At midday, students can be seen eating lunch in the cafeteria or heading to the library with their books. It could be any university campus, but this is happening at a university in Nigeria, where Haggai leader Dr. Marwan Petros* is a professor. He enjoys teaching but also values the opportunity to share the message of Jesus with his predominantly non-Christian students.
He explains, “Many people have misconceptions about Christianity and the Bible. I try to address their questions by explaining the reason for my faith.” Dr. Petros’ testimony is transforming people’s understanding of God’s love and providing them with knowledge of the salvation Jesus offers. While many are impacted by his story, even more are influenced by the way he lives out his faith daily.
He recalls a story about a neighbor who noticed something different about his behavior and asked him, “What book did you read that changed you?” The neighbor was on his way to a book fair in Lagos, and Dr. Petros seized the opportunity to give him a clear answer. “This book,” he said, as he handed his neighbor a Bible. He is thrilled to share that the neighbor has since become open to discussions about Jesus.
Dr. Petros participated in a Virtual Haggai Leader Experience (VHLE) in 2021, describing it as “the most in-depth and eye-opening training on biblical leadership” he had ever encountered. He says, “I might have overlooked or failed to fully grasp what God says in His Word about our mission and cultural mandate if I hadn’t joined the VHLE!”
With this newfound understanding and the tools he gained to share the Gospel, Dr. Petros has been able to set personal and ministry goals. He aims to bring the Good News to areas in the city that have yet to hear about Jesus, teach new believers the foundational aspects of the Christian faith, and train leaders to equip others. His vision is to multiply the number of Christians across Nigeria and even plant churches in other African countries.
So, while tourists explore the beauty of Nigeria’s landscapes, visit historic sites, and enjoy the local culture, Haggai leader Dr. Petros is busy sharing the Gospel with students and bringing restoration to his city.
*Name changed for security.
Written by Joel Joel
