Wycliffe Associates recently partnered with a Nigerian church to help Christians in the West African country. The organization hoped to aid victims of militant attacks through its Emergency 911 Fund.
Militant Group Attacks
According to its website, Fulani Jihadists killed more than 267 people in Nigeria between January and August 2021. The Jihadists also razed 246 houses and destroyed more than 20,000 hectares of farmlands.
The website further said that the Jihadists attacked more than 17 villages in August and killed 70 people. Out of these numbers, it was reported that 15 communities within Zonzon and Zonkwa districts were burned down.
The organization works with local Bible translators and churches to advance its Bible translation in the country.
Bible Translators in Hiding
The recent surge in militant attacks has caused many Bible translators to flee villages. Many have reportedly gone into hiding.
According to Tabitha Price, the vice president of translation services, the translators live in fear. They have also suffered losses which have brought about hopelessness in many believers.
The African country suffered from attacks from Islamic militant groups like the Boko Haram and Fulani Jihadists. Both groups have brought down grazing lands.
According to the article, both groups are intent on eradicating Christianity in the country.
Boko Haram also declared its mission of eliminating Christianity in Nigeria. The group intends to force the Shariah law throughout Africa, which is around 53.5 percent Muslim.
Militant activity has become rampant in the Southern Kaduna region of Nigeria. There are reported incidents of killing, kidnapping, and destruction almost every day.
The report said that the attacks had left more than 200 widows and 800 orphans.
Working to Help Victims
The international organization partnered with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA). Wycliffe Associates raised funds to help the victims of the attacks, especially orphans and widows.
According to the report, ECWA is the largest evangelical church in Nigeria.
The church has also suffered attacks, including the murders of its church members and one ECWA pastor.
The Nigerian church hopes to provide food, clothes, and beddings for the victims. They also want to give their beneficiaries building materials to help them rebuild their homes.
History of Wycliffe Associates
According to the organization's website, a group of friends established Wycliffe Associates in 1967. Bill Butler, Dale Kietzman, and Rudy Renfer were concerned about Bible translation and its future.
They made it their mission to ensure that people around the world had access to the Bible in their native language.
The friends wanted to achieve this so that people would read the Word of God.
Violence in Sokoto
In a report with US News, 43 people were reported to have been killed in Nigeria. The gunmen attacked Sokoto earlier in the week.
Violence and kidnappings have continued in the country despite the military's efforts to quell it.
The article said that the latest attacks happened from Sunday, Nov. 13, to Monday, Nov. 14.
According to the Nigerian government, the gunmen reportedly killed 15 people.
Muhammad Bello, the governor's spokesperson, said that the death toll rose to 43 when the governor visited on Wednesday, Nov. 17.
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