Somali church leader concerned about situation of Christians

[Wiilo]

Bal kani Boga ISlamka uma Quuree, bal aan halkaan ku Qoro. Ila eega Mucjisadan. Alla Ilaahow Iimaanka Ha inaga Qaadin.

 

Somali church leader concerned about situation of Christians

 

2003-165-2

7/23/2003

 

[ENI] Leaders of Somalia's small Christian community attending talks in Nairobi have expressed concern about the plight of Christians in their troubled country.

 

"We live in constant fear. We have very little rights, since people believe that there are no Christians in Somalia," said Peter Ahmed Abdi, leader of the Mogadishu Pentecostal Church, who is also chairman of the tiny Somali Christian community.

 

 

Leaders and warlords of more than 20 fighting factions, as well as traditional and religious leaders such as Abdi, have gathered in the Kenyan capital for the Somali National Reconciliation Conference sponsored by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, which comprises countries in East Africa and the Horn of Africa. They are trying to reach agreement on an interim government for Somalia.

 

 

Somalia slid into anarchy without a stable government after the overthrow of the Siad Barre regime in 1991. The breakaway, self-proclaimed independent Republic of Somaliland in the northern part of the country is not recognised by any government.

 

 

Somali Christians were demanding the right to worship and assemble, to move freely and to have political representation, said Abdi, who was accompanied in the talks by two Roman Catholics. He said he had been shouted down at the conference by Muslim delegates, who had insisted Somalia had no Christians.

 

 

Somalia's few Christians are being oppressed and living in fear of being killed, Abdi said. "We do not walk openly proclaiming our faith because we can be assassinated anytime. We pray on Fridays in Somalia just like [Muslims], since they will not allow us to attend church on Sunday." Church structures erected in colonial times and shortly after the country's independence have collapsed.

 

 

Somalia is virtually 100 per cent Muslim, according to the World Christian Encyclopedia, with only about 200 Somali Catholics and small groups of Protestants associated with Mennonite missionaries and the Sudan Interior Mission. "We are calling on Christians from all over the world to help [rebuild] our churches," said John Muktar, a Somali Roman Catholic.

 

[ December 08, 2004, 12:12 PM: Message edited by: Totti ]

[Wiilo]

Mucjisadanna Bal eega. Mahadaan Dagaalkii Ku Darsanay Gaalnimo? Mahadi Waxay U Sugnaatay Allahi Naga Dhigay Islam. Kii Kabaxaana Cadaab baa U Sugnaaday.

 

 

My Faith in Jesus Christ the Messiah

Brother Warsameh

bwarsameh@yahoo.com

 

"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted"

2 Timothy 3:12

 

My Family Background

I was born to a very religious Somali family in a small village in western Somalia. I am a Somali. I grew up in Mogadishu where I worked and finished high school. My father was a well-known religious leader and also a well-respected tribal leader. He memorized the entire Qur'an in Arabic, even though he could not speak Arabic very well. The Qu'ran is roughly the size of the Christian New Testament.

 

My father trained Muslim religious teachers for the propagation of Islam. In his pursuit of spreading Islam he enjoyed the moral and material support of the military government in Somalia. My father gave me a very solid Muslim religious education for he wanted me to succeed him as a religious leader. Little did he know that I would become a follower of Jesus the Messiah.

 

How the Lord Found Me

Since the Qur'an says a lot of good things about Jesus the Messiah, I decided to study Him and His teachings as well. So I obtained the Holy Bible, Kitaabka Qudduuska Ah, in the English language. I shared with my father about my growing interest in Jesus Christ and my suspicion of the claims of Muhammad as the last prophet from God. He threatened to take my life away if I ever again openly questioned the claims and the trustworthiness of Islam.

 

After three years of studying the Bible the Lord found me in 1986. The Holy Spirit was certainly working in me since 1983 but I continuously resisted his conviction until 1986.

 

Many passages in the Bible spoke to me directly like the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) but it is the totality of the Scripture and its authenticity which impacted me the most. I remember the day I totally surrendered to the Lord. I spoke to the Lord in my heart and confessed my ignorance and arrogance towards His Messiah and his Injeel (The New Testament). I repented of my sins and started a new life with the Lord. The radio broadcast Codka Nolosha Cusub (Voice of New Life) personnel in Nairobi, Kenya, helped me in answering many of my questions (through correspondence) and guided me in my walk with the Lord. It was a difficult journey but worthy of the effort.

 

The Lord used radio ministers to convict me of my sins and to understand my need for redemption. I always knew that I could never please God and earn salvation on my merits. The Bible assured me that all I needed to do to be saved was to repent and turn away from my sins and accept Christ as my Savior - no more dogma, or empty rituals and no more constant fear of whether I will end up in hell or in heaven. I got solid assurance in Jesus the Messiah.

 

One radio ministry that blessed me beyond measure was Codka Nolosha Cusub (Voice of New Life) beamed from the Seychelles. CNC sent me invaluable Bible study materials and I faithfully listened to their radio programs. Before I met any flesh and blood believers to learn from them and to worship with them, CNC was my main source of spiritual growth during my lonely walk with the Lord.

