A Christian mother goes missing in Somalia

Somalia's flag. (Image courtesy Wikipedia)

Somalia (VCM) ― Islamic militants suspected to be from Al Shabaab have kidnapped a Christian mother and threatened to attack her husband because of their faith.

According to reports from the Voice of the Martyrs Canada, three masked men abducted Shamsa Enow Hussein, 28, outside of her home in Bulo Marer, Lower Shebelle Region, on August 5th. Her husband, 31-year-old Mohamed Isse Osman, received a text from her that night urging him to evacuate. "Please leave immediately because of what we believe," she said in the text. "They have abused me sexually, saying I am an infidel."

Mohamed has also received anonymous threatening text messages from the kidnappers, including one that read, "Your wife has told us all about your Christian involvement, and soon we shall come for you, too." Mohamed and his two daughters, aged 3 and 5, have moved to an undisclosed location. A religious leader in the region claims that Osman has had no contact with his wife since her text on August 5th.

Like most Somali Christians, Shamsa and her husband are secretive about their faith. According to one resident of Bulo Marer, locals are aware of Shamsa's abduction but have no idea why it occurred. "What little we knew about (the) family was that they were not very committed to attending the mosque during Ramadan time," he said. Somalis consider themselves Muslim by birth and regard Islam as a significant part of their cultural identity.

Officials estimate that Somalia is close to 100% Muslim. Apostasy, or the leaving of Islam, is punishable by death.

Pray that God will preserve Shamsa's life, bringing her safely back to her family. May they sense His comforting presence throughout the turmoil. Also remember in your prayers other Somali believers who are fearing for their own safety and that of their loved ones. Ask that the Lord will not only provide His protection but also bless them with boldness as they speak the truth in love.

Spectre of war not far off in Somalia

(Image courtesy Assist News)

Somalia (ODM) ― Open Doors is asking believers in the West to keep praying for Somalia.
After the many years of anarchy, elections last year in September paved the way for greater stability and growth in the Horn of Africa country. The decreased violence, coupled with increased successes in the internationally-supported fight to drive out al-Shabaab Islamist insurgents, greatly improved the atmosphere in Somalia.

This did not necessarily bring freedom for the Church. But it did bring some welcome consistency and created "space" for increased discipleship, albeit still under great secrecy. However, Open Doors is concerned that the atmosphere is changing rapidly.

The newly-installed Somali government is increasingly challenged in its efforts to maintain stability. It was expected of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to stamp out notorious clan politics, corruption, and the "stubborn Islamist insurgency" of al-Shabaab. But observers say his inexperienced government lacks funds as well as the authority to get the job done.

Additionally, in the absence of clear instruction from the provisional constitution, the government is battling to find a way to divide power between the center and the regions. Reuters reported recently that Somalia's neighbors and foreign powers fear a return to civil war.

"It is unclear from our vantage point if the group's influence is really as great as they claim," said an Open Doors worker. What is clear, however, is the fact that greater instability means greater difficulty for believers to function.

For the sake of creating better opportunity for discipleship that can lead to a stronger local Body of believers, we ask believers worldwide to pray for the Lord to show grace to the inexperienced government of Somalia so that they can overcome their multiple challenges."

Gunmen target two church leaders in Kenya's deadly Garissa region

Map courtesy Wikipedia)

Kenya (ODM/MNN) ― Police in Kenya say gunmen shot two church leaders and wounded several others Thursday in the northeastern Garissa region.

Garissa has long had a perilous reputation in Kenya. A small outpost down near the Somalia border, the area has been filled with dangerous people for over a decade. The latest in a string of attacks, accounts say the gunmen opened fire on a vehicle as it drove in Garissa, not far from the border with war-torn Somalia.
Open Doors contacts report that Pastor Abdi Welli was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital. Pastor Ibrahim Makunyi, of the East Africa Pentecostal Church, is in stable condition.

Attacks have increased in Kenya since Nairobi sent soldiers into Somalia in late 2011 to fight al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab insurgents who have vowed to take revenge on Kenya. While the violence has been blamed on the insurgents or their Kenyan supporters, the al-Shabaab have not claimed responsibility for any of them.

Al-Shabaab means "The Youth" in Arabic and emerged in 2006 as the radical youth wing of Somalia's previous Union of Islamic Courts. Since Kenyan troops entered Somalia a year ago, al-Shabaab has increased its attacks in Kenya. It seems the terrorists aim their Muslim rage at believers.

Pastor Welli, who was evangelized, discipled, and mentored by Pastor Makunyi, is survived by a widow Hellen and three young sons. Open Doors is monitoring the situation and will provide further updates as soon as more details are available.

