Michael David Kirk Arnold (born May 4, 1970) is an American entrepreneur, humanitarian, author, and former
mayor of Blanco, Texas. He co-founded TXN – The Texas Network, a statewide broadcast television news network,
in 1998.[1] Arnold founded Cross Trail Outfitters, a nationwide Christian youth mentorship organization, in 2004[2],
and Africa Arise International, a nonprofit operating schools for internally displaced persons in Nigeria, in 2019.[3]
In October 2025, Arnold gained international attention when he declared at a press conference in Abuja that
violence against Christians in Nigeria constitutes genocide, generating significant media coverage and political
debate.[4][5] Two weeks later, U.S. President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a "Country of Particular Concern"
under the International Religious Freedom Act.[6]
Career
Political consulting and media
In the mid-1990s, Arnold worked as a political consultant in Texas, advising Republican candidates at various
levels.[7] He founded the Lone Star Report, a political newsletter that became widely read among Texas legislators
and political operatives.[1][7] According to radio journalist Adam McManus, during this period Arnold "spoke
weekly with Karl Rove and several times a week with Rick Perry."[7]
In 1998, Arnold co-founded TXN – The Texas Network alongside investor James Leininger and broadcast executive
Bob Rogers.[1] The network was described as the first fully digital statewide television news network in the United
States, and at its peak employed 125 people across 20 Texas media markets.[1] Arnold served as chief operating
officer.[1] The network's flagship program, The News of Texas, was syndicated to 27 affiliate stations before ceasing
operations in July 2000.[1]
Cross Trail Outfitters
In 2004, Arnold founded Cross Trail Outfitters, a Christian youth mentorship organization that combines hunting
and fishing activities with spiritual development for boys ages 7–20.[2][9] The Houston Chronicle described the
organization as combining "youth hunting and fishing opportunities with Christian outreach and fellowship."[2] In
March 2011, the Texas Senate adopted Senate Resolution 502, formally recognizing Arnold and Cross Trail
Outfitters for their work with Texas youth.[10]
Film production
Arnold served as an associate producer on Return to the Hiding Place (2013), a dramatic film about the Dutch
resistance during World War II and Corrie ten Boom's work hiding Jewish refugees from the Nazis.[11] The film won
seven awards at film festivals.[12] Arnold is producing a documentary film titled Me and Ms. Hanatu, about the
humanitarian crisis in Nigeria.[13]
Mayor of Blanco, Texas
Arnold served as mayor of Blanco, Texas, from May 2023 to May 2025.[14] During his tenure, Arnold led the city
through a water crisis in July 2023, when Blanco came close to running out of water due to supply issues with the
Texas Water Company.[15] Under his leadership, the city negotiated a 25-year operating agreement to secure water
infrastructure improvements.[14]
Africa Arise International and Nigeria
Arnold first visited Nigeria in 2010 as a keynote speaker at an international ministry leadership conference.[16] In
2019, he co-founded Africa Arise International, a nonprofit organization that builds and operates schools for
children in internally displaced persons camps in the Abuja area of Nigeria.[3][17] As of 2025, the organization
operates multiple schools serving over 500 students.[18]
2025 fact-finding mission and genocide declaration
In October 2025, Arnold traveled to Nigeria reportedly at the invitation of Nigerian National Security Advisor Nuhu
Ribadu.[19] On October 14, 2025, at a press conference at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Arnold declared that
violence against Christians in northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt constitutes "a calculated current and long-
running genocide."[4][20] Arnold stated that he had prepared his will before traveling to Nigeria, believing the mission
carried personal risk.[19]
Confrontation with the Sultan of Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'adu Abubakar, who serves as the spiritual leader of approximately 108 million Muslims in
Nigeria and West Africa,[21] dismissed claims of Christian genocide as "false and divisive" at a meeting of the
Northern Traditional Rulers' Council on October 21, 2025.[22] On October 24, Arnold publicly challenged the Sultan
in a series of social media posts, calling on him to prove he was not "the architect of this genocide."[23] Arnold cited
