{"id":39435,"date":"2021-11-18T14:59:59","date_gmt":"2021-11-18T05:59:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?page_id=39435"},"modified":"2021-12-03T11:01:27","modified_gmt":"2021-12-03T02:01:27","slug":"nl-12-2021","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/nl-12-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Martyred for Reaching His People"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Martyred for Reaching His People ” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|line_height:2em” css=”.vc_custom_1637215246646{margin-top: 1em !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_text_separator title=”” color=”custom” el_width=”60″ accent_color=”#333333″ el_class=”line-for-40″][vc_column_text]Abdiwelli\u2019s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>work<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Kenya<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>among<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Somali<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Muslims<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>helped<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>many come to faith in Christ, but it also cost him his life.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

G<\/span><\/span>rowing up in Garissa, Kenya,\u00a0<\/span>Abdiwelli<\/span>\u00a0Ahmed (Abdi for\u00a0<\/span>short) was wholly committed to Islam.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He descended from a long line of devout Muslims from Somalia, where \u201cto be Somali means to be Muslim,\u201d and was taught that Islam was in his blood. Staying true to his family\u2019s expectations,\u00a0Abdiwelli\u00a0served as leader of his high school\u2019s Islamic society.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But in 1993, while in college,\u00a0<\/span>Abdiwelli<\/span>\u00a0began to wonder if there was a different way of getting to heaven.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u201cDeep down in my heart I was facing some emptiness,\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Abdiwelli<\/span>\u00a0said in an interview years ago, \u201cbecause in Islam there is no peace, eternal security or satisfaction in the individual\u2019s heart.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”39440″ img_size=”450×450″ add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1637214849064{margin-bottom: 0.1px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Islam is considered to be an important part of ethnic-Somali culture. Professing faith in Christ cuts Somalis off from both family and tribe. ” font_container=”tag:h5|font_size:14px|text_align:center|line_height:1.4em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1637215296574{margin-top: 1em !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]While comparing the Quran with the Bible, he found more than 500 errors and contradictions in the Quran. He also started to see the Prophet Muhammad in a new light.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Seeking Refuge ” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|line_height:2em” css=”.vc_custom_1637215326825{margin-top: 1em !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_text_separator title=”” color=”custom” el_width=”60″ accent_color=”#333333″ el_class=”line-for-40″][vc_column_text]The m<\/span><\/span>ore\u00a0<\/span>Abdiwelli<\/span>\u00a0read the Bible, the more he fell in love with it. The Creation story in Genesis, the love chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 and Jesus\u2019 farewell discourse beginning in John 14 each moved him deeply. After further discussions with a Christian friend, he eventually placed his faith in Christ and found the eternal\u00a0<\/span>security<\/span>\u00a0he had long desired.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When other students and\u00a0<\/span>faculty\u00a0<\/span>learned that\u00a0<\/span>Abdiwelli<\/span>\u00a0had left\u00a0<\/span>Islam,\u00a0<\/span>they considered\u00a0<\/span>him\u00a0<\/span>a danger to the faith<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>other<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>students.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u201cI<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>was<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>beaten<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>up,\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Abdiwelli<\/span>\u00a0said. \u201cAll sorts of bad\u00a0<\/span>things\u00a0<\/span>were<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>done<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>me.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>My<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>life<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>was<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>danger.