YEMEN: ‘YOUR PRAYERS ARE WHAT KEEP US GOING’

Secret meetings, coded messages and pseudonyms – because of the dangers, these are all part of what it means to follow Jesus in Yemen. “It’s like we have our own language,” says Saad*, a church leader. Yet, Amidst it all, the Holy Spirit is moving!

For years, Yemen has been embroiled in civil war, leading to fractures in governance, a rise in extremism and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Against this backdrop, religious freedom is non-existent, with Christians and other religious minorities increasingly forced into the shadows. With Islam the state religion, it’s ‘illegal’ for Muslims to convert to another faith, and being discovered as Christian can bring house arrest, imprisonment, torture and even death.  

“All ministry inside Yemen is done in secret,” says Odai*, also a Yemeni church leader. “We thank God we can serve Him in such a country, but everything needs to do done with utmost care, alertness and secrecy.”

Image: A Yemini family

Death of Christian brother

It’s been this way for many years – and the past year has seen hostility intensify even further. The death of a Christian man in the summer was a particular shock to the small Yemeni church.

“We don’t get to heal from the first shock by the time we’re hit by another,” says another leader called Zain*. “A year ago, we had more opportunities to talk about Jesus, and it was relatively easier to share with others about Christ. Now, there is more fear. People are discouraged from going out and telling others about Christ. Extremists are working harder to hinder the church.”

Because Yemen is divided among those who currently rule, ministry differs from one region to another based on who is in charge and their level of religious tolerance. In some areas, people can meet, while in other towns or more restrictive cities Christians can only gather online.

“You cannot go to a church – there is no church in Yemen,” says the leader of a ministry. “In our case, meetings between two or three members together could be a dangerous endeavour, so we opt for online meetings using different platforms to connect with one another.”

Vibrancy fuelled by prayers

Image: Devastation caused by the civil war

Despite innumerable challenges, there is a vibrancy to the Yemeni church that has much to do with your faithful prayers and support.

“We feel encouraged when we hear that the global church is praying for us,” says Zain. “We are not alone; we have brothers and sisters praying with us. Knowing this, we feel encouraged to continue and face the inevitable.”

“Your prayers have done many miracles – your prayers for safety and protection have been answered,” says a church leader. “It’s a miracle that we’re able to come back home and safely sleep at night and then do it again and again.”

“Your prayers are what keep us going as leaders – we move protected because of your prayers,” shares Salman*, another church leader in the country. “We’re living in blessing because of your support in prayer.”

Revival through social media

This blessing includes people coming to know Jesus, particularly through social media, reaching rising numbers of Yemenis who are questioning Islam, particularly given the rise in extremism.

“When one becomes an atheist or an agnostic, there is higher chance they’ll accept the Word of God,” explains Salman. “Whilst some resort to atheism, others explore other religions, searching for resources to learn more about ‘God’. While searching online, some reach our online pages that are tailored for a Yemeni searching for God. Once they contact us, we try to take it from there by having one-on-one conversations, eventually sharing the good news.

“About 90% of Yemenis do not know anything about the Bible, so when we post Bible verses, for instance, the reader is struck by the new words. The verses have been eye-opening to many who are searching, sparking attention.”

“Sometimes we try to meet with new people in public places or meet for a cup of tea in a café,” adds Zain. “But we always pray before we go and lean on the prayers of our brothers and sisters who will be praying for us simultaneously.”

“Thank you for your prayers”

“God is with us,” says Odai. “He provides for His children, and is working in us and through us, despite the challenges. We see people coming to Christ and believers growing in discipleship. This is proof that God is working in the Yemeni church.

“All of these struggles have built fear in the hearts of the believers, but they’ve also brought us together in prayer and drawn us closer to God,” he continues. “We have denied our own lives, and we are living for Him. We thank God that we met Him, and we thank you for your prayers.”

*Name changed for security reasons