Most Somalis believe that to be Somali is to be Muslim, so those who come to faith in Christ are accused of rejecting not only their religion but also their nationality. Those who faithfully serve Christ or convert from Islam in Somali communities face severe persecution. The al-Shabaab terrorist organisation and other Islamist groups persecute Christians, as do the government, communities and families.
Hawa is a Christian convert from Islam who maintains a farm in a rural area of Somalia.
Though raised as a Muslim, Hawa became a follower of Christ through her son’s witness. Hawa’s Muslim husband divorced her and kicked her out of the house when he learned of her newfound faith.
Assisted by another Christian woman, Hawa came to help work and maintain the farm, which also houses 19 Christian widows whose husbands had been killed by al-Shabaab, a terrorist group active in Somalia and Kenya.
Hawa disciples the widows and actively shares her faith with other women who work on neighbouring farms.
In March 2024, fighting broke out between al-Shabaab and the Somali government, destroying some of the crops, displacing Hawa and the widows, and killing one of the women. VOM USA helped provide food and shelter for the displaced Christians until they could return to the farm and begin replanting crops.
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