The Lord Is My Shepherd: Faith as Antidote to Fear in the Face of Present Security Challenges. In this 2022 Lenten Pastoral, Bishop Augustine Ukwuoma reflects on the insecurity, violence, fear, and loss of peace affecting Nigeria and especially the Orlu region. Drawing from Psalm 23, Scripture, the Lenten call to repentance, and the Christian tradition of trust in God, the letter presents faith as the antidote to fear and invites the faithful to place their confidence in the Lord, the Good Shepherd. It calls government leaders, community leaders, religious ministers, families, and all people of goodwill to work for peace, protect human life, bear one another’s burdens, reject violence, deepen prayer, and trust that God’s goodness and mercy will guide his people even through the valley of darkness.
