Tens of thousands of widows are living in Central Nigeria, many who became widows due to violent attacks on their predominantly Christian villages by Muslim attackers. These women often have few options to earn a living and often have children to support. The Bege for Gobe (Hope for Tomorrow) foundation gathers hundreds of these widows together multiple times each year to provide both for their physical needs (food, clothing, medical care) and their spiritual encouragement. Through these gatherings, widows form networks for mutual encouragement and help. In addition, Bege for Gobe (B4G) forms bible studies for continued discipleship and looks for other ways they can support these women, such as microloans and training.
During November and December, 2024, supporters through STM were able to assist about 1000 women in southern Kaduna State and Plateau State. The goal of these Christmas gatherings, in addition to the care mentioned above, was to help ease the memory of the hundreds of lives lost last Christmas Eve, during a large coordinated attack against Christian villages preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
A higher than expected number of widows came and supplies were short. Many women squeezed in beyond the chairs available and sat on the floor. But as sister Naomi, the director of B4G noted, God answered their prayers and multiplied the food. Every woman was given something, and the joy on their faces confirmed both the necessity and benefit of these Christmas gatherings.
In the video you can see the women completing a time of prayer and launching into a song singing "Our God is Gracious!" in the Hausa language of northern Nigeria. The video was recorded just a few days ago in the main hall of Messiah College on the AMEN Mission Training Base in Plateau State, Nigeria. The photos are from Azigbo Samuel and Beatrice Yakubu.
