*A strong message from the “Aboki” in my neighborhood*
The word “Aboki” means “My friend”. I don’t know if it is Arabic or Hausa language but it is a general way we addressed Muslims from Northern Nigeria. Only recently I discovered that some of them were actually from outside Nigeria; Mali or Niger.
They often work as security men or water carriers. They don’t pay house rent but are instead paid by those who employ them as security men. In the place they do security jobs they will open a stall or shop attached to the gate house of the main building. You will likely think that they are poor until you stumble into them counting plenty of money. The secret to their wealth is mainly because they don’t spend their money on the things that absorb the money of a typical Southern Nigeria. They don’t take alcohol, they don’t smoke, they don’t go to night clubs and their choice of women are either their tribal women who visit only once in a while or they pick cheap girls around but they don’t keep any attachment with them.
Their religion is very important to them. Once it is time for their prayer, they shut down everything to pray. If you came with all the money in the world they will never give you attention until they finished praying. Their day of general worship as we have Sunday among Christians is Friday and every business of theirs are closed down until they return. If you are unfortunate to have serious need of something that only “Aboki” sells, you just must wait until they return. Those who have visited Dubai and Egypt say that it is same thing over those Islamic countries.
Once you employ one “Aboki” be ready to host ten or more of them. They will not bother you with request for more space for accommodation but will peacefully accommodate themselves. Once in a while you will hear them playing their kind of music. They will chatter and laugh as they cluster together. I have never met them quarrel but some say that their misunderstanding is resolved by an elder. Whatever the elder said was the end of the matter. At times an “Alhaji” will bring in truck loads of yam or other food items. They will distribute it among themselves, sell, return the money and they are content with their share of the profit. I have never heard that “Aboki” stole his brother’s money
With all these businesses and employment, one will wonder what they do with their money. If you have lived near an “Aboki” you would have also been shocked to find a stranger in his stall or gate house, selling the same items, living in the same house and doing the same job. What happened? The “Aboki” you knew had handed over the shop to his brother along with the whole business. He may never return again.
*What do they do with all the money?*
One of them told me in confidence, “to sponsor the course of Allah given to Prophet Mohamed. The money they made are mainly sent to Islamic organizations that sponsor Jihad. Jihad is same as what we call Crusade. They both mean Holy War. The difference is that the one of Christians are mainly spiritual but Muslims can employ violence to achieve their end.
Every Muslim was taught from infancy to live on earth as a stranger. They have it in their mind that their principal agenda on earth is to spread their kind of the gospel - Islam. They don’t organize expensive burials or costly naming ceremonies. The rich ones among them make their money available to those who have dedicated their entire life to the Islamic course. That is why it is impossible to stop Islamic extremism. Their entire life is dedicated to it and no matter how close you are to them, they are willing to kill you if you represent something opposed to their Allah
*How does this compare with our activities as Christians?*
Yes, we that claim that we worship the true God and have the bible as our manual; how do we compare with the people we call foolish and ignorant?
Every now and then, I keep begging for money to be sent to my missionaries. When some believers give, they treat me as a beggar. A brother once took me along to buy evening snacks of fifteen thousand Naira for his children and later gave me five thousand Naira for PNUR International Prayer and Revival Conference that will run for five days. I was to also spend from their for my transport home
A Pastor called me today to say that his landlord is embarrassing him because of forty two thousand Naira for the annual rent of his worship center. A Sister in full time mission was giving testimony because I could give her recharge card. Another Pastor and his wife resigned their jobs to work as missionary at Esuk Aye; as I write now I don’t know how to get fund for his monthly allowance
I am sorry to say this, but I am ashamed to worship the same God as most so-called Christians. Many Christians complain that many churches are centered in the cities but they do nothing to support pastors and missionaries in the rural areas.
One time Nigerian Christians were crying that Nigeria government was working at Islamizing Nigeria but they do very little to spread the true gospel. Most of the places that you hear that Muslims took over in Northern Nigeria don’t have the presence of any church. When anyone ventures into that area as a missionary, hunger will drive him back.
Why should the missionary’s daughter be deprived of basic education just because his father is serving the same God as my neighbor who works in an oil servicing firm whose son schools in one of the best schools in Europe? Why should the missionary's son suffer deprivation even though my neighbor has three cars packed in his garage?
As I write this, my eyes are soaked in tears. We have been calling for vehicles to assist us but those in whose power it is to provide it, tell me to pray to God for it
PNUR plans a program annually, AUGUST SPECIAL; The Making of a Man of God. We intend to bring in pastors, missionaries and church workers from interior areas to the city of Port Harcourt. Our intention is to treat them like kings. Refire them through sound teaching of the word of God, provide clothing where we can and send them back happily. In this way we encourage them to work harder.
As I write, I have been literally treated like a beggar as I solicit for financial support. Some don’t even pick my calls anymore. Yet, we claim we want the gospel to spread. To placate our conscience, we litter our cities with billboards in the name of gospel programs.
Chai! Christian wake up from your slumber
If you have read thus far, I plead with you to support PNUR projects.
Give your freewill support for AUGUST SPECIAL 2021
*International Prayer and Revival Conference, United Bank for Africa, 10211831299*
Send support for a missionary to come for this program
*Door of Hope Compassion Outreach, Polaris Bank Nigeria, 4091257915*
International money transfer should be addressed to *Emmanuel Nwosu, Port Harcourt, Nigeria*
Please, don’t ignore this plea, and God will bless you
You can contact me personally +2348035724526 WhatsApp, pnurnigeria@gmail.com
*Pastor Emma N J NWOSU* is the International President of *Prayer Network for Universal Revival* PNUR
A ministrry praying and working for revival in Today's Church www.pnurnigeria.org
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