During a militant attack in Nigeria, Pastor Gideon lost his pregnant wife and five daughters, when their house was set on fire.
Traumatized and hospitalized, he’s now recovering and explains how he was able to forgive his family’s killers.
SCRIPT:
BACKGROUND:
Every year, thousands of Nigerian Christians are killed for their faith by militants who are determined to turn the country into an Islamic state. In 2023, between December 23rd and 30th alone, 238 Christians were killed in Nigeria’s Plateau State as a result. Pastor Gideon speaks with Greg Musselman, of Voice of the Martyrs Canada, about the devastating loss of his entire family, his remarkable journey to forgiveness, and how he is able to face the future with great hope – knowing that he will assuredly see his loved ones again in eternity with Christ.
ANCHOR INTRO: During a militant attack in Nigeria, Pastor Gideon Dewal lost his pregnant wife and five daughters, when their house was set on fire. Traumatized and hospitalized, he’s now recovering and explains how he was able to forgive his family’s killers.
VIDEO SCRIPT:
VO: It was referred to as “Black Christmas” in which 238 Christians were killed and more than 300 injured as hundreds of armed Muslim Fulani Muslims attacked 40 majority Christian villages in Plateau State in Nigeria’s Middle Belt from Christmas Eve 2023 until December 30th.
An estimated 10,000 people were left displaced many left their villages in fear of more attacks Plateau .15 hundred homes were destroyed. Eight churches were burnt down, leaving these communities traumatized.
VO: Reverend Gideon Dawell, was serving as the District Overseer of Christ’s Apostolic Church and pastor of a local congregation in the village of Mbong, which was attacked on Christmas Eve. and explains the motives behind these horrific raids.
Rev. Gideon Dawel, Former Pastor and District Overseer, Christ Apostolic Church
“These people have their reasons of targeting Christians. I look at it in two perspectives . One, these people want, land grabbing. They need land, they want to grab this community and want to own this place. Take charge of the place.
Two, because they are a religious fanatics, they believe when they kill Christians they are worshipping their god. They did that for two purposes, and that is why they are targeting Christians
VO: Gideon told me how the Christians in his village were getting ready for the Christmas Eve service around 7
Gideon: “We keep watch outside, so I went outside at least a kilometer from my house. It was getting darker, not knowing that the Fulani people are coming for the attack. So they came silently. When they arrived they chanted “Allah Akbar”. They began shooting rapidly, so I couldn’t go back home. I told my wife to run with the children.”
VO: Unfortunately, Gideon’s wife Hannah and their daughters stayed in their house and locked the doors, praying that the terrorists wouldn’t be able to get inside, that decision would prove to be devastating.
Gideon: “So they (the militants) couldn’t get inside, they tried to get inside the room, they couldn’t so the doused the window (with gasoline) and set the house ablaze. Now they are burned inside the house.”
VO: Gideon returned to his destroyed village on Christmas morning after the terrorists left leaving a wave of death and destruction. He rushed to his badly damaged house and would make a horrific discovery.
Gideon: “One of my cousins entered he now discovered he saw bones and a skull. He came out of the house. He fainted. Another one entered. He came out, he fainted. I said what happened? I entered. I now discovered this. I saw them in one place. I thought they were praying until they died there, because they were in one place. So I was unconscious. They carried me from there to the hospital. I don’t know where I was. From that hospital they took me to Jos here.”
Greg question: I can’t imagine the loss you’ve suffered, your wife, your five daughters. How have you been able to just get up in the morning and continue to live your life?
Gideon: “When this happened to me, I can remember the first people, the pastors, I told them there is no God. Yes, I told them there is no God. I said number two, I regretted being a pastor, yes, I said God is a wicked person because He says he has a plan for us, so is this the plan? I don’t trust Him again. It’s better if I had never been a Christian.
VO One of the Christian leaders to console Gideon was Mark Lipdo of Stefanos Foundation, a ministry to persecuted Christians in Nigeria. Mark met with Gideon a week after he lost his entire family.
Mark Lipdo, Founder and Program Coordinator, Stephanos Foundation:
The best I can do is to bring hope. When it happened to Pastor Gideon I was privileged to be there and I put my hands around him. What that meant to him at that time, I can’t say. If being around him gives him some comfort that’s what I want it to be.”
Gideon: Everything around me was traumatized you know. That is what the situation was, but now I thank God because I saw so many people are praying for me, people are actually praying for me.”
VO: Gideon is committed to the healing process in dealing with his trauma, but knows it will take time.
Greg question: “When we talk about forgiveness, it’s difficult at any time, but considering what you have lost, your wife, your five daughters. How have you been able to forgive?
Gideon: “Humanly speaking you cannot forgive. Let me assume if they showed me the person who burned my family. It would be difficult to forgive him. I would like to take revenge. But you can see as a born again Christian, as a Christian, Jesus said we should forgive For a born again Christian, I need to forgive. I have forgiven them from the depth of my heart.”
Greg question: “In light of all you have been through, all the loss, all the pain. Is God still good?”
Gideon: “God is excellently good. He is perfect. God does what He likes. We are like pots in the hands of the potter. He can break it, or do whatever He likes to us. He is still God. God is still a faithful God. I look at it now. God has his reasons for keeping me as a remnant, I think, for the Gospel, for the Gospel.”
Greg question: Does having an eternal perspective does that become more real to you since losing your wife and your five daughters, because the hope that you will see them again?
Gideon: As the Scripture implies, someday I will see them. Someday I will see them, in the presence of God. But humanly it’s painful. But in the spiritual real it’s awesome. God knows why. So I have to believe I will see them, based on Scriptures. I can see them someday, someday.
Story Provided By:
Stan Jeter, GNA CEO
Producing Organization
Voice of the Martyrs, Canada
Recording Location
Jos, Nigeria
Reporter / Producer
Greg Musselman
Organization featured in this Story
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada/ Stefanos Foundation. https://www.vomcanada.com/
People Interviewed and their Titles
Rev. Gideon Dawel Former Pastor and District Overseer Christ Apostolic Church
Greg Musselman The Voice of the Martyrs Canada
Mark Lipdo Founder and Program Coordinator, Stefanos Foundation
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