December 2002
She could hear the continued gunfire and screams everywhere as she frantically searched for a place to hide, the tears freely flowing down her cheeks. Feeling helpless and afraid, she huddled behind a door, waiting for her turn to die. She covered her ears so she couldn’t hear the screams echoing down the street and prayed, “Lord Jesus, help us.”
Eventually, it was quiet. Garos Manjang slowly crawled out of her hiding spot and made her way to the front door, where she had last seen her husband alive. Opening the door she looked out onto the destruction—people walking the streets in shock, bodies either hurt or dead on the ground, and numerous houses destroyed. Looking down the stairs, she saw her husband, sixty-nine-year-old Bitrus Manjang, lying next to his car, keys beside his still body. Garos became dizzy and quickly sat down.
Manjang was a well-known Nigerian church leader who had retired five years earlier as senior pastor of the three-million-member Church of Christ. He was a gifted evangelist and had helped translate the Bible into several Nigerian tribal languages. Although retired, he was still actively involved in the church and continued to attend numerous church meetings.
On the day of the attack, Manjang had graced several church meetings about 50 kilometres away. He returned home and hurriedly made his way up the front porch steps toward his beloved wife. He had a wide smile on his face as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. Realising he had left some materials in the car, he took the keys out of his pocket and made his way back to the car.
Garos watched in horror as a mob of Fulani Muslims approached and opened fire on her husband. She saw his blood splatter onto the car and watched the keys slip out of his hands as he fell to the ground. In fear for her own life, she turned and ran.
By the time the Islamic extremists finished raiding the village, nineteen people were dead, and eighteen injured. One hundred twenty-six homes were destroyed; but not the faith of the people. Despite the loss, the church grew stronger.
Garos and the other Christians could have been angry and bitter at the militants and even with God. But just as Jesus had forgiven her, Garos chose to forgive her husband’s murderers. She knew that the Islamic extremists believed they were doing Allah a service, but they did not know the Father or His Son Jesus. She prayed that they would come to know Jesus and become His followers.
On the day he was killed, family and friends were preparing a party to mark the fifth anniversary of Manjang’s retirement. They didn’t plan a time of mourning, but a time to celebrate his ministry and life, a life finished on earth but now continuing in Heaven with Jesus. They mourned their loss, but they celebrated the pastor’s eternal victory.
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