Day of the Christian Martyr 2023

June 29th is Day of the Christian Martyr, marking the martyrdom of the Apostle Paul. Each year, Voice of the Martyrs honors a martyr by sharing their powerful story. These saints have given their lives to share the gospel in their communities. They are not celebrities, but real heroes. This year Abdiwelli Ahmed was chosen as the latest inductee for Day of the Christian Martyr.

Abdiwelli was a Somalian who came from a long line of Muslims. While in college, he began comparing the Quaran to the Bible. He fell in love with the Bible and gave his life to Jesus. From that point on Abdiwelli’s life was in danger as he was seen as a threat to Muslim students and faculty. He suffered beatings and many other bad things. But that didn’t stop Abdiwelli. 

He and his wife Helen fearlessly shared the gospel to the Somali people while serving them through an agriculture ministry. They received death threats regluarly, yet they kept sharing the gospel. Twenty years after Abdiwelli placed his faith in Jesus Christ, he was gunned down as he was talking on the street with a pastor. Helen knew her husband’s death was not in vain.

“We have a triumphant God. We know God is going to triumph in this situation.” – Helen Ahmed, Abdiwelli’s wife. 

You can learn more about Abdiwelli here https://www.persecution.com/martyr/

Last year, 5621 Christians were murdered for their faith. (Open Doors USA)

More than 360 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith. (Open Doors USA)

312 million Christians around the world currently face high or extreme levels of persecution. (Open Doors USA)

 

God bless all those who suffer for the cause of Jesus Christ. We stand with you as your brothers and sisters in Christ. May God continue to strengthen, equip, and protect each and every one of you. Amen.

Love you all,

Meghan

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

Voice of the Martyrs serves persecuted Christians in the most dangerous places around the world. 

https://www.persecution.com/

Open Doors USA supports Christians suffering persecution in more than 70 countries.

https://www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/ 

 

P.S. The link to Open Doors USA is not working at the time of this writing. Please just do an internet search for Open Doors USA if the link continues to not work. Thank you!

 

Photo Credit: Meghan E. White