Somalia: #2 Most Dangerous Nation for Christians

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

As we prepare for Sunday’s International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, let’s remember Christians facing extreme violence, persecution and hunger in 99.6% Muslim Somalia, ranked #2 on Open Doors’ World Watchlist of most dangerous countries in the world for Christians to live.

“You can beat me up more if you want, but I can tell you that Isa (Jesus) has saved me. Whether I die or not, I live to serve Him,” Mohammad Abdul told his Muslim family members who assaulted him for the third time. (Morning Star News, October 21, 2024)

As Mohammad and other believers worshipped secretly in his home behind locked doors, four of his relatives arrived, demanding, “Why are you worshipping differently from the Muslim way? What is so unique about your worship? Why do you close yourself in the room when you are to praying?”

“My praying is a secret between me and my Lord Isa, and more so, why should I pray in public? This is just a way to please men, but in my time of worship I should please only God who is in the heavenly places,” Mohammad replied.

When they demanded he return to Islamic worship, he told them Christ is his Lord and Savior now. “Isa who saved me knows my heart, and I am happy in my heart, so leave me alone.” But they beat him with blunt objects, fracturing his wrist and cutting his head.

Just months before, Mohammad survived a knife attack by Muslim family members who also destroyed his home. He relocated his family, but in a subsequent assault, Mohammad’s injuries were so severe he was unable to speak. They also broke his wife’s ankle and beat his children.

“Christians from Muslim backgrounds are regarded as high-value targets and may be killed on the spot if discovered,” writes Open Doors. “Society expects all Somalis to be Muslim. Imams in mosques and madrassas state publicly that there is no room for Christianity, Christians or churches. The violent insurgent group al-Shabaab has repeatedly expressed its desire to eradicate Christians from the country.

“Christians also face serious persecution from their family and community. Leaving Islam is regarded as a betrayal of the family and clan, and family members and clan leaders will harass, intimidate and even kill Somali converts. Anyone even suspected of being a Christian convert is closely monitored by the elders in the community, and even by their own family members. ‘Church life’ is simply not possible, so the few believers must meet in secret. Islamic militants have intensified their hunt for people who are Christian and in a position of leadership.

“Young female converts to Christianity are particularly vulnerable. They are oppressed and exploited both on grounds of their faith and their gender. Young Christian girls are forced into marriages, in which they face sexual harassment, physical violence and pressure to adhere to conservative Muslim practices in an attempt to ‘rehabilitate’ them.”

“When I got home, the men in my family were waiting for me. They beat me and took my mobile phone and they locked me up in a room. They said, ‘We have heard that you are corrupted,’ but they have never once used the word ‘Christian.’”

Nala, a Somali believer forced to flee the country (Open Doors)

In addition to such terrible persecution, parts of Somalia have reached famine status. Those suffering from acute hunger surpassed the numbers from 2011’s famine, in which more than 260,000 people died.

Somalia has been in an ongoing civil war since the 1980s, with an estimated 45,000 to 1.5 million dead and millions more displaced. At least 20 unreached people groups in the turbulent Horn of Africa nation have yet to hear the good news about Jesus.

Lord, please have mercy. Bring an end to the violence and drought. Heal, protect and provide for the needs of those facing malnutrition or starvation, especially the children. Open the doors wide for Christians to come in bringing stores of food along with a clear message of Your love and salvation. Multiply Somali Christians’ provisions so abundantly they will have more than enough to share with their neighbors, along with such over-abounding love, the lost will see You as You truly are and know You are the One they’ve been longing for. Don’t let even one more person in Somalia die without the chance to know You. Meet them in their dreams. Appear to them in visions. Bring Christians into their path who will boldly share Your Good News. For every Christian martyred, bring 10,000 more to faith. Make the hidden churches bulge with converts, multiplying by the thousands all across the land. Make this violent, hungry time in Somalia’s history an open door for Your love to overtake every heart. Lift the darkness, Lord, and pierce the lost with Your light, breaking chains that bind terrorists and child soldiers to Satan’s plans. Let them see Your angels guarding Christians, so they tremble in fear and fall to their knees before You. Let them hear Christians speaking out forgiveness and truth, and choose to believe in You. Surround believers and their families as their mighty, impenetrable Shield. Psalm 91. Hide them beneath Your wings and don’t let the enemy’s weapons come near them. Make a way for Christians to safely communicate and meet together. Guard and fill those gatherings with Your mighty angels and presence. If ever someone finds out where a church meets, cut them to the core with Your truth and overwhelm them with Your love and grace immediately, so they repent and choose to walk in the Light. Awaken all the peoples of Somalia to You, Lord. Give them a hunger so deep, they will seek You with all their heart and find You. Jeremiah 29:13.

Don’t let your prayers for the persecuted stop today.

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About the author: Mikaela Vincent and her husband have served the Lord for many years in a dark area of the world where Christians are persecuted and few have heard the good news about Christ. They 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 giving a donation, shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, praying for them or inviting them to speak at your church, retreat or other event, click the buttons below:

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