Women's Prayer Meeting Goes to Jail

December 10, 2009

Thirty older Christian women were arrested in Eritrea's capital, Asmara.  According to one report, "The Christians were praying at a house at the time Eritrean officials raided the prayer meeting, arrested all of the people, and took them to the police station." 

Their children and grandchildren are concerned about the safety of their loved ones.  Eritrean believers in Jesus face harassment and torture for their faith. 

Most of the detainees are members of Faith Mission Church.  This body has been carrying out evangelistic and development activities in Eritrea for over five decades. It was forced underground in 2002 after Eritrean officials required all religious groups to register.

Since 2002, officials have imprisoned more than 3,000 Christians, keeping them in underground dungeons, metal shipping containers, and military barracks.  Several have died inside prisons due to torture and lack of medical treatment.

Eritrea is a Marxist nation, and also has a substantial Islamic population.  Yet, while the atrocities against Christians are significant and increasing, the underground church is growing. People are coming to Christ because they are desperate, because there is rampant poverty and starvation.  People are finding hope in Jesus Christ, and they know that is the only hope that they have.

~ adapted from Mission Network News and International Christian Concern