A Tender Connection

This morning my husband and I, together with our three children prayed for Eritrea in the comfort of our bedroom. Our hearts mostly went out to the Christian mothers of Eritrea, some imprisoned for their faith and others with husbands and children serving time in harsh military camps for their faith.

I could share a true story with my family about an Eritrean mother and her ongoing struggle to clarify the complexity of their Christian walk to her children. About two months ago I had the privilege of meeting Eritrean Christian men and women. This was my first encounter with Christians who are being discriminated against for their faith. I heard several stories of severe persecution. But my first one-on-one conversation had a momentous impact on me personally. She is a mother of three, like me; and comes from a big family, like me. We had significant things in common and I felt a tender connection with the women in front of me. Yet our realities did not correspond.

The more she spoke, the harder it got to steer my emotions. Her story saddened me to the very core of my being. She told me of the long, complicated process to get permission to travel.
I learned how they need to whisper during their underground fellowships and how after ten years’ closure, she misses singing in praise to God most of all. I also learned about her children’s naive questions to her about why the Christian music on their radio is barely audible.

At this point I was no longer able to swallow down the lump in my throat.

But the portion of our interaction that completely broke down my poise was when she felt like she had to confess to the fact that she desires a better future for her children. There are only a few institutions of higher education in Eritrea and the only university, Asmara University, admits a limited number of students. She truly felt guilty! Despite all that this mother had to go through to protect and care for her family, she thought it wrong to have higher aspirations for her children! Her silent search for an opportunity to offer her children something better made her feel ashamed.

All this time I could only listen in disbelief. Words fell short. I was overwhelmingly aware of my inept digesting of her record.

But the Lord in His sovereign wisdom opened up a small gap for me to respond. Attempting to put her heart at ease regarding her dreams for her children, I offered this woman some mother-to-mother affirmation. Who better understands the furtive desires of a mothers’ heart than her Creator Himself? Is it not very natural for a mother to want only the best for her children? My mother-heart surely wants nothing less for mine. Depending on the Holy Spirit’s guidance, I made a great effort to relate with her, shedding some light into her burdened conscience, encouraging her to distance herself from unnecessary baggage that comes with unwarranted guilt...

Her story of faith, trust and hope ministered to me. Despite the Eritrean Christians’ struggle, there is no turning back for them because of their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I realised, looking at my life of ease compared to hers, not to become too comfortable. I reminded myself to consciously make enough room in my world for God to mould and make me into a vessel of honour to His glory, even at the cost of those comforts.

And as I was sharing this with my children, willing them to grasp something of the circumstances our brothers and sisters face, I prayed to God to bring restoration to their beloved Eritrea.

Corneli

Reflections on Intercession

Yesterday was Thursday, May 24 - Eritrean Independence day.  But it was also the day that we have begun our 40 days of prayer for our country and Church.  As we continue to pray and intercede for our people and the persecuted Church, let us reflect on the following thoughts on the duty of Christian prayer and Intercession.

“On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the LORD in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.”  Isa 62:6

I would like to share some thoughts about standing in the gap. Andrew Murray wrote, “It is when intercession for the whole Church, by the whole Church ascends to God's throne that the Spirit of Unity and Power can have its full sway.”

He also wrote, “Prayer and Intercession, [is] the link between heaven and earth.

Once in a prison in Eritrea, a guard asked a praying Christian what he was doing. He responded, “I am crying to the heavenly court for Mercy and Justice!”

Let us be reminded that our help is only from the Lord and only by remaining on our knees.

May these words of reflection help and inspire us to persevere in prayer throughout the 40 days campaign.

We are in Christ, the greatest Advocate and Intercessor for His people!

ZA  (Eritrean pastor)

Where is God?

The Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly. They made their lives bitter with hard labour... in all their hard labour the Egyptians used them ruthlessly. Exodus 1:12-14

When the closure of churches became inevitable in Eritrea and many brothers and sisters were taken to prison because of their Christian belief, Eritrean Christians could not understand what was happening to the believers in Eritrea. They came to the pastors and asked, “Where is God?”  It was the same with the people of Israel who suffered in Egypt.

At first, all went well with God's people in Egypt. The Pharaoh was kind to them and they prospered in this foreign country. However, 400 years later, the picture changed completely. The new Pharaoh did not know the story of Joseph. Also, the Israelites had increased in numbers to such an extent that they became a threat to the Egyptians.

Pharaoh's solution was to kill all newborn Israelite boys and to use the people for slave labour. The people suffered greatly. It seemed to them as though God had forgotten about them. But God never forgets His children.

Whenever Christians go through trials and hardships, the tendency of their hearts is to say, these things should not happen to me. God has promised us protection and provision during hard times. But as God's children, we should remember the true reality of the Christian life. God never promised that we will be exempted from all the troubles of life. In fact it was our Lord Jesus Christ who said in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble.”

A certain Christian woman in Eritrea who found herself completely overwhelmed by the persecution, one day asked her pastor, “Do you think what is happening to us as Christians in Eritrea, happens to other Christians elsewhere? I feel our suffering is unique.” No, it is not. It may look different, but we are not the only people who are persecuted for our Christian faith.

As the Israelites suffered, God was already working to bring about their deliverance. Whenever we are in trouble as God's people, we are not sure what tomorrow will bring. But let us not doubt: God never forsakes His children.

Isn't that what the Lord was doing for the people of Israel? At the time that they suffered and doubted His fatherly love and care, the Lord was preparing Moses to set them free from their bondage in Egypt and to lead them to a land of great abundance. Did the people of Israel ask for that? Did they ask God to send Moses? No. God surprised Israel who doubted His faithfulness by sending Moses.

Beloved, do not doubt God and His true and precious promises. Our God is a God of surprises. He is the God of the impossible.  As an Eritrean, there are times that we think our cause is impossible even to God. Remember, what is impossible for man is always possible with God. Israel’s deliverance was possible for God.  If the things you face, cause you to question God's caring love for you, remember the story of Israel. While they doubted God, and believed that He had forgotten about them, He was already bringing about their salvation. So, as we deal with our tough situation, let us also consider it in faith. He is already in the process of bringing about our deliverance. 

As you do that, your heart might say but how? I see no sign of it? Remember that it was the same for the people of Israel.  They also said our cause is too complicated and hard to be solved.  But then Moses was sent.  We worship and wait upon the same God. What He did for the Israelites then, He can do for us today.  Let us keep trusting and believing His precious promise, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”

Eritrean Pastor