Abtinoow, A Long Time Somali Christian Dies

 SJF, Immediate release

Abdullahi Siyaad Qanyare, 75, has today passed away in Jowhar, Somalia. Abdullahi, who is better known for his moniker, Abtinoow, had become a disciple of Christ 55 years ago when he was 20 years old. Abdullahi was a dedicated disciple of Christ who suffered a lot for his faith since 1991. The radical Islamist group, al-Shabab, arrested him in 2010 and held him for 75 days accusing him of “spreading Christianity in Somalia.” Abdullahi’s powerful Hawaadle clan intervened and secured his release.

Abdullahi worked with multiple relief and development organizations since he was 19. It was his association with the Christian organizations that exposed him to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Abdullahi stated in a telephone conversation with SJF in November 2019 that he came to the Lord under the ministry of the Somalia Mennonite Mission in 1965.

A house-church pastor in Jowhar described Abdullahi, “the most prominent Somali Christian inside Somalia.” The pastor added that Abdullahi mentored some of the most excellent Christians in southern Somalia since the collapse of Somalia’s central government in 1991.

Abdullahi will be remembered for choosing to stay and minister in Somalia, including areas under the control of the militant Islamist group, al-Shabab. An evangelist in Mogadishu told SJF that Abdullahi was the most senior and the most mature Christian in the Middle Shebelle Region of Somalia.

There is no doubt that the Somali Church has lost a hero of the faith.

SJF sends its condolences to the global Somali Church.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Those Who Died in Christ

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.