East Africa (MNN) – For centuries, Christianity has shaped life in both Mozambique and Ethiopia. But recent violence has church leaders and believers concerned about growing instability.
(Photo courtesy of VOM USA)
Earlier this month, a Mozambican bishop was shot and killed at his home. Bishop Osório Citora Afonso of the Diocese of Quelimane had been growing more vocal about Islamist violence in the region before he was murdered on June 6th. Christian leaders across Africa are calling for a full investigation.
Meanwhile, Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia’s Oromia region are mourning deadly attacks on churches. At least 37 Christians have been killed in the violence, and over 2,500 displaced. One church destroyed was the 101-year-old Telata St. Gabriel Church.
Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA says the situations are part of a larger pattern of unrest in East Africa.
“I think part of what has happened that has sort of raised the profile of these attacks is you have a number of people being killed in the attacks, but you also have a church being destroyed that was 101 years old. So this is not a church building that somebody put up on their property a year ago or five years ago.”
Believers in the Oromia region, a predominantly Muslim zone, have been the primary victims of these attacks.
(Photo courtesy of VOM USA)
“It does appear that Orthodox Christians are being targeted based on their religious identity,” says Nettleton. “In these attacks, they’re not attacking mosques; they are attacking churches. So it does seem to have a religious element or a religious motivation to the attacks.
“You have different facets of the population fighting against each other, looking for control, looking to gain influence, to gain power, and so this is one part of that sort of broader picture.”
As believers learn about the challenges facing Christians in Ethiopia and Mozambique, Nettleton encourages prayer.
“I would especially pray that there would be revival and that people would come to faith in Christ, even amidst the conflict and amidst the upheaval that’s going on.”
Pray for comfort and protection for affected believers, and ask God to draw many people in East Africa to Himself.
Header photo courtesy of VOM USA.
