Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Taking a stand Part 2: How its done in West Africa
In September, I wrote several reports from the Northern region of Ghana where Islamic terrorist herdsmen called Fulani were perpetrating violence on the poor villagers there. I interviewed eyewitnesses to how the Fulani sized up a village, attacked it, killing the elders who resisted, raping the women, and stealing what they could. It was in this way that they brought villages under Islamic control. The Fulani, you may recall, have butchered hundreds of Christian men, women and children in Nigeria. They are embarked on the same mission in the Northern part of Ghana. We had to travel under armed guard to even visit the area. Many did not believe my reports.

But my missions partner in Ghana, Pastor William Agbeti, says they sparked awareness. He says the villagers decided to fight back, and much to the Fulani's surprise, the tables have turned. He wrote: "Many were those who did not believe you when you started reporting on the atrocities that Fulani herdsmen were meting out to Ghanaians. Your reports were wake up calls. Today, the truth has finally come out. Everybody in Ghana now knows the Fulani herdsmen have been and are responsible for most armed robbery cases, murders, rapes and destruction of farms and villages; as several of them have been arrested and caught in the act of committing various crimes."

Agbeti says that the government was so slow to act, that citizens raised up to protect themselves. He reports that unfortunately the counter-attacks have been violent, resulting in the deaths of many of the Fulani. He says, "The situation has reached a stage where all Fulani herdsmen in the Northern Region, where you visited, have been asked by the security agencies to report to a special camp set up for them for their own safety. In various communities across Ghana today, the citizens have awakened to the evil deeds of the Fulani herdsmen and are ready to lay down their lives to flush out these evil persons who are devotees of Islam."

Agbeti concludes, "Thanks for the part you have played and continue to play in flushing out evil from the world. If only many Christians would wake up as you have, evil will not triumph as we see all over the World." We in America often have no idea the measures others must take to protect their families and loved ones from the depths of evil. It reminds me of Luke 22:36 when Jesus told the disciples, "But now...he that has no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." There are times when we must protect ourselves, as those in Northern Ghana have found. Much better would it be to share the good news of the gospel and change hearts than to be forced into any type of violence. Our best defense is to share the light of Christ that the darkness of violence does not visit us. That's exactly what Agbeti is trying to do--reach the Muslims with the gospel.

Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson