Bringing Hope to Nigeria's Persecuted Christians
Operation Christmas Cow is a faith-driven campaign to deliver nourishment, dignity, and joy to Nigerian refugee camps and orphanages — one cow at a time.
Contribute TodayWhy Christmas Cows?
In northern Nigeria, thousands of Christians have been driven from their homes by violent persecution. Families who once farmed their own land now live in refugee camps, dependent on outside help for basic survival. For these communities, Christmas is not a season of abundance — it is a reminder of everything they have lost.
Operation Christmas Cow was born from a simple but radical idea: what if we could make Christmas remarkable for these families? A single cow provides enough protein-rich meat to nourish an entire village gathering — roughly 100 people — in a single celebration. For many, it is the most significant meal of the year.
What began as a modest effort has grown into a movement. Each Giving Tuesday, donors from around the world pool their generosity to sponsor cows that are purchased locally, supporting Nigerian farmers, and delivered directly to the camps and orphanages our partners serve.
Refugee Camps & Orphanages in Nigeria
Our partners on the ground work directly with internally displaced persons (IDPs) — men, women, and children who have fled Boko Haram and Fulani militant attacks in Nigeria's Middle Belt and northern states. We also serve orphanages housing children who have lost parents to the violence. These communities are largely forgotten by the wider world, yet their faith remains extraordinary.
"Radical generosity is the conviction that the suffering of others should be as intolerable to us as our own."
— The heart behind Giving Tuesday
Equipping the Persecuted
Operation Christmas Cow is organized by Equipping the Persecuted, a ministry dedicated to strengthening the faith and resilience of Christians facing persecution around the world. Through prayer, practical aid, and advocacy, Equipping the Persecuted walks alongside believers in some of the world's most dangerous places.
In Nigeria, their team maintains trusted relationships with local church leaders and camp administrators — ensuring that every donation reaches the people it is intended for, with zero bureaucratic waste.