Stories from our field
Christian in Somalia points people to Jesus online
Stories from our field
Christian in Somalia points people to Jesus online
In Somalia it is dangerous to be a Christian. Leaving the Islamic faith is seen as betrayal of the community. That is why it is so special when we receive a message from a Christian from Somalia, who is also active in sharing good news of Jesus Christ.
Three years ago, this man – we call him Hassan* – was given the desire by the Holy Spirit to start an online platform through which he can reach his compatriots with the Gospel. He has more than a thousand followers. Ten people, mostly young people, from different parts of the country came to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Understand the Bible better
Hassan writes: “If you want to reach Muslim youth, you have to explain the Word of God in a simple and clear way. Most of them do not master English. I receive online messages from them almost every week.”
Two years ago, Hassan took the Bible Basics course from GlobalRize. “This course helped me understand the Bible much better. I reread the course at least ten times after that,” he says. He would like to translate the course into Somali so that his compatriots will also have access to it.
Lonely
Open Doors writes about the situation of Christians in Somalia: “Even when [Christians] are not targets of terrorist groups, they experience extreme oppression. If the Muslim family or community finds out that someone is a Christian, then that person is harassed, threatened and pressured to return to Islam. Sometimes the mere suspicion of conversion leads to gruesome murder. Meeting other Christians is not possible.”
Christians are therefore in an extremely vulnerable position and are often alone. That is precisely why it is so special that Hassan has the courage to be present online. It is special what he writes above his email to us: ‘Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord’. Pray for his safety; pray that many Somalis will come to him with questions and that many people will come to faith. Pray also for an end to the persecution of Christians.
