NIGERIA: WATCH AUSTINE’S WORSHIP SONG, ‘JEHOVAH’

Austine is a songwriter in Nigeria. He has seen many friends killed by Islamist extremists. To share his pain and his hope, he wrote the song ‘Jehovah’.

“One of my friends was a drummer,” shares Austine in Nigeria. “Then, it was a bullet that pierced through his eyes and we lost him. He’s not here to play drums with us in church again.”

Ever since he was very young, Austine has been passionate about music. He taught himself to play and sing, and it is how he expresses his emotions, his thoughts and his love for God. “It gives me the room to share my heart,” he says. “It gives me the opportunity to speak of what baffles me.”

What is it that baffles Austine? When you listen to him talk about his life, it becomes clear. It’s not only the drummer from his worship band who has been murdered. “Here, in this part of the world – in Nigeria – for more than 25 years now, we have suffered from insecurity,” he explains. “And ever since, life has never remained the same. I’ve lost a lot of friends. It is overwhelming.”

Watch Austine’s worship song

Escalating persecution

Violent persecution continues to spread across sub-Saharan Africa. Christians and Christian communities are particularly targeted by groups of radicalised Islamists. When they come to a Christian village, they kill as many men and boys as they can, they often kidnap and assault women and girls, and they destroy homes and livelihoods so that whole communities are devastated. Every day, on average, 12 Christians are killed for their faith in sub-Saharan Africa.

But Austine knows that isn’t the end of the story. He composed the song ‘Jehovah’ to share the story of what is happening in his country and the region. As the lyrics say, “We are attacked, we are chased, all because of Your name.” More than that, he wants to use it to share a message of hope.

“Sometimes, I may not be a good speaker or someone who talks very well, but I can express myself very well through music,” he says. “I can preach peace through music. I can preach love through music. I can communicate unity through music.”

As you listen to Austine’s worship song, please keep praying for our brothers and sisters in sub-Saharan Africa.