Boko Haram Victims Get Holistic Healing

Boko Haram is sweeping across Nigeria leaving physical, emotional and psychological scars. Fortunately, members of Voice of the Martyrs in Canada are on the ground providing healing to the terror group's victims.

"Many of these people who have come out of the villages and who have witnessed horrific things—things that are almost unspeakable to talk about on radio—we bring them into these trauma response ministries and we pray for them,"  Ray and Denice from Voice of the Martyrs told Mission Network News.

Their strategy is simple: bring holistic healing through the gospel.

"We minister the Word of God to them, we cry with them, we hold them. And you know, it's not just about the physical relief we bring them, but it's also the spiritual and emotional—we call it soul care," they added.

One victim they've cared for is a Nigerian woman named Deborah.

"Boko Haram came into her home, confronted her husband who was an elder in the church and asked if he would convert to Islam. He said, 'No, I'm not going to convert because I'm a Christian.' Immediately Boko Haram shot and killed Deborah's husband," they said.

When the terrorist turned to Deborah's  two young nieces asking if they would convert to Islam, they also refused.

"Both girls looked at the terrorists and said, 'We will not convert to Islam and we are ready to join our uncle in death. We will not become Muslims.' So instead of killing the girls, the Boko Haram terrorists actually abducted the two little girls," Ray and Denice recounted.

The couple immediately took Deborah into their arms, reminding her of God's faithfulness and healing power.

The two girls have yet to be found and Deborah is still praying for their safe return.

Deborah's story is just one of many victims of Boko Haram. But despite the trauma they face, Denice and Ray continue to work hard to bring healing and hope.