Tunisia (MNN) — A week ago Tunisia experienced a coordinated double-suicide bombing targeting local police. The bombings happened within 10 minutes of each other. Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs USA says ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, though there is no proof verifying the group’s involvement.
Bombing in Tunisia
According to Nettleton, this violence comes as the country prepares to elect a new leader. Tunisia’s president will not run for re-election this year. This move towards democracy follows after “peaceful protests [and] marches earlier this spring.”
Tunisia is the birthplace of the 2011 Arab Spring.
(Photo courtesy of Wassim Ben Rhouma via Flickr)
Tunisia is a Muslim-majority nation and is ranked* as the 37th most difficult place to live as a Christian. It is unlikely the coming election will produce anything other than an Islamic government. Protests in Tunisia once sparked the Arab Spring. Today, it is considered a success story of the movement. Now, there is some concern the recent unrest could undo current progress.
“Things seem to be moving in a peaceful and positive direction towards the exercise of democracy there. Now you have these two bombings [after] the President was hospitalized [beacuse] he is, and has been for a while, in very poor health” Nettleton explains. More than anything else, uncertainty characterizes the upcoming elections.
A Place for the Gospel
In the uncertainty, particularly when encountering life-threatening events in such close proximities, the concept of eternity is often pushed to the forefront of people’s minds. It is important that in moments like these, the local church shares the hope and light of the Gospel with those facing loss, fear, and hopelessness.
(Graphic courtesy VOM USA via Instagram)
“Pray for [Tunisian Christians’] boldness to witness, boldness to stand up and be heard in the election process, in the democratic processes,” Nettleton urges.
“Pray for God’s protection over them.
“As far as for the whole country, pray for peace. Pray that these democratic things will happen, that there won’t be delays to them, [that] they won’t be pushed off course.”
Pray God would use His people in Tunisia to share His love and the good news of the Gospel.
Commit to praying for the persecuted Church here.
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*The World Watch List (WWL) by Open Doors USA ranks the top 150 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. Find the WWL here.
Header image courtesy of Open Doors USA.
