More Christians are killed in Nigeria each year than everywhere else in the world combined. And one Texan decided to do what he could to help people facing this violence.
The Mayor of Blanco, Mike Arnold, began an organization called Africa Arise in 2019 to bring support—both physical and spiritual—to these Christians.
MIKE ARNOLD
Founder, Africa Arise
When they pick up their Bible to walk to church on a Sunday, they realize it might be the last thing they do. And they do it. That's amazing. That's where faith is put to the test.
Faith is real to them. They live it and they experience it in ways most don't because it's real to them.
Another pillar of Africa Arise is working to improve the lives of internally displaced children. And it began at the request of one woman who escaped to a shanty town after her village was massacred.
MIKE ARNOLD
Founder, Africa Arise
And they made it to this camp and they were told they had to stay there. And they had to build their own shanty, this woman with three kids. And I asked her, my heart went out to her, and I said, 'I wanna tell your story. And if people wanna respond, how can we help?' And I thought she'd say running water, lodging, a house, food, clothing, healthcare, sanitation, you name it. And she said one thing. She said, 'Help me teach these children.'
From there, the organization founded two schools, offering classes to more than 500 full-time students. And they have broken ground on a third school.
Arnold says Africa Arise will continue to provide aid and education to the more than 5,000 children present in three camps in Nigeria.
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