"I encountered 7 armed men. They pointed their guns at me.....They told me to get of the motorbike and searched me. They found memory cards, USB sticks, a camera, two cell phones and some materials for the movie projections. They asked who I was. When I told them I was an evangelist, they got angry and accused me of being an investigator looking for information about their positions to inform the security forces and their allies."
Gaspard, who recently told Open Doors partners his story, is an evangelist in the Central African Republic(CAR). He was on his way to show Christian films when he was stopped by rebels. But after the stop, the persecution grew much worse.
"They seized all my belongings, stripped me naked and hit me with the butts of their guns," Gaspard says. "They tried to set fire to my motorbike, but the match wouldn't light, even after many attempts. I saw this as God at work and it encouraged me. Six of them wanted to kill me, but their leader opposed it. They ended up releasing me and the motorbike, but they took all my equipment."
The 48 year old father of two substained injuries to his head, arms, legs and back. "Despite the instability of the situation....we decided to work to strengthen the faith of some Christians and also to evangelize the unreached peoples," he told Open Doors partner. "Being Christian in the CAR means living every day under threat. Christians are always targeted in the violence in which armed groups kill and rape and loot. One's faith is always tested and ministering to the persecuted church in this situation is difficult. The groups who control these areas are aware of our presence."
Please join with these suffering believers as they watch their country continue to unravel. They need God's direct intervention to make a difference.
Pray for an end to the violence in CAR in which Christians and churches are often targeted.
Lift up the local workers like Gaspard, who put themselves at risk in order to encourage other believers and spread the gospel.
Ask God to heal Gaspard, both body and spirit, and ask that he wouldn't be fearful to continue his ministry.
Pray for the Lord to comfort the families of all who have lost loved ones in the violence, that He would hold their hearts in His hands and bring them peace.
Thanks so much for praying, God bless. Taken from Open Doors USA text alert
Gaspard, who recently told Open Doors partners his story, is an evangelist in the Central African Republic(CAR). He was on his way to show Christian films when he was stopped by rebels. But after the stop, the persecution grew much worse.
"They seized all my belongings, stripped me naked and hit me with the butts of their guns," Gaspard says. "They tried to set fire to my motorbike, but the match wouldn't light, even after many attempts. I saw this as God at work and it encouraged me. Six of them wanted to kill me, but their leader opposed it. They ended up releasing me and the motorbike, but they took all my equipment."
The 48 year old father of two substained injuries to his head, arms, legs and back. "Despite the instability of the situation....we decided to work to strengthen the faith of some Christians and also to evangelize the unreached peoples," he told Open Doors partner. "Being Christian in the CAR means living every day under threat. Christians are always targeted in the violence in which armed groups kill and rape and loot. One's faith is always tested and ministering to the persecuted church in this situation is difficult. The groups who control these areas are aware of our presence."
Please join with these suffering believers as they watch their country continue to unravel. They need God's direct intervention to make a difference.
Pray for an end to the violence in CAR in which Christians and churches are often targeted.
Lift up the local workers like Gaspard, who put themselves at risk in order to encourage other believers and spread the gospel.
Ask God to heal Gaspard, both body and spirit, and ask that he wouldn't be fearful to continue his ministry.
Pray for the Lord to comfort the families of all who have lost loved ones in the violence, that He would hold their hearts in His hands and bring them peace.
Thanks so much for praying, God bless. Taken from Open Doors USA text alert