Kanuri Hope

Bringing Hope to one of Nigeria's largest Unreached People Groups

 Bringing Hope to one of Nigeria's largest Unreached People Groups Since 1998, ACF Missions, Inc. has organized short-term missions trips to the Kanuri people group in Maiduguri, North East of Nigeria. Who are the Kanuris? They are a closely-knit and dominant people group - and almost an entirely unreached group located within the 10/40 Window. The Kanuri people can be found in Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Chad, and as far as western Sudan. The Kanuris are among the largest unreached people group in Nigeria and of the almost 5 million Kanuris who live in these countries, there are less than 25 known believers today. We don�t yet know of any organized local Body of Christ among the Kanuris. Kanuris have been strong Muslims for over 1,000 years and have strongly resisted the gospel for centuries. But there are now signs they are opening up to the love of Jesus. Kanuri Hope is ACF Missions� initiative to mobilize the Church to share the love of Christ with the precious people of Kanuri. We believe Kanuri Hope is both prophetic and timely - it is clear that the time of their salvation has come!

Until recently, missionary work among the Kanuris has been uncoordinated. The New Testament in Kanuri language was only published in the summer of 2000. Human and financial resources devoted to Kanuri evangelization by the Body of Christ have been tragically meager. Faced with intense discouragement and spiritual opposition, missionaries have often been forced to leave the field while the forces of evil seem to increase. Our partners on the ground, MICON-KE have in recent years succeeded in creating a common prayer forum for missionaries working in Kanuri to share their experiences, resources and strategies.

These mission trips focus on:

  • Mobilizing prayers � through on site PRAYER WALK - to pull down the spiritual strongholds that are keeping Kanuri people from responding to the gospel;
  • Encouraging missionaries in the field � through visits, prayer, financial and other material support to demonstrate the love of Jesus to them;
  • Challenging Churches and University students in Maiduguri to better focus on winning Kanuris to Christ
  • Gaining a better understanding of what cross-cultural missions involves.

ACF mission team members met with leaders of the Evangelical Institute For Church Planting and some of their students. This unique group, supported by ACF, equips believers and Church leaders with tools and language skills to evangelize Muslims. As part of our mobilization, we organized a banquet for pastors help them to focus on reaching Kanuris with the love of Jesus. Last summer, we had a follow-up meeting using material from the Transformation Tape and Dr. Greg Groh�s booklet on leadership titled Convergence. Thereafter the pastors decided to come together in unity and begin a prayer initiative for Kanuri harvest. They also decided to increase their efforts to win Kanuri people with the love of Christ.

The Jesus Film in Kanuri is being used for evangelism and having increasing impact as the people hear God speak to them in their own language. There are several reports of people making inquiries about the Way. Since our trip, some additional believers have been identified and several others have professed faith in Christ, though not publicly because of the risk of rejection by their families or even getting killed. Gospel tracts and audiocassettes are now available in the Kanuri language. The demand for English Bibles among University students continues to grow. Here are some of the �Praise� reports we have received:

  • Through the effort of the Evangelical Institute For Church Planting, a small cell group has been formed among a Kanuri family.
  • Various Christian books and tapes are being translated into the Arabic language for effective witness among the Kanuris and the Shuwa Arabs
  • God helped us make vital contacts for reaching the Kanuris in Cameroun.
  • Kanuris are coming to faith and others who are reading and studying the Bible secretly with the local missionaries

See how you can participate in Kanuri Hope & make a difference.

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