View from Mount Sinai 2008
THE PERSECUTED CHURCH & MISSIONARIES ON THE GROUND IN ERITREA:
Their Stories, Pictures, News updates & Prayer requests from within ERITREA a Nation under Persecution.
Please pray for Christian Missionaries & Locals within Eritrea.
The deteriorating of human rights within Eritrea is forcing, thousands of refugees into Egypt. Many are fleeing from religious persecutions or mandatory military enrollment, where they are brutally tortured & held for indefinite lengths of time.
NEWS UPDATE:
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Eritrean Refugees Face Imminent Repatriation from Egypt and High Risk of Persecution or Death on Return
Exerts taken from Michael Ireland
Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service www.assistnews.net
Eritrean Refugees Face Imminent Repatriation from Egypt and High Risk of Persecution or Death on Return
Exerts taken from Michael Ireland
Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service www.assistnews.net
ASWAN, EGYPT -148 Eritrean refugees are facing deportation from a detention center in Aswan, Egypt, either today or tomorrow, (Nov. 9 or 10), after detention center officials issued notifications of imminent deportation in the past week. With 32 prisoners having already been sent back recently.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) www.csw.org.uk says that while all the refugees risk severe persecution if returned to Eritrea, ten of them occupied key positions within the Eritrean regime before they fled the country, and their lives would be in extreme danger should they be returned.
Release Eritrea is appealing to UNHCR and other organizations, with particular concern over the fact that the refugees are not being given their rights under the Refugee Convention and are being maltreated in Egypt when they resist deportation. Those who protest preparations for deportation are being beaten by prison guards in a bid to subdue them.
The Egyptian government must be urged to take seriously its duty to protect vulnerable refugees and end these deportations, which violate the 1951 UN Refugee Convention to which Egypt is party & has thus far ignored by sending back many who will face death.
In a media update, CSW says the continuing exodus of Eritrean citizens from their country, conservatively estimated at 1,000 people per month, is testament to the on-going human rights crisis in the country.
It is estimated that currently there are around 700 Eritrean prisoners in Egyptian prisons; many have sustained injuries, including bullet wounds when they were captured at the Egypt boarder. Some have experienced severe beatings and harassment at the hands of traffickers.
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TESTIMONY
27th August 2011- Taking the Gospel message to the un reached Rashaida Tribe of Eritrea:
Is it possible, that in this day & time there are still un reached tribes who have not heard the gospel message of Christ. Where once we had thought that all Africa had been evangelized?
I would have thought it impossible myself, but below I will share with you a testimony of the Lord’s directing our paths to reach yet another people group to hear the truth of Christ, only two weeks ago in the nation of Eritrea.
More than five years ago while serving the Lord in Eastern Sudan along with a YWAM evangelistic group, we came across a nomadic tribe along the Eritrean border. The Lord led me to ask, Where do you come from, & what tribe do you belong to? They replied- “We are the Rashaida tribe, we live throughout the deserts of Eritrea & Sudan.”
I did not realize at the time, that the Lord’s hand had been on that meeting, & that years later He would bring them to my memory to seek them out, & speak to them about Jesus.
It began to unfold however during my time serving the Lord in South Africa some years later, when I felt the call of God to go to Eritrea, that this was the Nation the Lord had put on my heart. But little did I know about the plans, He had ordained from the beginning of time, for a people who had not yet heard about the Messiah!
On arriving in Eritrea, this tribe kept coming to my mind. It was my call to find them, but I did not know how to go about it? & there was also much work to be done, just settling in & making contacts in this strange country.
It was not until my second trip to Eritrea, that the Lord made a way to seek them out, along with some new Christian brothers & sisters, whom I was now meeting with. I shared my vision with them to go to this tribe, & tell them about Jesus. They all replied with one voice, NO! It would be too dangerous, these are people who move about with swords & are much feared & also the police are imprisoning anyone who is caught preaching the gospel. I said, Ok! But if none of you want to go, I would still go alone or find some others to take me. However, please pray tonight & ask the Lord if He wants any of you to come with me, but if not then I will find another way.
The following day some of the leaders said they felt from the Lord to come with me, so the trip was organized, we would go into the desert to seek out the Nomadic Rashaida Tribe.
