OCTOBER 2013
Preamble
To begin with, it will be most essential to make a little introduction of myself. As the name Rev Yakubu Pam, am presently the District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Jos Main Land District, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria Northern Region, National Vice President of The Pentecostal fellowship of Nigeria, North Central, African Cabinet member Empowered21 (representing Nigerian Pentecostal fellowship), and a member of United Nation Peace Ambassador and by the grace of God I attend UN Peace Meetings in New York August of every year since 2006 till date.
Let me also mention that the Christian Association of Nigeria is an ecumenical body that seeks to unite Christians irrespective of their denominational affiliation and liturgical differences, and also has the obligation of being a voice for the voiceless Christians and the earthly advocate of the suffering Christians. It is worthy of mention that CAN preaches peace and advocates harmonious living with people of other faiths.
History has it that Nigerian Christians have never been pencilled for igniting any form of organized violence, rather, we have been at the receiving end (defensive). We have often been besieged. I have initiated and implemented inter-faith dialogue within my State to elicit peaceful co-existence among the followers of the two major religions namely, Christianity and Islam for the corporate good of the State and ourselves.
Worthy of mention is the Inter-Faith Dialogue we initiated and held once a week between Christian and moslem youth and other activities that bring them together like foot ball and computer training in the city of Jos and we intend to move to other parts of the North. I have also visited the Jos Central Mosque with Canada High Commissioner to Nigeria sometimes this year, which we discussed how Christian and Moslem leaders will work together. You can see and read our work on our website www.yacpif.wordpress.com and www.yacpifoundation.org.
Fundamental Issue on the Nature of the Crisis
The Jos crisis which was hitherto seen as politically motivated, eventually showed its true colour that it was religiously pre-meditated. With the turn of events, the crisis was a religious uprising where the other was rising against the other. Investigations revealed that the crisis was aim at Islamizing the whole of Northern Nigeria and Jos being a city in Northern Nigeria with headquarters of some major church denomination, in a state where there are more than 95 percent Christian with many churches and church buildings.
The Assemblies of God in Jos and Plateau state is one of the fastest growing church because Jos was the America AG missionary base, we have more than 1000 local churches of the Assemblies of God just within this one state, out of nineteen state in the North. Some of this Assemblies of God churches and many other denominations   or ministries are burned down by the miscreants, not only churches were burned but lives and properties were destroyed that was the matter, being that the attackers always launched a fresh attack with reinforcement from their supported Islamic countries around the world, we have been in this crisis since 1980 till date. As a result, the level of destruction and lost is much on the church. It is no doubt that the crisis is a direct attack on Christianity as can be seen in the destruction of our worship centers (Churches), houses, business premises and killing of Pastors and Christians.
Impact of the Crisis on National Security / Peace, Order and Good Governance of the Federation
First, the massive and horrendous scale of loss of lives/injuries and the extensive damage to properties had very serious implication for the national security. The lives lost which constitute a very important national resource are painfully irreplaceable. Likewise the colossal loss of valuable property, the agony, psychological trauma and grief suffered by the victims is indeed unquantifiable.
Within a short span of two (2) days, 53 Churches were burnt, 11 Churches were vandalized, and 129 Christians including 7 Pastors/Church Workers lost their dear lives. 8229 Christian were internally displaced while 368 Christians suffered various degrees of injury. In just one crisis of 2008 in Jos.
The above scale of violence received prominent media attention both in the print and electronic media nationally and internationally. This was bound as it did to generate tension and to provoke reprisal attacks nationwide especially in the neighboring States of Bauchi, Gombe, Nassarawa, Kaduna and other Northern States such like Katsina, Kano etc and in the Southern States especially in the South East and South South. Security had to be beefed up in most States to avert escalation.
We observe with pain the calculated agenda of the Muslims in Islamize Jos and the Northern part of Nigeria by territorial expansionist strategy through the killing of Christians, burning and destruction of Christian houses, business premises and Churches, thereby making the Christians feel insecure to reside in those regions, as a result, the Christians will resort to selling their properties. This is evident from the level of destructions of houses and Churches in the areas aforementioned. This has serious implication for national security.
