One of our contacts in Eritrea - we'll call him Pastor Gideon - will not forget the day the doors of his church closed. For years, churches like his have been systematically shut down and believers imprisoned and then released in waves. There are many changes, but the actual charge - worshipping Christ - is never stated.
Some have been in prison for 20 years, and many remain. Gideon said, "Leaders are arrested, but other leaders come; disciples are imprisoned, and others arise. The church continues to produce leaders and disciples who are not afraid of jail and death."
Father, right now, many of your children are suffering in prison in Eritrea. Touch their hearts with courage, warmth and grace today and let them know they are not alone in their struggles.
Gideon, himself, was locked up for over six years. He was beaten, underfed, interrogated, and forced into slave labour. Guards tortured him in hopes he would deny his faith and hate Jesus. "Sometimes the temp;tation was very real, but with God's help, we persevered."
God used it for good! "Over time, answering the guar4ds' questions on why we were imprisonedd, they changed their minds about us. There were even guards who accepted Jesus as their saviour."
We ask that You strengthen imprisoned believers in Eritrea. Give them steadfast hearts and abundant encouragement as they continue to lead others to You within prison walls.
Praise God that Pastor Gideon is now out of prison and continues to minister the gospel. "When we meet other Christians now, we do it secretively," Gideon says. There can be no pattern to their meetings to avoid suspicion. They meet at different times and other places, never more than twice in a row,
To new believers, they warn, "There is receiving Jesus, but also prison and challenges ahead. But young people are coming to Christ. Persecution has not stopped the church."
Gideon asks that you join him in prayer, not that the Eritrean government will be replaced, but that the leaders will come to repent and seek God's wisdom and counsel in all decisions. Pray that the Word of God would run swiftly and that He would be glorified in Eritrea and raise up young people who have counted the cost yet still run after Jesus.
Thanks for praying, Elohim bless you. Taken from Open Doors USA text alert.
Some have been in prison for 20 years, and many remain. Gideon said, "Leaders are arrested, but other leaders come; disciples are imprisoned, and others arise. The church continues to produce leaders and disciples who are not afraid of jail and death."
Father, right now, many of your children are suffering in prison in Eritrea. Touch their hearts with courage, warmth and grace today and let them know they are not alone in their struggles.
Gideon, himself, was locked up for over six years. He was beaten, underfed, interrogated, and forced into slave labour. Guards tortured him in hopes he would deny his faith and hate Jesus. "Sometimes the temp;tation was very real, but with God's help, we persevered."
God used it for good! "Over time, answering the guar4ds' questions on why we were imprisonedd, they changed their minds about us. There were even guards who accepted Jesus as their saviour."
We ask that You strengthen imprisoned believers in Eritrea. Give them steadfast hearts and abundant encouragement as they continue to lead others to You within prison walls.
Praise God that Pastor Gideon is now out of prison and continues to minister the gospel. "When we meet other Christians now, we do it secretively," Gideon says. There can be no pattern to their meetings to avoid suspicion. They meet at different times and other places, never more than twice in a row,
To new believers, they warn, "There is receiving Jesus, but also prison and challenges ahead. But young people are coming to Christ. Persecution has not stopped the church."
Gideon asks that you join him in prayer, not that the Eritrean government will be replaced, but that the leaders will come to repent and seek God's wisdom and counsel in all decisions. Pray that the Word of God would run swiftly and that He would be glorified in Eritrea and raise up young people who have counted the cost yet still run after Jesus.
Thanks for praying, Elohim bless you. Taken from Open Doors USA text alert.