David W. Shenk, 85, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, January 31, at Landis Homes, Lititz, PA.
Somalis For Jesus
The Voice for the Voiceless
Friday, February 03, 2023
Dr. David W. Shenk Passes Away
Dr. David Shenk Passes On
Today we reflect on the life of David W. Shenk, who went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. We grieve the loss of David’s presence here on earth but rejoice that he has been received by his heavenly Father. In his autobiography, “A Gentle Boldness,” David concluded by reflecting on Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:20. David wrote that he and his wife Grace “were seeking to celebrate the peace of Jesus … Jesus commissions us to be his ambassadors of peace.” Indeed, that is what David has been: an ambassador of Christ’s peace! A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 18, at 10:30 a.m. at Mellinger Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pa. Join with us in praying for David’s wife, Grace, their children, and grandchildren as they mourn their loss.
Monday, August 08, 2022
Somali Christian Sentenced in Hargeisa
“Hana”, a young Somali Christian lady, was sentenced to five years of imprisonment in Hargeisa, Somaliland because of her Christian faith. The young Christian who was active on social media refused to recant her faith and return to Islam. Hana’s parents accused her to the local police a few months because of their disappointment in her faith and social media ministry.
It is illegal in Somaliland to abandon Islam and convert to any other faith. Propagating any faith other than Islam is also banned.
Another Somali Christian, Sa’eed Adan Mohamed, was brought to the Berbera District Court of Somaliland late last month where he was sentenced to three years of jail time and Somaliland Shilling one million (USD 150). A government lawyer accused Sa’eed of evangelism activities. Sa’eed has been held in Berbera central jail since June 2022. The Somali-owned MM TV reported the court decision and that Sa’eed was found guilty of the evangelism charges.[1]
Mohamud Yaasiin, the court judge, is a known Islamist sympathizer and the three-year sentence is seen by many as excessive. It is noteworthy that many of the Muslim residents in Berbera demanded the death sentence be imposed on Sa’eed.
C. G., another Somali Christian arrived in Addis Ababa a few days ago after fleeing Hargeisa, Somaliland, where he faced intense persecution. This long-time Christian is currently resting and recuperating in Addis Ababa after walking three days to the Ethiopian-Somaliland border.
Somaliland is historically more tolerant than southern Somalia but radical Islamism has been taking root in this breakaway republic for the last fifteen years.
[1]MMTV, July 20, 2022. Berbera Court. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?extid=WA-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C-GK2C&v=834017277562062
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
4 MASIIXIYIIN AH OO LAGU XIRAY HARGEYSA
Boliiska Somaliland ayaa saqdii dhexe u dhacay guri ay qoys Masiixiyiin ahi ka deggan yihiin caasimadda Hargeysa. Maxamed iyo Xayaat ayaa Khamiistii, 21 Janaayo 2021 xabsiga loo taxaabay iyaga oo lagu maagayo caqiidadooda. Xayaat ayaa umul ah iyada oo laba isbuuc ka hor qalliin ku dhashay gabar yar. Xayaat ayaan weli ka bogsoon qalliinkii lagu sameeyay. Sabtidii xigtay ayaa misna waxaa loogu dhacay hoygooda laba gabar oo Masiixiyiin ah oo mid ka soo jeeddo Xamar laguna magacaabo Xamda. Tan kalena ay tahay Itoobiyaan lagu magacaabo Esther. Afar Masiixiyiin ah ayaa iminka u xiran boliiska Hargeysa. Warar ay Somalis For Jesus (SFJ) si hoose u heshay ayaa sheegaya in dhawaan la filayo in Esther loo masaafurin doono dalkeeda Itoobiya.
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
4 CHRISTIANS ARRESTED IN HARGEYSA
The Somaliland Police in Hargeysa has raided the home of a Somali Christian couple, Mohamed and Hayaat, on Thursday, 21 January 2021. The raid came shortly before midnight. Hayaat delivered a baby daughter two weeks ago by C-section, and she has not yet fully recovered. Again, on Saturday, Hamda, a Somali Christian lady visiting Hargeisa from Mogadishu, and an Ethiopian Christian lady named Esther were also arrested. There are currently four Christians in custody in Hargeisa. Local reports indicate that Esther would soon be deported to Ethiopia.
Hamda is now very sick in prison and needs urgent medical attention. Hamda’s infant daughter is also ailing, and the Christian community is worried about her conditions.Another Somali Christian couple, Awale and Muna, was arrested in Hargeysa in September 2020 because of their Christian faith. The couple was eventually deported to Ethiopia via Mogadishu in November.
Both the people and the government of Somaliland are known to be tolerant. The repeated raids on local Christian homes create anxiety in the tiny Somali Christian community in Hargeisa.
Local sources have confirmed to Somalis For Jesus (SFJ) that radical Islamists have infiltrated the Somaliland Police Force in Hargeysa. Both Muslim and Christian sources point the finger at a former journalist turned radical Islamist, Abdimalik Muse Oldon. Oldon, as he is known, publicly denounced the Somaliland government in November when Awala and Muna were deported from Somaliland. Oldon chastised the government for not severely punishing the Christian couple.
The Somaliland government released Oldon from prison in June 2020. However, it became apparent quickly that he was radicalized while in detention. A junior police officer in Hargeisa told SFJ that “the once rational and compassionate journalist is now a raging Islamist.” A Christian source also told SFJ that Oldon openly supports the al-Shabab Islamist group, the most violent Muslim group in Africa.
It appears that Oldon is targeting the tiny Christian community in Hargeisa with the help of few police officers who are said to be on his payroll.
Please pray for the Christian community in Hargeysa, especially those detained for their faith because of their walk with the Lord.
Sunday, October 18, 2020
Thursday, October 08, 2020
Tuesday, October 06, 2020
Somaliland: Couple in need of prayer
Oct 6, 2020
Being alerted of “suspicious activities,” police came to the house of a Christian couple on 21 September, arresting both after they found Christian materials. The couple have three children.
At a 5 October press conference, a Somaliland police colonel stated that two individuals had been arrested for being “apostates and evangelists spreading Christianity,” with the case to be forwarded to the relevant court.
He also threatened that “whoever dares to spread Christianity in this region, should be fully aware that they won’t escape the hand of the law enforcement officers and that the spread of Christianity will not be allowed and is considered blasphemy.”
He encouraged citizens to report those spreading Christianity to the police.
The arrest and detention of the couple has caused great fear among the local Christian community, with many believers fleeing abroad.
Please pray:
- That the detained couple and their children will experience God’s closeness, peace and comfort during the couple’s detention, and for a speedy release
- For God’s strength for those who fled and wisdom if and when to return
- That the community will be, strong, courageous and overcome the fear
- For wisdom for the leadership on how to handle this situation and to continue their ministry without government interference.