| The population of Somalia is approximately 18 million people living in a nation the size of Texas. Most Somalis live in villages and settlements with no reliable roads for vehicles. Reaching these people can be a real challenge. And then there are the nomadic camel herders that roam the deserts and make infrequent contact with those living in these remote villages and settlements. Taking the Gospel to camel herders is even a greater challenge. In fact, there is no evidence that even one camel herder has become a Jesus-follower from late in the 17th century until now. |
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βCamel Librariesβ
Camel herders and others living in these hard to reach villages and settlements are less likely to leave Islam and become Christ-followers because of their illiteracy. The national literacy rate of Somalia is about 35%, but this rate is even lower in the remote areas of Somalia, where education opportunities are very limited. That is the reason that the Somali Bible Society and their local church partners have initiated the use of Camel Libraries. |
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| SBS and their local church partners have built book shelves that fit nicely on the camelβs back. It costs $500 to build the bookshelf and to stock it with study materials for teaching how to read and write in the Somali language. These materials also include selected portions of the Bible and Bible study resources. |
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Those living in these remote areas enthusiastically greet the arrival of these Camel Libraries. Whether they are children living in these remote areas or camel herders at work, caring for their herds, they are anxious to learn how to read and write in their mother tongue. |
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Each Camel Library is accompanied by volunteer literacy trainers. These Somali volunteers serve without pay because of their love for their people. They want to see their fellow Somalis learn to read and write their native language, and they desire to see them turn to Christ and become His followers.
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Each Camel Library Team costs $1,500 to outfit. The camel costs $1,000 and the library $500 with the trainers coming at no cost, since they are volunteering their time. |
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To date we have seen 50 camel herders come to Christ through the ministry of the Somali Bible Society and their local church partners. The SBS itself has mobilized three Camel Library teams.
In the February 2025 issue we told the story of Ibrahim and how his life was drastically changed when we took him the Gospel through the ministry of a Camel Library Team, where he was caring for his herd of 53 camels. Because of this ministry, Ibrahim left Islam and became a Christ-follower. Heβs now a passionate evangelist, working to bring others to Christ. See his full story in the February issue here.
There are so many Ibrahims that are still not reached. We need more teams desperately if we are to reach these unreached Muslim people. We need 100 Camel Libraries to cover the entire country. Although that would come at a cost of $150,000, you could become a partner in this ministry for a donation that you could afford. There are some who could outfit a Camel Library Team at the cost of $1,500; or maybe you would choose to join a Support Team Partnership. Consider the following giving options: Support one Camel Library Team - $1,500 Join a Support Team of 10 - $150 each donor Join a Support Team of 20 - $75 each donor
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Consider making your donation a recurring monthly donation. If that is not possible, your one-time donation will still make a difference in building Godβs Kingdom in Somalia for these unreached Islamic people. |
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| | Insert PROJECT #102727 and note Camel Library on Donation Page in Project #/Comments field. |
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βChurch on a Camel Backβ (COCB)
The Camel Library teams have in and of themselves proven to be effective in reaching the unreached. However, the Church on a Camel Back ministry has complimented the ministry of the Camel Libraries and has increased the overall effectiveness in taking the Gospel to unreached Somali Muslims. These teams have been formed to take the Gospel to camel herders through the witness of those living and working with them in desert areas.
The Somali Bible Society and their local church partners have formed teams consisting of six camels (five she-camels and one he-camel) and three trained Somali evangelists. The three evangelists serve in rotation, one evangelist at a time for three months. These evangelists take their herd of six and join larger herds (of at least 100) where the camel herders are from their own clan. |
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The Witness of a Church on a Camel Back Team in Action |
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These evangelists serve as volunteers and support themselves from the sale of camel milk, as they make periodic contact with people living in the remote villages and settlements. The camels are owned by the SBS, even those offspring from the original six are owned by the SBS and prepared for mobilization. |
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As SBS gains camels through the offspring of the camels they own and from those purchased with donor funds, they are staged for additional Church on a Camel Back and Camel Library teams to be mobilized with the mission of making disciples to the uttermost parts of the earth. |
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The mission of the Church on a Camel Back has become so successful that a group of local Somali Christians has joined donors from Western nations and has sacrificially supported one of these teams themselves. |
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Would you consider partnering with these Somali Christians and supporting a Church on a Camel Back (COCB) team yourself? Each team comes at a cost of $6,000 (six camels at $1000 each). You may be able to cover the whole $6000 for one team, or, if not, you might consider encouraging your church or mission group to collaborate in supporting one team. |
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| Giving options: Support 1 COCBT - $6,000 Purchase 1 camel - $1,000 Join a Support Team of 10 - $100 each donor Encourage your church or mission team to support one COCB team at $6,000.
