Where Following Jesus Makes You The Enemy.

In the Muslim-majority nation—one of the eight countries making up the Horn of Africa—all Somalis are expected to be Muslim and follow Sharia (Islamic) law. Imams in mosques and madrassas state publicly that there is no room for Christianity, Christians or churches. The violent insurgent group al-Shabab has repeatedly expressed its desire to eradicate Christians from the East African country. In Somalia, Christians from Muslim backgrounds are regarded as high-value targets and may be killed on the spot if discovered.

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 elders in the community, and their own family members. Yet the Somalis that have come to faith in Christ are unrelenting in their conviction and are a force for the gospel. One Somali woman shared with our local partners in East Africa that after becoming a Christian, she suffered repeated attacks on her life. “I [tried] 100 times to leave Jesus and not to follow Him—but I couldn’t do it,” she says. “I decided to follow Him.”

Pray that believers who risk everything to follow Jesus will have strength to persevere in their faith despite the dangers.