Extremism Survivor Says Prayer Saved Her Life

Al-Shabaab is an Islamic extremist group based in Somalia, the third most dangerous country to be a Christian according to the World Watch List 2022. They seek to establish a strict form of Sharia (Islamic) law in Somalia and desire to eradicate Christianity from its surrounding regions.

Margaret and her friends didn’t move from their hiding spots under their beds. Instead, they listened as those who obeyed the extremists were killed. The gunshots came closer and closer as Margaret realised the extremists were going door to door. Absolutely terrified, Margaret could only utter four words in prayer to God: “Under your cover, Lord!”

And under the Lord’s cover she stayed—miraculously the attackers never got to her room. After what felt like an eternity, an intensive exchange of gunshots was followed by a deafening silence. Then a female police officer convinced Margaret and her friends that it was all over and safe to come out.

Margaret emerged from her hiding place after almost 14 hours to be confronted with scenes so horrible the thought of them continue to shock her to this day. People she knew and loved—including her closest friend, Aquilla—had been brutally killed. There were 147 people killed in the attack that day, mostly Christian students.

“When I saw the body of another friend, Beatrice, I went a little mad,” said Margaret.

Her shock grew with every step as she and the other survivors made their way to the military barracks. By the time she arrived there, she felt as if she was completely losing her mind. But the Lord did not leave her there, nor did the Church.

Margaret’s family received her as if she had been raised from the dead and took her home where friends and well-wishers flooded her with love and care. Margaret underwent government-sponsored trauma counselling, which helped her process the terrorising events of that awful day.

She also visited other survivors regularly, a difficult task but one she knew she needed to do.

“It was a sacrifice, but it was also for my healing,” said Margaret. “I felt the counselling I had received would mean nothing if I did not go to the others; just seeing how they are faring, just going and sharing with them. It was in giving that my heart started healing.”

After the attack, Margaret went through a period of not being able to pray.

“For a while, I could not pray,” she says. “But one Sunday I went to church early. No one else was there. I realised this was the time to thank God. I prayed and prayed and prayed … I poured out what was in my heart. When I was done, I felt totally healed.”

The healing gave Margaret the freedom to take her pain and questions to God.

“When I looked at my friends struggling to recover from their injuries, I asked God, ‘These are people of prayer, why have You made them pass through so much pain?’” she says. “But God showed me that He even used weakness in the Apostle Paul’s life for His purposes.”

This Easter, many Christians in countries like Kenya are at risk of persecution as they gather to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

We are the body of Christ and we need to stand as one with them. Please consider giving today to help more Christians like Margaret stand strong in the face of persecution.

And please pray. We know prayer is a powerful encouragement to Christians just like Margaret.

“Really, God has worked! We have seen the fruits of it, for we survived. The terror was horrible, but God, through your prayers, has saved us. We really thank God for you. In prayer many things happen, marvellous, wonderful things; we can save lives through prayer. The prayers you pray for others are not in vain. Continue praying.”