CAPE TOWN, South Africa–A Nigerian archbishop whose church is facing serious persecution has urged Christians to live by and speak of the Gospel, no matter the cost.

Benjamin Kwashi, Archbishop of the Anglican Diocese of Jos, which has been the scene of massive tension between Christians and Muslims, looked back to the example of the apostle Paul as he addressed the Lausanne Congress in Cape Town.

“Those who carry the message of the Gospel will not always be welcomed; there may be intimidation, humiliation and suffering,” he said.

“St. Paul knew all of these, but he refused to give up. This is the power which has been given into our hands and into our hearts today.”

Living in a context where Muslims are urging the institution of “sharia law” as the best means of running the area, Archbishop Kwashi argued that in fact it was living out the Gospel which would result in a better, healthier, stronger society.

“Whenever and wherever the Gospel is truly lived, it must bring change in behavior, etiquette and character; it must bring change in health, in the environment, in education and the economy; it must bring progress and development to people and take the lead in community life and conduct for peace and justice,” he said.

“If it truly is the Gospel that is being proclaimed, it will assuredly bring life, light and growth. At the same time, the power of the Gospel will militate against all forms of dehumanization or degradation.”

Speaking of the sad fact that many who have heard the Gospel have “turned away” or “do not even care”, the Archbishop urged Christians to love those who do not belong to Christ, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

“We must live together with all other brothers and sisters whom God has created, whether or not they believe in Him,” he urged.

“The power of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ must be seen in our lives so that, even if we say nothing in words, peoples of other faiths will be challenged by our lives, and surprised by our perseverance.”

In Jos, a central Nigerian city which is divided between Christians and Muslims, hundreds of Christians were killed and dozens of churches and houses burned in incidents in January and March this year.

Media coverage in the West has been sparse and appears to have been manipulated.

Baroness Caroline Cox, of the Barnabas Fund, an organization which publicizes the persecution of Christians and seeks to support those who are suffering, said: “A consistent pattern has emerged in the violent attacks. Muslim militants take corpses to mosques, where they are photographed and released to the media, creating the impression that these are Muslim victims.”

Archbishop Kwashi was speaking at the morning plenary session of the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization alongside Michael Ramsden, European Director of RZIM Zacharias Trust and Lecturer in Christian Apologetics at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, UK.