Where Imprisonment for following Jesus in inevitable

Believers in Eritrea in the Horn of Africa continue to suffer extreme persecution, making it one of the hardest places in the world to follow Jesus. For 20 years, the East African nation has only recognized three official Christian denominations: Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran, and even those churches are closely monitored. Those who have become Christians from Muslim backgrounds, or who leave the Eritrean Orthodox Church for a non-traditional church, face extreme pressure and persecution from their own families and communities. Authorities perpetuate a stigma against believers and encourage neighbors to spy on and report each other. Over the years, government security forces have conducted hundreds of house-to-house raids to catch other Christians.

Following Christ in the country known as the “North Korea of Africa” and sharing the gospel comes at a high cost, especially if you remain in Eritrea. It’s not a question of if, but when you will be imprisoned. There are thought to be 1,000 Christians indefinitely detained in Eritrean prisons not officially charged with anything. But we know that even in the face of imprisonment, the church in Eritrea—though much of it is underground—has not stopped growing and continues to share the gospel with others.

Pray for wisdom and discernment for the church in Eritrea. Pray that they will be courageous in sharing the gospel, but also mindful of their precarious situation.