30 Eritreans arrested for praying

The Christian Church in Eritrea faces
terrible on-going persecution.

Eritrean officials arrested 30 Christians for praying at a private house in Asmara, the capital, on January 2, reports ASSIST News. Some of the Christians were just recently released after being detained for their faith.

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that security officials arrested the Christians and took them to the police station in Asmara. Officials also detained another Christian on January 4. ICC says the detained Christians are members of the Philadelphia Church, an evangelical church outlawed in Eritrea.

Since 2002, many churches in Eritrea have been forced to go underground after officials required all religious groups to register. The government allows only four religious groups: Islam, the Eritrean Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Evangelical Church of Eritrea.

More than 3,000 Christians have been detained for their faith in Christ, reports ICC. Most are kept in underground dungeons, metal shipping containers and military barracks. Several Christians have died while imprisoned due to torture and lack of medical attention.

Please pray for our detained brothers and sisters in Eritrea. Pray they would rest in the knowledge that the Good Shepherd walks with them through this difficult time (Psalm 23). Pray they will exemplify the love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:43-48). Pray for government acceptance of religious groups and for restoration of basic human rights and religious freedom to all Eritreans.