On April 21, four Muslims beat an evangelist to death and assaulted his pregnant wife in Worabe, Ethiopia. Evangelist Abraham Abera died on the spot, but his wife, who sustained a severe head injury and was left unconscious on the street, was found and taken to a hospital in Butajira, where she regained consciousness April 22. Birtukan's unborn baby fortunately survived the attack. Birtukan said she knew two of the attackers. She said as the Muslims were beating her and her husband, they said, "You [Christians] are growing in number in our area. You are spreading your message [the gospel]. We will destroy you." The attackers remain at large. A Christian leader in the area said the men may not be arrested because the local officials are also Muslims. The area is 97 percent Muslim.
Pray Birtukan will be healed and fully restored to good health. Pray the Lord ministers to her in her grief. Pray her child will grow to understand and love the faith of his/her parents. Pray for the safety of Christians in Muslim-majority regions of Ethiopia, that the Lord would strengthen them to lovingly and boldly proclaim the gospel (Ephesians 6:18-20).
Find out more about the persecuted Church in Ethiopia by visiting the Ethiopia Country Report.
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