Here’s the original article:

YWAM BASE THWARTS ISLAMIC ATTACK AND SEES ATTACKERS TURN TO GOD

(Sometime before Oct-Nov. 2009):

A few months ago Taliban-trained militants from Iran marched to within 300 yards of one of our YWAM campuses, destroying much along the way. They had already burned 27 Christian churches in the area killing hundreds of Christians within a few hours. Thankfully God protected our brave and committed YWAMers and the army stopped them just 300 yards before they could burn us out too. They were beheading Christians who would not renounce Jesus. Their goal is to take over Nigeria, the largest and the most oil rich nation in Africa, to make it a Moslem nation.

The Nigerian President is a Moslem, though 45% of the population is Christian. 35% are Moslem, the rest animist. The stakes are high. As Nigeria goes, so goes the continent. In the “Christian” south, there are now thousands of militants, mostly angry university students, made bitter by corruption and injustice. They have grown stronger over the last decade. The militants now control much wealth, land and weapons and sell one-fifth of the nation’s oil supply on the black market to nations needing cheaper oil, to pay for the militants’ war.

After the attack the YWAM DTS outreach team, after much prayer, knew God was leading them on outreach to the camps of the militants. Into the camps went the prayed up YWAMers. One of the most ruthless murderers, armed with a large knife, approached the YWAMers with his knife poised over his head. The school leader, Alex, started walking toward the man. Alex spoke firmly but calmly “you need Jesus.” Over and over, he said it, as he drew closer to the drawn knife’s point. The man replied “No! Run or you die!”

When Alex was just a few feet away, the man fell to his knees, threw down his weapon and began weeping. He was saved and delivered, as were many others. Many of the militants had made oaths with Satan. One would go into a trance, moving like a crocodile and eat whole eggs, until the demons were appeased. He too was delivered and saved. As a result of this encounter the militants have started to encourage their men to go to YWAM. 300 former militants have just been through a YWAM three-week training course. Another 600 will start into a second course soon.

Three former militants gave their testimonies on the campus. One shared, “My job was to kidnap white people but I have been transformed by the power of God.” This is such a huge breakthrough! We now have a new base in a village controlled by the militants. The Government, has declared they want YWAM bases in each of the 36 states of Nigeria and have asked YWAM to rehabilitate the militants. Their testimonies reveal such darkness, satanic covenants, murders, the worst of the worst. But when they come to Jesus and get set free, they speak of freedom with such gratitude!

Source: YWAM testimony by Loren Cunningham

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A response by a Facebook friend:

“I have been trying to find news of 27 churches being destroyed in Nigeria ( I used to live there) and cant find it. As for mobs being sent from Iran… is this propaganda or what? Lets not forget that the language YWAM uses on its website is about conquering Nigeria for Christ and we object to Muslims using the same language of conquering for Allah? Can we get some dates/times/locations/facts to back the ywam thwarts article.”

And another:

“I didn’t find a specific “27 churches”, but the Church Times for 1 May 2009 (http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=74368)

reports, “Christianity is the most per secuted of the main faith-groups world wide. No other mainstream religion has such a catalogue of violently destroyed or desecrated places of worship. This time, it was Nigeria — sadly, again. In November, attacks in Jos, Plateau State, led to hundreds killed, up to 50,000 displaced, and more than 100 churches destroyed. In Bauchi in March, 11 were confirmed dead; many more were missing, feared dead; 14 churches and one mosque had been destroyed; and 5000 people had been displaced. As we were about to leave, having spent Holy Week and Easter there, further attacks took place in Niger State.”

I thought that the majority of Nigerian Muslims were Sunni, while Iranian Muslims are almost exclusively Shi’a. I wonder about the “Iranian” epithet myself, though it seems that non-Nigerians have been involved in mob violence against Christians and Animists in the country.

Anyway, Nigeria certainly should be a matter for prayer; but I would like to hear more/ see confirmation of the YWAM story.”

and then this from another:

“Jesus built no places of worship, because he knew that buildings were much easier to attack, as well as being a waste of money. God keeps knocking down temples, but people keep rebuilding them. When will Christians learn this lesson”.

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