Islamic extremists, including Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province, want to Islamize northeastern Nigeria. For decades, extremist groups have attacked Christians with impunity. Often, whole villages are wiped out and entire communities are displaced. As a result, daily life is a constant struggle for many Christians, need their basic needs met. These needs include food and shelter.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Nigerian believers, pastors, and churches and ICR workers are committed to serving persecuted believers. Two ongoing projects ICR is currently supporting are for IDP youth and widows.

The project for youth is a one-year discipleship and job training program. The young people, who were displaced by the violence, live on a Christian campus for a year. There, their living expenses are taken care of. For the first six months, they study the Bible and receive discipleship to build up their faith. The second half of the year, they receive training in computers, web design, graphic design, and research. Ninety percent of those who complete the course get a job afterward.

The project for widows is for those whose spouses have been killed by terrorists. Each week, groups of ten widows meet to pray, study the Bible, and learn practical business skills like how to save money, how to start a business or how to make handicrafts. As part of the program, the participants each receive a goat as an income generation project. The first offspring of the goat is given to another widow, making the project self-sustaining.