As a Christian and university president, I believe that no one should suffer because of their faith, especially those who follow the One who said, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you” (John 15:20). Yet in Nigeria, thousands of believers face brutal violence for doing just that.
President Donald Trump recently declared that the United States will no longer stand by while Christians are targeted. He has called for a halt to foreign aid and asked the Pentagon to prepare for a possible military intervention to end what he described as the “mass slaughter” of Christians in Nigeria. His words are not only politically important, but also morally urgent.
This issue is not abstract to me. I have had the privilege of knowing two young women who experienced that persecution and whose courage now challenges us all. Their names are Joy Bishara and Lydia Pogu.
Wounded suicide bomb victims are treated at a hospital in Maiduguri, Nigeria, on June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joshua Omiri)
In 2014, Boko Haram terrorists attacked a girls’ school in Chibok, Nigeria, kidnapping more than 270 students. The name Boko Haram means ‘Western education is prohibited’. That night, these militants burned classrooms, terrorized families and loaded terrified girls into trucks. Many were never seen again. But some escaped. Joy and Lydia were among them.
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In the back of a truck, Joy cried out to a God she did not yet know personally. “If You save me,” she prayed, “I will follow You.” Then she felt a simple but clear command: Jump. She obeyed. Wounded and alone, she ran through the dark. Lydia followed. Bloodied and barefoot, they fled into the unknown, believing that God had a purpose beyond the pain.
Eventually, the girls were moved to the United States and enrolled in a small Christian high school in Oregon. When it came time to go to college, they had to take another test. The Nigerian government, which had been involved in their resettlement, pressured them to follow a path that was not in line with their beliefs. They held their ground. Having risked their lives for freedom and faith, they would not compromise on either.
Then we at Southeastern University became aware of their story. We offered Joy and Lydia full scholarships to continue their education in an environment that respected their beliefs. Since then, I have watched these two young women grow into leaders. Joy studied social work and was determined to help others overcome trauma. Lydia went to law school and prepared to stand up for girls like herself, who had no voice.
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Their story did not remain in the classroom. They were invited to speak at the United Nations, where they shared their testimonies with world leaders and called for action to protect religious freedom and vulnerable children. While there, they met with President Trump in person, a moment of encouragement and alignment between their courage and his public commitment to end the persecution of Christians. Their message was simple and urgent: persecution is real and the world cannot look away.
More than 7,000 Christians were murdered in Nigeria in the first seven months of this year, according to the Nigeria-based International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law. Churches have been destroyed, pastors murdered and entire communities displaced. Although the conflict involves complex political and economic factors, the approach of Christian believers is consistent and unmistakable. Nigeria remains one of the most dangerous places on earth to be a follower of Jesus.
This is why President Trump’s statement matters. The United States should not assist governments that permit, ignore, or contribute to religious violence. Our foreign policy must reflect not only our national interest but also our moral responsibility.
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As president of a Christian university, I also believe this moment calls the church to something deeper. It is time to educate our students and communities about the reality of global persecution. It is time to pray without ceasing for the suffering church. And it is time to raise our voices, not out of fear or anger, but out of conviction and truth.
Joy and Lydia showed us what courageous faith looks like. They didn’t allow fear to define them. They did not allow themselves to be silenced by the persecution. They are living proof that God can turn trauma into testimony.
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President Trump has spoken. The question now is whether we will take action. Shall we remember those who suffer because of their faith? Will we stand up for religious freedom, not only in theory but also in practice? Will we raise a generation ready to lead with moral clarity in a broken world?
Joy and Lydia have already done that. May we be found equally faithful.
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