Leviticus Makpa, 39, served as a pastor and church planter in Niger State, Nigeria. On 21 May, he sent a text message to an associate, Folashade Obidiya Obadan, stating that Fulani herdsmen had surrounded his house and mission compound.
The next day, Folashade learned that Pastor Leviticus, along with his toddler son Godsend, had both been tragically shot and killed.
Sources: Morning Star News, Open Doors
The pastor’s wife and daughter managed to escape. A funeral for the two slain family members was held on 23 May.
According to another associate, Samuel Solomon, this was not the first threatening encounter posed to Pastor Leviticus by the Fulani militants. During a previous attack, the pastor hid in a cave until the bandits left; yet the incident didn’t deter him from continuing in ministry. “How many of us can do this?” asked Samuel in his tribute to the slain pastor. “He knew his life was at stake, but [the] burden for souls wouldn’t let him run away from the [mission] field.”
More Christians were killed for their faith in Nigeria last year than in any other country. The West African nation also leads the world in the total number of kidnapped Christians.
Let us pray.
- Pray for peace and strength on behalf of Pastor Leviticus’ wife and daughter. Pray they will receive much love and support from their church family and community as they come to terms with this terrible loss.
- Pray for peace, stability and safety throughout the nation, asking God to grant the authorities the ability and willingness to rein in terrorist groups like the militant Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram.
- Pray these deaths will not be in vain but that somehow, God will use this tragedy to bring spiritual blessings.
Dear Lord,
May Pastor Leviticus’ heart to share the gospel and make you known, no matter the cost, inspire many.
Please comfort and reassure his family as they grieve. Enable them to forgive, in spite of the hurt and pain of their loss, remembering that for those who are in Christ, “to die is gain” and their beloved Pastor and this precious little boy Godsend, are now safe in Your everlasting arms.
Please turn the hearts of the persecutors away from evil, that they may see the light of Christ and come to know that You alone are God, and there is no other.