Half-Way House for
New Converts Needs Scriptures

PAMBEGUA, Nigeria — Bibles and the Hausa New Testament on audio cassette were the two items requested by the Rev Mohamed Ishakue, who is in charge of a special rehabilitation centre at Pambegua in Kaduna State.

The centre was established by the Rev Professor Isaya Audu – a Christian university lecturer who was concerned for people who suffered persecution after becoming Christians. When a Hausa-Fulani person converts to Christianity, members of their community put a lot of pressure on them to renounce their new faith. If they refuse, they are beaten and dispossessed.

Grow in faith

These people are often desperately in need of a refuge where they can deepen their knowledge of the Scriptures and grow in faith.

“Most of the people come to the centre because they have been threatened by their parents or their relatives,” said Mr Ishakue. Even at the centre the Christian converts are not beyond danger, and, in some cases, they are moved to Jos or another more Christian area.

Inheritance

When B* accepted Christ he lost his house, his lands and even his inheritance. The head of his family forced him to leave the area and warned him never to return. Although there is no death threat against him, he has nowhere to live and nobody in his area is willing to employ him. Also, people like B cannot marry without financial support. Often it is only through the support of the churches that they can ever get married.

“Some of the people who come here progress to Bible College, and some are placed in Christian families,” continued Mr Ishakue. “Sometimes, if they change states and get another job, they can avoid the persecution. Some even return to their communities after the anger has died down.”

Mr Ishakue added that Professor Audu takes care of the Hausa converts while the Rev Abdullahi Musa, a Fulani pastor, takes care of the Fulani Christians. Recently, Mohammed G, a young Fulani man, converted to Christianity and is now attending the Baptist pastoral school.

“More and more young men are attending Bible School, and after graduating they plan to go back to their people to preach the Gospel,” Mr Ishakue said. “That is probably the best way to reach the Hausa-Fulani people, who are suspicious of outsiders.”

Mr Ishakue runs Bible studies in the evenings but his resources are limited. In addition, although the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) has agreed to provide Scriptures for the centre, many of the new converts cannot read well. Following a suggestion by the BSN, Mr Ishakue is investigating the possibility of setting up a Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH) listening group at the centre.

O-21

The FCBH program, which is a partner ministry in the UBS global expansion program, Opportunity 21 (O-21), mainly seems to be in operation in the northern Nigerian states among the largely Christian Yoruba and Igbo-speaking communities. There are also some English groups but there are very few Hausa listening groups, and the Fulani New Testament is not yet available on cassette.

The BSN is planning to provide appropriate Scriptures for outreach to the many people groups in northern Nigeria through funds from O-21, and is still in the process of making contact with evangelists working among them. (WR 358/31 - 03.01) [PHOTOS]