Field Report: Education Opens Doors to Jesus’s Love and a Better Life in Muslim Community

Location: Nigeria

Formal education is out of reach for many children in Nasarawa State in Nigeria. The Every Home team in northeast Nigeria saw the need in this area as an opportunity to demonstrate Christ’s love in a way that would be well received in these predominantly Muslim communities: an educational summer camp.

“This transformative camp lasted for three weeks and was specifically designed to reach out to Muslim children,” writes our team. “The primary goal was to introduce these children to the gospel of Christ through discipleship while equipping them with practical skills to help them build a better future. This initiative aligns closely with the Oikos Initiative’s goal of reaching every home in Nigeria by 2038, emphasizing holistic community engagement.”

While the rural areas in Nasarawa State have majority Muslim populations, the region as a whole is culturally and religiously diverse.

Our team says, “The camp was strategically located to reach children from many faith backgrounds, offering them an avenue for skill acquisition while introducing them to Christian values through discipleship.”

The camp drew approximately 3,500 children! Participants attended daily discipleship classes as well as classes and activities that teach teamwork, discipline, and creativity through athletic, artistic, life-skills, and trade training.

“By targeting out-of-school children, particularly from Muslim backgrounds, we’re creating pathways for gospel outreach and discipleship in communities that may be more resistant to traditional evangelism,” explains our team. “This camp exemplifies the Oikos approach of building relationships and trust within communities, showing that the Church cares about the holistic well-being of children.”