Gunmen abduct ECWA BoT chairman in Plateau

 

Gunmen have abducted the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, Rev. Prof. Sunday B. Agang, in Jos, Plateau State.

It was gathered that gunmen numbering about six invaded the retired pastor’s residence at Farin-Gada community in  Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, in the early hours of Tuesday, March 24, 2026 and whisked him at gunpoint to an unknown destination.

A source close to the family added that the gunmen arrived at the house at about 5:00 am when the family were still in bed, forced their way into the house and held the family hostage before whisking the victims away. 

“Before the family could raise an alarm, the kidnappers had disappeared with their victim in a car brought by the undesirable elements,” the source said.

Another source close to the headquarters of the church in Jos said the authority has reported to the appropriate authorities, adding that they are making efforts to trace the kidnappers to their hideout.

The  Public Relations Officer of ECWA, Dickson Auta, who confirmed the incident in a statement, lamented the frequent attacks on its pastors and worshippers by gunmen in Kwara and Plateau states.

“Our church, The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has confirmed a series of criminal attacks targeting its members and clergy in Kwara State,” the statement read. 

“The church is actively monitoring the situation and has called for calm and fervent prayer following the abduction of seven worshippers and a senior pastor.

“The first incident occurred earlier this week at a church service in Oke Oro LCC  of Oro Ago, DCC,  Kwara State, when armed bandits attacked the congregation. During the assault, eight worshippers were taken, and several others sustained injuries of varying degrees, while the bandits went away with their phones and many valuables.

 

“In a subsequent incident, the assailants abducted Rev. Sunday Bobai Agangs, a pastor with the denomination.

“ECWA leadership has acknowledged receipt of all reports regarding the incidents and is currently engaged with the situation. In an official statement, the church urged the public to remain calm and prayerful.

“The church is calling on everyone to remain calm but prayerful because God is going to fight His battle Himself.

“Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.

 

5 Days of Prayers for Those Feeling Discouraged This Easter

 

Through this Easter themed five-day prayer guide, we will be equipped with encouragement as well as prayers for each day. 

Discouragement is one of those words we hate to hear, especially at holidays, such as Easter. Feeling discouraged or having a heavy heart are not fun things. Whenever we are discouraged, it can make us feel hopeless and without help. At the times of our strongest discouragements, we need to look to Jesus. He is the One who can help strengthen our hearts (Psalm 24:17). 

As we wait on the Lord and His deliverance, we can still praise Him. It might sound odd to praise God when we are feeling discouraged, yet this can actually help us. Instead of giving way to discouragement, we will be lifting up Jesus in praise. Replace discouragement with a heart of joy and you will quickly see your hope return this Easter holiday.  

Discouraging times will occur throughout our lives, yet Jesus will always be with us. It might sound redundant or repetitive, but it is true that Jesus is always with us (Matthew 28:20b). He never leaves us to weather the storms alone. All of the hopeless nights we stay awake longing for hope—the Lord is sitting right there beside us. 

When we are having times of discouragement, we can go to the Lord in prayer. The Bible tells us

 

7 Easter Meditations to Rejoice in the Resurrection

 

Easter is a season for every Christian to reflect and worship—reflect on all Jesus Christ has done, is doing, and will do, and worship Him. Part of reflection and worship is meditating upon God’s Word and what it reveals to us about God’s redemptive plan, Christ’s atoning work for us, and His glory. Let’s meditate upon six people throughout history God used to point toward Christ. And then let’s marvel at Christ’s unwavering faithfulness, grace, and mercy. 

Christian Ministry Calls on Churches to Remember Developing Communities on World Water Day

 

How GFA World is partnering with churches to provide life-sustaining water wells in developing communities, addressing a critical global need. 

Water is something that is definitely taken for granted by most people in developed countries. We don’t realize the blessing of being able to turn on a faucet and receive clean water right in our homes. However, about a quarter of the population around the world, 2.1 billion, don’t have access to clean, safe drinking water, according to the World Health Organization.

In the United States, when a natural disaster strikes and a community of people doesn’t have access to clean drinking water, that community is considered to be in a state of emergency. In fact, the U.S. Government has released a document that details what to do in the event that safe drinking water isn’t available.

