Extremism is driving believers from their homes and into refugee camps.
bottom“We are troubled and filled with pain over the deaths of our family members.”
– Pastor Samuel*, a church leader from Burkina Faso
Islamic extremism has a huge and growing influence in Burkina Faso. The government is weak, which extremists exploit to target groups like Christians. This has forced many Christians to flee their homes, and they often end up in refugee camps. There are over 1 million internally displaced people in the country, many of them Christians.
Christian women and girls often face sexual violence and forced marriage, while men are frequent targets of abduction and recruitment by extremist groups.
While extremist attacks target all Christians, those who have converted from Islam to follow Jesus face additional persecution from their families and communities. This comes mostly in the form of social rejection.
The northern and eastern parts of Burkina Faso are particularly dangerous for believers, especially areas outside of the city. The fear is so great that many believers do not publicly declare their faith in Jesus.
– Pray for wisdom for the government as it seeks to bring an end to Burkina Faso’s insecurity.
– Pray that God will work in the lives of those affected by persecution, bringing healing and comfort.
– Pray for protection over local partners and for God’s blessing over their plans.
