“Back in May 2002, Eritrean authorities ordered the closure of all non-Orthodox, Catholic, and Lutheran churches,” says Representative Foley. “Since then, Christians from banned churches have been arrested and imprisoned with open-ended sentences, without being formally charged or tried. Most of the leaders of the evangelical churches have spent more than two decades in ‘shipping container prisons’ and are still there to this day. That’s why Eritrea is rightfully called the ‘North Korea of Africa’ and is continually ranked as one of the worst persecutors of Christians in the world.” 

Representative Foley says that Christian prisoners are not permitted to have any contact with their families.  

“Their families are not allowed to visit them or to bring food to them,” says Representative Foley. “If a prisoner becomes sick, they are not given any medical care, and their families are not notified.” Representative Foley says that a pastor in his 80’s who was in prison for 3 years was refused medical care and recently died. “The pastor’s son has also been in prison for more than 7 years,” she says. “He was an air force pilot who was arrested because of his Christian faith. He is locked up in a container cell and has never been seen by anyone.” 

Foley’s Voice of the Martyrs Korea organization partners with its Voice of the Martyrs sister missions to provide support to the families of Christian prisoners, and to arrange for money, food, and medicine to be smuggled into prison through sympathetic prison guards to help the Christian prisoners themselves. In the past three years the organizations have provided training to 800 young Christian leaders, as well as financial support for 200 of those leaders.   

“One of the ex-prisoners who had been detained for 11 years was disowned by his own family members when he was released and tried to return home,” says Representative Foley. She says many families and landlords refuse to provide housing or help of any kind to the ex-prisoners out of fear of government punishment. “He got arthritis in his hands while in prison, which became worse and worse because he was denied treatment. Now he is being cared for by Christian brothers and sisters, and we have been able to cover the costs of his housing, medicine, and food.” 

Representative Foley says that even though the Eritrean government continues to crack down on Christianity, the crackdown is actually causing the Eritrean church to grow in size and strength. 

“Inside the prison, many non–Christians have come to know the Lord because of the generosity and testimony of the Christian prisoners, who share with them the material help they receive from us,” says Representative Foley. “Many Christians have become stronger believers and ministers as a result of their suffering.” 

Representative Foley gives the example of a Christian woman who was released 4 years ago after spending 12 years in prison. “She was re-arrested after the place where she was meeting was raided by the authorities. Now she has been sent to the prison in the desert. Although we were very sad for her, she said she is happy because she is now bringing many prisoners to Christ.” 

Representative Foley says that although communication with prisoners is forbidden, occasionally guards who are secretly Christian or who are sympathetic to the Christian prisoners will smuggle letters in or out. Below is an excerpt from one such letter, written by an Eritrean Christian who has been in prison for his faith for more than 15 years. He uses the code name “Onesimus” (the name of the Christian slave on whose behalf the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to his owner, Philemon, which is preserved in the New Testament): 

A letter from a prisoner, 

To my beloved brother B [Name withheld for security reasons]; In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ I extend my warm and sincere greetings to you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. 

My brother B, how are you? From my end, apart from the love and longing to see you I am getting used to the prison life. This is because the grace of our Lord has been multiplied in my life, and also [because] of your prayers I am well in everything… 

In the [exact number redacted for security reasons] years of my prison time, you shared in my suffering as if you were in prison with me; and you stood by my family and participated in our pain. Your love has comforted me, and may God give you your reward in the time of our Lord… 

Please pass my gratitude to those who are praying for us. Please tell them their prayer is accomplishing great things in our lives and it really helped us a lot. All the brothers who are with me are extending their greetings to you. 

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you 

From your beloved brother ‘Onesimus’. 

Voice of the Martyrs Korea administers a fund to provide ongoing support to Eritrean Christian prisoners, ex-prisoners, front-line gospel workers, and their families. Churches and individuals interested in making a donation to VOMK’s Eritrea Fund can do so at www.vomkorea.com/en/donation  (select “Eritrea” from the donation option menu) or via electronic transfer to  

국민은행 463501-01-243303 

예금주: (사)순교자의소리 

Please include the phrase “Eritrea” on the transfer.