*** Warning: This story contains references to gruesome violence *** CHRISTIAN ANALYSIS Formerly murderous militants in Nigeria are being transformed into spiritual warriors for Jesus Christ. And Christian widows whose husbands are victims of genocide in that African nation are also experiencing a powerful work of healing. The global Christian group Youth With A Mission on land once owned by militants and occultists who, the Dangtoudmas learned, killed Christians after participating in demonic, spiritual rituals. ***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to receive the latest news from a Christian perspective.*** One such story, reenacted in the film, involves a young man who wants to avenge his sister’s deadly rape. He pursues dark, spiritual powers by submitting to his own live burial. After a week underground, his body is resurrected by the power of Satan, who changes his boyhood name from Sunrise to Nightmare. In horrific fashion, Nightmare leads a Boko Haram-influenced massacre at a church in the village Sunrise once called home. “They want to do jihad. They want to force people to convert to Islam. It’s not only the Christians who are suffering; many Muslims are also suffering. It’s just demonic what is happening,” said Paul Dangtoudma. When fear and discouragement from the enemy sought to find a foothold in their ministry, the Dangtoudmas rebuked the devil in the name of Jesus. They also reminded themselves of the word of God to them the safest place on earth is the place the Lord calls you to go. “Many churches and pastors were killed and the wives left without their husbands, who were beheaded,” said Rachel Dangtoudma, describing one particular massacre. Some women were raped in front of their children, her husband added. One murderer notoriously beheaded 200 people, Paul Dangtoudma said. Visiting church buildings that were burned to ash, he met in total 6, 000 widows whose husbands were pastors at the time of their incineration. The widows are called “women of honor” when they come to the YWAM base. It offers ministry for healing from trauma. Sometimes, the widows meet their husbands’ killers face-to-face, like in the case of former militant-murderer Nightmare. He is one of many child soldiers who has since repented and given his life to Jesus, even asking the widows for their forgiveness. Many of them become students at YWAM Nigeria, which focuses on evangelism. Transformed by the Lord, one graduate of YWAM’s DTS school is now a lawyer in England. Others have become pastors and worship leaders. The mix of voodoo and witchcraft, Boko-Haram militancy, and political feuds common to the region where YWAM ministers will, hopefully, end someday. “I believe God is busy raising up an army of Nigerians to go into all the world to make Him known,” said Rachel Dangtoumda. Her husband urges Christians to pray for Nigeria because it along with all of the African continent holds the power to change the world. “Nigeria will impact the world. There will be a lot of missionaries being released around the world. We will see a model of society that God wants to establish as Nigeria changes and becomes disciples of Jesus,” Paul Dangtoumda said. Dedicated to Loren Cunningham, the founder of YWAM, the new movie is directed by his son David L. Cunningham. Worldwide donors funded the movie to honor courageous souls who’ve risked their lives for the sake of the Gospel.
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