Somalia (MNN) — The Christian community continues to be targets of anti-Christian violence in the African nation of Somalia. The home of increasing amounts of piracy on the seas, the home-grown terrorism from al Shabaab continues to be a source of concern for Christians there.
Greg Musselman with Voice of the Martyrs, Canada says 21 year old Hassan Adawe Adan was gunned down by two Muslim extremists connected to the terrorist group. "He had converted from Islam to Christianity several months ago. And it was found out that he was a Christian. He was dragged out of his house, and he was shot and killed."
According to Musselman, this is a planned killing. "When they do these murders they want the publicity. It's very much used as a fear tactic to any Muslim that might even consider becoming a Christian. It also puts fear into the hearts of believers there in Somalia."
According to Compass Direct News, area Christians said they suspected someone had informed the Islamic militants of his conversion. One source said that a relative who belonged to al Shabaab had told Adan's mother that he suspected her son was a Christian.
The good news, says Musselman, is that this proves one thing. "When these kinds of situations happen, it also reminds us that God is at work. And because He's at work, persecution is happening because the Gospel is active; things are happening [people are coming to Christ]."
Reports from many Muslim countries indicate a miraculous move of the Holy Spirit, says Musselman. "Many Muslims are having dreams and visions of Jesus, or they are starting to study the Bible on their own, at great risk, because they want to know more about Esa, or Jesus. They discover that He's not just a prophet, but he's the Son of God, He died for [their] sins, and they accept Him as their Savior."
While al Shabaab is trying to eradicate converts to Christianity, Musselman says, "It grieves my heart when I hear young men like Hassan who are being killed, who have a zeal to tell others about Christ, and he's 'taken out.' It looks [on the surface] like it will hinder the spread of the Gospel, but in many times it leads other believers to be stronger."
Musselman is asking Christians to pray that God will continue to multiply His church in Somalia. Pray also that discipleship will continue and that believers would be bold in talking about their faith. Also pray that God would continue to soften hearts of Muslims, especially members of al Shabaab, and allow them to hear the Gospel.
