Faith
Baby Ruth: Faith Triumphs Over Tragedy
Faith Facts
- Ruth survived a brutal attack as an infant when heavily armed militants targeted her Christian village in Plateau state, Nigeria.
- Her adoptive family credits God’s grace for rescuing Ruth and sustaining them through ongoing hardship and persecution.
- Despite continued threats, Ruth’s family and community remain steadfast in faith, praying for peace and forgiveness.
Five years ago, Ruth became a living emblem of hope for Nigerian Christians suffering persecution. Her story of miraculous survival and the steadfast faith of those who raised her inspires believers across her homeland.
In 2021, Ruth’s home village, Maiyanga, faced a violent dawn attack by Islamic militants. Amid the chaos, her mother begged for mercy but was killed, and Ruth was left behind in the mud, orphaned and alone.
God’s hand of providence was evident as survivors found the infant Ruth at daybreak and placed her in the loving care of Danjuma and Talatu Danjuma, her aunt and uncle, who already had their own children.
“We know the importance of children,” Talatu said softly. “That’s why we adopted her to stay with us. We thank God for providing for us to take good care of them. It hasn’t been easy, but we believe God will continue to guide us.”
The Danjuma family’s faith became their anchor as they endured continuing loss, including the death of a loved one during a more recent village attack.
“Fulani militias killed five members of our family,” Talatu recalled tearfully. “Only Ruth and our grandmother survived. Now, it’s just our grandparents who remain in the village. We’ve faced so many attacks, but we keep our faith in God because everything that has a beginning will surely have an end.”
Through unshakable faith, their prayers focus on forgiveness rather than retaliation, asking God to reach even their persecutors.
“It has made us stronger,” Danjuma said. “It has drawn us closer to God. We pray not for revenge but for forgiveness—for the attackers to find Christ. Only God can change the heart of a man.”
Ruth now attends school in Jos, celebrated for her gentle spirit and resilience, even as she recovers from trauma.
“Ruth is calm and kind,” shared her teacher, Regina Adu. “She has a bit of difficulty with her studies, probably because of what she’s been through, but I believe she’ll improve. She’s learning to write neatly, and we’re working on her English. She’s a good girl with a bright future.”
In Sunday school, Ruth is often found singing hymns about Christ’s love, learning from her caregivers the Christian path of grace and forgiveness.
“She may not remember what happened,” Talatu said, “but we make sure she grows up knowing that God loves her deeply.”
The region remains threatened by religious violence, with villages destroyed and families displaced, yet the light of faith endures in homes like the Danjumas’.
“This is the reality for many Christian children in Nigeria,” explained advocate Gata Moses. “They’ve seen their parents murdered and their homes destroyed. The violence is systematic—it’s a form of genocide. Yet the government remains silent. We are crying for the world to see our pain and help us.”
The Danjumas pray daily for peace, trusting that Ruth’s education and future are in God’s hands despite their ongoing needs.
“We plead for help with Ruth’s schooling,” Talatu said. “We want her to learn and become someone who can help others one day. We couldn’t complete our own education due to hardship. But we believe Ruth can go further if given the opportunity.”
Their home is a haven for prayer and thanksgiving, even as memories of loss and the need to rely on God remain ever present.
“We’ve lost so much,” Danjuma said, “but we also know that Christ is with us. Persecution reminds us that this world is not our home. It teaches us to depend completely on God.”
Ruth’s healing brings hope to her extended family, with visits from her grandmother providing comfort and a reminder of God’s purposes.
“She calls me ‘Mama’ and hugs me every time I come,” her grandmother shared. “When I see her smile, I know that God still has a purpose for us.”
Let us lift up persecuted Christians in prayer and stand for faith, family, and freedom wherever it is threatened.