Bringing Recovery to Displaced Persons
Samuel (on left), lost parents and siblings in attack
Displaced persons from attacked village awaiting help
Food for the displaced persons
One of the houses burned in the raid
Grateful owner with new roofs
Appreciative women from village
We Encourage developed a friendship with Bitrus and Sanatu Sarma in 2018 when Bitrus was writing a couple books while visiting Fuller Seminary and we enjoyed worshipping with them at Pasadena Covenant.
Rev. Assoc. Prof. Bitrus A. Sarma, is the provost at ECWA Seminary in Kagoro, Nigeria. When We Encourage initially met Bitrus and Sanatu, we discovered that their home back in Jos did not have running water. We Encourage stepped in to pay for a borehole to be dug as well as installing a reservoir tank and pump, so we are so happy that they know can get clean water at home instead of lugging it to their home every day.
In 2020, We Encourage sent help to ECWA Seminary so that they could get a good start on building a women’s dormitory. This is a continuing need that you could support through We Encourage.
Tragically on December 17, 2020, the parents, along with 3 siblings of one of Bitrus’ staff (Samuel) were attacked and killed and their house set on fire in a Fulani terrorist raid on Gora Gan. Bitrus responded immediately to bring food and assistance to the displaced persons from this village. We Encourage supported Bitrus in this effort.
Thirty houses suffered burnt roofs in this attack. Through the generosity of many from We Encourage, money was raised and sent to rebuild all 30 roofs. At this time, just over a month from the date of the raid, many houses have been restored. God has multiplied our loaves and fishes so that through Bitrus, We Encourage has helped to restore these persecuted people.
Although Bitrus’ job is as a provost, he lives out his faith in a ministry of grace where God shows him that there is a need. We are so grateful to Bitrus, whom we got to know and totally trust, for so expeditiously addressing the needs with accountability where We Encourage can partner with him. You will notice on another of our webpages that his wife Sanatu leads another ministry that We Encourage supports to bring recovery to women who suffer from vesicovaginal fistulas.