It was extremely hot in the city to which we were told we would find them living outside of. So we decided to wake early in the morning at 5AM to worship the Lord, & to remain there until the cool of the evening before going out into the desert.
On asking the locals of the Rashaida’s camp, we were led by foot to where they had set up their tents. They welcomed us with water to drink, & then brought before us three children, which they wanted us to buy from them. We said no, we are not here for that, we are tourists, who have come to see the people of Eritrea & the country. They then brought a young girl & offered her to me in the same way. I said, No! why are you doing this? They replied, this is why the Arabs come to us, to buy slaves. We said no, we have only come to talk & learn about your people.
Finally I decided to take a photo & show it to them, they were so amazed because they had not seen a camera before, they had not seen much of the outside world, although in very close proximity, they had chosen to keep themselves separate & remain a nomadic people.
I therefor asked them if they had ever heard about Jesus the son of God, they said no, we have not heard of him.
God had led us to an un reached people who had never heard the gospel before. Maybe it was because they had been so hard to find in the past, or that simply their reputation for being hostile had kept people at arms length from them. Either way, we now knew why the Lord had sent us to them, & proceeded to tell them the gospel, & asked if we could come again tomorrow.
The following day we showed them a solar mobile phone, they were amazed & unable to comprehend how it worked, they also had many questions about Jesus now, but there were also many things they could still not understand about Him either.
On a return trip two weeks later, they had once again moved camp, so we asked one local, where they had moved to? But he said they had moved to Sudan. We were unsure what to do, but an uneasy feeling came across me to this mans words, so we stayed at a nearby well instead of leaving. While seeking the Lord’s face for what to do, we saw an elderly man from the Rashaida tribe who we knew. He said, we have moved camp, but it is only 20 minutes walk from here, I will take you.
Two hours later, we had finally arrived. This time we were able to show them the Jesus video. There we were almost 30 men sitting around on the desert floor watching the screen of my 8” laptop which had been set up on a rock before us, along with speakers for all to hear.
They cried out to us in Arabic, “This is Isa, this is the Messiah, the Christ!” There was much to talk about, so we ate a meal with them & asked once again if we could return in the morning. For it was late now 10PM, & two hours walk ahead of us in the dark.
The Following day on approaching the edge of the desert where we had to leave our van (for the two hour walk ahead of us.) We were met with a huge sand storm & unable to move, it was far too dangerous, with visibility of only centimeters before us.
Cont next column
Continued~
So we decided to remain with the vehicle, & finally to call off our second meeting, which now dampened our spirits, since the night before was one of amazing blessings & we could not wait to talk with them again. Resolve touched our hearts however & with it, the thought that at least we could use this time wisely & look for other Rashaida people who may be in the area.
Well God was in it from the beginning & on our travels back to the city we came across another family of the Rashaida Tribe.
Of course it was God! The sand storm, the new doors opening now to speak to yet another of their people.
So we began again to share the gospel of Christ with this new Rashaida family, & decided to show them the Jesus film immediately.
They also were amazed crying out before us: “Isa! Isa!” asking questions, like “Where is He now? How can we see Him?”
We answered all we could, of God’s love & forgiveness & so decided to leave them some bibles until we could return.
What a day, what an amazing God we serve. I cannot wait to return, hopefully soon. For the work is not finished here but just beginning.
I will write more as I am able
-Gamal a servant of the living God.
Please pray for Gamal & the local Christian team who will endeavor to continue the work of spreading the gospel message to these un reached people.
Please pray for safety also as this tribe is commonly known for kidnapping for ransom & slave trading, & also gun running.
Pray that the Holy Spirit would do His amazing & faithful work of opening the eyes & hearts of the Rashaida people to the truth of Christ our Saviour. Pray for our Fathers will that all men be saved!
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News Update:
Monday 22nd August 2011:
Today 23 Christian’s were arrested while in a prayer meeting in the home of their Pastor, the Pastor himself was not present & is currently on the run.
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Please keep them in your prayers. Those being carried off to prison & the Pastor & his family who are seeking refuge at this time, amongst other believers.
We all know that in times of darkness the light of Christ shines even brighter, that this is when God does some of His greatest work, & It is times like this that His name is Glorified!
