JOS: Jesus Our Savior
There is such a vast and blessed land, situated in the north central part of Nigeria. That land is home to the city of JOS, the capital of the Plateau state. Over the years, JOS has remained the favorite of all people, foreign and foreign alike. Cities like JOS have made many people attribute so many good things to Nigeria, whether real or imagined. One of the natural resources found in JOS is Tin, which in the 1960s was one of the country’s main exports.
The city, which is one of the 31 states of Nigeria, has around 20 different ethnic groups (for example: Angas, Berom, Jarawa, Pyem, Ron and many others). It has around 17 Local Government Areas (LGA). In some of these local councils you can have 2-4 ethic groups. Located on a plateau landform (from which its name – plateau) derives, the land formation is classified into two: upper plateau (rocky and many hills) and lower plateau (sandy). But some of the landforms have been disfigured as a result of tin mining, creating many of what are known as mining ponds, which have now been turned into recreational venues.
Originally established in 1915 as a tin shipping camp, the early history of JOS was closely tied to the prosperity of the tin mining industry. In 1976 it became the capital, first of the Benue-Plateau State and later of the Plateau State of Nigeria and has become an important administrative and commercial center. This has made it possible for one to easily find people from different backgrounds (race, tribe, and religion) dating.
The weather in JOS is quite nice. It is a mixture of temperate and tropical climates, especially in the upper part of the state. And that has caused many (British) colonial masters and expats to settle at JOS. The people are also friendly, natural and very receptive to visitors. They were warriors in the early days, but civilization has changed that way of life a lot. The majority of the population is of dark complexion. In agriculture, JOS means a lot to Nigerians. People grow crops such as: Corn (maize), Guinea corn, Irish potato, Cassava, Yam, Acha (a kind of mustard seed crop). With the nature of the climate, many vegetables and fruits are grown.
Characterized by impressive ridges and isolated rocky hills separated by extensive plains, the Plateau exhibits a variety of landforms that provide excellent picnic spots. The groups of villages and towns of JOS add color and beauty to the landscape. These settlements along with the farm plots are, in many cases, delimited by cactus hedges. JOS remains one of Nigeria’s most cosmopolitan cities and is home to Nigeria’s largest museum, a public library, wildlife park, sailing holiday resorts, Naraguta pottery and leather workshop, Shere Hills and Lamingo Dam. It is credited as the “home of peace and tourism” and of course one of the safest cities to live in in Nigeria.
As a nation in God’s agenda, Nigeria is being used by God to play a key but prophetic role in Africa: the role of finishing the task of world evangelization. Various prophecies have appeared along this line in various forms, both internationally and locally. JOS, the capital of Plateau State, which was prominently located in the heart of Nigeria, became so strategic in the fulfillment of this prophecy. Coincidentally, the city of JOS is the headquarters of Nigerian missionary organizations that have an impact all over the world. The word JOS, which is considered an acronym for Jesus Our Savior, has been in the news for some time. The Christians of JOS have witnessed all kinds of aggression from their Muslim neighbors over the years. The most recent was the genocide with its corresponding horror stories that spread to every corner of the city.
It should be noted that these crises may not be limited to JOS after all if not handled properly. Those behind the crises are ambitious and will apparently want to go beyond JOS to the entire nation and continent and probably the world. However, the eternal rule of God’s word is to love our enemies and do good to those who hurt us. God loves the whole world and his plan of salvation cuts across people of all religions and tribes. The Great Commission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ requires that we reach out even to those who kill us.
The acronym JOS, which stands for Jesus Our Savior, is a reminder to all Christians to pray more for God to renew their passion and help them love even the unsavory so that they can reach them despite all the attacks. Jesus prophesied that those who follow him will be hated and persecuted because of his name. The comforting part of his promises is that he is always with us and no one can be successful against us. In fact, Jesus is our Savior!