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KINGDOM NEWS from the Somali Bible Society (SBS) |
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| Dr. Howie Shute Director of Development Somali Bible Society (SBS) An-Nour University (AU) |
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Hi << Test First Name >>, Somali Christians face severe persecution from the governing authorities to the lowest levels of society. In this issue you will find the Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia taking away rights of citizenship from Somalis who leave Islam. |
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The Somali Bible Societyβs General Secretary has written a letter to the PM, asking him to reconsider his position in the light of the legalities put forth in the countryβs constitution. Although such letters are necessary, we know that it will be your prayers that will make the difference. If you do nothing else with this newsletter, please pray for the requests given in the Prayer and Praise section below.
Although high government officials can be a threat to the welfare of the Church in Somalia, it is the people themselves that exact the greatest persecution upon followers of Jesus.
We provided in this issue a sampling of social media posts that demonstrate how the Somali people themselves are maybe the greatest threat to Christ-followers. As you pray for an openness in the government for religious freedom for the Somali people, pray also that there would be a mindset change in the Somali culture, where Muslims and Christians can live in peace together. |
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PERSECUTION BY GOVERNING AUTHORITIES |
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In April 2026 the Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia gave a public address, making a declaration that any Somali that leaves Islam should lose their national identity and citizenship. These remarks are very dangerous to the security and rights of all Somali Christians. Although the 1:33 minute video below is in the Somali language, you can follow his thoughts in the English captions given. Taking the 93 seconds of your time to watch this video will give you a better understanding of what it is like for a Christian to live in Somalia. |
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Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre |
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| Dr. Aweis Ali, the General Secretary of the Somali Bible Society, has written a letter of appeal regarding the Prime Ministerβs remarks that are, not only threatening to a growing population of his constituents, but also unconstitutional in the Federal Republic of Somalia. His letter can be read by clicking the red button below. In doing so, we believe that you will be better prepared to pray for your Somali brothers and sisters in Christ. |
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SOCIAL MEDIA AND PERSECUTION |
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In past newsletters we have highlighted various ways that Somali Christians are persecuted by their Muslim familes, friends, and neighbors. Somali Christians are marginalized from society and isolated from their families. They often lose their employment and, worse yet, their clan forcibly takes their spouses and children away from them. Many times they lose their lives. Some are beheaded. All of this has been reported in earlier newsletters.
In this monthβs issue we are pointing out how social media is being used to persecute anyone who leaves Islam to follow Jesus. The leaders of the Somali Bible Society and their local church partners have been especially targeted by social media threats. Dr. Aweis Ali, the Founder and General Secretary of the Somali Bible Society, has been attacked in social media more than any other.
The following assortment of social media posts demonstrates that Somali Muslims are panicking because more and more Somalis follow Jesus: 170,000 Somali Christians is too many. Did you mean 70 people? No, they are indeed more than 170,000. They could number about 500,000. Forget about the number of Somali Christians on Facebook. The Somali Christians I know in Addis Ababa and Nairobi are countless. The worst part is the way they try to share their faith with Muslims. These Christians used to hide, but now they openly practice their religion. Christianity is spreading in Somalia. The internet should be blocked because Christians use it to spread their religion. The Christian ministry on the ground can be regulated. I saw in Somalia that many intellectuals are suspected of being Christians. Somali Christian ministries have offices in major cities in Somalia. They used to hide before, but now they donβt because their numbers have grown. Due to the spread of Christianity in Southern Somalia, I decided to support al Shabab. Muslims are declining in Southern Somalia. We can now acknowledge that there are Somali Christians. We are no longer 100% Muslim. Just check TikTok. What more proof do you need? By 2050, half of the Somali Cushitic people will be Christian.
The following assortment of social media posts demonstrates that Somali Muslims are panicking because of Aweisβ unique and extemely effective leadership in reaching Muslims for Christ: Aweis is a dangerous man and a tactician; he understands Somalis well. Aweis is an expert in Somali culture; he knows it very well. His poetry is deeply rooted in Somali traditions and is truly exceptional. Recently, a report about Aweis appeared on TikTok. It surprised me that a Somali would take part in something as crooked as evangelism. Furthermore, read Aweisβ history. He is not like weak Christians who complain. He has been doing this for 50 years and has written 25 books. He also translated the Bible into the Somali language. Aweis witnessed to 3,000 families. No one is safe; they all became Christians. Aweis fled from Mogadishu in 1996 after 12 Christians who gathered at his home for prayers were killed within two years. He is the only survivor of the 13 Christians who met at his home as a house church. Aweis escaped to Ethiopia in 1996 and moved to the USA in 2001. However, after a short time, he returned and settled in Jigjiga and Addis Ababa. I have this manβs photo. His name is Aweis Ali, and heβs a Somali, who converted abroad. In 2023, he converted 200,000 Somali Muslims to Christianity. I will not publicly share Aweisβ publications; I donβt want some of our people to read them. Aweis is an author. His name is enough. Seek Allahβs protection before you read his work. Aweis focuses on helping poor women and children while wearing a humanitarian shirt; he evangelizes hungry people while we are caught up in clannish conflicts. Aweis is more effective than other Somali Christians. He employs every strategy to evangelize Somalis. His goal is to see 50% of Somalis become Christian, or maybe even 100%. How can he achieve such an ambitious goal?
The following assortment of social media posts threatens Dr. Aweisβ life:
Aweisβ Muslim relatives must hasten his death. Aweisβ PhD will send him to hell. May he perish in hellfire. Find a way to capture Aweis. Lock him in a small room and remove one of his nails each day. Killing Aweis is permissible. May Allah stop Aweis. Let us kill and decapitate him. Somalis will never come back to Islam once they convert to Christianity. This is so sad. Why hasnβt Aweis been killed yet? Why canβt we send some men to disguise as students to kill him? Aweis is a dirty man who converts people to Christianity. Help me find him. I will use his blood to wash myself. I will kill him even though I have never killed anyone before. Cursed be Aweis; he should have been killed a long time ago. Where does Aweis live now? I will become a suicide bomber to kill him. Any man or woman in Somalia who is not Muslim must be killed.
