In the first two weeks of August local partners travelled to 4 locations in Niger delivering Covid-19 relief packs to 155 families, including many widows, orphans, Muslim background believers (MBBs), and rural pastors. Each family received bags of maize, rice and beans, and money to cover essentials like medicine and clothing. Your support to Open Doors’ Covid-19 relief effort has allowed our partners in the field to help more than 15,000 persecuted Christian families across Sub Sahara Africa.
The Church in landlocked Niger has been confronted with many adversaries. Christians form only 0.3% of the Niger\'s population and most live on the outskirts of their communities. In the south and east, it contends with a growing Boko Haram presence. In the west, jihadists spilling over from the Malian crisis have closed churches and forced pastors and evangelists to abandon their posts.
Now the coronavirus, an invisible enemy, has closed borders, churches and markets creating a desperate situation for vulnerable Christians who have, in the past, worked relentlessly to somehow survive.
“Confinement, isolation, curfew, no activity nothing moving, even though we are in the city… people really suffered a lot during this period…\"" said Reverend Maty about the impact of the epidemic on believers in Niger.
In the first two weeks of August local partners travelled to 4 locations in Niger delivering Covid-19 relief packs to 155 families, including many widows, orphans, Muslim background believers, and rural pastors. Each family received bags of maize, rice and beans, and money to cover essentials like medicine and clothing.
In the field we frequently encounter obstacles beyond our control which usually cause a delay. This delivery in Niger was no exception. Flooding and heavy traffic delayed deliveries by one day, but Mariama a believer, reminded us that God\'s timing is always perfect.
“About three days ago I entered my room, knelt down and asked God, \'Lord, I have no helper but You. My food is about to finish, please rescue me, Father.\' Pleading with tears. Then today I received a call that felt like a dream. They gave me bags of maize, rice and beans, and money for clothing and medical care. I am full of joy for I am serving the God that answers prayers. I will return to that room and kneel to thank my only Provider. Thank you, I pray for those who do not have it, may the God of heaven open the way for them, thank you to Open Doors.\""
Mariama\'s prayer is not the only one answered – your support to Open Doors\' Covid-19 relief effort has allowed our partners in the field to help more than 15,000 persecuted Christian families across Sub Sahara Africa.
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