Mali - New Christian Family Pressured to Leave Village

 

A Baptism in Mali

Aug. 24, 2023 | Mali

Kalifa and his family were all Muslims living in a Muslim village. But then, Kalifa placed his trust in Christ during an evangelistic outreach earlier this year, becoming the first Christian in his village. When others in Kalifa’s Muslim community learned about his newfound faith in Christ, they began to persecute him and his family with verbal insults and physical attacks. As Kalifa and his family continue to face opposition from their community, front-line workers request prayer for strength and endurance for them.

WHAT IT MEANS TO FOLLOW CHRIST IN MALI:
In 2012, believers fled to the south as extremist groups in the north destroyed church buildings and pastors’ homes in their efforts to create an Islamic state. Christian converts from Islam face harassment from family members and their communities. Open and active churches exist in the north, though outreach and evangelism in the community can be dangerous. Several pastors were forced to leave after receiving death threats for actively sharing their faith.

ACCESS TO BIBLES:
Bibles are scarce and difficult to obtain outside the capital, especially in minority languages.

Pray for Kalifa, his family and that other new believers will be discipled and rooted in their Christian faith. 
Pray that churches in the north will shine the light of Christ while being marginalized and mistreated. 
Pray for unity in the body of Christ as Malian believers endure persecution together. 
Pray for those proclaiming the gospel in the north, a stronghold for Islamist activity.