Unwavering Dedication
A multipronged attack from every direction.
That’s how Phillip, a Seed Company field project manager (FPM), describes the destabilizing, multilayered persecution Nigerian Christians are facing.
Nigeria is seventh on Open Doors’ World Watch List of countries where it is dangerous to follow Jesus. In northern Nigeria, Islamic law marginalizes believers, while extremist groups target churches, homes, and livelihoods. (While Christians and Muslims get along peacefully in some areas, Christians are being targeted by radical groups and, in some cases, those groups have perpetrated attacks on Muslims as well.) In central regions, some Fulani militants and bandit groups carry out brutal attacks, land seizures, and widespread kidnappings. Violence is increasingly spreading to southern areas as well.
Attacks often occur with little notice. In one village, militants suddenly arrived in trucks armed with guns and knives and began targeting people indiscriminately. Even though the United States participated alongside France and the United Kingdom in a joint military action against extremists in December 2025, the violence persists. As recently as mid-January, armed bandits abducted 166 worshipers from two churches. (All were subsequently rescued by security services in early February.)
Translating Scripture, Obeying Jesus
In such circumstances, it’s a miracle that Bible translators continue their work. Yet they do. “Unwavering dedication” is how Stephen, another FPM, characterizes the teams he works with. “They’re going into communities. They’re showing up to workshops at their own risk,” he says. “They’re not living as if it’s not happening. They know. But the phrase is, ‘We trust God,’ and it’s not cliche, and it’s not flippant. They’re being genuine.”
Not only are they translating Scripture—a dangerous task in itself—but teams are obeying Jesus by praying for those who persecute them, praying for the Holy Spirit to change the attackers’ hearts. “We don’t want them to die; we just want them to stop and come to know Jesus,” Philip says in relaying how translators respond to these attackers. And God is answering their prayers—some Muslim converts are boldly declaring faith in Christ on social media, despite the cost.
Translation teams continue working because they know the difference God’s Word makes. In fact, after they realized how much Scripture has to say to those engaged in conflict, some Nigerians now say, “I wish we had known this. Maybe we could have prevented all these things from happening.”
“The Only Thing I Need You to Do”
There’s no easy solution to this complex situation that has been going on for years. And while translation teams are grateful that the problem gained attention due to outside
What, then, do they ask of us?
Pray.
Stephen recalls a conversation with a respected elderly partner, a convert from Islam. After listening to his friend recount the suffering that Nigerian Christians endure, Stephen said, “I’m praying for you. I wish there was more I could do.” The man stopped him and said, “Don’t ever say that. If you’re praying for me, that’s the best thing you can do. That’s the only thing I need you to do.”
Pray for the translation teams to persevere.
For the attackers to encounter Christ.
For God’s Word in Nigerian languages to transform lives.