It was indeed most unfortunate, for example, during the 27th November 2008 Local Government polls in Jos North. While well meaning citizens were planning to exercise their franchise in a peaceful manner, to vote their conscience, the perpetrators of the violence and their sponsors were preoccupied with how to execute their agenda, where they craftily took advantage of the election exercise. We ask, why were Churches the first targets and clerics targeted and slaughtered to express grievances on the supposed outcome of an election?
Why not the destruction of political party offices and other public premises? One would have expected that if it were a political war, the politicians and political parties would have been the main target. We strongly believe that it was not a political but a religious pre-meditated violence orchestrated by religious motives portends great danger for national security. It was in this crisis we lost one of our District Superintendent, Rev Bulus Tsetu
Testimonies and prayers for Assemblies of God in Northern Nigeria
An old Muslim man who was 120 years oldlived immediately next door to the Assemblies of God church in Jos main city, known as Kwararafa. During the 2008 crisis, two churches had already been burned near the Assemblies of God church. Hearing this news, the old man slowly hobbled over to sit down in front of the gate of the Assemblies of God church to protect the building. Eventually , the Muslim youth approached the church to burn it.
When they arrived, the old man told them, "for you to break into this church, to burn it down, the first thing for you to do is to kill me. I am standing here, and I would not like this church to be burnt". Because of the old man's words the youth left the church. However they were very angry and anxious to burn the church they came back more than three times the old man turn them away.
On the fifth time, a youth who had knife cut the old man across the leg and blood started gushing out. At this , the youth fled and the church was saved. But the old Man was still bleeding and rushed to the hospital. An old Man that was 120 years old. For two weeks, the wound festered and grew worse. While in the hospital, he left words with his wife for the pastor of the church ( Rev Yakubu Pam) that he should not worry. "For what I have done for the church is for the sake of Rev Pam's God. I have seen a true God of love in him. Even if I pass away, let him not worry." Two weeks later this old Muslim man eventually died.
 More than 500 Assemblies of God local church buildings were burnt in the following states in the North, Yobe, Borno, Kaduna, Kasina, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Nasarawa, Niger, Adamawa, Taraba and Plateau state, which Jos is her capital. Many of this burned churches are worshiping God under the sun, some under trees. This is because of the level of poverty, bad governance and hardship.
However they are happy even when all this is going on with them. When they gathered together they will sing songs and praise God, shared testimonies of how they escaped dead and their houses were burnt, no food to eat and cloths to put on, stories you hear in this meetings is how children saw how their parents were killed or parents saw how their children were killed yet they are not afraid.
Here we have thousands of displace brethren, we conduct mass burials. Women and children crying in our communities every now and then yet we never give up because one day we shall wear the Crown of life.
We are trusting the Lord for help any where as He will lay in the heart of His people through the Holy spirit to  rebuilding the destroyed churches.
- Rebuilding of the churches is going on we need your prayers
- Helping the displace with where to stay, what to eat and where.
- How to help families of victims to over come the trauma with the word the word of God.
- The widows of the families of the victims need encouragement and their children. Many of them need medical attention care and love.
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Finally our young people who lost both parents are not left behind, many have vowed to revenge, some have decided to go on drugs by joining bad gangs leaning to fight on the streets. Base on this we started Teen Challenge Ministries in Jos early this year, with 35 young convert of drug addict in a discipleship class and 5 student in the center. 
We are awaiting the certificate of registration of Teen challenge with Federal Government of Nigeria. We are about to put administrative structure for the center in Jos where is going to serve as the National office of teen challenge Nigeria. We need your prayers for our youth, they are our church of tomorrow.
Research has shown that because of poverty in Northern part of Nigeria many people are sick no money to go to hospital even when they go no qualify doctors and good medication to give in the local hospitals as a result so many die.
The church need to do some thing in the side of medical missions in Northern Nigeria, those churches oversea that want to do medical missions the Assemblies of God Jos Mainland District is ready to partner with any one in this area,
You can partner with us in rebuilding of the destroyed churches, trauma concealing, help to give bibles to those their bibles were burn during the crises etc.
Conclusion, the body of Christ is one, when ever any part of the body is affected the whole body will feel it the pain, nevertheless, I share this with you not just for you to feel the pain with us but to rise up with us in prayer and support in whatever way. The says weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Ps 30:5
Your Faithfully
Rev Dr Yakubu Pam.
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