Eritrea: #6 Most Dangerous Nation for Christians

As we prepare for this Sunday’s International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, let’s lift up our brothers and sisters facing extreme violence, persecution and hunger in Eritrea, ranked #6 on Open Doors’ World Watchlist of most dangerous countries in the world for Christians to live.

A few months ago, Eritrean police raided a house where Christian high school students gathered together for worship and prayer. Both boys and girls ages 14-16 were imprisoned at the notorious facility for long-term prisoners, Mai Serwa. Around the same time, another 17 Christian teens were arrested in a separate case and also sent to Mai Serwa prison. And in 2023, nearly 100 young people in the Mahalians praise group were arrested; about 50 are believed still to be held in Mai Serwa.

Last year, authorities in Asmara detained 30 Christian adults and a number of children as they gathered to celebrate a baby’s first birthday. It is unknown what these believers and their children now face. Normal procedure is to torture and even kill Christian prisoners who do not renounce Jesus.

In fact, an estimated 400-1000 Christians face torture and death in Eritrea’s prisons today because of their faith. Among those are seven church leaders who have been incarcerated without trial for more than 20 years: Haile Naizge, Kiflu Gebremeskel, Meron Gebreselasie, Futsum Gebrenegus, Tekleab Menghisteab, Gebremedhin Gebregiorgis and Kidane Weldou.

Eritrean security forces often raid homes to arrest Christians who are not members of the three denominations officially recognized — Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran. But even these are monitored closely. In addition, converts from Islam or the Eritrean Orthodox Church suffer extreme, often violent persecution from their families and neighbors.

Many Christian prisoners are held indefinitely in shipping containers in the desert, enduring scorching temperatures by day and freezing at night. Some have been “released” into the military, with no way out. And 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 this beautiful story of a young woman’s faith, even in the midst of torture and imprisonment:

Torture Could Not Shake This Eritrean’s Faith

Father, please have mercy. Release from prison those held captive. 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.

At PrayerWall.pw this week, leading up to this IDOP, we will post daily persecution updates and prayers for the top six most dangerous countries in the world for Christians. Come join us!

For FREE daily prayer guides delivered to your inbox in time for your morning quiet times with God, enter your email below:

Ready your whole family to stand strong against enemy attacks through the deep Bible studies, prayer journals, devotionals and other books for all ages on removing the barriers to oneness with Christ and overcoming the enemy in the battlefield of the mind by Mikaela Vincent at MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com:

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:

Any proceeds this author receives from the sale of the deep devotional Bible studies and other MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com books mentioned in this post go to shining Christ’s light in the darkness and seeing the nations come to Him. 

Thank you for your support! If you have any questions or want to help with this ministry, please contact Mikaela.