Eunice Elisha, one of the workers martyred
Photo: World Watch Monitor
Two church workers in Nigeria have recently been killed by militants in separate incidents. Eunice Elisha was murdered in the early hours of July 9th near Nigeria's capital of Abuja. The 42-year-old mother of seven had gone out to preach as usual, her husband Pastor Olawale told local media.
Eunice is described by her surviving husband as a zealous Christian who "rarely missed a day in church." When asked how he felt about the attack, Olawale replied: "I see (Eunice) as a martyr who died for Christ. Whether the people are caught or not, they should be forgiven." Police have since arrested six suspects, and will be continuing with their investigation.
Eunice's case represents only one of several attacks targeting Christians in recent weeks. Reverend Joseph Kura, a pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Obi town (located within Nigeria's central State of Nasarawa), was killed on June 30th by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen.
Rev. Joseph was accompanied by three other people when he went to his farm at about 7 p.m. to cut down trees for roofing wood. As the group arrived at the farm, two armed men suddenly appeared from behind them. Rev. Joseph's severely mutilated body was later recovered from the scene. He leaves behind a wife and seven children. Additional reports on persecution in Nigeria, along with informative video documentaries, are available here.
May the families and friends of these 'good and faithful servants' be greatly comforted with God's promises of everlasting life: 1) the assurance that their loved ones have gone on to receive their eternal rewards, and 2) the anticipated hope of one day being reunited with them in the presence of our Lord Himself. In the meantime, pray that their grieving hearts will be sustained by the loving and cherished memories they've shared over the years and, most important of all, through the empowerment, love and peace of God through a relationship with our Risen Saviour, Jesus Christ. Intercede for the perpetrators that they may also come to personally know Him and His saving grace.
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