Mozambique (MNN) — Mozambique needs help fighting terrorism. That was the decision made by several Southern African countries this week. They will send troops to combat insurgents supported by the Islamic State. Since 2017, fighting in Mozambique has displaced around 800,000 people.
Todd Nettleton of The Voice of the Martyrs USA says insurgents have often targeted Christians. “They say their goal is to set up a caliphate similar to ISIS in Iraq and Syria. And they are in some cases, literally going door to door. They ask, ‘Are you a Christian? Or are you a Muslim?’ If you’re a Christian, you’re killed. If you’re a Muslim, then you get the opportunity to quote some Quranic verses. And if you can quote them sufficiently, you save your life. Otherwise, you also get killed.”
Growth of the Gospel
Nettleton has even heard reports of the insurgents carrying out crucifixions in Mozambique. But many Muslims in the region have encountered Jesus. Nettleton says, “We’re partnering with Christians on the ground in northern Mozambique, to provide help, even just a tarp to put over their heads. They say, ‘Our Muslim brothers are attacking us. And these Christians who we don’t even like are helping us. Why is that?’ Well, that is a great opportunity for those Christians to say, ‘Let me tell you [about Jesus]. Let me share why I am helping you.’”
Ask God to comfort Christians in Mozambique as they suffer as Jesus did. And pray many Muslims will find hope in the crucified and risen Lord.
The header image shows a bridge leading to the Cabo Delgado Province, where most of the fighting has taken place. (Photo courtesy of F Mira from Lisbon, Portugal, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
