21Wilberforce honors Nigerian couple at DBU

Benjamin and Gloria Kwashi, Christian human rights advocates who endured intense persecution in Nigeria, will receive the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Award from 21Wilberforce during a Sept. 30 event at Dallas Baptist University.

Kwashi, an Anglican Archbishop in northern Nigeria, received multiple death threats, his wife endured a savage beating by Islamist militants, and both their home and their church were burned.

“Their life story is one of courage, faith and boundless love,” said Randel Everett, founder and president of 21Wilberforce. Everett is former executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and former pastor of First Baptist Church in Midland.

In spite of the suffering the Kwashis endured personally, the couple took in 50 orphans who lost their parents due to violence.

He is the bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Jos, Nigeria, and General Secretary of GAFCON, the Global Anglican Future Conference.

She has been diocesan president of the Mothers’ Union, Women’s Guild and Girls’ Guild, and is the provincial trainer for the Church of Nigeria’s Mothers’ Union. She founded the Zambiri Outreach and Child Care Centre, a primary and secondary school that serves 400 pupils who receive free education, meals, uniforms and medical care.

At the DBU event, 21Wilberforce also will launch The Freedom Center, a collection of online tools and resources related to religious persecution, freedom of conscience and international religious liberty.

“The time is ripe for fresh resources to inspire and equip for advocacy,” Everett said. “21Wilberforce wants to provide specific tools and guidance for how to do that effectively. We will continue to add new resources throughout the coming months.”

The Sept. 30 event in the Great Hall at DBU begins with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. For more information, click here or email Lsabatier@21wilberforce.org.