149 - Nigeria’s Settlement of Red
Letter from the Editor:
Believers in Nigeria are nearing the end of their second 40-day fast this year as they prepare for a national solemn assembly on Saturday, July 25, led by Lou Engle and A Million Women. Like Esther of old, they cannot bear to see the destruction of their people. More than 3,490 Christians have been murdered in Nigeria over the past year alone. Meanwhile, the global Church is beginning to awaken to the suffering of our African brothers and sisters. Many have joined in this final week of fasting while others are preparing to link arms in intercession on Saturday, as the heavenly court is seated and the books are opened (Daniel 7). We invite our Briefing community to join in this united thrust of intercession for breakthrough in Nigeria. Today's Briefing recounts the prophetic backdrop that is bringing hope for the dawning of a new day in the nation.
– Cheryl Amabile
Nigeria’s Settlement of Red
Over the past fifteen years, Nigeria has endured an escalating crisis of terrorism, kidnapping, and communal violence. Despite having one of the largest Christian populations of any nation, it has become one of the most dangerous places in the world to follow Jesus. On average, between 10 and 30 Christians are reported to be killed each day because of their faith.
In recent years, the suffering has intensified as Islamist extremist groups, criminal militias, and escalating religious persecution have devastated communities—especially vulnerable Christian villages across the Middle Belt and the North. Countless families are left crying out for protection, justice, and peace.
Recent videos of kidnapped women and children, along with reports of mass rescues from terrorist captivity, have drawn an increase of international attention to Nigeria's ongoing tragedy. The Trump administration has designated Nigeria a "Country of Particular Concern" and has urged the Nigerian government to take stronger action to protect vulnerable communities.
In response to this escalating crisis, A Million Women is gathering Esthers and Mordecais from across Nigeria, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the diaspora for a seven-hour solemn assembly in Lagos on Saturday, July 25. Simultaneous gatherings will also take place throughout the nation's 36 states. At the same time, the Lord is sounding a trumpet to rally believers from around the globe to join our Nigerian brothers and sisters in a unified cry of intercession.
United fasting and prayer has the power to shift the spiritual atmosphere of a nation. In addition, the prophet Joel presents the solemn assembly as God’s prescribed response to a national crisis. Therefore, in this upcoming gathering, we believe God is bringing Nigeria to a divine threshold—a turning point that will break the cycles of corruption, bloodshed, and division that have traumatized the country. But He is looking for those who will stand before Him in the gap on behalf of the land (Ezekiel 22:30).
In 2024, on the Day of Atonement, when hundreds of thousands gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to confront the altar of Ishtar, millions across Africa joined with us online. Now the tables are turning. God is extending His scepter of justice toward the oppressed of Nigeria.
As the Church prepares to gather this Saturday, God has captured the imagination of His people through a dream. In the dream a woman was pregnant and the time to give birth had urgently arrived. Crying out for help, she pleaded to be taken to a place called "The Settlement of Red." Many have understood this as a prophetic sign of a new day being birthed for Nigeria. Yet before new birth can come, the blood of Jesus must be applied to the land. A better blood than the bloodshed of the innocent must speak in the courtroom of heaven.
Therefore, corporate repentance on behalf of the nation will be a fundamental component of this gathering, alongside worship and high praise. The meeting will culminate with Communion and declarations of forgiveness. Let us stand with the grieving saints of Nigeria as they identify with Jesus’ prayer from the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” As the cup of His suffering is exalted, we are believing for the judgment of Daniel 7 to be released:
"I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom." — Daniel 7:21–22
Lou Engle believes God is using Africa as the spearhead of A Million Women arising. He is exhorting believers around the world to “gather and cry out because of the death sentence that hell has placed upon this great nation.” Lou understands that what takes place on July 25 will provoke a spiritual confrontation with principalities and powers. While the enemy may rage, the Lord will respond to the cries of His people. In faith, Lou has declared, “God is going to cut off the horn of the beast!”
We were initially given a glimpse into this current move of God back in February 2017 while Lou was fasting in the mountains of Colorado. He had a dream in which thousands of women were coming from every direction to hear the Book of Esther being taught. A woman pointed to the pages of Scripture and declared, "These two words mean Nazgûl." Lou awoke immediately understanding the significance.
In The Lord of the Rings, the Nazgûl are terrifying demonic powers that devastate the armies of men. In the climactic battle, the Witch-king arrogantly boasts, "No man can kill me!" Yet the warrior confronting him removes her helmet, lets down her hair, and declares, "I am no man," before striking the fatal blow. We understood the dream to be revealing a movement of women, like Esther, whom God would use to confront witchcraft and break death decrees over this generation. We’ve seen it in America. We’ve seen it in Brazil. And now, we're seeing it in Nigeria.
In another dream, an angel spoke of great exploits in the Kingdom of God and how “Women are on His chessboard too”. This dream was followed by another in which a young woman who was a chess prodigy had joined our team. We knew she was about to be tested on the world stage and would remain undefeated.
As Isaiah 40 unfolds in our generation—with mountains being brought low and valleys being raised up—we have begun to understand the significance of this prophetic imagery. In the game of chess, even the pawn can advance to become a queen—the most powerful piece on the board. We saw this mirrored in the remarkable story of Phiona Mutesi, a young girl from Uganda who rose from poverty to become an internationally recognized chess champion. Disney captured the world’s attention with the movie Queen of Katwe, which told the story of her unlikely rise.
This resonates with the Jewish orphan known as Esther who was positioned by God to become queen of Persia and deliver the remnant of her people from a genocidal decree. Today, we are witnessing women rising together as a corporate Esther to become a powerful force for justice in both the civil and spiritual realms. God is raising up queens in this hour, alongside kings, to steward His authority and break the spirit of Haman that is raging through Boko Haram and violent Fulani militant factions.
We do not presume to know exactly how or when God’s answers will unfold, but we do know that every time the blood of Jesus is exalted, the powers of darkness are shaken. Throughout history, the cross of Christ has never been defeated. Therefore, let us raise our voices in agreement with the voice of His blood that speaks a better word over this contested nation. As believers gather in Africa and around the world, may we settle for nothing less than the Settlement of Red, where Jesus receives the rewards of His sufferings among the people of Nigeria.
