(Cover photo/Canonist)
Eritrea (MNN/ODM) ― Even Eritrea's military is not exempt from the sweeps done for Christians.
Jerry Dykstra with Open Doors tells us what happened last Saturday. "17 young men were gathered for prayer in southern Eritrea. They were apparently soldiers, and they had gathered in a prayer meeting. They were arrested, thrown in prison and moved to another Eritrean detention center."
Authorities caught up to the group in the town of Segenaite. The men serving their compulsory national military service belonged to various churches.
These arrests bring to 28 the reported number of Christians arrested for their faith since the beginning of March. The government is sending a message to believers: "They're systematically trying to force out the members of the church."
Open Doors sources say approximately 2,200 Christians remain in prison for their refusal to stop practicing their faith outside of the government-sanctioned religious groups.
Some were released, many of them for health reasons. Others were also released on very strict bail conditions. Additionally, many other Christians have been released only to be sent back to the military in anticipation of a renewed war with neighboring Ethiopia. At least 12 Christians have died while being incarcerated in Eritrean prison camps.
However, the effort to stop evangelism often backfires. Dykstra says believers don't recant their faith even while they're behind bars. Their message: "Even in the midst of suffering and imprisonment, the Gospel goes out."
Dykstra urges prayer for the future of the church in Eritrea. "Persecution, as is often the case is, brought greater unity to the church of Eritrea."
Open Doors reports that Eritrea is ranked No. 11 on this year's Open Doors World Watch List of 50 countries which are the worst persecutors of Christians. There is more information here.
