The Chairman’s Report for December

In this issue of the newsletter
New: WE DID IT! – President Trump adds Nigeria to CPC list
New: Nigeria programs for Christmas will center on Jesus
New: Christmas programs in Bethlehem and Nigeria have new elements
New: “Global Terrorist” Al Sharaa visits President Trump … Read our letter!

President Trump adds Nigeria to CPC list

Convincing President Trump to add Nigeria to the Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom was high on my agenda this year. He had placed Nigeria on the CPC list during his first term. Biden removed Nigeria from the list in one of his first acts after moving into the White House.

Throughout this year the Religious Freedom Coalition mailed tens of thousands of post cards addressed to President Trump to Christian activists who were asked to sign and mail them to the President. Each postcard as preprinted with a name, city and state to make sure White House staff knew they were from real people, not a robot.

Tens of thousands of these postcards were received by the White House.

In addition, I joined dozens of other Christian leaders in sending joint letters to Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking him to work toward placing Nigeria on the CPC list.

Our programs were costly but effective.

On October 30th President Trump added Nigeria to the CPC list slighting the slaughter of Christians. Nigeria remains the most dangerous place in the world for Christians.

After President Trump added Nigeria to the CPC list in his first term the Nigerian army did intervene and stop some attacks by the Fulani and other Islamic terrorists.

Unfortunately, because of Joe Biden, the CPC status lasted only about one year. Immediately after Biden removed Nigeria from the CPC list the slaughter of Christians in Nigeria increased dramatically.

The Nigerian government, run by a Muslim president, has been put on notice by President Trump. He has warned that he will take strong measures if Christians are not protected and their stolen property returned.

Our Nigeria Mission

This year, with the very generous gift of one supporter, a second floor was added to the newest building at our orphanage. This provided the space for a laboratory, computer lab and library.

Additional gifts from supporters provided for the purchase of computers and scientific laboratory equipment such as microscopes.

Our orphanage is one of the very few schools in Jos that have a modern computer lab to teach programing and other computer skills.

Graduates from the orphanage will be prepared for better jobs in a market with very high youth unemployment.

Attacks Continue: The attacks in Plateau State where the orphanage is located have been devastating, wiping out entire villages and creating even more orphans.

Note to newer supporters: The orphanage was moved to the city of Jos from a rural area after it was invaded and destroyed by Sunni Muslim Fulani terrorists in August 2021.

As I have reported in several earlier newsletters, the orphanage has become a hub for aid to Christian families and new orphans created by Sunni Muslim Fulani attacks in Plateau State where the orphanage is located.

Our director, Joshua, is making monthly trips to the affected areas. On his visits, students from our orphanage also travel to the area and help provide additional aid including clothing and medical supplies.

Often there are also musical Gospel presentations for the children as was done at Easter.

Once again in 2025 a Happy Birthday Jesus event will be held in Mangu for the many new orphans we could not accommodate at the orphanage.

There are thousands of displaced families and new orphans of various ages in Mangu, Barken Ladi, and Bockos. The Religious Freedom Coalition programs operated through Heart for the Persecuted Church works conscientiously to assist IDP (Internal Displaced Persons) who are Christians in Plateau State.

Christmas Programs

For several years we have distributed hoodies to children who attend our Christmas events in the Bethlehem area. The hoodies have a scripture verse relevant to Christmas and some type of image such as the Nativity. This year, the image was the Heart for the Persecuted Church logo.

Expanding to Nigeria: It can get very cold in Bethlehem. I have photos of myself standing in the snow in Bethlehem. There are plenty of places in Africa where the weather is as cold or colder.

In the mountain region of Nigeria, where the orphanage is located, the weather can become very cold particularly at night during the winter months.

We decided to expand the hoodie program to Nigeria, furnishing hoodies and matching pants to the children at the orphanage and to IDP children in Bokkos, Mangu and Barkin Ladi.

Those are the areas near Jos that have sustained the deadliest attacks from Sunni Muslim Fulani Herdsmen. Families continue to be slaughtered as the Nigerian Army often claims there are no terror attacks at all.

Christmas Joy in the Birthplace of Jesus: All of our Christmas programs center on Jesus, but those in Bethlehem have a special meaning. Many times, I have visited the Grotto in the Church of the Nativity, the traditional place of the birth of Jesus.

Christians in Bethlehem are persecuted, most unemployed and finding Christmas celebrations impossible without charity. Our programs furnish food, but also the joy of Christmas celebrations for the children,

Advocacy for Religious Freedom in Washington, DC

Changing face of advocacy: The constant bickering among Republicans makes it exceedingly difficult for me to advocate for suffering Christians in the Middle East and Africa. My efforts and those of others championing family values are also set aside while the Republicans argue over how much to overspend.

This year our total advocacy work has been aimed at the White House. An explanation of our program to add Nigeria to the CPC list was the lead-off of this report. In addition, we have targeted the White House on Syria and its new terrorist leader.

Below is the text of a letter to President Trump signed by me and about 25 other Christian leaders. The letter was delivered to the White House just before President Trump met with the terrorist leader who is now “president” of Syria.

Dear President Trump,

We, the undersigned faith leaders representing tens of millions of American Christians, extend our sincere gratitude for your recent leadership in combating Christian persecution in Nigeria. Your designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act is a decisive measure that upholds global religious liberty.

You are the only major world leader fighting for religious freedom, and we need you once again to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

With the visit of Syria’s new President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, scheduled for November 10, 2025, we urge you to address directly the massacre of Christians, Kurds, Druze, and Alawites in Syria, notably in the greater Suwayda area. These religious minorities face ongoing violence, death, displacement, starvation, and water and medical deprivation, all while innocent women and children are held hostage by ISIS terrorists.

We are grateful that your Administration’s recent announcement that you are urgently rushing humanitarian aid to southern Syria, and—as winter approaches—more needs to be done to prevent the impending catastrophe.

Mr. President, we respectfully request that you secure President al-Sharaa’s commitment to opening a secure humanitarian corridor from Hader to Suwayda in southern Syria. This corridor will enable safe and secure aid delivery and civilian evacuation, signaling the new government’s commitment to minority rights and stability.

Your advocacy for the persecuted inspires us.

We stand ready to support your efforts and pray for fruitful discussions. As Ambassador Mike Huckabee once wrote to you, “you were ordained for such a time as this…”

+++++

The letter was signed by me and more than 25 other Christian leaders. We do not know the outcome, our letter was not mentioned at the actual meeting between President Trump and Ahmed al-Sharaa. Regardless of not being mentioned, I am sure the letter had impact on the Administration.

Your donations to the Religious Freedom Coalition throughout 2025 made a difference in this ministry’s ability to deliver aid to persecuted Christians and bring advocacy for persecuted Christians to Washington, DC.

As we close out the year, please consider a generous yearend gift. As economic uncertainty permeates the news, your continued help is essential.