Eritrea
Persecuted Believer Escapes
Thank God for a believer who escaped captivity in ERITREA! During his 3-year imprisonment, he was confined in small spaces with nearly 300 other men, many of whom died. For part of the time they were in a metal shipping container, and for part of the time in a cave with metal bars over the entrance. He was beaten, told to renounce his faith, and given a mock execution. His captors fed him two pieces of bread and one cup of tea per day.
Underground Church Hunted
Security forces in ERITREA obtained a list of people involved in the underground church. In an “end of year purge” on Christians in a southern province, they arrested approximately 40 believers as of the last report.
Ask God to protect the Christians who are on the list. Pray also for the release of the 40 newly arrested Christians and the thousands already in Eritrean prisons. “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?”
11 Christians Arrested
On October 20, eleven Christians were arrested in ERITREA. Their TVs, video players, and other electronic equipment were also confiscated.
Pray for the release of these believers and for others imprisoned for their faith in Eritrea. “Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Imprisoned Pastor Released
A pastor imprisoned for five years in ERITREA has been released! At last report, he is recovering in a hospital. Thank God for his release.
Pray that his fellow prisoners will also be set free. “Is anything too hard for the LORD?”
Christian Prisoner Dies
In ERITREA, a young Christian woman died after refusing to recant her faith. She and other university students had been imprisoned in a metal shipping container because they attended a Bible study. She suffered the freezing cold of night, the baking heat of day, and untreated illness.
Praise God for her faithfulness, and pray for her grieving friends. “You have given the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.”
Eleven Believers Arrested
In ERITREA, 11 believers from the same church were arrested. Four were women who had gathered for prayer in a private home. Four others were the pastor’s children.
Pray that God will fill their hearts with His peace that passes all understanding. “May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy.”
What will we do?
In Eritrea, 28-year-old Senait and 15 other university students were arrested for attending a Bible study and were imprisoned for two years in a metal shipping container, exposed to extreme temperatures and disease. In these unbearable conditions, she became ill and had no medical treatment. Officials offered her treatment and freedom if she denied her faith, but she refused. After two years, she died of malaria and sever anemia. Her classmates, however, are still locked in a metal box, barely surviving in the baking heat of day and the freezing cold of night.
Eleven Christians Arrested
This week in Eritrea, eleven more Christians were added to the thousands who live imprisoned in underground dungeons, metal shipping containers, and military barracks. These thousands face no criminal charges, but a number have suffered paralysis, blinding, or death.
Letter from an Eritrean Prison
Thousands of Christians are in prison in Eritrea, and just days ago 17 more believers were arrested when they gathered for prayer. A pastor in Eritrea wrote this letter to his wife, describing how Christ has won the victory, even in a cold prison cell.
Believer Dies in Prison
In ERITREA a 37-year-old man died in a prison because officials refused to treat his malaria and pneumonia unless he renounced his faith in Christ. Having remained steadfast in his faith, he died in solitary confinement.
Pray that his testimony will turn the hearts of his captors to the Lord. “He will guard the feet of His faithful ones.”
Eritreans Arrested for Prayer
Seven ERITREAN believers were arrested for praying in a private home. Authorities took them to an unknown location, perhaps to one of the underground dungeons, metal shipping containers, or military barracks where thousands of other Eritrean Christians have been imprisoned for their faith.
Pray that God will comfort these prisoners as they continue to cry out to Him in prayer. “But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of His own inheritance.”
Twelve Prisoner Released
Praise God! Twelve Christians have been released after two years of prison in an ERITREAN military camp. They still face danger, however, and could be executed if they are caught in religious activities again.
Pray that God will protect them and the other believers still suffering in captivity for the name of Christ. “For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.”
Letter from an Eritrean Prison
My dearest wife;
God, by His holy will, has prolonged my prison sentence to five years and four month. I very much long for the day that I will be reunited with you my dear wife, our children and God's people in the church.
Harsh Imprisonment for Christian
A believer in ERITREA was arrested for preaching Christ. No charges were filed, but he was chained and kept in solitary confinement for five months. When he was finally released, he said, “I looked like another creature. My hair and nails were long. My body color was yellow.” Despite this, he refused to betray his faith.
The Martyrdom of Hana
Hana Hagos Asgedom, 41, was a disciple of Jesus Christ who was martyred for her Savior on January 24th, 2010 at a prison camp in Eritrea. Eritrea is infamous for its persecution of evangelical Christians - warehousing several thousand believers in shipping containers without toilets, running water, or air conditioning.
Elderly Women Imprisoned
Thirty elderly Christian women gathered for a prayer meeting in ERITREA. Police raided and arrested them all. Their children and grandchildren have had no news of their whereabouts or condition. Other believers who have been arrested in the region have faced torture or imprisonment in shipping containers.
Pray that these women's lives will be preserved and they will soon be released. "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered."
Woman Imprisoned in Shipping Container
A woman in ERITREA was tortured and imprisoned in a shipping container for over two years because she chose to follow Christ. She has now been released.
Thank God for her faithfulness and her deliverance! "For our God is a consuming fire."
House Church Raided, Members Arrested
A house church was raided in ERITREA. Ten people were arrested. Security forces were going to detain the pastor as well, but they left him under house arrest due to his frail health.
Pray for those that were arrested to withstand all efforts to turn them from Christ. "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days...I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds."
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.
Christians Besieged and Hunted
Believers in ERITREA are being besieged. They report, "The government has imprisoned Christians, they are torturing Christians, they are killing Christians...Christians are treated like animals." Yet, they refuse to deny their faith.
Pray that they remain steadfast. "In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications...and he was heard because of his reverence."
Believer Refused Medical Treatment
A Christian in an ERITREAN military camp died of malaria and torture when he was refused treatment because he would not deny Christ.
Pray that all those imprisoned will be set free, and no more will die of torture or illness. "I will betroth you to me in faithfulness."
Church Made a Government Agency
Pastors in ERITREA have been detained for planning actions "against the government's interference." More alarming, the head of the church has been replaced with a government official.
Pray that these pastors will soon be released to carry out the work of Christ. "For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham."
Three Women Preach to Military
Three Christian women in ERITREA were arrested by the military for preaching Christ in their Muslim village. They were ridiculed in front of the entire base. Six months later, the commander offered to let them go if they would stop preaching about Christ. They refused. Finally he released them without any conditions.
Thank God for the brave witness of these women. Pray that their testimony will bring many to Christ. "Is not the Lord in the midst of us?"
Christians Suffer in Starving Country
Eritrea is reportedly on the brink of starvation as the economy hits a new low. While this humanitarian crisis develops, numerous Christians remain in custody. Some face torture.
Pray for God's help and intervention. "Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit."
Tortured Christians die in Eritrea
Two more Christians died after undergoing torture in an Eritrean military camp. More continue to be arrested.
Pray that God will be powerfully present to those who suffer for His name. "Asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding."
