# The Most Heartbreaking Story I've Ever Heard...

An episode of [The Rollercoaster Podcast](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1665728532), 20 Oct 2026, 1 h 09 min.

Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/10827c910/podcast/play/127694930/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-9-19%2F434464851-44100-2-486a53fbb7569.mp3

What happens to your faith when you witness suffering so horrific that you begin asking God why He allows it? I sit down with Alex Barbir, founder of Building Zion, who has risked his life to stand alongside persecuted Christians in Nigeria, where families are being murdered, villages destroyed, and countless survivors left with nothing. Alex shares heartbreaking firsthand accounts of religious persecution, including a mother cradling her murdered son, families grieving unimaginable losses, and the moments that brought him to tears and challenged his own faith. In this episode: • The horrifying reality of Christian persecution in Nigeria • What Alex witnessed at massacre sites that still haunts him • Why he believes the church and world are failing innocent families • How witnessing unimaginable suffering challenged his relationship with God • Rebuilding destroyed villages and restoring hope to survivors This conversation goes far beyond violence and religious persecution. It's about faith in the face of evil, the courage to stand with those who are suffering, and what it truly means to love your neighbor. Alex's story left me questioning how easily we look away from suffering simply because it isn't happening to us. Because sometimes the hardest question isn't where God is in suffering, but where we are. Key Moments: 00:00 The horrifying reality of Christian persecution in Nigeria 03:30 Why the world is ignoring the massacre of Christians 07:00 Who is really behind the attacks on Nigerian Christians 10:40 The religious beliefs behind the violence 14:50 The Nigerian village where hundreds were massacred 18:25 Why nobody came to help the survivors 22:30 Why the Nigerian government isn't stopping the violence 26:30 Are officials hiding the true death toll? 30:35 The heartbreaking moment that broke Alex 34:40 Why does the world look away from suffering? 38:20 Where is God when innocent people are murdered? 42:55 The faces of victims that still haunt him 47:40 The massacre that changed everything 51:35 Why rebuilding villages became his mission 55:30 Choosing faith over fear in dangerous places 59:30 How armed attackers terrorize Christian communities 1:01:00 The unimaginable pain of losing a child 1:04:00 Why these families desperately need protection 1:07:00 What Christians can do to help Nigeria Connect with Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyler.hall/ Connect with Alex: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexbarbir/

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