...A shining example to clay feet Evangelizers
Editorial
Torchlight News, Tuesday, March 9, reported how a never-say-never young Nigerian student evangelizer, Chike Uzuegbunam, took his school authorities in the US to court over religious freedom violations of his fundamental human rights and won a landmark judgement!
The case study of this young Nigerian, his courage and evangelical zeal, which saw him fighting his case up to the Supreme Court of America, is something that needs deeper reflection. Especially, to those in Nigeria, the home country of Chike Uzuegbunam, and elsewhere, who oftentimes are very reluctant, if not ashamed, to share or live their Christian faith in public with others.
Who is Chike Uzuegbunam?
Chike Uzuegbunam was a college student at Georgia Gwinnett College in Georgia, United States of America. He has more on his mind than studying and socializing with friends in the campus. He entered the college with a definite intention to share his Christian faith alongside his academic learning with others at the college. He didn’t reckon with the fact that there would be challenges on ground. He didn't know how complicated it would be.
In July 2016, Chike faced his first obstacle. A campus police officer stopped him from distributing religious literature and flyers outside the school library. At the time, the College only allowed such activities in a place designated as "free speech zones." So Uzuegbunam was asked to pack up his materials to the place.
Chike on one on one evangelization
The next month, he secured a place in one of the "free speech areas." He took his religious literature back to campus. Once again, he was stopped by campus police, who said Uzuegbunam’s reservation only covered handing out materials and having private conversations, not speaking loudly about his faith!
Discouraged and frustrated, Uzuegbunam filed a federal lawsuit against his school. He fought the battle to the Supreme Court. And on Monday, March 8, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgement in his favour.
Few lessons for us
1. Whereas most undergraduates at various institutions of learning are there, not necessarily to learn academic programs, but to be initiated into various diabolical secret clubs, and others for outright prostitution, the case of Chike Uzuegbunam was remarkably different, worthy of emulation. Being focused in life is good. But more importantly, knowing who you are as a person! Many today are having crisis of self identity as Christians and ambassadors of Christ..
2. Young Chike found himself in an environment which was hostile to evangelization of the Goodnews of Christ. He did not throw his hands up in the air and gave up, like most people would do! After all, many a "Christian" had passed through the same college before him. Chike saw a wall standing against the preaching of the gospel, and moved resolutely to break it down! Audacity and courage! How passionate are you to preach Christ? What will the zeal for the Lord lead you to do? Chile's sure-footed approach provides example for us.
3. Young Chike used legitimate means available to him to fight the battle. He instituted legal action against the school authority. This is where majority of Christians in Nigeria score near zero! They barely take up legal suits, either collectively or individually, against various prohibitive and inhibitive policies of government against the practice of faith. Yet,we have many Christian millionaires and billionaires.
4. Young Chike did not fight alone. An NGO, known as the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which litigates cases on behalf of victims of religious freedom violations, took up his matter and joined forces with him. We're it to be in Nigeria, Chike definitely would have to fight alone and carry his own cross without help. How many NGOs or civil society groups do we have in Nigeria that are interested in taking up actions against religious freedom violators? It is good to support a worthy cause. Torchlight News is a fledgling platform for the propagation of the authentic Catholic Christian faith, which needs all the support that you can give.
5. Finally, we have to salute the robust American institutions. The judiciary, in particular, has proven itself to be the bulwark of justice, a truly "last hope of the common man." We too are challenged to build our own strong institutions rather than strong men.
We congratulate this young courageous Nigerian, Chike Uzuegbunam, for doing us proud.
We congratulate him for being a worthy ambassador of Jesus Christ.
We thank him for showing us the way to expand the frontiers of evangelization in a hostile modern environment.
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