"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
—John 1:1-5 (NIV)
Where Most Needed
Be A Light In Nigeria and Beyond
Years after she lived through unspeakable violence, Ruth’s smile emerges free from trauma.
Five years ago, “Baby Ruth” became a living symbol of hope amid Nigeria’s long, bloody war against its Christian population. Today, her story of survival, faith, and the resilient love of family is inspiring other Nigerian Christians who’ve lived through barbaric attacks.
Ruth was born in 2021, the same year her home village, Maiyanga, Northwest of Jos, Plateau state, came under fire by heavily armed Islamic Fulani militants.
In the early hours of that tragic morning, gunfire echoed across the hills as villagers fled for their lives. Her mother, Hannatu, was among them — clutching 2-month-old Ruth in her trembling arms as she ran through the darkness. Trapped near a swollen river, she begged the attackers to spare her baby’s life. They tore Ruth from her grasp, killed Hannatu on the spot, and left the crying infant in the mud. Moments later, Ruth’s family and several relatives were also gunned down. Only Ruth and her grandmother survived that night.
From the ashes of that terror, God’s grace shone through. Ruth was rescued by survivors who found her at dawn, cold and covered in mud, but miraculously alive. She was taken in by Danjuma John, a local builder, and his wife, Talatu Danjuma, Hannatu’s sister. The Danjumas, who already had children of their own, opened their home and hearts to Ruth, treating her as one of their own.
“We know the importance of children,” Talatu said softly. “That’s why we adopted her to stay with us. We thank God for providing for us to take good care of them. It hasn’t been easy, but we believe God will continue to guide us.”
For the Danjuma family, faith is what sustains them during life’s storms. They have faced their own share of tragedy. In June 2024, Talatu lost her brother in another attack on their village. “Fulani militias killed five members of our family,” she recalled tearfully. “Only Ruth and our grandmother survived. Now, it’s just our grandparents who remain in the village. We’ve faced so many attacks, but we keep our faith in God because everything that has a beginning will surely have an end.”
Their home in Jos now offers Ruth safety and love, but memories of loss still linger. Danjuma said persecution has shaped their faith.
“It has made us stronger,” he said. “It has drawn us closer to God. We pray not for revenge but for forgiveness — for the attackers to find Christ. Only God can change the heart of a man.”
Light Has Come
Give a Gift to the Persecuted this Christmas Season
Around the world, countless brothers and sisters worship in secret, rebuilding after attacks or clinging to hope in refugee camps. Yet, even in the most difficult places, the light of Christ cannot be extinguished. And your partnership makes that possible.
Each year, we publish a “Gifts for the Persecuted” to highlight our greatest needs in the upcoming year. None of the work we do is possible without your generous support. This year, we highlight stories of how light breaks through the darkness: Bibles reaching the underground church, emergency relief for families fleeing persecution, safe houses for new believers, and schools where Christian children can dream of a brighter future. Each gift you make is more than material aid — it is light, life, and hope in the name of Jesus.
This Christmas, as you celebrate the Light who has come into the world, we invite you to join us in shining that light into the lives of persecuted Christians. Your generosity will bring hope where despair has taken root, joy where sorrow has lingered, and the assurance of Christ’s love where it is most needed.
Our goal is to raise $700,000 this giving season to fully fund our many global projects and ease the suffering of our brothers and sisters.
Thank you for joining God’s story and standing with the persecuted church.
Light for the Underground Church
Where the Church Grows Under Pressure
In hidden rooms and quiet villages, behind locked doors and shuttered windows, the underground church gathers. These small groups of believers meet in secret — sometimes by candlelight, sometimes by whispering hymns — because to worship openly would invite harassment, violence, or even prison.
Their members include converts from other religions, local pastors, and evangelists who risk everything to follow Christ. Communist regimes and Islamic governments close their churches and deny permits. Raids scatter congregations. An extremist attack on a pew-filled Sunday morning.
The underground church endures, growing quietly, faithfully, and at great cost.
ICC actively supports the underground church across all regions we operate. By the end of 2026, our goal is to equip 5,000 underground Christians with the tools and support they need to grow in faith and fellowship.
WHAT YOUR GIFT MAY PROVIDE:
- $25 – Helps distribute copies of the New Testament
- $2,000 – Supports a pastor and his family for one month
- $2,500 — Provides two months of support for a family fleeing persecution
Be a Light for the Healing
Healing Hidden Wounds Through Trauma Care
In the wake of extreme violence in places like central Nigeria, ICC holds trauma healing workshops for Christians who experienced unimaginable horrors.
Many participants are orphaned or displaced teens and children. Their homes were burned, their families killed, and their futures dashed. The trauma healing workshops, run with our partners on the ground, help survivors process trauma and rebuild emotional resilience.
While ICC emergency aid supplies food, water, and shelter, psychological wounds are often left untreated, especially in youth.
The ICC trauma healing curriculum was adapted from a Biblically based manual used globally in crisis zones. Trained facilitators walk participants through themes of grief, anger, forgiveness, and hope.
Participants receive safe lodging and meals, printed healing manuals and creative materials, and transport, supervision, and follow-up support.
ICC continues to respond to attacks in Nigeria and other regions by supporting victims of persecution after attacks and the long road that follows. Give to our Where Most Needed Fund to help us continue this vital work.
Children attend a biblically-based trauma training session, where they have a safe space to process the trauma they’ve endured.
Be a Light for the Nations
Equipping the Church to Care for the Persecuted
Persecuted believers should never stand alone. That’s why ICC is working to awaken and equip churches in the West — to pray, give, and walk alongside our brothers and sisters who suffer for Christ.
In the coming year, we will partner with congregations across the Mid-Atlantic, Texas, Florida, and beyond, bringing stories of persecution face-to-face with believers who can make a difference.
We are also investing in key gatherings like the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., and the Christian Legal Society conference. These opportunities require resources, but they are vital for building alliances, sharing strategies, and strengthening the global body of Christ.
Your support helps us bridge the gap, connecting the church in freedom with the church in chains. Together, we can ensure the whole body of Christ rises to meet this urgent call.
What Your Gift May Provide
- $50 — Supports the mailing of materials to churches
- $500 — Supports the printing of brochures and displays
- $1,000 — Covers travel for one ICC staffer
- $5,000 — Covers basic sponsorship at the IRF Summit and/or other conferences