Increase your impact on these unreached people by making your financial support a recurring monthly donation! |
| | Insert PROJECT #102731 and note Church on a Camel Back on Donation Page in the Project #/Comments field. |
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A MESSAGE TO SOMALI MUSLIMS |
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The Gospel came to Ibrahim, even though he lived in a very remote area. No matter where you live or what you currently believe, you can encounter Jesus Christ in the Word of God. You can find the Truth yourself, if you read the Somali Bible with an open mind. Remember, the Qurβan proclaims that the Gospel and the Torah are the uncorrupted Word of God. Many Muslims believe that the Gospel that was given to Jesus has been corrupted and cannot be trusted. This belief, however, contradicts what the Qurβan teaches. Read what the Qurβan says in Surahs 3:3-4; 5:46; 18:27.
Surah 5:46 - We made Jesus, son of Mary, follow in the footsteps (of the earlier Prophets) and confirm what existed in the Torah in his time. We gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light, as a confirmation of the Torah and instruction and advice for the pious ones. And again in, Surah 3:3-4 - He has sent the Book (Quran) to you (Muhammad) in all Truth. It confirms the original Bible. He revealed the Torah and the Gospel before as a guide for the people and now He has revealed the criteria of discerning right from wrong. Those who reject the revelations of God will face the most severe torment. God is Majestic and capable to revenge.
The Qurβan proclaims that the Gospel (Injil) is the Word of God.
Surah 18:27 - Read whatever is revealed to you from the Book of your Lord. No one can change His words and you can never find any refuge other than Him.
The Qurβan verifies that the Word of God cannot be corrupted. |
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| | | Click Link to Somali Bible |
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| Scan Somali Bible QR Code |
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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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PRAYER REQUESTS
#1) Pray for families in Somalia to encounter Christ together, leading to community transformation. Since the family is the foundation of life and society in Somalia, it is crucial to reach the entire family. Somalis are not seen as individuals but members of families and clans. It is very difficult for one member of a family to proclaim faith in Christ without the others doing so, because it is seen as a portrayal to the family to leave Islam. Encountering Christ together removes a huge barrier for the new believers.
#2) Pray for the youth in Somalia that they may seek truth and find hope in Jesus amidst difficulties. The median age in Somalia in 2025 is 15.6 years. This means that half the population is younger than 15.6 years old. This shows how important it is to reach the Somali young people.
#3) Pray for peace among different ethnic groups in Somalia, leading to greater openness for the Gospel. It is believed that a decrease in inter-ethnic violence would create a more hospitable environment for evangelization. Warfare and violence create dangerous conditions for movement from place to place, making evangelization more difficult.
#4) Pray for a raising up of local Somali evangelists who can share the Gospel in their context. The Somali Bible Society and their local church partners are equipping & mobilizing evangelists to make disciples that make disciples that make disciples.
#5) Pray that God's will be done in Somalia. Trust that He is at work in ways we cannot see and that many will come to know Him. We are seeing more than 100 Somali Muslims coming to Christ every day through the ministry of the SBS and our local church partners. We believe that Godβs will is for an exponential increase in the harvest. Our vision is to see more than 1000 Somali Muslims coming to Christ every day. |
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| PRAISE REPORTS
#1) The ministry of SBS is becoming known more and more. Our General Secretary has been interviewed by Open Doors Norway, Voice of the Martyrs Canada, and by BBC News. This is a reflection of the successful ministry of the Somali Bible Society. Praise the Lord for using the SBS in ways that are impacting Godβs Kingdom, not only in Somalia but in many areas of the world.
#2) A local church in Arizona has made a donation that will support five training conferences in Somalia. Praise God that this financial gift will equip and mobilize approximately 100 Somali evangelists.
#3) There has been an increasing interest in reaching Somali camel herders and other nomadic people. Praise the Lord for the creative efforts of our Somali leaders to reach the unreached in the uttermost parts of the earth.
#4) We are seeing Somali Muslims come to Christ through all of our projects and ministries. Our approach to ministry is to see healing of body and soul for each person who comes into contact with the SBS. Praise God for the holistic approach of the Somali Bible Society (SBS) and their local church partners.
#5) We continue to see growing interest in the SBS and their mission to Somali Muslims. Praise the Lord that we have donors from the West, but also from other countries around the globe, and even some from Somalia itself. |
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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.
Attention Church Leaders: I will be available to speak in churches in Upstate New York in the months of June through September. Please contact me for scheduling. |
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