Former Texas Mayor Mike Arnold: “Funny, when I boarded the return flight after the press conference, I had 114 followers on X.
“After taking an unexpected detour (divinely guided) into an IDP camp in Abuja in 2019, and hearing their stories, I vowed to do all I could to draw the world’s attention to the truth.
“I am a simple man from a small, rural town in Texas (about 2000 residents). More like a Nigerian village than a big city. I recently served as Mayor. Folks in Nigeria need to understand that here, it’s not a job with clout. It’s volunteer (only a small stipend to cover personal expenses related to the job), part time, non-partisan, and the mayor doesn’t even get a vote on City Council. I did it mainly to fill potholes in our deteriorating streets. I have met far more notable people in Nigeria than here.
“I am not wealthy, having served on the mission field for decades. My sole running vehicle is a a 2007 Ford truck with nearly 300,000 miles on it and a leaking head gasket. My wife’s old minivan is equivalent (just no oil leak, thank God).
“Since 2019 I have done everything in my limited means to investigate what’s happening in Nigeria, and raise awareness. Writing submissions to the small local newspaper, speaking to small church groups and Rotary luncheons, posting online, trying to figure out social media (I still don’t really get TokTok). I’ve sent countless appeals to countless media with very little response. I have sent emails to public officials, rarely getting even a courtesy reply. Year after year after year.
“My knowledge of the situation has grown gradually, bit by bit. And it has evolved, the more I learned. My messaging and thoughts of possible solutions have similarly evolved.
“I am a missionary first. An evangelist. The schools we established in two IDP camps have taken every bit of funding we could scrape together, and we’ve fallen behind since the minimum wage hike — it’s been a great struggle. Without the profound dedication, patience and sacrifice of our heroic staff, we could not keep them open.
“God, for reasons I may never know till I get to Heaven, has seen fit to suddenly and unexpectedly thrust me into the spotlight. Now don’t get me wrong — I am profoundly grateful that the truth is now starting to be known, and I pray it continues to break through. But understand, this is very new to me.
“And more importantly, it’s not about me. It’s about the modern Christian holocaust.
“I am sure the satanic force who take glee in the slaughter and suffering of Christians will endeavor to shoot the messenger. Figuratively and literally. But I am a child of the living God, and fear neither slander nor death.
“I don’t really understand Nigerian politics or how the parties work. When the new Nigerian administration came in, I had hoped maybe they would care. So I approached them as a potential ally first. Perhaps that was a naive waste of time.
“If you’re a praying person, please pray for me. My sole focus remains on drawing awareness to the story of Nigeria’s forgotten IDPs and the senseless slaughter that rages on. I don’t claim to know much about any other issue.
“So don’t look to me as some kind of player, or sophisticated influencer, or policy expert. I’m a guy who God led to an IDP camp in 2019, and who has struggled and stumbled and sacrificed since then to try to get people to listen to their stories.
“I thank God he’s used me (among many, many others) to finally turn on the light.
“Just know, I am new to this “influencer” thing, I never sought attention for myself, I am clearly a bit rough around the edges, and I am doing my best to learn as I go.
“My heart aches that suddenly anything I have ever said or done might in some way detract from the mission. I pledge to be more careful, precise and accountable with my words and actions.
“Bear with me. For as long as the spotlight remains on, I pledge to use every breath I have to continue to speak the truth about Nigeria’s ongoing genocide, and the plight of the displaced.”