Notes from Yukiko’s Desk

Notes from Yukiko’s Desk

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Last Friday, four of us from AGAC attended the World Day of Prayer (WDP) gathering held in Northshore. WDP, observed on the first Friday in March each year, is a worldwide movement of informed prayer involving people of many denominations and languages in more than 170 countries. For 2026, the focus country is Nigeria and the theme was “I will give you rest. Come.” The altar table was set beautifully with Nigerian cultural items (see the photo in this page). During the service, several testimonies written by Nigerian women were read. I was particularly struck by the one written by a lady called Jato who has a daughter called Amina (14 years old). In the testimony, Jato says her heart tightens with worry when Amina leaves for school every morning. That is because Leah, their neighbour’s girl was away taken from school when she was 14 due to her Christian faith. Leah refuses to deny Christ even in the face of captivity, and it's been eight years, and still, she remains their prisoner. 

Jato knows that Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. But when she hears of another attack, another kidnapping, she feels anger rising in her heart. But Jato choses to live as Christ does. In the face of persecution, she says, “we don't simply await rescue; we actively live out our faith, knowing that each act of love and forgiveness is a testament to Christ's enduring power in our lives.” Jato continues, “Leah's story reminds us of the cost of this faith. But it also shows us its power.” The community still gathers to pray for Leah's return. Their hope, their persistent faith, inspires her to keep believing, to keep loving, to keep living alongside all her Fourth Sunday in Lent Year A neighbours. As she watches Amina leave for school each day, she prays not only for her safety but also for her heart. She prays that Amina, like Leah, will have the strength to stand firm in her faith. She also prays that Amina will have the love to see the image of God in everyone she meets, regardless of their faith. She concludes, “This is how we find rest in God - not by harbouring hatred or intolerance, but by letting Christ’s love flow through us, even in the face of persecution. It's a daily choice, a daily surrender. But in making this choice, we find that our burdens  truly do become light, and in God, we find our rest.

Her testimony really challenges me. Let’s join Jato and others who faithfully prays. May we find rest in God as they do.

Yukiko

   
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