Message from Bob

The 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative (21CWI) has launched Build Freedom, a project highlighting the grim situation on the ground in Nigeria. Did you know that more than one million Nigerians are living in Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps? These people have fled their homes, farms, and villages to escape the brutal religious persecution and senseless attacks of Boko Haram and the Fulani Militants. 

By building a shelter similar to those used in these IDP Camps, Build Freedom provides a meaningful opportunity for churches, university groups, youth organizations, mission groups or individuals to pray for, better understand, and address this ongoing crisis. 

The shelter, designed by Habitat for Humanity, resembles a typical IDP shelter in Nigeria. The uniquely designed shelter creates an interactive simulation that invites participants to learn, pray, and practically stand with those who are suffering. This immersive experience is a powerful platform to learn about religious persecution and what can be done for those who have been forced to flee from the violence of terrorism, war and conflict. 

Below is a picture of a shelter the First Baptist Church in Temple, Texas recently built. If your church or organization would like to build your own Freedom Shelter, please contact me and I will send you a free detailed manual. You can also download the needed educational and informational material. See the Resource Highlight below. 

The Freedom Shelter would be great to use for Vacation Bible School, mission fairs, youth camps, children camps, retreats, or any other future events you may have on your calendar to teach about missions and international religious freedom. For more information, including free reports, resources, and action packs, please visit www.standwithnigeria.org. 

Are you ready for action? Read our website for ways in which you can help the persecuted church. 

May God continue to bless you as you continue to serve Him. 

JOY! 

Bob 

bob@21wilberforce.org

Psalm 84:11

Alliance Spotlight: The Education Must Continue Initiative

The Education Must Continue Initiative (EMCI) is made up of a community of individuals with distinct backgrounds with a common goal: to spread the love of God through education. The organization arose as a response to the Boko Haram insurgency in northeastern Nigeria and the systematic deterioration of education in the region that has left a million children without access to school. 

The crisis has led to high unemployment rates and made recruitment easier for criminal and terrorist groups. Even after completing secondary school, the literacy rate of students from this region remains abysmally poor; many of them lack elementary reading and writing skills. Most worrisome is the critical situation of girls who are now being discouraged from pursuing higher education and instead, pushed into early marriage. A large number of young mothers in the northeast are uneducated and therefore do not value the importance of a good education. 

The personnel of the initiative are made up of fulltime and volunteer staff who are specially trained to implement the specific strategies and programs of the EMCI. Through friends, both domestic and abroad, the EMCI strives to provide a brighter future for the victimized children. In 2014, through the combined efforts of selfless individuals and organizations, 10 of the escaped abductees from the girls’ school in Chibok were relocated to high schools in the U.S. 

Resource Highlight

Resources to Display in Your Freedom Shelter

Please go to www.standwithnigeria.org/resources/ and to www.standwithnigeria.org/churches/. There you will find many resources to complete your Freedom Shelter, including:

• Photos
• Stories
• The Nigerian Report
• Fact Sheets 
• Sermon Starter Outlines 
• Handouts 

You will also find a very informative video from Human Rights Watch entitled “Boko Haram Conflict Keeping Kids Out of School.”

Here are some facts about education in Nigeria: 

• One million children have little or no access to schools.
• Between 2009 and 2015, Boko Haram destroyed 911 schools. 
• 611 teachers have been killed. 
• 19,000 teachers have fled.

Seven Steps You Can Take to Stand With Nigeria 

1. Pray. This is the most important thing we can do. 

2. Raise Awareness. One UN aid executive recently described Nigeria as the “world’s most neglected humanitarian crisis.” 

3. Give. Every dollar matters. If we all chip in, there’s no limit to what we can do. 

4. Raise your voice. Contact your congressional leaders and ask them to stand with those who are suffering discrimination and terrorism from Boko Haram and the Fulani militants. 

5. Educate yourself. The situation in Nigeria is complex. Use the Stand With Nigeria resource section (www.standwithnigeria.org/resources/) to go deeper.

6. Build a Freedom Shelter. Contact me (bob@21wilberforce.org) and I will email you the official Build Freedom Manual. It will take 6-8 hours to construct this 12x12x8-foot temporary structure at an approximate cost of $400 depending on the availability of donated material. 

7. Become a leader. Download the Volunteer Action Pack and volunteer in one of the following ways: 

• Social Media Evangelist 
• Church Mobilizer 
• Resource Champion 
• Office Liaison 

For more information please go to www.standwithnigeria.org/individuals/.

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