Standing Strong

Persecuted Family

Posted October 27, 2010

NORTHERN AFRICA – Though persecuted for his faith, Stephen*, a young believer in northern Africa, can’t stop sharing the Good News. He took IMB missionaries Paul Anderson* and Chad Simms* to the countryside to witness to his uncle and aunt, who raised him.

Stephen’s family has been receptive to the Gospel and the Bible stories they listen to on an audio player, but a small group in their village did not like the change they were seeing and quickly began harassing the family and even unleashed gunfire on their house. The police refuse to get involved, claiming the situation is a “religious conflict.”

As the persecution against Stephen’s family continued, their community met to resolve the situation. Approximately 700 people gathered for the meeting, many from other areas who voiced accusations of their own. Out of this group, only 100 people, mostly relatives and friends, supported Stephen and his family.

Their only defense was they were simply sharing stories about God from His Word, but the villagers would not listen to their plea. The collective decision was Stephen’s family must stop “spreading this foreign religion.”

Although the day was clouded by spiritual darkness, another bold voice spoke to the crowd. On a previous visit to the countryside, Stephen shared with an older gentleman and his family who became believers and faithfully listened to Bible stories on an audio player they were given. When the angry crowd began condemning the man and his family, he replied: “What are you going to do, kill me? I am an old man; kill me.”

Awhile later, several young men began intensely persecuting Stephen’s family by destroying their crops, despite his uncle, John*, pleading for them to stop. John began sleeping in the fields at night to guard the crops, but the young men only took advantage of the situation by harassing his vulnerable family.

One night while John watched over his crops, the group went to his home and threw rocks against the house, terrifying Martha*, Stephen’s aunt, and their young children. Eventually, the men forcefully entered their home, threw hot spice powder in their eyes and beat them until they were bruised. The men also snatched their Bible and set it on fire.

John heard his family’s screams but by the time he reached his house, the men had fled.

Following the incident, John and Nicolas*, another relative, traveled to the nearest town to report to the authorities what had happened. Along the way, they met one of the young men involved and a fight ensued. Eventually, the fight grew into a brawl with the other men and all of them ended up in jail.

The young men were soon released, but John and Nicolas faced a trial before the local judge, who charged Stephen’s family with injuring the young men and claimed it is impossible to prove the men injured Martha and the children. He later released John and Nicolas from jail.

Some members of Stephen’s family have made comments blaming him for their problems. John, however, understands the opposition comes because of the gift they have received from God and encourages Stephen by affirming this gift he shared with them.

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*Name changed for security reasons