THE AFRICAN CHRISTIAN CRUSADE

Three years ago (November 2003) in The Chinese Christian Crusades, I told you about the program of Chinese Christians to evangelize the world's Moslems.

The program is called Back to Jerusalem  — referring to the lands between China and Jerusalem (Central Asia and the Middle East) which are overwhelmingly Moslem.  Getting back to Jerusalem and the birthplace of Christianity means Chinese missionaries in these lands preaching the Gospel and saving Moslem souls for Christ.

Now the largest Christian movement in Africa has decided to do the same. 

From the other direction:  across the Moslem lands of North Africa and into Saudi Arabia itself.  The Saudis are about to find themselves inside an African-Chinese Christian sandwich.

Nigeria is home to Africa's largest Christian population.  Of Nigeria's 130 million people, 40% or 52 million are Christian.  The Nigerian Evangelical Missions Association (NEMA) has now embraced the Back to Jerusalem concept, calling it Operation Samaria (Samaria being the name of the Biblical Land of Israel between Galilee and Judea).

The specific goal of Operation Samaria is what NEMA calls Vision 50:15:  its intention to train and send out 50,000 Nigerian Christian missionaries within the next 15 years to take the Gospel through North Africa and the Middle East.  It already has 5,200 missionaries in 56 countries (for now, mostly in non-Moslem African countries or in Europe).

Cooperating with other Nigerian Christian denominations is the key to reaching NEMA's goal.  The Baptists with 3,200 congregations throughout the country may commit to raising 4,500 missionaries.  The Anglicans, with 12 million adherents, may contribute another 4,000.

Operation Samaria missionaries are right now being rigorously trained for the dangers of evangelizing Moslems in Islamic countries.  This involves their having a "total and unreserved commitment" involving three elements according to NEMA documents:

Facing the enemy eye to eye.  This vision calls for holy confrontation. The nations between Nigeria and Jerusalem are known to have overtly set themselves against the Lord and his anointed.

Overrunning the enemy territory. We must look into this vision "like a lamb in the midst of wolves."

Having a readiness to die.  This requires a reappraisal of our theology of suffering.  This vision will query and question the laid-back theology of ease that has characterized the Nigerian Church over the last few years.

While Moslem terrorists slaughter innocent people who won't submit to them, these Christian missionaries are willing to risk being martyred for their faith.  At last, people are taking the offensive against Islam.  Not us, not Europeans, but Chinese and Nigerians.

Christians from other parts of the world will follow.  There are "Back to Jerusalem" movements starting now in South Korea and Taiwan.  It is the courage of these Christians that may spell the defeat of Islam as a threat to the world.

If you'd like more information about Operation Samaria and how you can help, contact the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Evangelical Missions Association, Timothy Olonade.  He can be reached at [email protected].