Building a Chapel of Hope in War Torn Nigeria
Goal:
USD $1,975
Raised:
USD $2,285
Campaign funds will be received by James Sebastian
Building a Chapel of Hope in War Torn Nigeria
Today in Nigeria, militant groups attack Christians by kidnapping and killing them, and the situation is worsened by government inaction. Last year, as many as 3,100 Christians have been killed due to their faith, making it the country with the highest number of Christian martyrs globally. Despite the slaughter, the world remains silent.
And yet, the brave and faithful Christians of Nigeria remain steadfast in their Faith! Here is an opportunity for you to aid our Brothers and Sisters in Christ by supporting a parish community in Nnerim Ndugba, a village situated in the Isu Local Government Area of Imo State in southeastern Nigeria, nestled within a network of communities rich in Igbo heritage and cultural history.
Father Iyke Nwagha is building an Adoration Chapel at Saints Peter and Paul Parish, but is desperately short of funds. Augustine Mario, a friend of mine from this parish writes, "Imagine a place where you can encounter the living God, pour out your heart, and find peace and solace in His presence. Our parish is building an Adoration Chapel and we need your help! This sacred space will be a haven for:
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Prayer and reflection
- Spiritual direction and guidance
- Community building and fellowship
Your contribution will bring us closer to realizing this dream. Your support will be a testament to your love for God and our Parish. Thank you for your generosity and support! May God bless you abundantly."
What Augustine doesn't mention in this note is the terror and violence he and his fellow Christians experience in Nigeria on a daily basis. The evil is pervasive. Often the parishioners at SS Peter and Paul will hear nearby gunfire, and parish members have been wounded. Throughout the country, priests are kidnapped on a weekly basis, if not more often. Over 50 Nigerian Christians were killed just this Palm Sunday during coordinated attacks by extremist groups, and as I am posting this appeal, word is coming in of fresh attacks against Christians worshipping on Good Friday.
My name is Jim Sebastian. I'm here in the US where we can still worship freely and with little fear of martyrdom. I'm serving as the "collections guy" for this campaign; any and all donations received will be forwarded directly to the parish, as safely as we can do it.
If you wish to follow what's going on in Nigeria, here's his address on X/Twitter: @UgonnaMario
May our Risen Lord richly bless you for your prayers and generosity!
Recent Donations
Praying for this cause, this situation and Christians persecuted and martyred for their Faith.
For the building of the church and for where the need is the greatest.
Pray for Christians in Nigeria.
God bless
God bless you.
I am sorry I cannot give more at the moment.
Praying for Nigeria
Mi aportación no es tan grande como me gustaría que fuera pero lo hago con mucho cariño, espero que primeramente Dios puedan lograr la meta, bendiciones hermanos.
May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you safe
Bless you
I'm praying for Nigerian Catholics and you all. I make this second donation in honor of Cardinal Sarah and Archbishop Vigano. And I pray that he will be brought back into the Church.
Updates
Update #2 - Surpassing the Goal!
May 18th, 2025
We are stunned by the generosity of you all! So many offerings of prayers and contributions. Thanks to your kind and generous hearts, we have exceeded our goal, and construction will begin shortly.
For our donors, please check in from time to time. We will be providing updates here on the construction process once things get rolling.
For those who still wish to help, the need remains great. The violence of the ongoing terror campaign has arrived in the town of Umuaka, and the parish there is finding itself overwhelmed with people in need. I am in contact with my friend Augustin Mario (a seminarian) who is keeping me informed of the situation. You can follow him on X/Twitter (@UgonnaMario) and get a first-hand report on life in Imo State, Nigeria. I will be working with Augustin and Father Iyke in the coming weeks to see what might be done to address the growing need there.
Thank you again, good people, and may our Risen Lord bless you all!
Update from Fr. Iyke 4 May 2025
May 4th, 2025
I received this update over the weekend from Father Iyke. Father cites some monetary figures in his note. The current exchange rate for 1 US dollar (USD) to Nigerian naira (NGN) is approximately ₦ 1,603.71. I'll include the USD equivalents in parentheses. As of today (4 May '25), your generous donations have accounted for half the costs already! If we can ask you to dig a little deeper, we can move the project even closer to completion.
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Dear Supporters,
We're thrilled to see the generosity of our community! Our campaign to build a chapel is underway, and we're grateful for your contributions.
Major Works Update: We're excited to share the estimated costs for some of the major works:
- Windows - Seven windows for ₦665,000
- Wood for Roofing - ₦285,000
- Carpenter for Roofing - ₦120,000
- Chipins (concrete) ₦200,000
- Pews - Ten pews ₦950,000
- Painting - ₦681,000
- Screeding (concrete work) - ₦110,000
- Bulbs - ₦68,000
- Tiles - ₦355,500
- Electricals - ₦79,500
- Aluminum roofing sheets - ₦950,000
- Doors - Three doors for ₦285,000
Total: ₦3,159,950 (USD $ 1,970.50)
Your support means everything to us. Let's work together to complete this project and create a beautiful space for worship and community.
Thank you for your generosity!
Best regards,
Fr Iyke
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