A Nigerian pastor whose church was torched by rioters has been describing how a Muslim boy saved him from an angry mob. Pastor Augustin Aifuobhokhan's family were threatened with murder and he believes Muslim militants have declared a religious war on Christians. Yet he chooses to forgive them.

He tells his story from the ruins of his church on the latest edition of Release International's webcast: World Update on the Persecuted Church, on www.releaseinternational.org/webcast

Amazing Grace Chapel in Maiduguri, Borno State, was one of 56 churches destroyed by militants during the latest wave of violent attacks against Christians. 50 Christians were killed - 18 burnt to death - during violent protests over the Mohammed cartoons in Denmark. Similar attacks have taken place in several other Nigerian states.

A mob piled chairs to the ceiling of Amazing Grace chapel then poured in petrol and set the altar cloth alight. Picking his way through the rubble Pastor Augustin described the events of that day, February 18 2006. 'Churches were burnt and pastors and Christian houses were targets. In some houses the Muslims were removed and Christians beaten and burnt. At the end of the day,' he says, 'we have no doubt that this is completely a war on Christians.'

A team from Release International went to Maiduguri and uncovered clear evidence that the attacks against Christians were highly organised, with militants despatched to locations around the town and instructed over mobile phones which churches to destroy and whose homes to target.

Hundreds besieged Pastor Augustin's house, before breaking in, determined to kill. He believes it was only the power of prayer that saved him.

'They met me with daggers drawn and other dangerous weapons. I was asking them, "Why will you kill me? We have lived here together for over 18 years." And their leader walked up to me with his dagger hand up to strike. But as they got in front of me Almighty God intervened and he brought the hand of the leader down.'

The mob demanded money and left. And then another group turned up, then two more. Each time Pastor Augustin confronted them, and they left.

But the fourth time a young man came between the mob and the pastor and begged for his life. He told them, "If you want to kill them, you must kill me first." The young man was a Muslim. Pastor Ruth Aifuobhokhan describes what happened.

'This young boy stood between my husband and the crowd. He was begging and pleading that he should not be killed, that they should please spare his life, that he was his friend.'

The ordeal was deeply traumatic to the four children, aged between ten and 16. 'They wept and wept and wept until they could no longer weep,' says Pastor Augustin. 'One of them was vomiting, and our last daughter was in and out of the hospital for two weeks.'

'It's very clear that there are people in Nigeria today who want to destroy Christians and eliminate Christianity from that land,' says Release International's Chief Executive Andy Dipper. 'How sad that is, because Christians only want to live side by side with people of other faiths and different beliefs.'

Pastor Augustin admits he found it difficult to forgive those who destroyed his church and threatened to kill his family. 'At first I was bitter and angry, because over 18 years, this was the crown of my work. but after a while I prayed that God will forgive them.

'They may have destroyed the building, but we are the church and we cannot be destroyed. We pray for those who persecute us.'

Today his church, like so many others, is a scene of devastation. 'We now meet under the tree with the dust and the sun, and of course the rains will soon set in. What are we going to do? What are we going to do? That's our biggest dilemma now. What are we going to do?'

Release International supports the persecuted church in 30 countries. It is working with its partners in Nigeria to care for widows and orphans, repair houses and to come to the aid of Christians, such as Pastor Augustin who have suffered from the violence.