Evangelism in times of persecution
Rev Dr. Y. Hassan a renowned preacher of the
word of God and an international evangelist said there is no better time to
preach the gospel of salvation than in the midst of persecution. He was
speaking during the 9th annual International delegates’ conference
of New Life for All in Kuru Plateau state. Rev Dr Hassan in teaching dedicated
his time to explain to the delegates the need for them to be steadfast and
continue to preach in all season. He said the church in Africa has become the
hope of the world as some churches in the west have been turned into social
event halls.
Rev Dr Hassan said Boko-Haram is not an
Islamic sect but an ideology. He stated that as the effort to establish Sharia
in Nigeria through Political was being championed, an Islamic ideological group
was growing in the North Eastern part of Nigeria. He said the ideology was
headed by Mohammed Yusuf in Maiduguri. He said this group called Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah
wa'l-Jihād commonly
called Boko-Haram have caused so much havoc in the lives of the people of
Nigeria. According to the preacher, an Islamic sect is different from
Ideological group. “We know several Islamic sects in the world and they are
known but we cannot refer to Boko-Haram as one of them. We know of Shiite,
Sunni, Tijaniyya, Kadriyya etc. but Boko-Haram is not one of such, it is an
Ideology.” He further stated that philosophy and teachings of a sect
distinguishes one from another.
The preacher urged Christians to continue to
preach the gospel of light and salvation as this is one thing they are called
by Jesus to do. “Christians must not be afraid to lay down their lives for the
gospel for Christ has laid down His life for us. Christ whose promise will
never fail said he will be with the believer through all ages.”
He stated that although many Christians were
killed by the insurgency in 2012, but those who died in the attacks “have not perished
but are with Christ. All the saints are waiting for the second coming of Jesus Christ;
they will meet up with Him in the air.” He admonished Christians to desist from
following false teachings of the end time.