Nigerian government estimates that $9 billion in minerals are looted annually from territories under the Sultanate's
influence and alleged that more than 7,000 Christians had been killed in 2025.[24] The Sokoto Sultanate Council
dismissed allegations as "baseless and undeserving of response."[25]
Country of Particular Concern designation
On October 31, 2025, two weeks after Arnold's press conference, U.S. President Donald Trump designated Nigeria
a "Country of Particular Concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act Trump subsequently threatened
military intervention if killings continued.[26] Arnold cautioned that the designation was "only a tool" and "the
beginning, not the end."[27]
Publications
• The Alignment Imperative: Making AI Work for Your Business (2025) – #1 on Amazon in Strategic
Management[28]
• Uprising: Time for Christians to Rise and Shine (2011)[7]
References
[1] Wikipedia - The News of Texas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_News_of_Texas
[2] Houston Chronicle
https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Outdoor-communion-God-hunting-and-making-men-1790939.php
[3] Blanco County News
https://www.hillcountrypassport.com/blanco/article/30322/
[4] Sahara Reporters
https://saharareporters.com/2025/10/16/american-fact-finder-declares-attacks-christians-nigerias-north-and-middle-belt-are
[5] Catholic World Report
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2025/10/22/nigerian-church-leaders-welcome-conclusions-confirming-christian-genocide/
[6] ABC News
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-designates-nigeria-country-concern-after-trump-threat/story
[7] Adam McManus / Take A Stand
https://archive.constantcontact.com/fs077/1101870214364/archive/1108848445749.html
[8] LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnoldmike/
[9] The SA Beacon
https://sabeacon.com/stories/a-youth-hunting-and-fishing-club-building-godly-leaders-and-preserving-our-outdoor-heritage.html
[10] Texas Legislature (SR 502)
https://capitol.texas.gov/billlookup/History.aspx?LegSess=73R&Bill=SR502
[11] IMDb - Mike Arnold
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7450753/
[12] IMDb - Film Awards
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1691153/awards/
[13] Africa Arise - Documentary
https://www.letusriseafrica.org/me-ms-hanatu
[14] KXAN (NBC)
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/hill-country/blanco-water-infrastructure-to-see-revamps-after-city-water-supplier-reach-25-year-operation-agreemen
[15] San Antonio Express-News
https://www.expressnews.com/hill-country/article/blanco-water-shortage-mayor-texas-water-company-18208718.php
[16] Africa Arise - Bio
https://www.letusriseafrica.org/mike-arnold
[17] KVUE (ABC)
Referenced on Africa Arise site Not Found. Using:
https://cruxnow.com/church-in-africa/2024/05/texas-mayor-starts-charity-to-help-christians-suffering-attacks-in-nigeria
[18] Arise TV
https://www.arise.tv/obamas-foreign-policy-helped-advance-boko-haram-in-nigeria-says-us-mayor-mike-arnold/
[19] Punch Nigeria (interview)
https://punchng.com/alleged-genocide-why-i-prepared-my-will-before-coming-to-nigeria-ex-us-mayor-arnold/
[20] Baobab Africa Online
https://baobabafricaonline.com/2025/10/22/facing-the-truth-mayor-mike-arnolds-official-report-from-the-fact-finding-mission-in-nigeria/
[21] The Muslim 500
https://themuslim500.com/profiles/muhammadu-saadu-abubakar-iii/
[22] Daily Post Nigeria
https://dailypost.ng/2025/10/24/prove-you-are-not-complicit-in-christian-genocide-mike-arnold-to-sultan-of-sokoto/
[23] Ripples Nigeria
https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/ex-us-mayor-challenges-sultan-of-sokoto-to-prove-he-is-not-architect-of-christian-genocide-in-nigeria/
[24] Punch Nigeria (clash)
https://punchng.com/ex-us-mayor-sultan-clash-over-alleged-christian-genocide/
[25] Naija247news
https://naija247news.com/foreign-policy/diplomatic-relations/christian-genocide-allegations-ex-us-mayor-challenges-sultan-of-sokoto-council-calls-claims-baseless/
[26] Al Jazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/31/trump-places-nigeria-on-watch-list-over-claims-of-anti-christian-violence
[27] Punch Nigeria (CPC)
https://punchng.com/trump-hammers-nigeria-again/
[28] Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Alignment-Imperative-Making-Work-Business-ebook/dp/B0FF2KZTC6
"Me & Ms Hanatu". Africa Arise is the founder of Arise Academies serving Nigerian IDP camps. Retrieved 2026-01-23. "Mike Arnold". Africa Arise is the founder of Arise Academies serving Nigerian IDP camps. Retrieved 2026-01-23. Arnold, Mike (2025). The Alignment Imperative: Making AI Work for Your Business. Nikao Publishing.
