I received this persecution and prayer alert from The Voice of Martyrs Canada. Imagine your teenage daughter is gang-raped, beaten and her life is threatened because you left Islam? This is the reality for women who have converted to Christianity. Their families threaten them, their husbands leave them and they could lose custody of their children. They are attacked. During these awful times, it is hard for them to remain strong in their faith and that’s why they need our prayers. As you read their stories, try to imagine what you would do if you were in their shoes.
UGANDA: Abuse Perpetrated Against ‘Women of Faith’
Sources: Release International, Morning Star News
 |
| Pray for the safety of women in Uganda. Photo: Flickr / CIAT (cc) |
A teenager from eastern Uganda, whose parents had converted to Christianity, was gang raped and beaten a few weeks ago. The 19-year-old college student was still receiving hospital treatment nine days after the attack which took place in the Bukedea district.
Three masked men ambushed the young woman as she was returning from her teacher training college on September 19th. They threatened to kill her because her parents had left Islam, then they beat her to an unconscious state. She was discovered by passersby the next day. This attack has worrying similarities to the gang rape of a pastor’s daughter that took place in the predominantly Muslim Budaka district of east Uganda earlier this year.
Meanwhile, also in Budaka, a mother of eight attests that she has been forced to return to Islam, after in-laws threatened to kill her and take away her children. The woman’s husband left her ten years ago because she became a Christian. The discouraged 36-year-old mother is said to be “spiritually troubled” and has asked for prayer that God would restore her to Christ.
Ask the Lord to greatly comfort and heal both of the young Christian women who were raped and beaten. May He protect them from any further harm, and bring needed comfort to their concerned families, strengthening each of them in their faith. In addition, please uphold the abused mother from Budaka who was forced to convert to Islam, praying that she will experience God’s presence, restoration and protection. Ask Him to also protect her children — both physically and spiritually. Let us also be mindful to intercede on behalf of our other persecuted brothers and sisters in Uganda, praying that they will put their trust fully in God, even amid the rising persecution in certain areas — particularly against Christians of a Muslim background.
To post a prayer on behalf of those who are suffering for their Christian faith in other parts of the world, please visit our prayer wall.
We have read in the Bible how believers of the early churches were persecuted, scattered or martyred for their faith. Jesus warned that we would face tribulation. He said, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another” (Matthew 24:9, 10). However, He also gave us this assurance, “But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (verse 14).
I pray that these women will not lose their faith and that they will hold on Jesus’ promises. They each have a crown laid up for them. Let us pray that they will persevere so that they can receive their crowns. And it’s encouraging to know that no matter what opposition, tribulation or persecution Christians face, none of these things will stop the everlasting Gospel from being preached to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people (Revelation 14:6).
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? – 1 Thessalonians 2:19
Notes to Women 