‘UNTIL MY TIME IS UP I WILL STAND ON THE GOSPEL’ – BISHOP OF JOS, NIGERIA, WHO HAS SURVIVED A FRESH ATTACK ON HIS LIFE |
| Sep 01 2007 |
| Postings >> Nigeria |
The Bishop of Jos in Nigeria, who has survived another attack on his family, says he will continue to stand for the gospel to the end: ‘My belief is until my time is up I will not die, so I’ll continue to say what I know as a fact and truth and I will continue to stand on the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is worth living for – and it is worth dying for.’
A video interview with this remarkable man features in the latest edition of World Update on the Persecuted Church, by Release International, available for download from www.releaseinternational.org
The Rt Rev Dr Benjamin Kwashi, Bishop of Jos, again narrowly escaped death after the second violent attack on his family in 18 months.
A gang brandishing hammers and axes broke into the Bishop’s home in Plateau State.
They are believed to be from the same group who attacked his son and wife last year, while Bishop Kwashi was abroad.
During the last raid they beat his son, Ringi, unconscious, and injured his wife Gloria so severely that she needed surgery to restore her sight.
This time they again beat his son, Ringi, but mercifully left Mrs Kwashi alone, though she was horrified to find herself confronted by the same attackers again.
The gang took Bishop Kwashi into the yard and threatened to kill him unless he gave them large sums of money. When he said he didn’t have that kind of money, they led him back into the house, to murder him in front of his family.
Inside, the bishop knelt to pray, ready to die. Miraculously, the gang just looted the house and left, without harming him.
Bishop Ben Kwashi said he was not discouraged but would continue his work. He said: ‘I have decided that preaching the gospel is worth living for and it is worth dying for.’
RI interviewed the Bishop after the previous attack on his home and wife. When asked: ‘How many times have you been threatened?’ he just laughed:
‘I don’t know,’ he replied. ‘I think I’ve lost count, but I can tell you that the first was when I was a priest at St Andrew’s church in Zaria. This was 1986. I organised a massive gathering of Christians and over 15,000 people gathered at the polo field. I was saying that there is going to be death coming to the church, because there is a wave of Islamic religion that’s coming that wants to exterminate the Christian faith.
‘After that I got letters and threats saying that they were going to kill me. I first thought it was a joke.’
But on February 18 2006, attackers broke into the Bishop’s house in Plateau State, determined to kill him. He was abroad at the time. So they took their revenge on his wife, assaulting her and beating her badly.
‘Unfortunately my wife took my death on my behalf,’ said Bishop Kwashi. ‘She bore the shame, she bore the disgrace, the humiliation, and right now she is partially blind as a result. Her head was beaten badly so we suspect some form of glaucoma developed, and some things.
‘But I am grateful to God. My belief is until my time is up I will not die, so I’ll continue to say what I know as a fact and truth and I will continue to stand on the gospel of Jesus Christ, because I have seen so much of the power of this gospel, so I am not in doubt that at the end of it all, the gospel will prevail.
‘In this life we don’t have anything else that is durable. Nothing will prevail, nothing will overcome, only the gospel and those who believe in the gospel.’
An extended interview with Bishop Ben Kwashi is available on the forthcoming documentary by Release International: The Remains of the Day.
In it, five Christian survivors of a brutal attack talk frankly about faith and forgiveness in the face of persecution. The DVD is available from Release International.
Andy Dipper, Release International’s CEO says: ‘Please pray for Bishop Ben Kwashi and his family, as they continue to take their stand for the gospel – whatever the consequences. Ask God to comfort, heal and bless them.
‘Their courage and strong witness is an inspiration to us all. Pray also that the newly elected governor of Plateau State, who has vowed to bring their attackers to justice, will keep his word.’
The latest edition of Release’s award-winning World Update also features reports from Laos and China.
Release is gathering signatures for a petition calling on the Chinese government to respect religious freedom for all. The petition is available to download and print on the website: www.releaseinternational.org
ENDS
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
The latest attack on Bishop Kwashi and his family took place on July 24 2007. For more details:
http://gadgetvicar.typepad.com/gadgetvicar/2007/07/attack-on-bisho.html
For further information, please contact
World Update can be downloaded from www.releaseinternational.org Please feel free to take video stills from the programme, credited to Release International/Crossfire Productions.
Through our international network of missions RI serves persecuted Christians in 30 countries, supporting pastors and Christian prisoners and their families, supplying Christian literature and Bibles, and working for justice. RI is a member of the
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