The Disturbances

An untold story is finally being revealed after 50 years. Christian missionaries and Nigerian pastors intervened in Nigeria amid tribal genocide in 1966, saving the lives of thousands of Nigerians. The violence, the genocide, was frequently called "disturbances" in newspaper headlines, minutes, mission memos and family correspondence. Both the term-and the shorthand symbol for "disturbances" found in missionary minutes about the events of 1966-convey tension, unrest, disruption and mystery. Missionaries and missionary children with the Assemblies of God, Christian Reformed Church, Church of the Brethren, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Southern Baptist Convention, Sudan Interior Mission, and Sudan United Mission have shared their experiences for the first time. "The Disturbances" is both horrifying and inspiring. It is a story of ruin and redemption, blood and boldness, denial and dedication, guilt and goodness. It will deepen the understanding in churches about the gritty nature of mission work and foster a positive spirit in the larger culture about the contribution of missionaries for the common good.