Opportunity for Churches to Celebrate World Water Day

Christian ministry GFA World (www.gfa.org) is reaching out to churches and asking leadership and their congregations to consider joining them in a campaign beginning on March 25 as a way to celebrate World Water Day.

 

Persecuted Church in Iran Needs More Bibles, Other Support

Despite ongoing conflict, the persecuted church in Iran is experiencing significant growth, leading to an urgent need for Bibles and religious materials as Christians bravely seek truth amidst oppression.

As the war in Iran continues to rage, the persecuted church is growing! And so is the need for Bibles and other teaching materials. It’s estimated that there are between 1 and 2 million Christians in Iran who are a part of the persecuted church. With Islam being the dominant religion, Christianity and evangelism have been outlawed, but both pastor and laymen are carefully calling out for the need to have Bibles in the Iran’s Persian language, 

 

Bibles for Iran

One ministry in particular that’s attempting to stand in the gap regarding this need is Bibles for Iran. In addition to written Bibles, audio Bibles are also being made available. Internet connectivity in Iran is approximately one percent of normal levels, as those in power in Iran control who can communicate with the outside world. So most communication and news alerts are still blocked, and hard copy Bibles are desperately needed. Additional information on how to come alongside this ministry can be obtained by emailing cubinero@proton.me.

Armenian Church Embraces Iranian Refugees

There’s a church in the country of Armenia that’s just over the Iranian border and has been opening its doors to Christian Iranian refugees, according to a CBN report picked up by The 700 Club.

 

400 Baptized at Georgia Church in One Sunday: ‘There’s a Fresh Awakening’

 

Witness a breathtaking display of faith as 400 individuals experienced baptism in a single Sunday service at Bethlehem Church in Georgia, an event church leaders attribute to a powerful movement of God. 

A Georgia church is celebrating a powerful display of faith after 400 people were baptized on a single Sunday in what church leaders say is a movement of God.

Bethlehem Church in Winder, Ga., became the scene of an extraordinary outpouring of God on March 1 when a regular church service turned into a mass baptism event across its three campuses. Lead Pastor Jason Britt told the Christian Index that 13 baptisms were planned, while 387 more followed in response to the invitation.

Britt said he was in the middle of a sermon series on the Holy Spirit titled “Familiar Stranger,” one that examined what he described as “the person, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit.” As he prepared to preach on Acts 2 and the arrival of the Spirit at Pentecost, he said he felt the Lord directing him not simply to preach repentance and faith, but also to urge people to respond through baptism without delay.

 

Catholic priest killed by Israeli tank fire in Lebanon

 

A Catholic priest in Lebanon has been killed after an Israeli artillery tank fired on a house. 

Father Pierre El Rai, 50, was attempting to help parishioners in Qlayaa as their house was fired upon by the IDF tank. While in the house, the tank opened fire again and Father El Rai was injured.

According to Aid to the Church in Need, Father El Rai later died in hospital as a result of his wounds.

Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai, head of the Maronite Church, which is in full communion with Rome, said Fr El Rai “gave his life as a testament to love and devotion to his priestly mission”.

He called for a return to diplomacy.

“The martyrdom of a priest dedicated to the service of God and his people, steadfast in his pastoral mission alongside the faithful in times of hardship, is a profound wound in the heart of the Church," he said. 

"It reveals once again the tragedy for which innocents pay the price in the cycle of violence and wars, against which we have long warned, urging everyone to keep our nation out of its tragedies and to embrace negotiation, dialogue, and diplomacy.”

The Patriarch also issued a condemnation of “every attack targeting civilians, religious figures, places of worship, homes, institutions and every inch of our homeland”.

The recent escalation of hostilities between Israel, Iran, the US and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant group has threatened the lives of Christians in the region.

Last week an Iraqi Christian community was hit by a drone attack. Fortunately, no one was killed or injured as the buildings affected had already been evacuated. While it is not confirmed who carried out the attack, it is suspected to have been an Iranian drone targeting a nearby US base or the airport.

The latest incident is not the first time Christians have been hit by IDF fire.

During the Gaza conflict, Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in the territory was hit by Israeli ordnance, killing three people and wounding the priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli. Earlier in the conflict two women taking refuge in the church were killed by Israeli sniper fire.