 

CNC sent me many materials which were extremely helpful, like Somali Christian hymns, praise and worship songs and Bible study materials. The fact that I heard Somali Christians speaking my own mother tongue on the radio was also Encouraging - it was evident to me that Somalis could also follow the Messiah.

 

How My Family Reacted

My family was terribly disappointed when I shared with them my faith in Jesus the Messiah. My mother was the first person I confided my new faith in. I first told her that I found the Injeel (The New Testament) of Jesus which our religious leaders tell us was lost a long time ago. Then I showed her the entire Bible and told her that the Torah and Psalms were also there.

 

Needless to say, my mother did not believe me and dismissed my claims as baseless. I remember her telling me to fear Allah and not to abandon Islam. I could see she was red with anger and disappointment. She thought I was becoming a rebellious son - that was her concern. Some of my relatives were growing very impatient with me. They first thought I was beside myself and they repeatedly questioned my sanity. They threatened me with every conceivable punishment if I did not recant my faith. But I insisted on my newly found faith and freedom in the living Messiah who died on the cross for our sins, and who was resurrected from the dead on the third day, and now sits in heaven at the right hand of God.

 

I explained to them my reasoning for choosing Jesus over Muhammad. My point was clear and concise. I told them that God did not send any prophet to abrogate the Injeel of the Messiah. I told them that the Injeel was the final revelation of God and the Messiah Jesus Christ - the last messenger sent from God. The Injeel is the New Testament of the Christians.

 

I was finally told to leave home and I was disowned. This was a very painful experience in a culture where your identity and self worth are derived from your family. I automatically forfeited the acceptance and the protection of my clan and almost lost my job because of my faith in the Messiah.

 

The Somalis, like most Muslims, do not understand the Christian faith because they have never read the Bible. They only rely and trust what their religious leaders tell them. For a Somali, Christianity and paganism are synonymous.

 

My family finally took me back as their son when their fear of "paganism" did not materialize. As a devout Muslim, I was always well behaved and was considerate. My good qualities increased when the Lord found me and that surprised my Muslim family, relatives and friends. They couldn't believe that the Messiah had made me a better person.

 

The Price

Though the Lord found me in 1986, I did not meet any other Christians until 1992. My shortwave radio was my "church" and my "pastor". But things suddenly changed in 1992 when I met my first Somali Christian. I was introduced to him in Mogadishu by a Swedish missionary. Though I already knew this young man, I never knew he was a follower of the Messiah. He was an underground Christian just like me. Liibaan Ibraahim and I planted an underground house church in Mogadishu in 1993 and pastored it together. We had 14 members by early 1994.

 

Things went out of hand in 1994 when Muslims found out that there was a small but growing Christian community in their midst. Then, an unprecedented persecution broke out.

 

Liibaan was the first Christian martyr. He was shot to death early one morning when he was reporting to work. He was a nurse by training.

 

Dr. Ahmed Gobe was the next Somali Christian to be murdered. He was shot one evening when he was returning from his clinic. His bullet-ridden body was found the next morning.

 

Another member of our underground church who was martyred was Mohammed Haji. He was a former university professor who was educated in Canada. Mohammed was rebuilding the school system in Mogadishu that suffered under the civil war. He was then kidnapped and assassinated.

 

Another Somali Christian to be murdered was the famous Sheekh Doon. Sheekh Doon Was shot and killed, along with his muslim wife, in their bedroom when some gunmen Had broken into their home one night. Their children escaped physical harm.

 

Another Somali Christian member, Saleebaan Mohammed, was snatched from the bus he was riding home from work and was executed publicly in broad daylight because of his faith in Jesus the Messiah.

 

Only two members of our underground church in Somalia have survived the carnage, myself and another believer. Of the 14 in our church 12 were martyred. The murderers are still roaming in the streets of Mogadishu with impunity. The local authorities are not holding them responsible but the Lord will.

 

God has accepted those martyrs into His glorious Kingdom of Heaven. They were faithful to Jesus Christ and to His Testimony until the end. As Jesus said in the Book of Revelation chapter 2, "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." May God grant that those murderers will come to see the light that Jesus Christ is Lord, may they ask Jesus Christ to forgive them of their sins, or they will burn and suffer eternally in the lake of fire, the second death. For God alone has power over the second death.

 

After several attempts on my life, I left Somalia for another country in 1996 for fear of my life. I joined a Bible college there where I earned a Bachelor of Theology degree after four years of hard work. While in school, I periodically traveled to Somalia to plant underground house churches. This underground ministry produced strong house churches and capable church leaders. I am now pursuing a Master of Divinity degree in an evangelical seminary. I am the only Christian in my family.

 

Today there are many Somali Christians around the world and house churches as well. Most of Somali Christians live in East Africa but many have resettled in the West-primarily the US and the UK.

