SOMALIA — Christians Under Fire for Their Faith

On Nov. 23, Mohamud Muridi Saidi, a Somali Christian, fled the Kakuma refugee camp on the Kenyan border after receiving death threats from Muslims, according to Compass Direct News.

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Somali Christians under fire for their faith

A Somali Christian, Mohamud Muridi Saidi, has fled the Kakuma refugee camp on Kenya's border due to death threats he received from Muslims who had transferred to the camp in August. The Muslims, who knew Saidi was from a Christian family, threw stones at his iron sheet home four times in recent months, once in mid-October and three times in November. As word spread that the Muslims were intending to kill him, Saidi fled the camp on November 23 and was forced to leave his family behind. At last report, Saidi remained in hiding in fear for his life and was hoping for asylum for his family. He is the sole provider for his mother, wife and four children. (Source: Compass Direct)

Abdurrahman Hajji Omer

On December 3, a Somali believer living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was poisoned by an unknown assailant. Abdurrahman Hajji Omer (38) died the next morning at the local hospital. He is mourned by three children.

Ask God to give His abiding comfort to Abdurrahman Hajji Omer's family as they mourn for him. Pray for God's protection and provision for Mohamud Muridi Saidi and his family. Pray that in the midst of challenges, Somali Christians will remain unshaken from the work the Lord has given them, trusting Him to bring eternal results (1 Corinthians 15:58).

To find out more about Somalia's suffering Christians, click here.

Copts Grapple with Cause of Fire at Church in Egypt

Compass Direct News reports that the congregation of aCoptic church that was destroyed by fire last week is divided over whether it was a case of arson. At 3 p.m. on Sept. 8, a fire broke out at the Church of Saint Paul andSaint Peter in Shebin al-Kom, 37 miles (60 kilometers) northwest of Cairo, destroying it along with its icons, relics and most of its furniture. According to local media reports, investigators said the cause of the fire was electrical. A sizable portion of the congregation, however, disputes this. One church member whose name has been withheld for her protection said that the electrical system in the church was largely unscathed by the fire. She said the damage did not radiate from the church's fuse box. Gamal Gerges, a local reporter who works for the newspaper Al-Youm al-Sabeh, said police have no proof that the fire was accidental. "The police did not have evidence, but said what they did to avoid strife between the Christians and the Muslims," Gerges said.