This study is an endeavour to construct a theological (Missiological) reflection on what Christian
witnessing could look like in Kano among non-Christians (predominantly Hausa/Fulani
Muslims), if interpreted and expressed from the viewpoint of the hope Christians have in Christ.
This heads towards a proposal for new Christian praxis, developed in dialogue with and as a
response to the role of the life-transforming message of justification in Christ, as it relates to
Christian living. This is based on historical fact that attracts non-Christians to the hope in God’s
future activity through His saving grace in the unique Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 1: 22), that is, seeking
to be like Christ (1Jn 3: 2-3).
This leads to the guiding issue on how Christians should explore hope as a fundamental key to
become living witnesses to non-Christians, Muslim in particular, in Kano city, Northern Nigeria
and elsewhere in the world based on the biblical interpretation of 1 Peter 3: 15-17. It equally
means in a hostile environment walking by faith rather than by sight, through suffering rather than
by triumph, to bringing about the future Kingdom of God, characterized by peace, justice and
love into the community now, and ultimately in the one to come.
This in turn makes this study relevant both internally – for the renewal of the church to discover
and live out its Christian identity – and externally, in the church’s witness to its Muslim
neighbours in the midst of religious intolerance that leads to bloodshed and the destruction of
property. Therefore, the two dimensions, the internal and external, of the church’s life, since a
congregation’s sense of identity is at the same time its sense of mission in society. A renewal in
the church’s sense of identity brings about a renewal in its sense of mission, and vice versa.