Somalians are forced to choose between their faith and their family

In Somalia, people must choose between their religion and their families.

More Somalis now reside outside of this nation in the horn of Africa than inside of it due to years of drought and civil violence. Its 12 million residents, or more than 99 percent, are all Muslims. As a Christian, you put your life at jeopardy if you live in this region. Followers of Islam are targets for terrorist group al-Shabbab, their supporters, and sometimes even members of their own families.

Lula, like many other Somalis, had to make a difficult decision when she decided to follow Christ: her religion or her family.

While she was out in public, her father made the statement, “If you see her, murder her.”

The brothers pursued Lula even after she left to another nation. She hid for months, always worrying that she would be found out.

The Lord then seemed to ask Lula how long she would remain in hiding during a prayer one day. As a result, she got out of the home and went grocery shopping. And that’s where she finally got to meet her sibling.

Lula told him that if he attempted to hurt her, she would scream. After the incident, Lula was able to testify that God had healed her of her aversion to people.

Her relatives persisted in their pursuit of her even after that. When she got home from work one day, her house was gone and everything inside was gone as well.

And yet, Lula’s love for her family remained strong. Despite the clear danger to her life, she made it to her father’s burial.

Lula was viewed with mistrust by the local churches, who believed she was a terrorist or a spy because of her Muslim ancestry.

But then Lula met “Abdul,” a partner of Release International, a UK-based organization that helps the persecuted church across the globe.

Lula got a job because of Abdul delivering milk to the schools in the area. He aided her in constructing a new home and connected her with other Christians of like persuasion. Lula is now assisting on the translation of the Bible into her native dialect.

When asked about her struggles, she said, “The Lord has been with me throughout my journey, and in all my hard moments.”

Homing device

After serving as an imam, Samuel encountered Jesus Christ via the ministry of a missionary physician. His father found out that he had converted to Christianity and promptly had him thrown into an underground cell, where he remained until a group of Christians came and freed him.

With the help of some friends, Samuel was able to flee the nation and start again. He settled down with a family and eventually became a preacher and evangelist in his community. Many Muslims were converted to Christianity as a result of his efforts.

However, a gang of Somalis eventually located him and offered his wife thousands of pounds to abandon him and return to Somalia with their children.

As Samuel put it, “then everything truly began.”

The extremists thrashed Samuel and left him for dead during an open-air religious argument. Further, al-Shabbab, the terrorist organization, issued a call to assassinate him after learning his whereabouts. They aired a video of Samuel preaching on YouTube and plastered his narrative on billboards.

Saying, “God used it to preach the gospel to many I could never reach!” Samuel proclaimed the truth.

Fear caused the congregation to scatter, leaving Samuel to fend for himself in isolation. On the other hand, Release International’s partner Abdul and his team were able to establish a trusting relationship with Samuel and provide him with safety and security. When Samuel’s life was no longer under imminent danger, he started working to bring together Christians from Muslim backgrounds.

Samuel has taken in a young Christian who, like himself, had his wife and children leave him because of his religion.

“I will share my home and my food with our brothers who come to me,” he said to Release International.

“We want a secure haven where our brethren may be welcomed, supported, and reminded that they are part of a larger whole.

He said, “Somalia was a closed door, but it is much more open today.” Lots of people need to eat. They’re sick of the fighting. They’ve been rattled enough to make room in their hearts for the good news of the gospel.

It’s the Lord’s hand that I can see at work in every instance of persecution.

Trashy locale

Amanda’s Islamic upbringing had instilled in her the belief that Christians were inherently cruel people whose religion was inherently bad. Then she met Christian converts from the Muslim faith who were hospitable and kind.

Amanda worked up the nerve to inform her husband about the Christians’ existence at some point. She had to comply with his instruction to shower, which he essentially dragged her to.

“You’ve been to a nasty location,” he remarked.

In spite of this, Amanda committed her life to Christ and made it her mission to track down these Christians again.

Her spouse was waiting for her at home. He imprisoned her, abused her, and forbade her contact with her son. After a year of this, her spouse finally left her.

To support herself, Amanda has received assistance from Release International’s partners in establishing a small business. And she still goes out to Muslim women to share the gospel with them, knowing well well the danger she puts herself in.

Killed by radicals

Andrea made fun of Christians when she was young.

‘We would pick up stones and toss them at them. She said that Christians would be forcibly covered or pushed to the ground.

Later, though, Andrea made her own personal commitment to Christ. The underground church pastor took care of her. He was a Christian who helped Andrea and others flee Somalia before being killed by extremists because of his beliefs.

Amanda is more dedicated than ever to sharing the gospel with others.

“My art is the germ of optimism,” I say. She said, “I think the Lord is sowing seeds in people’s hearts.”

Partners of Release International are helping new Christians in Somalia and spreading the Christian message there via radio and social media.

“These brave Christians are a challenge to all of us who live in relative luxury,” says Paul Robinson, CEO of Release International.

It’s possible that we won’t have to face persecution on the level of so many persecuted Christians and endure threats of death, incarceration, or physical abuse. And yet, the issue remains: “Will we utilize our freedom to retreat into anonymity, or to be as courageous as our suffering brethren?”