 

Allow Ina Mooti:

[Nomen nescio]

few months ago our imaam warned us about a local somali elderly man, who happen to be a community leader in our city, the imam, am egyptian, said that it has been confirmed that the guy is activly preaching christianity among the young somali kids!!!

[Wiilo]

U know what! I'm very upset the fact that Somalis are killing each other for some stubit shiiiid government positions, but now I'm even :mad: and shocked to hear that some ppl are in fact claiming Somali and claiming that they are Christians.. :mad: :mad: I can't hear two things Ethopia and Some Somalis claim christinity :mad: I rather have Somalis killing each other than Christians in my Country It is unacceptable me..................

 

 

Wabillaah:.......

[Jacaylbaro]

So, They need to be part of the new govenment ??

 

 

Cajiiiiiiib

[Wiilo]

Yap:

 

Talo keenayhee ragiina dagaalka iska wado ilaa iyo haatan, rag kale baaba idinku soo baxay....'

 

Cajaaib:............

[nuune]

cajjiib, war illeen tanoo kale aduunyada intaad nooshahay wax kaa yaabiyo unbaad arki.

[Nomen nescio]

Originally posted by Jacaylbaro:

So, They need to be part of the new govenment ??

 

 

Cajiiiiiiib

i guess they were told that the differences the delegations were trying to settle were tribal not religious issues... so they were sent back and told that they are already being represented by their qabiils..

 

i must admit that was one smartest thing i heard from Nairobi knockel heads...

[Wiilo]

That is if this story is true, which I doubted....

 

 

Go figure:...........

[Jacaylbaro]

wow ,,, that is when LOVE qabyaaladda

[nafta]

:eek: ...Preaching about christianity to Somali children...acuudu bilaahi

But why does that surprise me, nowadays we have got super-models, singers, rappers trying to get a record deal, so why not a priest to finsish it all off.

 

I actually got this tape at home about a somali man turned christian-turned muslim. He was a priest for several years before he 'saw the light' and DECIDED that islam is the best religion.

You can see from his face that he is a shaydaan walahi, gives me the freaks.

 

Thanx for sharing Wiilo

[Jumatatu]

Do I see lack of tolerancy in here and a huge amount of hypocrisy. You, Somalis, are the one kiling ourselves in terms of clan(note not tribe) differences and yet you scorn and say we have been invaded and our beliefs damaged by the spread of Christianity in Somali society. Hello...! We have crrised crossed thusands of miles and oceans to come to the land of Christianity for refuge and yet insult those of our society who follow their worship. You watch all they dish out in TV and watch and enjoy their sense of entartainment, while on the other hand you curse those among you who wish to follow their belief, at least those who did are being true to themself and not hypocritical.

Christianity in Somalia existed for long and it is not something new so you better get used to it. If you want to counter and stop its spreading then you can tell your wadads to be more convincing and interpret the Koran and Sunna in its original form and not to mingle the qabill mentality with it.Tell the Somali society to practice what they believe in and then and only can you tell and show your children the concretness and beauty of Islam. But you cannot have it both ways and be suprised at the out come.

For example the preacher of Christianity in Somalia is telling chuldren how GOd loves them and how they should respect their mankind, while the wadaads are building armed militias to spread their ideologies and killing or using a junta Islamic court to punish those they deem are against them. So tell me who would you choose given the choice..?

[Nomen nescio]

Originally posted by Jumatatu:

Do I see lack of tolerancy in here and a huge amount of hypocrisy. You, Somalis, are the one kiling ourselves in terms of clan(note not tribe) differences and yet you scorn and say we have been invaded and our beliefs damaged by the spread of Christianity in Somali society. Hello...! We have crrised crossed thusands of miles and oceans to come to the land of Christianity for refuge and yet insult those of our society who follow their worship. You watch all they dish out in TV and watch and enjoy their sense of entartainment, while on the other hand you curse those among you who wish to follow their belief, at least those who did are being true to themself and not hypocritical.

Christianity in Somalia existed for long and it is not something new so you better get used to it. If you want to counter and stop its spreading then you can tell your wadads to be more convincing and interpret the Koran and Sunna in its original form and not to mingle the qabill mentality with it.Tell the Somali society to practice what they believe in and then and only can you tell and show your children the concretness and beauty of Islam. But you cannot have it both ways and be suprised at the out come.

For example the preacher of Christianity in Somalia is telling chuldren how GOd loves them and how they should respect their mankind, while the wadaads are building armed militias to spread their ideologies and killing or using a junta Islamic court to punish those they deem are against them. So tell me who would you choose given the choice..?

dude,, you cant be seriouse... do you really mean what you just uttered??

[Wiilo]

I don't think he serious, :mad: may be......

 

 

UR WELCOME Nafta.........

[Passion_4_Fashion]

^^^wiilo naag deriskeena eheed oo aan kasaayay aa gaalowday....naxtintaan ka qaaday ilaah un baa og. taas waxaaba ka daranay wexey ballan ku qaatay iney dad badan oo soomaali eh iney gaaleyso. waxaan lasii yaabay waa naag weyn (in her 30's) oo lix ciyaal leh.