Guleed is one such Jesus-follower that I would recommend to the Somali Faith Hall of Fame. As a child, Guleed grew up on the streets of Mogadishu. His mother died when he was very young. His father then married a woman who was very mean to Guleed. Her treatment of him was unbearable, causing him to leave home to fend for himself. He had no access to an education. His diet was far from being nutritional. He lived like any other street vagrant. It was not until he was befriended by a Catholic nun that he had any chance of a normal life. She provided for Guleed through her ministry, and more importantly led him to faith in Christ. Guleed eventually came to Ethiopia because of the religious persecution that existed for Somali Christians. When arriving in Addis Ababa, he came into contact with our ministry. It was obvious that this young man was a serious follower of Jesus. He had a heart for God and a passion to go to his own people and share Jesus with them. After training Guleed in how he could share his faith with others, we commissioned him to evangelize Somalis living in Ethiopia. Although Guleed lacked a formal education and good upbringing, he became very effective in sharing his faith and leading others to Jesus. Eventually he felt God burdening his heart for Somalis living in his home country. At his request we sent him to share Jesus there. It was amazing how quickly he developed an underground church in the region of Somalia where he was working. He experienced great danger there. A young boy was killed right before him. Others were killed and maimed as he traveled on the road from place to place. Because it became known that Guleed was a Christian and that he was turning Somalis away from Islam to become Christians, he was hunted by Muslims with an execution order on his life.

Guleed

Name changed & face blurred for security reasons

Regardless of living in such terrible circumstances and with a very real and constant threat to his life, Guleed persisted in his ministry. After returning to Addis Ababa for some equipment repair and further training, he prepared to return to Somalia. At that time the conditions, which were before horrible in the area of his ministry, had grown even worse. Our Somali leaders would not send him back to Somalia at that time, because they were certain that if they did, Guleed would become another Somali martyr for Christ. Guleed, however, urged his leaders to allow him to return. He pleaded with the leadership council to allow him to go back to his place of ministry, even if it might result in him becoming a martyr. I’ll never forget his words as he pleaded for authorization to return to Somalia. His cry was this: “It doesn’t matter what happens to me. Please send me back…Seven young men there have recently given their hearts to Jesus…If I don’t go back, who will disciple them?” When the Somali Leadership Council would not relent, Guleed persisted: “Eight other young men are very, very close to saying ‘yes’ to Jesus. If I don’t go back, where will they spend eternity?” That’s a faith rarely seen in today’s church: If I don’t go, where will they spend eternity. Eventually, Guleed returned to Somalia and was nearly martyred, as he was pursued relentlessly by his would-be executioners. By faith Guleed persisted in sharing Christ at the risk of his own life.

Consider giving a donation to the Somali Bible Society, so that we can continue to operate in this Gospel-resistant people group,

releasing Somali evangelists just like Guleed.

Enter Project # 103253 in the Project Field on the donation form.

Ali Muhammad

Name changed & face blurred for security reasons

Ali contacted us through the SBS’ Facebook page in 2021. He was very dissatisfied with Islam and stopped going to the mosque. In his words: “Spiritually, I was dead and without any direction for my life.”

SBS sent him a password protected digital Somali Bible with study materials and gave him online training. Ali gave his heart to Christ and became a Jesus-follower in 2023.

Ali is now actively involved in a House Church and serves as an evangelist. He attends a weekly Bible Study and is growing in his relationship with Jesus.

Ali holds post-graduate degrees and has a very influential position in the federal government. He is being used by God in wonderful ways.

Ali is a Bible Teacher in This House Church

All faces are blurred for security reasons

A Word to Christians

There are many Somali Muslims who are just like Ali Muhammad, inwardly discontented with Islam and seeking for spiritual truth. The SBS is reaching these open-minded Somalis through a variety of projects. Consider donating to one of these projects by clicking the link below. You can participate in reaching Somali Muslims like Ali by giving to the ministry of the SBS.

