KURMIN WALI, Nigeria — Armed assailants kidnapped over 150 worshippers in coordinated raids on three churches in northwest Nigeria on Sunday, according to Usman Danlami Stingo, who represents the Kajuru area in the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
The attacks occurred in Kurmin Wali, a community in the Kajuru area of Kaduna state, while services were underway at an Evangelical Church Winning All congregation, a Cherubim and Seraphim church, and a Catholic church.
Stingo said 177 people were initially reported missing following the attacks. Eleven of those abducted later returned, leaving 168 people still missing as of Monday.
Police in Kaduna state had not commented on the incident, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Mass abductions by armed groups have plagued northwest Nigeria in recent years, with gunmen targeting schools, villages and places of worship for ransom.
(EDITOR NOTE: This article is presented because it is something that affects the church. Its presentation is not intended to ‘take sides’ on a divisive issue. Feel free to leave comments in the comments section. Uncivil comments will not be approved. Be respectful.)
Federal authorities are examining whether civil rights were violated when demonstrators interrupted a Sunday service at a St. Paul church.
The protest targeted pastor David Easterwood, who allegedly oversees local Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
Activists chanted demands for accountability following the fatal police shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old who was involved in an incident with ICE agents during an ICE operation in Minneapolis this month. Don Lemon livestreamed a portion of the event from inside the church building on YouTube.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated houses of worship aren’t public forums and are protected by federal law.
Black Lives Matter Minnesota helped organise the demonstration, which protesters livestreamed on social media.
Southern gospel’s Poet Voices is welcoming vocalist Loren Harris to its lineup, the group announced.
Harris left the Kingdom Heirs in fall 2023 to pursue solo ministry but said he missed quartet singing. After discussions with Phil Cross and Donnie Henderson last October, Harris accepted their invitation.
“Once you have quartet in your blood, it’s just hard to replace,” Harris said.
He joins Cross, Henderson, Casey Armstrong and Jeff Snyder. The group is releasing a tribute album featuring gospel songs by the Oak Ridge Boys.
Phil Cross said he’s never been more excited about The Poet Voices’ future.
In the Gospel of Luke, ten men suffering from leprosy called out to Jesus for mercy. Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priests, and as they walked away, they were healed. Their skin was restored, their pain was gone, and their bodies were made whole again. Yet only one of the ten turned back. He came to Jesus, shouting praise to God and falling at His feet in deep gratitude.
Consider how often people receive blessings without stopping to give thanks. The nine who walked away were healed in body but forgot to show appreciation. The one who returned understood that thankfulness matters as much as the gift itself.
In our daily lives, we receive countless blessings. We have health, food, work, friends, and moments of peace. Yet we sometimes rush ahead, forgetting to acknowledge the source of these good things. Even a small word of thanks, a short prayer, or an act of kindness can show that we recognize what we’ve been given. Gratitude should not be occasional; it should be a way of living.
Let’s not disappoint the One who gives so freely. Take time to turn back, as the healed man did, and say, “Thank you.”
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Loving one another is not something that comes easily. It might seem natural at first glance. Consider, a baby often shows affection for their parents without being taught. But that kind of love is instinctive and emotional. The kind of love the Bible speaks about goes much deeper. It is not about feelings, but about choosing to give of ourselves for the good of others. That kind of love does not come naturally. Our natural instinct is to look out for ourselves, but true love must be learned and practiced.
We learn to love by seeing it lived out. Many of us can point to people who have shown us what love looks like. But for believers, the perfect example and teacher of love is Jesus Christ. He not only tells us to love but shows us exactly how.
In John 15, Jesus speaks to His disciples on the night before His death. He tells them, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” This message is so important that He repeats it more than once. When someone repeats a truth often, it means it matters deeply. Jesus wanted His followers to truly understand love, to know it, live it, and share it. The command to love others sums up everything He asks of us. It is not a suggestion or a passing thought; it is the heart of His teaching.
Jesus shows that love through sacrifice. He says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus spoke these words knowing He was about to die for those He loved. The truest form of love is to give up something valuable for someone else, and nothing is more valuable than life itself. His death was not just an act of kindness, it was a substitution. He took our place, dying the death we deserved so that we could live.
That love was not meant to stop at the cross. It calls us to follow His example. Most of us will never have to give up our lives for another person, but we are all called to give up our pride, comfort, and self-interest for the sake of others. Loving well always costs something. It may cost time, patience, energy, or forgiveness. Each act of love involves a small sacrifice of self.
Jesus also shows His love by calling us His friends. He says, “No longer do I call you servants… but I have called you friends.” This is a rare and beautiful truth. Many religions picture their gods as distant and demanding. But Jesus draws close. He shares His heart and plans with us. He lets us in. Real friendship involves honesty and trust, and Jesus offers both. He knows us completely yet still welcomes us near.
If Jesus calls us friends, we should treat others with that same care and faithfulness. True friendship means being honest, patient, and steady. It means staying when things are hard and being a safe person for others to trust.
Jesus also reminds us that we did not choose Him, He chose us. His love begins with Him, not us. He is the source of every good thing we have: our faith, our growth, our fruitfulness. He gives life like a vine gives life to its branches. Any good we produce comes from His power working through us. Because of this, we can never take pride in our place in His kingdom. Instead, we thank Him for choosing and equipping us to live with love.
Finally, Jesus loves us as our Lord. He is both our friend and our ruler. His commands are not meant to restrict us but to guide us toward what is good. In a world often marked by anger, division, and pride, this kind of love stands out. On our own, love fails. But in Christ, love grows strong and steady.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
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