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One day, as he met with leaders of a campus ministry, someone hit\u00a0<\/span>Abdiwelli<\/span>\u00a0in the head with a stone, causing severe bleeding. He ran to his mother\u2019s house to hide, but days later he saw a mob of about 40 people approaching the house. He then fled again, this time to a friend\u2019s house: he knew people wanted to kill him. \u201c<\/span>They were like a cat, and I was a mouse in my hometow<\/span>n,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After receiving more death threats,\u00a0<\/span>Abdiwelli<\/span>\u00a0traveled six hours northwest to seek guidance from a relative, Pastor Ibrahim, who planted churches and shared the gospel with Somali Muslims in Kenya (see\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>December newsletter<\/span>\u00a0(link<\/span>). Ibrahim eventually took him to a campus ministry center in a town about an hour north, where\u00a0<\/span>Abdiwelli<\/span>\u00a0was introduced to a woman named Helen.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”39437″ img_size=”450×450″ add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1637214914507{margin-bottom: 0.1px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Helen, Abdiwelli and their three sons before his death.” font_container=”tag:h5|font_size:14px|text_align:center|line_height:1.4em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1637215358453{margin-top: 1em !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”A Marriage of Ministries ” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|line_height:2em” css=”.vc_custom_1637215366951{margin-top: 1em !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_text_separator title=”” color=”custom” el_width=”60″ accent_color=”#333333″ el_class=”line-for-40″][vc_column_text]Helen, who grew up in Nigeria, came to know Christ as a young girl. She felt called to ministry during college, and upon completing her master\u2019s degree she founded a missions organization in the United Kingdom. After being trained in how to share the gospel with Muslims, she traveled to Kenya, where she met Pastor Ibrahim and, through him,\u00a0<\/span>Abdiwelli<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Helen still re<\/span><\/span>members meeting\u00a0<\/span>Abdiwelli<\/span>\u00a0when he came to the center with Ibrahim. He carried boxes for her and spoke passionately about his faith in Christ. \u201cWhen I first met\u00a0<\/span>Abdiwelli<\/span>,\u201d Helen said, \u201che told me, \u2018I love the Lord and I\u2019m ready to die for Christ.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The two soon began dating and eventually decided to marry.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The couple\u00a0<\/span>first\u00a0<\/span>served Somalis<\/span>\u00a0in Ethiopia<\/span>\u00a0through an agriculture-development ministry and, when the opportunity arose, shared the gospel with them.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”39441″ img_size=”450×450″ add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1637214980639{margin-bottom: 0.1px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Abdiwelli, below left, was martyred in Kenya. Ibrahim, below right, said, \u201cHe was my son in the faith, and he was a fearless evangelist.\u201d” font_container=”tag:h5|font_size:14px|text_align:center|line_height:1.4em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1637215392964{margin-top: 1em !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Hunted Down ” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|line_height:2em” css=”.vc_custom_1637215408914{margin-top: 1em !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_text_separator title=”” color=”custom” el_width=”60″ accent_color=”#333333″ el_class=”line-for-40″][vc_column_text]Abdiwelli<\/span>\u00a0later began visiting<\/span><\/span>\u00a0other neighboring countries, sharing the gospel with every expatriate Somali he could. \u201cOur desire is to know God and to make Him known, so many Somalis can become Christian, discipled and return back to their homes,\u201d he said at the time.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Somalis who leave Islam are accused of rejecting not only their religion but also their national identity. Inside Somalia, where it is illegal to convert from Islam or share the gospel, Christians are\u00a0<\/span>actively targeted and killed by the terrorist group al-Shabab and by family members. And they are often pursued by hostile S<\/span>omalis even after leaving the country.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At noon on Feb. 7, 20<\/span>13, 20 years after\u00a0<\/span>Abdiwelli<\/span>\u00a0placed his faith in Christ, his pursuers caught up with him. Three assassins shot him to death as he talked with a pastor in the center of town.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Grieving and in shock, Helen and her two sons fled first to Nairobi, Kenya, and eventually to her native Nigeria. She had lost all trust in Somalis, including those who<\/span>\u00a0called themselves Christians. \u201cI do not want to renew contact with them,\u201d Helen said after fleeing.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cI cannot\u00a0<\/span>tell their level of<\/span>\u00a0commitment.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”39439″ img_size=”450×450″ add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1637215070118{margin-bottom: 0.1px !important;}”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”39438″ img_size=”450×450″ add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1637215081826{margin-bottom: 0.1px !important;}”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Inset: Christians are targeted and killed by members of the terrorist group al-Shabab. Below: Abdiwelli and his wife, Helen, served Somalis through an agriculture-development ministry and shared the gospel with them.” font_container=”tag:h5|font_size:14px|text_align:center|line_height:1.4em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1637215458148{margin-top: 1em !