ISAIAH 62 PRAYER MINISTRY

As a follow up to the last post, this quick post is to help equip you, as readers, in practically living out what was written, and encouraged in this post.

A lot of the time, money– or another physical contribution– is one of the most valuable things we can give, especially in a fight that includes poverty, and extreme physical need. But, it is sometimes difficult to choose a target for a donation, that is reputable, financially accountable, and actively working in the region one feels led to give to.

After much prayer, and searching, I have found a couple of non-profits that are working directly in Nigeria, and/or especially pertaining to the Boko Haram insurgency, all for Jesus’ glory. Praying that this blesses you as you choose where to give, Here it is:

**I HAVE NOT BEEN ASKED BY ANY ORGANIZATION FOR PUBLICITY OR RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THIS BLOG IS IN NO WAY SPONSORED BY ANY NONPROFIT. THIS IS NOT A SPONSORED POST; I HAVE SEARCHED FOR, READ THROUGH, AND CHOSEN THESE NONPROFITS BECAUSE OF THEIR MISSION, FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY, AND ABILITY TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED BY BOKO HARAM. It’s my mere opinion; but I pray it really blesses you! Please let me know if you know of any reputable nonprofits to add to this list. 

• CHRISTIAN AID MISSION

Founded in 1970 by a man named Dr. Robert Finley, Christian Aid Mission focuses on supporting missionaries, ministries, and churches that are already in places where there are few, and/or persecuted, Christians– especially in nations where foreign missionaries are unwelcome, or cannot legally enter. Their own website says, “Christian Aid Mission seeks to establish a witness for Christ in every nation by assisting indigenous ministries that share the gospel with unreached people groups.” While Charity Navigator cannot rate them due to not being required “ to file the full IRS Form 990,” they claim to have extensive ethical and financial accountability (learn more here). They are working to both help Christian ministries in Nigeria flourish, as well as to help those suffering because of Boko Haram. Support native African missionaries, and the persecuted African Church through Christian Aid Mission, here.

• CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES

Since the early 2000’s, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has aided numerous farmers, local non-profits, and catholic churches in the Niger and Nigeria region. More recently, CRS has increased its aid to those displaced by Boko Haram in the region, especially in Diffa, Niger (source).

Working with Niger’s local non-profits like Demi-E, CRS has provided clean drinking water, as well as access to food through food vouchers, to hundreds of displaced peoples in the region of Niger and Chad.

Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. Bishops’ international aid and development agency, aims to “to cherish, preserve and uphold the sacredness and dignity of all human life, foster charity and justice, and embody Catholic social and moral teaching” by helping aid in disaster relief, as well as encouraging and supplying third-world communities with the resources to “achieve their full potential.”

Catholic Relief Services have come under fire in recent months, being accused of going against traditional catholic teachings, such as prohibiting the use of birth control, and collaborating with secular charities and non-profits to achieve the giving of aid, globally. Catholic Relief Services have replied to these accusations, in this webpage— and affirm that while they do work with “secular” organizations to give aid, they do not participate in projects or causes with secular organizations that go against catholic values (source).

While many core doctrines of Catholicism focus on earning one’s salvation, by good works (which is completely unbiblical: Ephesians 2:5), there are many Catholic Christians, who have been saved, by faith, through grace, and have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (Ephesians 2:8-9). Catholic Relief Services supports, and supplies, millions of Christian Catholics (and people, in general), with the resources to give in a reputable, and financially responsible way, to those in this disaster who need it most. Learn more about what CRS is doing in Nigeria, here, and how you can donate to the cause, here.

• SIM USA

SIM USA has been working all over the world, spreading the Gospel, and helping to educate those within Nigeria. They are passionate about letting Jesus be known, everywhere. They are also working to evangelize unreached people groups. Learn more about them, here.

• CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN NIGERIA (NYE)

Church of the Brethren in Nigeria works directly with Church of the Brethren in various parts of the United States. The Church of the Brethren is very involved in the Boko Haram insurgency and in the kidnapping of the Chibok girls. Learn about how you can help them to help brothers and sisters in Nigeria, here.