So keep them lifted up before the Lord, especially in this time, & pray God will also have His guardian angels protecting & guarding their lives. That each of His children would Honor His name.
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God has called us to move for Him wherever He may send us. Especially into the dark places, the places where it seems there is no hope, no light & all else has failed.
This is exactly what He has done to Gamal, a friend of ours, (sorry due to security reasons, his real name must be withheld & even his country of origin), now ministering within the nation of Eritrea.
This is not the first trip to Eritrea, for Gamal, as attaining visa’s for more then three months is difficult.
“It is not an easy place to be, & nor would I choose to be here, if it was not for the call of the Lord on my life.” He says. “But I feel this is where the Lord wants me.
Opportunities have been amazing, & the people God has allowed me to meet, wonderful, they have time & again told stories of their life here. Of the restrictions from the government on the people & of the destructive ways in the military camps, (that every young Eritrean must endure as military training). Many are brutally abused & others imprisoned in metal shipping containers for their Faith. Some never return to their families.
Many Pastors wives, who have lost their husbands, due to imprisonment, are left without support, & often have to find their own way in the midst of this persecution. One woman I spoke to has only survived on the meager gifts she is given from locals for teaching their children from the bible. Something that has taken great courage since she has lost her husband for doing the same kind of work in speaking openly about Jesus.
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A short Testimony of God’s Work when I first arrived
On my first trip here, I was talking to a young local, who seemed to take interest in me, however I knew he was Muslim so proceeded with our friendship very cautiously. During a time speaking with him in a cafe, the Lord spoke to me about another young man sitting near bye in a group, & told me to give him some money, for he was destitute & needed help. I walked over to him, not allowing my new friend to know what was happening & took the young man aside & said are you a Christian, he said yes I am, I said the Lord has told me to give you this gift, as He is answering your prayers.” The young man welled up with tears & we greeted in Christ. No one else knew what had happened just the man & I, God was working in the midst of this closed country, where speaking of the Lord is forbidden.
It is a privilege to be in this place, he says, where the Church meets in secret & the Lord raises up such courageous servants, that I can only be ashamed. I can only sit in admiration & take in all that the Lord will teach me here.
-Gamal a servant of Christ our Saviour
Quote from Voice of the Martyrs Richard Wurmbrand:
“ Before entering prison, I loved Christ very much. Now after having seen the bride of Christ (His spiritual body) in prison, I would say that I love the underground church almost as much as I love Christ Himself. I have seen her beauty , her spirit of sacrifice.”
To find a heart for the Persecuted Christians, please read “Tortured for Christ” by Richard Wurmbrand ~ It is a book that will change you.
You can order a free book from www.persecution.com ~ or send them a donation, for the amazing work they do in keeping us in touch with brothers & sisters in Christ all over the world in persecuted countries.
PRAYER:
Jesus, you alone are who our eyes look to, you are the author & perfector of our faith, we have no other God but you. Lord, hear our prayers for your servants, working throughout Eritrea. We ask for you to give them wisdom from on high for each day to follow after your Spirit, that they be able to hear clearly your voice. We ask that you bind the Spirit’s of darkness that try to cloud their judgement & cause them to fear. Instead Lord, pour out a Spirit of Faith, Courage, & Love for the people of Eritrea into the hearts of your servants.
Lord unblock the ears of the lost souls in Eritrea & fulfill your Word to take back the nations.
We also lift up to you, the countless faces who are currently being held in the prisons there, for your names sake. Father in Heaven, shine your light of favor upon them, give them your right hand of fellowship & fulfill your Word, that promises that you are close to the broken hearted & set the captives free.
RISE UP OH, LORD, MAY YOUR ENEMIES BE SCATTERED & YOUR FOES FLEE BEFORE YOU.
Amen
Please feel free, if you are led by the Holy Spirit, to Donate & Support these Missionaries & Christians in Eritrea under Persecution. (All funds will go to the individuals or ministries you nominate- please state on the PayPal Donate form)
Send a Word of Encouragement, Prayers or Scriptures to the Persecuted Christians in Eritrea, (please state who you nominate for your email to go to on the subject line.)
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