In the February 2026 issue of this newsletter a brief video was presented on persecution in Somalia and how Aweis was impacted by it. If you missed that earlier video, you will find it very informative and fodder for prayer. Click the red button to see video below. |
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| A VIDEO FROM THE FEBRUARY 2026 NEWSLETTER |
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| | Persecution in Somalia is especially severe, even deadly. Open Doors ranks Somalia the second most dangerous place on earth for Christians to live, second only to North Korea. Even though many have been martyred for their faith, the Somali Church is growing exponentially. Currently the Somali Bible Society and their local church partners are seeing 200+ Somali Muslims coming to Christ daily. |
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If you would like to support the ministry of the Somali Bible Society in making disciples like Aweis, donate to Project #102852. Your donation will provide for a ministry center in the heart of Somalia that facilitates making and equipping disciples of Jesus Christ! |
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| | Praying for Somali Christians |
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| Praising God for the Somali Church |
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| Pray for Aweis Aliβs safety. Aweis is the most wanted man in Somalia. His ministry poses such a great threat to Muslims that he is their number one target.
Pray that Aweisβ letter to the Prime Minister of Somalia would be received with an open-mind and that the PM would give the position taken in the letter a fair hearing, especially considering the legal rights provided in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Pray that a great awakening would take place across the Somali Peninsula and a multitude of Muslims would come to Christ. We are seeing 200+ Somali Muslims coming to Christ daily across the Somali Peninsula. Our prayer and vision is for 1000+ a day to become Jesus-followers.
Pray for the Somali Bible Society as they continue to find, recruit, and train missionaries to serve in the Somali Diaspora.
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| Give praise and thanks to God for churches and individuals across the USA and in other western nations gaining passion to support the ministry of the Somali Bible Society. A church in Rodgers, Minnesota just made a significant contribution to our camel ministries, taking the Gospel to unreached, nomadic people. Give praise and thanks to God, as our mission to one of the largest populations of Somalis outside the Somali Peninsula, takes continuous steps forward to reach those in the Somali Diaspora.
Give praise and thanks to God, as he continues to provide contacts in another major Somali population outside the Somali Peninsula, who will be helpful in recruiting missionaries to serve in that part of the world.
Give praise and thanks to God that the Somali Church is one of the fastest growing churches in the world, despite the heavy persecution that Christians face.
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| UPDATE ON FINANCING THE GSC BUILDING SITE |
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| In order to provide mission resilience for the Somali Bible Society (SBS) and to supply housing for training, education, and discipleship activities, the SBS is planning to build a ministry center in the heart of Somalia. We have entered into a purchase contract for the building site at a cost of $240,000. (This location that provides needed security came at a high price). |
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| The future Good Samaritan Center for the Somali Bible Society & An-Nour University (not an exact image for security reasons) |
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As of mid-April 2026, we have received $82,082 toward the $240,000 needed to purchase the building site for the Good Samaritan Center. With four months remaining before the July 2026 deadline, we still need to raise $157,918.
The cost per square foot for this property is $58 USD. By contributing toward even one square footβor moreβyou can play a meaningful role in helping make the Good Samaritan Center a reality.
This ministry center will significantly expand the capacity of the Somali Bible Society, its local church partners, and An-Nour University to serve the Islamic world, bringing Muslims to Christ.
While larger gifts are especially needed at this stage, contributions of any amount are deeply appreciated and make a real difference. |
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| Giving Progress for Good Samaritan Center Building Site |
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| | Note Project #102852 in the Project #/Comment field. |
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| IS GOD CALLING YOU TO GIVE? |
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If you have not given before to the ministry of the Somali Bible Society, will you consider becoming one of our supporters? There are many ministry options available for your donation.
For those who have given before, βThank you for your generosity! Your partnership in the ministry of the Somali Bible Society is so appreciated!β |
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| | Your continued support of any of our many projects will bring lasting fruit. Every donation you make has a great impact on a lost world and the expansion of Godβs Kingdom.
Thank you for giving! |
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| Consider making your donation a recurring monthly donation. |
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| IS GOD CALLING YOU TO SERVE? |
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| | Is God Calling You? The Somali Bible Society is currently recruiting missionaries to serve in various countries around the globe. We need missionaries in the major cities of the USA and in most world regions outside of the USA. If you, or someone you know, would like to discuss the possibility of involvement in a mission to the Somali people in some region of the world, or even somewhere in the USA, email me:
howie@somalibiblesociety.org |
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| | You can obtain a free copy of a digital Somali New Testament or a complete Bible by clicking links or scanning QR codes below: |
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| | | | Click Link to Somali Bible |
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| Scan Somali Bible QR Code |
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| | Somali Bible Society (SBS) Somali-registered Non-profit Making Christ-like Disciples Thru Bible Engagement |
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| Somali Bible Society Network (SBSN) US-registered 501c3 Non-profit Developing Financial & Human Resources for SBS |
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| | Click on links below for websites and social media platforms. |
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| | AVAILABLE FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS |
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| Dr. Howie Shute is available to speak in Mission Conventions, Faith Promise Services, Local Church Missionary Meetings, Sunday Services, and Breakfast/Lunch Meetings to raise awareness of the exciting possibilities in the mission to Somalia. |
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| | SUBSCRIBE TO MONTHLY NEWSLETTER |
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| Feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested.
To subscribe to this monthly newsletter, click the SUBSCRIBE button, or scan the QR CODE. |
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