As most of you know, I am not only an author, but I’m a podcaster as well. If you could call it that. I interview other Christian authors hoping it will give them a little noise for their books. Marketing is so hard, and with the plethora (big word, huh?) of books available on Amazon, or anywhere really, it’s hard to get noticed. What started out as a marketing avenue for me has turned into something far more important. Isn’t that how God works? We often think when He puts something on our hearts, it’s all about us. That’s rarely the case.
I’ve had the privilege of interviewing authors from the United States, of course, but also from Australia, Canada, England…and just last week, Nigeria. I somehow knew this interview was going to be important because the enemy tried his level best to stop it. Technical issues, language barriers, and time wasters. But Faith Ijiga and I were determined to make this work, and we prevailed. When the interview was complete, we were both choked up at the power of prayer and perseverance.
Although I do a podcast recap every month, I have never written a post specifically on an interview. But Faith’s will not be published until September, and what she shared is too important to wait for a recap that cannot encapsulate her experiences as an author and a Nigerian.
We’ve all heard about the upheaval happening in West Africa. There are Muslim terrorists killing Christians in ways we cannot even fathom in this country. Although the majority of this horror is happening in Northern Africa, it is making its way down to the South. Can you imagine living in such terrifying circumstances? I certainly can’t.
When I wrote Night Songs, my first novel in the Bedford County Series, I was inspired to bring in some of the Congolese War’s history by way of the main character’s missionary parents. What I learned from my research made my heart ache. But what happens so often (and it did in my case) is that we are moved by the plight of others, then we get busy with our lives and don’t give it more thought.
Honestly, I just don’t know what to do. I pray for guidance, but when I don’t receive a quick answer, I move on. God’s timing isn’t our timing. When there is something concerning my own personal circumstances, I pray until I receive an answer. It often takes months before I hear from the Lord. Yet, when it’s not all about me, I give up and move on. Can you relate? I’m just being transparent, as much as it pains me.
Back to Faith. She is a highly educated young woman who co-hosts a morning radio talk show where politics are often discussed. She could’ve never imagined that she’d be an author one day. At the age of one, she had surgery for cataracts, which left her partially blind. Not only that, but she struggled with a learning disability that made it impossible for her to be able to decipher words. She could ace any test she was given—as long as it was oral.
It was a very special teacher who was able to diagnose Faith’s disability and help her to overcome it. When the Lord put the idea of becoming an author on her heart, she didn’t know how that could work. She had little technology, no computer, and not even a cell phone. But God, in His infinite grace and mercy, provided everything she needed. She was without excuse.
She wrote a few books, but her latest, titled Jungle Justice, released last month. I asked her what inspired this Christian political thriller, and she shared something that made my blood go cold. Two years ago, there was a young girl who was accused of blasphemy. She was tried by the “court of public opinion” and found guilty. There were no legal proceedings, no character witnesses, no defense. Her punishment? Death by stoning.
This was the story the Lord put on Faith’s heart to fictionalize and write as away to raise awareness to the realities the people in Africa face on a regular basis.
Can you imagine such a thing happening in this country? Twenty years ago, even five years ago, I would’ve said, “No. Such a thing cannot happen in the United States of America. We were founded on Christian principles, and we would never allow such atrocities to occur.” However, I cannot say the same today.
I asked Faith what those who want to help in some way can do. She told me whenever the people in Nigeria hear that aide is being sent through the government (as America has done), they are dismayed. The masses who need the services or food or money will never see it. Their government is so corrupt, aide is confiscated and reassigned to suit them. The only way those in need receive donations is if it is sent through a local church.
But then she added something that made my heart drop: “The masses are not without fault in this. We voted these people into power.” This is a chilling reflection of where our country is headed.
Simon Wiesenthal, a Jewish Holocaust survivor, Nazi hunter, and writer said, “For evil to flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing.” It can feel overwhelming to fight against the evil in this world, but doing nothing is not an option. We have spiritual weapons at our disposal—such as the Armor of God. Prayer is powerful. Ask the Lord what He would have you do, then do it. Make your voice heard at the ballot box, even if you’ve become disillusioned by recent controversy. And never give up or give in.
Apathy is the work of the enemy. Salvation is the work of the Lord.
Comments 2
Thanks for putting up a blog post about our interview, it means a lot to me! The situation in West Africa, with the killing of Christians by Islamic terrorist groups, is dire, but we will continue to hold on to hope for a better Africa. Thank you for being an excellent host and for your patience and understanding as I navigated the challenges I was facing during our conversation.
Author
Thank you, Faith, for taking the time to enlighten me and hopefully my listeners. You are an amazing, bold warrior for Christ. My prayers are with you and those in your community.