A Word to Muslims

If you would like to investigate Jesus for yourself, click the Somali NT or Somali Bible link, or scan QR Code below. Remember the Qur’an proclaims that God gave the Gospel (Injil) to Jesus. (Surah 3:3-4 and 5:46). The Qur’an also proclaims that God’s Word cannot be corrupted. (Surah 18:27)

Somali NT QR Code

Somali Bible QR Code

<< Test First Name >>,

Fartun Warsame has been waiting two years for her income-generating project to commence. She recently informed SBS that her daughters have had to drop out of school due to her inability to afford tuition and supplies. She is unable to adequately provide for her children.

Fartun Warsame

Name changed & face blurred for security reasons

A recent Christian census conducted by the SBS found that there are over 600 Somali widows needing help in supporting their families. We urgently seek the resources to build the Good Samaritan Center (GSC), which will also serve as a center for training widows in successfully running income-generating enterprises. The Somali Bible Society (SBS) has made strides in assisting numerous widows through income-generating initiatives, such as livestock projects and local shops. However, our capacity remains severely limited due to insufficient funds to construct the Good Samaritan Center (GSC). 50% of the building space will be dedicated to rental income. Once established, the GSC will provide a consistent income source to support SBS ministries, particularly in developing income-generating projects for widows with young children.

Future Good Samaritan Center

Not an exact image due to security reasons

We are currently raising funds to purchase the building site on which we will build this ministry center. Donors so far have given enough to enable us put a $20,000 USD down payment on the property.

Secure GSC Building Site

4306 Square Feet

You can be a part of purchasing this secure building site in the heart of Somalia by purchasing one square foot (or more) of this strategic location. Although the cost of this property is nearly $250,000, the cost of one square foot is only $58 USD. For a donation of $58 you can be a part of putting Fartun’s children back in school and providing food and necessities for her family. To purchase one square foot or more of this strategic building site click the link below and enter Project # 102852 in the project field on the donation page.

Rev. Dr. Aweis Ali, Keynote Speaker

The SBS Impacting Leaders of Mission Organizations to Unreached People Groups

SBS Display Celebrating the Completion

of the Somali New Testament Translation

SBS Display Promoting the

Good Samaritan Center

Is God Calling You?

<< Test First Name >>, 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

PRAYER REQUESTS

#1) Currently our #1 priority:

Pray for funds for the Good Samaritan Center (Project # 102852). This ministry center will become the artery through which all SBS ministries will flow. We have made a $20,000 down payment on the building site, but owe a balance of $230,000 to complete the purchase.

#2) Pray for the security and safety of our leaders and our volunteers doing Bible translation, literacy training, compassionate ministries, church development, and other various ministries. Our open platform is reaping a harvest of souls but is also increasing the risk of persecution for our leaders.

#3) Pray for the encouragement and strengthening of Somali Christians who face persecution and opposition for their faith. Many Somali Christians are suffering because of their faith in Jesus. Pray for healing from the trauma they are experiencing.

#4) Pray for the hearts of the Somali people to be open to receiving and understanding the message of the Bible. We are working hard at reaching the Somali people, but it is God’s intervention in this extremely Gospel-resistant country that will make the difference.

#5 Pray for the establishment of more local Somali-speaking congregations and fellowships that can support and guide new believers. Pray also for the equipping of pastors and church leaders to effectively teach and preach the Bible in these house churches. Many are coming to Christ but we need to connect every believer with a vibrant local house church.

PRAISE REPORTS

#1) SBS just received a $25,000 grant for their Trauma Healing Ministry. We praise God that more traumatized Christians will be getting the biblical counseling and therapy that they need to better function in life and ministry.

#2) Many Somali Muslims and seekers are contacting SBS to know more about Jesus. The Church is on the move in Somalia.

#3) The impact of the Somali Bible Society on Church growth in Somalia and its diaspora is being noticed by Somali sheikhs and other Muslim leaders. Although this increases the possibility of persecution of our leaders, it is also a testimony to our effectiveness.

#4) The SBS ministry throughout the Somali Peninsula is growing rapidly. We are reaching Muslims in the Somali heartland.

#5) The SBS is distributing the Word of God not only in book format, but also in soft formats that are available for smart phones, iPods, computers, and other audio options. This is extremely important in an Islamic society where people can own and use a Bible that is password protected for security reasons.

See detail immediately below to schedule Dr. Howie for a speaking engagement.

Email SBS, click here.

Email SBSN, click here.