Eight-year-old Nankpak Kumzwam watched his mother lie face down on the ground as a screaming Islamic rioter ran toward them. Her cheek was stained with dried blood from a gunshot wound, and she looked physically and emotionally drained. They had slept on the ground for the past two nights while fleeing marauding rioters. And they had just heard heartbreaking news \u2014 rioters had killed Nankpak\u2019s father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Nankpak saw his mother lie down out of fear and exhaustion, he did the same. The Muslim rioter running toward them knew they were Christians and that Nankpak\u2019s father was a pastor, so he immediately attacked them with a machete. Assuming that he had killed Nankpak as well as his mother, brother and sister, the attacker finally walked away. But there was one survivor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Nankpak regained consciousness, he knew his mother, sister and brother were dead. Bleeding from machete wounds and the gunshot wound he had suffered the day before, Nankpak hiked through the bush to find help, eventually arriving at a friend\u2019s house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After receiving treatment, Nankpak moved in with an uncle until he enrolled in a school in a safe area. VOM provided support to him, just as they support many persecuted believers in northern Nigeria with medical care, food and living expenses, schooling, vocational training and spiritual encouragement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nankpak completed high school and hopes to become a doctor so he can care for persecuted Christians. He is ready to serve wherever God calls him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t really need to be afraid,\u201d Nankpak said. \u201cI was the only person who was able to escape. I believe God has a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nankpak thinks often of his family and especially misses his father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany times he [went] from one place to another speaking the Word of God,\u201d Nankpak recalled. \u201cWhenever he [was] at home, we spent much time discussing the Word of God.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His father also taught his children to live peacefully among Muslims. \u201cHe always told us to love one another … to share the Good News,\u201d Nankpak said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nankpak hopes those who hear his story will pray for persecuted Christians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI would like people to pray for the persecuted in Nigeria and in other places, because it is not only Nigeria that is suffering persecutions,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it is something that the whole world needs to care about.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Eight-year-old Nankpak Kumzwam watched his mother lie face down on the ground as a screaming Islamic rioter ran toward them. Her cheek was stained with dried blood from a gunshot wound, and she looked physically and emotionally drained. They had slept on the ground for the past two nights while fleeing marauding rioters. And they had just heard heartbreaking news \u2014 rioters had killed Nankpak\u2019s father. When Nankpak saw his mother lie down out of fear and exhaustion, he did the same. The Muslim rioter running toward them knew they were Christians and that Nankpak\u2019s father was a pastor, so he immediately attacked them with a machete. Assuming that he had killed Nankpak as well as his mother, brother and sister, the attacker finally walked away. But there was one survivor. The Young Survivor When Nankpak regained consciousness, he knew his mother, sister and brother were dead. Bleeding from machete wounds and the gunshot wound he had suffered the day before, Nankpak hiked through the bush to find help, eventually arriving at a friend\u2019s house. After receiving treatment, Nankpak moved in with an uncle until he enrolled in a school in a safe area. VOM provided support to him, just<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1006,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[43],"class_list":["post-1005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-field-stories","tag-nigeria","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\n