13 Christians Released from Prison in Eritrea

After enduring more than ten years of horrific conditions, 13 Christian prisoners were released from custody last month in Eritrea. The seven women and six men, as with other ex-prisoners in that Communist country, however, remain under constant threat of re-arrest.

Their release comes after an international plea for prayer regarding two Christian leaders imprisoned for more than 19 years, Pastor Haile Naizgi and Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel. (Release International, August 23)

An estimated 400-1000 Christians remain in prison for their faith in this Horn of Africa nation. Most are tortured repeatedly to force them to renounce Christ. In addition, they may be held indefinitely in shipping containers in the desert, enduring scorching temperatures by day and freezing at night. Some are “released” into the military, with no way out. In fact, Christians as young as 14 have been forced to fight on the frontlines of the conflict in Tigray.

“Even when we are in suffering, we rejoice. Our happiness is not based on what we have or do not have. When people see that, they accept Jesus.”

Pastor “Gideon,” imprisoned for his faith nearly 7 years in Eritrea (OpenDoors.org)

Read the heroic story of one Eritrean’s faith in the midst of torture here:

Torture Could Not Shake This Eritrean’s Faith

Lord, we thank You for the release of these 13. Please be a Shield around them. Protect them from persecution, harm or re-arrest. Restore their strength. Renew their minds. Heal whatever has been broken within them, and rebuild them in You. Bring loving Christians around them to love them and counsel them back to wholeness. Push away their nightmares and rescue them from traumatic memories. Increase their faith, restore their joy, and encourage Your church, Father God. Please have mercy on Pastor Naizgi and Dr. Gebremeskel. Provide for their release, as well as the hundreds of other Christians enduring torture for Your sake. Protect them from harm. Provide for all their needs. Strengthen their faith. Remind them of Your Word, and let them feel You near. Speak comfort to them, and empower them to share Your love, even in the face of hunger, thirst, fatigue and torture. Be Light in the darkness of Eritrea, so bright that every heart is drawn to You like moths to a flame. Hide believers from those who wish to do them harm. Deepen their love. Teach them all the more how to trust in You. Empower them with Your Spirit. And SHINE. Fill Your people with such peace and joy, even in the midst of terrible persecution, that everyone around them will wonder in awe and ask questions that lead to their salvation. Surround every Christian with Your angel armies. When persecutors raise a weapon to beat or harm one of Your precious children, open their eyes to see You standing there, towering over them, shielding those who love You and offering forgiveness and salvation to evildoers who repent. Invade the dreams of those with evil intent. Visit them in visions throughout the day. Give them a Saul-like encounter with You (Acts 9) so powerful they drop all their weapons of hatred and violence, and fall trembling at the feet of Love. Transform persecutors so dramatically by Your love and grace, they boldly advocate and arrange for the release/escape of hundreds of believers from prison and stand in the way of further arrests. Bring forth such a movement of persecutors to faith that the government drops its quest to kill, and chooses instead policies and laws that bring forth life. Raise up into positions of power those who will bless the citizens of Eritrea, not perpetuate their suffering; who will open the way for freedom of religion and for Your Gospel to spread to every corner of the country. Give Christians strength to stand strong in the midst of suffering. Especially new believers and children. Meet them in powerful ways, as they are forced to fight in conflicts not their own, as they suffer dehydration, hunger and extreme temperatures in jail cells. As they endure beatings and torture, stand as their Shield, bearing the blows for them that otherwise would be unbearable. Fill them with compassion and forgiveness for those who torture them, and give them the words that bring forth life in the barren deserts of hearts so bent on evil and death. As their persecutors force them to renounce their faith or die, empower Christians to look to You and SHINE with the light of Your glory (Acts 7), so that all can see. Thank You, Jesus, for those honored now in Heaven because they gave their lives for the One who gave His life for us.

Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through a donation, or by shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, click the buttons below:

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