According to OD, al-Shabaab influences have triggered instability in Kenya and cast a shadow on the future religious atmosphere in the country. In light of the March 4 elections, along with the Muslim minority's growing influence in the government, the worries are growing.

Islamic family courts based on Sharia Law have been implemented in all counties--even in those with a low Muslim presence. It is feared that at least 10 of the counties with higher Muslim representation may push for the implementation of Sharia Law and may even be harboring ambitions to break away from the rest of the country, which is Christian dominated (83%).

Prayer Points:
• Please pray for the family of Pastor Welli, his widow Hellen and 3 sons as they mourn the loss of their husband and father.
• Pray for quick healing and comfort of Pastor Makunyi as he has lost his spiritual son.
• Pray for comfort and reassurance upon Pastor Makunyi's family as they live and work in Garissa.
• Pray for the congregants of the East Africa Pentecostal Church as Pastor Makunyi recovers.
• Pray for the security situation in Garissa.
• Pray for the believers there as they live in constant danger.

Church attacks in Kenya condemned

Images are screen grabs from KTN Kenya TV: Church attack in Garissa

Kenya (MNN) ―   At last report, at least 18 died and more than 60 were wounded in Sunday's church attack in northeastern Kenya.

Masked militants, believed to have an al Shabaab connection, crossed the Somalia border and attacked the Africa Inland Church (AIC) and Catholic Church in Garissa. Open Doors President and CEO Carl Moeller explains, "This is a region of Kenya that is exposed to a huge refugee population from Somalia.

Throughout those refugee camps, radical Islam in the form of al Shabaab and terrorism has been permeating those camps." The town is also near  the large Dadaab Refugee Camp is located, where in the past week four aid workers were abducted but eventually freed. 

Eyewitness told Open Doors that first, the gunmen threw grenades into the church, and then, as church goers fled from the explosives, the gunmen shot them as they exited the building.  Even as he described the situation, Moeller said, "The church is a soft target, and this should be seen for what it is: a  huge human rights and persecution tragedy."

Eyewitnesses were deeply shocked by the aftermath of the attacks. Moeller says, "The church in Kenya has been largely an island of stability, although they've been hard pressed as Islam does intrude more and more radical Islam into the culture."  

"We heard something like stones being thrown on top of the roof. Then we realized that we were being shot at," said Mr. Dennis Nzioki who was attending the AIC worship service at the time of the attack. Police say they have identified suspects, no but one has been arrested in connection to the attacks yet.

Then, the inevitable question came: could this be just the beginning of more violence? Moeller agrees with speculation that radical Islamists are only using the tense atmosphere in these regions to get rid of the Christian presence in these Somali dominated border regions. However, he says, "It's our prayer that the church in Kenya will remain in peace and that this sort of violence will not be retaliated."

Meanwhile, Chairman Abdulghafur El-Busaidy of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims condemned Sunday's church attacks: "All places of worship must be respected. We want to send our condolences, and we are sad that no arrests have been made yet."

Kenyan Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka also condemned Sunday's church attacks. "Places of worship... should be respected," he said.

Although fear seems to be the initial reaction to the attacks, Moeller says church leaders appear strong in the midst of the difficult circumstances. "The impact as a result is that those Christians that are remaining there (and we just continue to pray for peace in the region), that they become those agents of peace, that they become those agents of hope."

Open Doors is planning to visit the church in the next few days to offer encouragement and to determine the need for further support. Africa Inland Mission's Regional Executive Officer Marvin Smith, in a written statement released by Africa Inland Mission, said, "Join us in prayer for the families who lost loved ones, martyred for their desire to worship God and grow in the Lord. Many of the wounded have been airlifted to hospitals in Nairobi, so pray also for their quick recovery. Pray also for the Africa Inland Church as they receive and respond to this event. While we do not understand why this happened, we can trust our Faithful Creator to work all things for His glory. "

Moeller went on to describe another attack that has been overshadowed by the Garissa incident: "In a separate incident Sunday morning, a large church in Nairobi, Nairobi Lighthouse Church, was attacked by 15-20 armed men, who forced the entire congregation to lie on the floor in order to rob everyone of all their possessions.  They also stole money and other items from the church offices. Our Kenyan Short Term Assistant, Janet Ngarika normally attends the church, but she did not attend yesterday. These incidents against churches in Kenya remind us to take our faith seriously as we live in uncertain times." 

Please pray for the Lord's comfort for the bereaved. Pray that justice will be done. Pray for Open Doors workers as they investigate the attacks and determine an appropriate response.

Somali Christian confirmed dead, decapitated

Mission Network News: Somalia (MNN) ― Juma Nuradin Kamil, a Christian convert from Islam, was kidnapped and found in early September decapitated on the outskirts of Hudur City in southwestern Somalia. A contact of Compass Direct News was recently able to confirm the murder. Read more...