• *RECOMMENDED: GLEANING FOR THE WORLD

Gleaning for the world is a faith-based nonprofit, helping all kinds of people, regardless their backgrounds. They are helping within the US, in Syria and Iraq, and have worked on the ground in displacement camps in Nigeria, to do as their motto says: “alleviating suffering by efficiently distributing humanitarian aid.” They have provided food supplements and vitamins to displaced people who would otherwise have to go without in their bland, nutrition-less basic diets. They are also providing medical first aid to those hurt in fleeing Boko Haram. Because of their financial transparency, and high percentile of how much money actually goes toward their program, I recommend this nonprofit. I have NOT been asked to promote any one certain nonprofit, here; I am literally just recommending them completely of my own, unpaid volition.
Learn more about how you can help, here.

• VOICE OF THE MARTYRS

Voice of the Martyrs says that they are “committed to providing widows and children of martyred Christians” through the support and encouragement of connecting them with churches, vocational training to widows (and quite possibly older orphans), and through discipling widows and orphans. They also help those “Front-line workers” who are working to share the Gospel in such hostile regions like Northern Nigeria. You can find a direct link to donate to VOM’s Nigerian Widow and Orphan offer here.

• CITIZENGO

CitizenGO has been known for their commitment to life, family, and freedom. They have fought for pro-life initiatives all over the world, against the indoctrination of children and gender identity, and have especially fought against religious persecution in Nigeria and the release of Leah Sharibu, a young woman who has been captured by Boko Haram. You can give to them here.

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WORKING DIRECTLY WITH/IN NIGERIA

 While these organizations are not Christian, they are reputable charities currently helping those displaced by Boko Haram.

• THE CARTER CENTER

The Carter Center, in its own words, “in partnership with Emory University, is guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering. It seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health.” The Carter Center has been involved with various Nigerian medical and political phenomena and events since the early 1990’s, and even annihilated Lymphatic Filariasis (a disforming, mosquito-created illness) in Nasarawa and Plateau, Nigeria in 2017. The Carter Center has supported the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health in other ways, as well. Learn more about their effect in Nigeria here.

• SAVE THE CHILDREN

Save the Children is focused on helping children to grow up healthy and strong in communities where these resources are lacking. They are working in Nigeria (or, at least, were working hard there in 2017), fighting back against hunger. On their website, it says, “Save the Children in Nigeria is distributing food to vulnerable families, reaching nearly 16,500 people. Our teams have established therapeutic feeding centers and outreach centers that provide food for infants and young children suffering from malnutrition.” They have 3 out of 4 stars on Charity Navigator. Learn more about Save the Children, here.

• CARE

CARE exists to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice. They started working in Nigeria in 2017, though it is unclear on if they are still working there. They were working to remove gaps in food security and helping women from gender-based violence, among other things. You can find them here.

• INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE

This charity provides “vital support and humanitarian aid” to those in Nigeria, and has a 4-star rating with Charity Navigator. They are helping to provide food in the famine happening in Yemen, Nigeria, and surrounding countries. You can find them here.

Again, let me know if you know of any other nonprofits I could add. Thank you, for reading and praying! Praise Jesus for you! 🙂

“Dear Father God,
I praise you, Father, for the community of people, here, who both read, and pray, over the requests written, here.

As these men and women are led, by Your Holy Spirit, to give for the cause of those caught up in the Boko Haram insurgency, specifically those in IDP Camps, the Church there, and those otherwise affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, I pray that You would bless their hearts with remembering all that You have done, for them.

Dear Father God, Thank You for giving all, Father God, so that we might have a Personal, Saving, relationship with You! I pray that, in view of Your Kindness, You would search our hearts, and show us anything keeping us from a closer, richer, more beautiful relationship with You (Romans 2).

Bless them, today, Father God.

In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen!”