Suffering for Christ

If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? What if suffering for our faith meant an illegal detention, and spending three days tied to a tree in 120F heat, with no food and only hot water to drink, along with periodic beatings?

Our Fulani friend, Otto, is a Muslim-background believer (MBB) who wears his faith on his sleeve. He had been traveling with Jim and through a long process they were detained and requested by the governor to donate the Christian literature that they had with them, which was in several local languages, to the local library.

When Jim was allowed to go, he was told that they wanted to keep Otto for a couple more days to help him understand the procedure for bringing foreigners into the country. But Otto was not released for a week, until his family had paid a "fine" (really a bribe) of about $300. Later we learned that he was tied to a tree and beaten for three days unless he performed the Muslim salat (ritual prayers). In fact, he agreed to do his Christian prayers on a prayer mat in a kneeling position, and that finally satisfied them. A compromise? Perhaps, but I will not judge him until I've walked in his sandals. What is certain is that he did not renounce Christ, and for the final four days of his stay (confined in jail but not tortured) he witnessed to his fellow prisoners, who were full of questions about Jesus! How wonderfully ironic that our Lord took a situation designed by the Enemy to compromise a soldier of the Gospel, and turned it into an opportunity for the Gospel to be preached in a closed land! PRAY for Otto's witness to family and friends; his wife has not yet converted.

-Jim and Jennifer , Mali

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