Christians Jailed for Their Faith

UGANDA: On the third day of an evangelistic campaign in Soroti, a crowd of Muslims beat the Christian preachers for quoting the Quran. Police then arrested two of the evangelists, Joseph Omadi and Isaac Napakol, for “wounding the religious feelings” of the Muslim community. Their physical condition has worsened considerably in prison this past month. Their next hearing is not until January 10. (Morning Star News, Dec. 22)

NIGERIA: After Deborah Emmanuel Samuel’s classmates set her on fire and killed her for sharing her Christian faith, police arrested another Christian woman, Rhoda Jatau for allegedly sharing a video condemning the murder. After 19 months in jail, she has just received bail, but could face up to ten years. During a power outage, her daughter had taken Rhoda’s phone to charge it at a local store. It seems the Muslim shop owner used her phone to share the video to multiple accounts in order to cause her trouble. Upon seeing the video, several Muslim men who worked for Rhoda at a health facility then instigated other Muslims in Warji town to attack Rhoda’s church while she and other Christians worshipped. The building and many Christian homes were destroyed and several Christians injured. Rhoda was rescued from the mob, but arrested and jailed. Many of the Muslim patients under her care wept over her imprisonment, attesting to her diligence and humility. (MSN, Dec 15) Although Nigeria’s main religion is Christianity, the African nation is the 6th most dangerous nation in the world for Christians due to Muslim extremism.

INDONESIA: Christian convert from Islam Muhammad Kece received a 10-year prison sentence for his You-Tube channel said to contain “blasphemous” content against Islam. One of 19 people convicted of blasphemy last year in that country, he has suffered several beatings while in jail. (MSN, Dec. 21)

MAURITANIA: Authorities arrested 15 Christian leaders and their families after a video circulated showing a baptism. Leaving Islam is punishable by death in the 99% Muslim country (98% Sunni, 1% Shia), and yet half of the village of Selibaby is now Christian. Outraged Muslims in the area have called for the burning of Christian homes. (MSN, Dec. 13) Praise God, all of the Christian prisoners have now been released! (MSN, Dec. 29)

NICARAGUA: Police have detained at least 12 priests and Bishop Isidro Mora over the past few days for publicly praying for Bishop Rolando Alvarez, who was sentenced to 26 years in prison earlier this year for speaking contrary to the president.

Father God, please be a Shield around each of these believers. Protect them from harm and use them for Your glory. Open up opportunities for them to share Your good news with guards, authorities, prisoners and other lost people, and empower them to share Your gospel in such a way the lost will easily understand. Have mercy on these Christians, Lord, and open the way for their quick and safe release and acquittal. Empower them with grace to forgive those who have wronged them and to openly love in such a way that all the more Muslims come to faith. Visit persecutors in their dreams, and give them visions of Jesus. Lift the veil from their eyes so they will see You as You truly are, leave their lives of false religion, evil, violence and hatred, and choose the God of Love. Give them such a hunger for You they will seek Truth with all their hearts and find Jesus. Awaken Nigeria, Uganda, Indonesia, Nicaragua and Mauritania to Your love. Start a church planting movement in each of these countries that is out of control, with thousands coming to faith. In Jesus’ name.

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