Religious Liberty Prayer List – No. 215 – Tue 15 Apr 2003

—————————————– ERITREA: PROTESTANTS VIOLENTLY PERSECUTED (Also Nigerian Elections) —————————————–

Eritrea lies along the west coast of the Red Sea on the horn of Africa. Its population is almost equally divided between Muslims and Christians, with the vast majority of Christians being Eritrean Orthodox. In the past five years, an evangelical renewal movement has blossomed from within the Orthodox Church. Independent evangelical and Pentecostal churches have sprung up and grown across Eritrea. In trying to counter ‘extremism’, the government watches Islamic and Christian evangelical groups closely.

In May 2002, the Eritrean government closed all churches that were not part of the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Mekane Yesus (Evangelical Lutheran) denominations, affecting some 20,000 believers. But worse was to come, with Compass Direct reporting severe persecution of evangelical Protestants during February and March 2003. This included harassment, imprisonment, humiliation, beatings, torture and threat of execution. Whole congregations have suffered this cruel and degrading treatment as punishment for following ‘a new religion’.

In one case, 15 police with machine guns arrested all 40 people (children included) meeting for choir practice and Bible study in the Philadelphia Church. When enquiring about them at the prison, their pastor also was arrested and taken into the prison courtyard to be humiliated and tortured in front of his congregation. Elsewhere, 72 worshippers from across three congregations were arrested and locked in metal container cells in appalling, insanitary conditions for 15 days. They were bailed with the warning never to meet together or ever try to evangelise anyone again. In total, 170 Protestants were jailed and punished for up to 15 days during February and March 2003.

Compass also revealed that 74 soldiers who had become Pentecostals were arrested in a sweep of the military 13 months ago. According to Compass they have been in a military prison ever since, suffering beatings, deprivations and shocking conditions aimed at forcing them to deny their faith.

In September 2001 the Eritrean government arrested their most significant critics and shut down all private media. Foreign journalists also cannot operate freely in Eritrea. Believers are risking their lives by getting this information out. They clearly fear the price of silence could be higher than the price of speaking out. They desperately need our prayers.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:

* God to turn the heart of the Eritrean government away from fear, suspicion and oppression, and towards understanding and liberty. May the release of this information lead not to reprisals, but to dialogue between the Eritrean government and evangelicals. ‘The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.’ Proverbs 21:1 NIV

* God to use for good, that which is meant for evil, so that the witness of the Eritrean believers will be far-reaching, powerful and fruitful. ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.’ Joseph to his brothers, Genesis 50:20 NIV

* God, by his ever-present Holy Spirit, to strengthen and comfort believers who are suffering or have suffered. ‘Despite all these things (sufferings and persecutions) overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us.’ Romans 8:37 NLT

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ———————————————————— PROTESTANTS VIOLENTLY PERSECUTED IN ERITREA

Independent evangelical and Pentecostal churches in Eritrea have come under a severe government crackdown. In May 2002 the Eritrean government closed all churches not part of the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Mekane Yesus (Evangelical Lutheran) denominations. It is now known there is severe persecution that includes harassment, imprisonment, humiliation, beatings, torture and threat of execution. In February and March 2003, a total of 170 Protestants, from children to elders, were imprisoned and punished for up to 15 days because they were following ‘a new religion’. Also, 74 soldiers have been suffering severely in a military prison since February 2002 because they are Pentecostals. These believers and this nation desperately need our prayers.

———- Also:

PRAY FOR A PEACEFUL NIGERIAN PRESIDENTIAL POLL ON 19 APRIL

We can thank God for answering the prayers of many with the 12 April legislative polls more peaceful than media and election observers had expected. President Obasanjo’s party looks set to win that election. For the presidency however, the nation appears to be split geographically, with the north, including Plateau, Kaduna and Kano, favouring pro-Sharia General Buhari and the south supporting Obasanjo. Once again, Nigerian Christian community and church leaders are calling believers to pray and fast for peace and security during the election period. Again, we will pray in solidarity with them.

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The WEA Religious Liberty Commission sponsors this RL Prayer List to help individuals and groups pray specifically and regularly for religious liberty issues, and in particular to uphold the Church where it is suffering persecution.

RL Prayer is moderated by Ron Clough, a commissioner of the WEA RLC and convenor of the Australian EA RLC.

Elizabeth Kendal researched and authored this message.

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