Beyond Tribute: Why Leah’s Birthday Must Break the Silence
Earlier this week, The International Catholic Tablet published my reflection on Pope Francis and his legacy as a shepherd to the suffering. You can read that piece here:
In it, I wrote: “Unity is not sentiment. It is sacrifice. For Pope Francis, Christian unity was not a polite handshake between traditions — it was a call to bleed together for the Gospel.”
It’s with that same spirit — that same call — that I want to talk about Leah Sharibu.
On May 14th, Leah Sharibu will mark yet another birthday in captivity. Abducted at just 14 years old by Boko Haram from her school in Nigeria, Leah was the only girl not released because she refused to renounce her Christian faith. Her story has become a powerful symbol of courage and conviction, but symbols are easily forgotten—especially when the person behind them is young, far from the headlines, and far from home. Leah’s ongoing captivity is not just a personal tragedy, but a profound indictment of global indifference toward persecuted Christians.
Why Doesn’t She Matter? Leah Sharibu’s story forces us to ask hard questions. Not about what happened — but about what hasn't. Why has her name faded from our headlines? Why do her birthdays pass in silence? Why is the world so quick to forget a girl who showed more courage than most of us will ever be asked to? We amplify stories that feel close to us — familiar, safe, headline-ready. But Leah’s story sits at the margins: a girl of faith, from a part of the world we rarely see unless it bleeds. And when it does, it often goes unnamed. This is not just about media bias — it’s about narrative fatigue. The world has grown used to the suffering of others, especially when it’s quiet, complex, and far from view. But the Kingdom of God doesn’t work like that. It remembers the “least.” It prioritises the unheard. And it refuses to accept the logic of the world that says 'some stories matter more.'
We must confront our collective apathy, the numbness that creeps into our hearts when confronted by suffering that does not directly affect us. We must challenge the quiet resignation to injustice that pervades even our churches and communities. Leah Sharibu’s continuing captivity is not just her burden to bear; it is ours as well, a reflection of our values, our compassion, and our commitment to justice.
At Kerygmos, we don’t exist to follow the media cycle. We exist to proclaim what must not be forgotten. We will say Leah’s name. We will mark her birthday. We will raise our voices — not because it’s trending, but because it’s true. Her courage deserves witness. Her captivity deserves interruption.
That’s why we’re launching 'A Card for Leah' — a campaign inviting children across churches, Sunday schools, and classrooms to create birthday cards for Leah. A drawing, a prayer, a message of hope. We’re opening a WhatsApp line where people can send Leah birthday messages and prayers. We’re emailing MPs and church leaders to speak out on her behalf. And on May 14, we’ll release a visual wall of messages and cards that declare, together: You are not forgotten.
How to Take Part If you’re a teacher, pastor, parent or youth leader:
Invite your group to create birthday cards for Leah
Send photos or scans to hello@kerygmos.com
Share the campaign across your networks
Post, pray, speak Leah’s birthday is May 14. Let’s make the silence loud.
