Source: Open Doors, February 13, 2018
When Abdul left his tribal religion of Islam and committed his life to Christ in 2000, his Muslim family felt and acted like he had just pointed a challenging dagger straight at them. Abdul’s family (part of the ethnic Kotoko group spread over Cameroon, Chad, and Nigeria) always took pride in the fact that they were one of the few tribes in their region of Cameroon with no known Christians.
“When all their spells and curses with the help of the local medicine man failed, they tried to kill me themselves.”
More than once, Abdul’s family tried to poison his food. One night, strangers kidnapped him and took him to an unknown destination. “On the way there, I prayed for God to confuse them so they could release me. And he did! They just let me go without saying anything. I knew it was God who had changed their minds.”
Ten years down the road and Abdul’s family has still not given up trying to get him back to Islam. He faces constant insults and exclusion from the family. His wife has also left him and often slanders him in front of their seven children.
“My family abandoned me, rejected me, did everything to have me go back to Islam, but the hand of God is with me. I count on the Lord, and he protects me. I trust him. I continue in the faith. My wish is that one day we will have a church here for the Kotoko people that gathers openly, just like everyone else.”
» Full story includes prayer points.
» In more encouraging news from Cameroon, read Developing Deep Roots in Scripture. It describes the alliance of translators that has completed eight translation projects in the last two years, with several more nearing the finish line (Wycliffe Global Alliance).