Serving secretly as a Somali believer

In Somali society, to be Somali is to be Muslim. “Somali Christian” is a paradox, and yet Rooble* – a Somali Christian living in the Horn of Africa – exists. “Once I realised that Jesus is the Way and the Truth and eternal Life, I believed in Him, and He changed my life,” Rooble says. 
 

From follower of the Quran to follower of Jesus

As someone who was raised in a Muslim family, even becoming a sheikh in a mosque at one point, he admits he was the least likely person to become a Christian. “My family was firm in the Quran,” he says. “I, too, had put all my heart in the teachings; my entire life was committed to it, searching for eternal life and salvation and how I could enter heaven. My family and I were doing a lot to make sure the Quran would lead us to heaven.”

  But it was conversations with other Somali Christians that led him to Jesus. “I listened to their words, even though I did not accept it yet,” Rooble remembers. “They had the Bible and the Quran. These people told me about the Bible, but when I saw it, I did not accept it immediately.

“Later, I stole a Bible from them. I read it many times. I started testing these Scriptures and even showed it to other people. The people I showed it to came to faith in Jesus even before me! It took me a period of four years going round and round… In the end I came to realise that Jesus was the truth and the way to salvation.”
 

Saved by an insanity plea

But remaining faithful to the God who changed his life came at an enormous cost. “After I believed, I encountered a lot of problems,” Rooble says. “These are things that some people would not be able to bear unless their heart is settled in Jesus Christ, who is the One that makes you endure.
 
  “I was living with my family who chased me away; I also lost my inheritance. Where I was working, they chased me, my life became hard and full of pure suffering.” 

After fleeing to another town, Rooble and his brother were arrested and imprisoned in two separate pits for sharing the gospel. “There were bodies of murdered people in those pits,” he says. “They had put us there to die.” 

Sadly, Rooble’s brother was killed. Rooble’s wife convinced the authorities that Rooble was insane, even bringing witnesses to testify that he was possessed. She saved his life. 

Rooble has been in prison several times since then – but has kept going because he knows God is with him. “There was a time in prison when life became so hard, I asked myself if I could bear it,” Rooble says. “But I focused on the Word which says, ‘Do not be troubled because I am with you’ and that calmed me.” 
 

Pray for believers in danger

Rooble still lives among Somali people in the Horn of Africa – and he is still telling people about Jesus. “I live in the midst of Muslims, so I serve secretly,” he says. “It’s a dangerous place, very difficult for me and my children. I only endure because of my faith. But it’s a place that needs prayer.”

   Thanks to your prayers and support, Rooble was invited to workshops supported by Open Doors partners for discipleship and encouragement. “It was a privilege to meet fellow believers I had never met before,” he says. “That encouraged me to be strong in Jesus. I also received knowledge that I didn’t have before. 

“I want to say this to Somali believers: You need to know you’re people of light, and many times people in the darkness do not like light,” he continues. “Even though they suffer or even die, that hope is eternal life – that they are children of God.”

   Rooble asks for your continued prayers for him and all Somali believers: “I am sending a message to Christian [brothers and sisters] everywhere, so that they pray for Somalis who are saved and going through persecution. They are in danger, their situation is not good; pray for them wherever you are, especially those who are in danger and are in danger zones. I am requesting that you remember those who are suffering and being persecuted because of the name of the Lord.”

As for Rooble and his wife, they know they will remain followers of Jesus until the end. “Until death we will stand firm in the eternal life, and we will continue standing firm.”

*Name changed for security reasons