Martyrs led by their leader Bro. Isaac Oluwole Newton-Wusu. They told me in graphic details how they had been moved by the injustice meted out to my people in the wake of the 1992 Zangon Kataf crises sequel to which the entire Kataf Leaders including their respected Traditional Rulers and the elites were detained and later charged to a Kangaroo Tribunal and Condemned to death without a fair hearing.

They then fed the information to the world through their network with very positive results. The concomitant pressure on the irresponsible government of the day by the indomitable court of public opinion, inspired by the Lord, led to our death sentences being commuted to various prison terms for which, in deep appreciation, we give God the glory.

The Voice of the Martyrs, I am told, was established by one Rev. Richard Wurmbrand a Lutheran Pastor who himself was incarcerated by the Communist Government in Romania in 1948, for 14 years, to speak for the persecuted Christians and to assuage their anguish. Having been through the same experience myself, I now fully understand the philosophy behind this laudable organisation which Rev. Wurmbrand so ably thought out and brought to fruition.

The Nigerian Chapter under the able leadership of Bro. Isaac Oluwole Newton-Wusu has given an excellent account of itself here in this regard. For instance, the college they established in Abeokuta from Nursery through Primary and secondary with a complete compliment of staff and modern facilities provides an excellent training ground for our children today but the leaders of tomorrow, nationwide. Most of the students, now 100 plus in number, are indigent orphans of the various religious riots in which their parents perished. These students from the Northern States are particularly from Kano, Kaduna, and Jos. In the year 2002, they established a Vocational Centre in the Kaduna metropolis.

Moreover, following the various religious riots here in the North since 1992, the Voice of the Christian Martyrs has always assisted the victims with food, drugs, blankets, clothing and money to assuage their anguish. On two occasions I can recall, they contributed money to the different denominations for the rehabilitation of the burnt Churches. They visited Kano and Yelwa two times this year to render the same service to the needy following the recent riots there. In Zangon Kataf and Kaura Local Governments, they supplied a computer and books for the Tyap Bible Translation Programme and hospital equipment for the Buga Memorial Hospital Kagoro respectively. All told, Isaac and his team have done very well here beyond the call of duty for which I heartily congratulate them. In the light of all said and done, I urge the government, private companies, non-governmental organisations, churches and the well-to-do in the land, to assist them in cash and kind for more commendable service in the Lord's Vineyard please.

May God continue to guide, enrich and crown their efforts with success in Jesus' name. Amen.

General Zamani Lekwot, mni (rtd)

 

I cannot remember exactly when I read the first materials from the Voice of the Christian Martyrs, but it is quite a long time, over a decade. From their materials, I discovered that we have all been enjoying the benefit of Christianity, often forgetting the countless courageous believers who laid down their lives for the cause. It has been the blood of these precious saints of Christ that has watered the harvest fields and accelerated the growth of Christianity around the world.

However, it is harrowingly amazing as new century dawns; the persecution of believers globally is greater today than ever before. Information, materials and pictures from Voice of the Christian Martyrs concerning the persecuted ones, will either bend or break serious Christians searching for the truth. On several occasions, some of their materials made my heart bleed and I weep physically. I am not writing as someone who is too emotional.


This is an organisation that is working to encourage churches and persecuted Christian families. They provide help and succour to widows; distribute Bibles, books and educational materials and truck loads of food to the persecuted ones.

Above all, they provide free accommodation, feeding, clothing and qualitative education for 71 children whose lives would have been truncated by the devastating losses of their parents following the religious riots in Kaduna, Kano and Jos.

I have personally distributed thousands of their bulletins and books.

This is simply because these materials have challenged me as an individual to radical commitment to Christ. From their brochures, I have read about people who gave much, including their lives for their faith in God. I have been unutterably inspired by their testimonies. Sincerely speaking, the Voice of the Christian Martyrs must have seen an aspect of reality which many of us calling ourselves Christians today are yet to be aware of. Sowing to them to enhance this worthy cause is a fertile ground which yields eternal dividends.

Therefore, I have no iota of reservation to recommend them to my brothers and sisters in Christ and all other concerned individuals to assist and help the work of the Lord to which they are committed.

Pastor Joel Oke
Acting Assistant Directorate of Mission
Redeemed Christian Church of God
 

"Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us” James 1:27

"For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you invited me into your home. I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you cared for me. I was in prison and you visited me” Matthew 25:35,36.

This is exactly what Voice of the Christian Martyrs is doing among the victims of religious intolerance, particularly here in Kano before and after May 11, 2004.
They came and provided the following :

1. They brought food items such as Rice, Beans etc.

2. The ministry also gave Christian literatures and Bibles to the victims of May 11 religious crises.

3. They delivered the items hand to hand to the victims.

4. They also gave money to them to alleviate the suffering of widows who lost their husbands during the riots.

5. They granted sponsorship to 12 orphans from Kano State. They took them to Abeokuta Ogun State for free education.

I wish to recommend that this ministry be granted all moral and financial support so that their work can progress. May God continue to use them to meet the needs of the less-privileged.

Rev. Samaila Sallau Karefa
Chairman DDC ECWA, Kano.