Mansur was a Sufi Muslim in a country heavily influenced by Wahhabism. As a Sufi, he believed that he could draw close to God and that his inner character would become purer through his experience with the divine. While other men his age in Somalia were addicted to drugs and wasting their lives in idleness, Mansur took another road. He pursued righteous living. He was a hard-working man and was thought of very highly in his community. Even at a young age, his community considered him like an elder.

Mansur lived in a small town in Somalia. I’ve used Mansur’s real name here, since he no longer lives on this side of heaven, and obviously faces no further security threat. He did not know anyone who was a Christian, until he met Sahib who became his best friend. Gradually Sahib talked with Mansur about spiritual things, first discussing the teachings of the Qur’an, but finally transitioning into the Bible. Out of this relationship Mansur at the age of 22 became a follower of Jesus, and an ardent pursuer of heart purity. Mansur’s life, although always outwardly righteous, began to display an inner purity. He became a very strong Christian, day by day being conformed more and more into the image of Christ. His love for others grew steadily, and he sought ways to express this love in tangible ways. He went to work for a compassionate ministries organization and served his people through practical ways to meet their temporal needs. He shared Jesus with others, but did so with an underground strategy to evangelize. For three years he was able to live out his Christian experience without becoming known publicly as a Christian. That came to an end one day when his faith became public knowledge. It was for that reason that some men stopped his car one day. These men wore masks over their faces and dragged him before the villagers in a nearby community. Mansur was given a choice. Over and over again he was given the chance to renounce his faith in Christ. He was told that if he would repent and turn back to Islam, he would live. If he would not turn back to Islam, he would lose his head. Mansur refused to deny Jesus, and there before the horrified villagers assembled as witnesses that day, a cruel knife sawed away until his head broke free from his neck and shoulders. That day Mansur joined Somalis martyred before him because of his undying faith in Jesus Christ. By faith Mansur faced death victoriously and joined the throng of martyrs for Christ who gave their lives willingly for their Savior Jesus.

MANSUR’S MARTYRDOM

Warning: There are two videos on the link below. The first one is identified as very graphic. It shows the actual beheading! This one should not be seen by children or even adults who might be overly sensitive. The second video clip on this link is by the Voice of the Martyrs and does not show the beheading and is rated PG. Please use caution when going to this web site on which one you should view.

The story of Mansur’s life and martyrdom is told in my book, Underground, Stories of the Persecuted Church in Africa. At the time of writing this book, I used the name Tamim instead of Mansur for security reasons. See chapter 9.

This book is currently available only in eBook format. Purchase options are given on the Publisher’s web site, and can be seen by clicking the link below.

EQUIPPING AND MOBILIZING EVANGELISTS

Equipping & Mobilizing Somali Evangelists (EME)

in the Disciple Making Movement (DMM) Strategy.

We introduced this training project in last month’s newsletter. In this issue we are presenting it in greater detail and placing it in the Somali context where great persecution takes place in the lives of those who share their faith in Jesus Christ. The story of Mansur’s martyrdom certainly highlights the severity of this persecution. Mansur is not alone. Many have been beheaded for their faith and many more have lost their lives in other violent ways. Then, there is a multitude of others who were not killed, but have become isolated from their family, clan, and tribe. Imagine being persecuted for your faith, but there is not one person you can turn to for support. Your family has disenfranchised you. Even your spouse might have you killed for the decision to leave Islam. You have dishonored the family for the decision that you made. The clan, in fact, the whole tribe will have nothing to do with you. You cannot go to the police. Your case can not be heard in the courts. There are no human services for an “unbeliever.” If you do not know another Christian, as is the case for most, there is absolutely nowhere to turn.

This is the context in which Christian evangelists live and work. And there are hundreds of Somalis who courageously share their faith. This is where the Somali Bible Society (SBS) steps in and provides training for these courageous individuals. This equipping ministry costs the SBS about $5,600 on the average to equip and deploy 25 Somali evangelists.

SBS is planning to equip and deploy 500 self-supporting evangelists within five years. This will take 20 training conferences with 25 trainees per conference at $5,600 per conference. This comes at a cost of $112,000 over five years, or $22,400 per year. That means that the cost to equip and deploy one evangelist is $224. However, the training and mobilizing of these SBS-trained evangelists includes their training two other Christians to become evangelists within two years. We are expecting this train and retrain strategy to produce 2,500 equipped and mobilized evangelists within five years. So every $224 that is donated to equip and mobilize one evangelist actually produces approximately 5 evangelists (at a cost of around $44 per evangelist).

The important issue here is that every evangelist will be commissioned, not only to train two evangelists, but to make disciples who will make disciples who will make disciples. The SBS anticipates an exponential growth in the Somali Church, anticipating a minimum of 250,000 new disciples by 2034.

If you missed the video clip below last month, you may want to view it this month and note how this project is making the news. It is a very significant venture taking place in the Somali Peninsula at this time.

YouTube SBS Video promoting the “Equipping and Mobilizing of Somali Evangelists”

The Somali Peninsula includes Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Eastern Ethiopia, and Northeast Kenya.

THE SBS IS SEEKING PARTNERS

HOW TO PARTNER WITH THE SBS:

• $44 equips & mobilizes 1 Somali evangelist (trained by a master trainer)

• $224 equips and deploys 1 SBS-trained evangelist (master trainer)

• $5,600 provides the finances for one training session of 25 trainees

  
  

We are seeking local churches who would donate $5,600 to sponsor one training conference. We are asking churches to provide the $5,600 for the conference cost, and also to consider sending their pastor at the church’s expense to be one of the trainers (who will work with at least two other Somali trainers). If the church will provide for the transport of their pastor to the African venue, then SBS will care for their needs once they arrive at the venue.

We also need individuals who will donate $224, so that SBS-trained master trainers can be equipped and mobilized. Individuals who can only donate $44 will still be used to equip and mobilize evangelists, many of which will be trained by the master trainers.

Consider a one-time gift or making it a monthly donation

to multiply your impact.

Both one time and automatic monthly donations

are received with great appreciation!

IMPORTANT

You may also desire to donate to one of the many other projects of the Somali Bible Society. On the donation page enter the project number in the Project #/Comments Field. This will assure that your donation goes to the project of your choice. If you are giving toward the EME project, enter project #103550.

If you are unable to give financially, you can still be a part of this movement by becoming a prayer partner for the Somali Bible Society. Respond to this email indicating your desire to join our SBS Prayer Team.

To My Somali Muslim Friends

The Gospel came to Mansur, even though he lived in a very Gospel-resistant context. 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 Qur’an 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 Qur’an teaches. Read what the Qur’an 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 Qur’an 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 Qur’an verifies that the Word of God cannot be corrupted.

IS GOD CALLING YOU TO SERVE?

PRAYER AND PRAISE

CONTACT US

Click on links below for websites and social media platforms.

AVAILABLE FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

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.

If you would like to schedule Howie for a speaking engagement, email him at

howie@somalibiblesociety.org .

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