Persecuted Church: New Year in Djibouti

Kim Wenzel

So, when is your next trip to Djibouti? Surely, you have been there before? Just kidding. If you are the average human in North America, you may not know where on earth Djibouti is located.

No, it is not in the South Pacific, and not Antarctica. Look at a map of Africa, and if you go to the northeast side of Ethiopia, you will find a tiny little piece of land next to the Gulf of Aden. That is it, the country of Djibouti!

This tiny country has about 775,000 people, of which about 15,000 are followers of Christ. The rest are Muslim. Although approximately 95% of the people are Sunni Muslim, the government generally respects the constitutional protection of freedom of religion – although they don’t like religious minorities.

Ethiopian Orthodox Christians form the largest Christian group, but there are many service personal from various groups and some Djibouti native Christians. Saudi Arabia is the 800-pound gorilla just across the Gulf of Aden, and has a big influence upon tolerances and intolerance found inside Djibouti. On such a tiny country as Djibouti, al-Qaeda and al-Shabaab also have an influence.

How can you pray for our 15,000 brothers and sisters in Djibouti?

First, pray for native Djibouti believers who may be rejected and persecuted by their own families. Second, pray for Christian TV and internet sites in the French language which spread the gospel of Christ within the country. Third, thank God, the government does not bother that most ex-pat Christians, and most Ethiopian believers are tolerated. With Saudi Arabian influence, this can all change quickly!

Kim Wenzel is a local Open Doors USA ministry representative who speaks in churches and groups about praying for the persecuted church. For more information, persons interested may contact Wenzel at pastorkimwenzel@gmail.com or 918-919-1490. Hear more about the persecuted church at noon, every Monday on KWXC 88.9 FM Christian talk radio.

Source: grandlakenews.com