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Life After Death ” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|line_height:2em” css=”.vc_custom_1637215467843{margin-top: 1em !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_text_separator title=”” color=”custom” el_width=”60″ accent_color=”#333333″ el_class=”line-for-40″][vc_column_text]VOM had supported\u00a0<\/span>Abdiwelli<\/span>\u00a0as a front-line worker before he was killed, and a VOM worker continued to encourage and support Helen and her sons after they fled Kenya. \u201cWe found hope because [the VOM worker] made us feel like we are human,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite her great loss and sadness, Helen told a VOM worker that she knew God would use her husband\u2019s martyrdom to advanc<\/span><\/span>e His kingdom. \u201cWe have a triumphant God,\u201d she said. \u201cWe know He is going to triumph in this situation.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Helen said that in the years after leaving Garissa, God drew her and the boys closer to Him. \u201cWe studied the Bible deeper than when Abdi was with us,\u201d she said, \u201cand we have found hope and encouragement over the years to share \u2026 with the hurting world that is lost in sin.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After seven years away, Helen and the boys visited Garissa on June 21, 2020. Helen had not wanted\u00a0<\/span>to return to the cit<\/span><\/span>y, but she felt led to do so. They have visited several times since, most recently in February 2021. \u201cFor me, it was just good to be back where God wants us to be,\u201d she told VOM workers earlier this year.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Garissa, Helen was surprised to learn that\u00a0<\/span>Abdiwelli<\/span>\u00a0has gained a certain fame and that \u201cevery Somali knows his witness.\u201d His influence is also felt throughout the Somali Christian community outside Garissa, as a VOM worker confirmed. \u201cI have had a unique opportunity to meet many Somali communities all over East Africa, \u2026 and even in Europe and in Minneapolis, [Minnesota],\u201d a VOM worker said. \u201cI don\u2019t think I have ever been in any of those places where I haven\u2019t met someone who was influenced by Abdi in some way.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Recently,\u00a0<\/span>Abdiwelli\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0brother asked Helen if she would join a medical mission to help Somalis attacked by a local tribe over a land dispute. \u201cI told him we are\u00a0<\/span>Christians<\/span>\u00a0and we shall come with the gospel and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>medicine,\u201d she said. So far, she has received donations of wheelchairs, clothes, a month\u2019s worth of food and other necessities to help those affected.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Helen is resolved to continue following Christ and serving Somali Muslims, just as her husband did. \u201cWe should never stop reaching out to the lost and dying world until Christ comes,\u201d she said. \u201cA friend of mine who is afraid to go to the northeast told me to be careful. I told her, \u2018If I try saving my life, I will lose it.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”39436″ img_size=”450×450″ add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1637215175892{margin-bottom: 0.1px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”After her husband was murdered, Helen suffered a period of near-paralyzing grief. Now, she and her three sons are back on the frontlines of ministry, hoping to reach the people who killed her husband with the message of Christ\u2019s redeeming love.” font_container=”tag:h5|font_size:14px|text_align:center|line_height:1.4em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1637215511721{margin-top: 1em !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Martyred for Reaching His People ” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|line_height:2em” css=”.vc_custom_1637215246646{margin-top: 1em !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_text_separator title=”” color=”custom” el_width=”60″ accent_color=”#333333″ el_class=”line-for-40″][vc_column_text]Abdiwelli\u2019s\u00a0work\u00a0in\u00a0Kenya\u00a0among\u00a0Somali\u00a0Muslims\u00a0helped\u00a0many come to faith in Christ, but it also cost him his life.\u00a0 …","protected":false},"author":903,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-39435","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.6","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"campaignId":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/39435","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/903"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39435"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/39435\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}