Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
July 21, 2023.
No less than 150, 000 Christians have gathered in Subject: Christians hold special prayer in Borno over rain shortage.
Hundreds of thousands of Christians have gathered at the Firsts Baptist Church, Maidugiri, to pray for God’s divine intervention for rain in Borno state.
The about a month caesura of rain, has led to the withering of planted crops in central and north senatorial districts.
The Chairman of the Borno State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop John Bakeni disclosed: “The shortage of rain in the State could be a divine punishment for wrong doing particularly injustice.
“Most parts of state have not experienced rainfall for about a month now,” warning that it has fueled concerns and apprehension among farmers and the residents.
Besides, he added that whatever suffering the people are going through now, can be explained from the bible.
“It is a spiritual thing; when there is no justice for people to continue suffering.
“We have seen this in the books of Amos, Jeremiah and other prophets,” he said in an opening remark to the congregation in Maiduguri.
He said Christians came together to cry to God for mercy and help. He noted that they were not righteous or sinless but only came to God in prayers asking for divine intervention and healing of the land.
Bakeni, a Catholic Bishop, said science may explain why rain ceased in the state since late June and conclude based on human activities including violations of the environment.
He maintained that the problem was more spiritual than ordinary; based on the various events recorded in the bible about the ceasure of rain, drought, famine and other natural challenges.
We have come to cry to God in unity not because we are sinless but because the bible says God will heal our land if we forsake our sinful life,” he declared, urging the faithful to ask for mercy first.
Prayers were led by over a dozen clerics in English language and other Nigerian languages including Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Kanuri, Bra, Chibok, Gwoza among others.
Rain season occurs in Borno between June and September every year. Parts of the state experienced rainfall since June 25, 2023.
