Pray Without Ceasing...For the Girls
Perhaps this is all we can do now. The story of the kidnapping of hundreds of Christian and Muslim school girls in Nigeria by the extremist group Boko Haram has outraged the entire world. And the misuse of Islam by Boko Haram leaders to justify their actions, claiming they are being directed by Allah, only magnifies the outrage. Boko Haram using the name of Islam in this way is like the Ku Klux Klan or Fred Phelps using Christianity to propel their actions of hate and violence.
(I Thessalonians 5:17, Luke 18:1)
Perhaps this is all we can do now.
The story of the kidnapping of hundreds of Christian and Muslim school girls in Nigeria by the extremist group Boko Haram has outraged the entire world.
And the misuse of Islam by Boko Haram leaders to justify their actions, claiming they are being directed by Allah, only magnifies the outrage. Boko Haram using the name of Islam in this way is like the Ku Klux Klan or Fred Phelps using Christianity to propel their actions of hate and violence.
There are extremists and terrorists in every faith tradition who attempt to wrap themselves in religion in order to justify their ideology and their violence. Boko Haram is just the latest in this long line. Prominent Muslim leaders have condemned this attack on innocent girls and called for their release.
Groups are organizing to urge the Nigerian government to be more pro-active in its response. The U.S. is sending military and civilian advisors to aid in the search and rescue effort.
Rev. Waltrina Middleton, National Minister for Youth Advocacy and Leadership Formation for the United Church of Christ, has provided additional information to help interpret this terrorist attack and organize in response. Click here to read the document.
The bottom line is that these girls were simply trying to complete their education, an aspiration which is at the heart of Islam. The extremists of Boko Haram don’t think women should be educated. They are willing to use practices of violence, slavery, and rape to terrorize civilian communities. These tactics make clear their extreme agenda and require us, the international community outraged by these acts, to speak out and to pray without ceasing.
Pray for the girls. Pray for their rescue. Pray for their recovery and healing from the trauma of this terrorist attack.
Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune
www.faithtrustinstitute.org
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P.S. Click here to watch an interview with Malala Yousafzai speaking about the girls in Nigeria.
Pray...
Thank you for bringing attention to this sad situation in Nigeria and for your plea for prayers. This horrific situation is something that we can all come together and agree with ~ our prayers are needed... Prayers for the families, negotiators, and most of all prayers for the young girls; but please, let us not forget to pray also for members of the Boko Haram. Remember ~ Jesus entreated us to "love our enemies", and one way we can "love" Boko Haram is to pray for them.