{"id":49723,"date":"2024-04-16T13:57:33","date_gmt":"2024-04-16T04:57:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=49723"},"modified":"2024-04-17T16:31:53","modified_gmt":"2024-04-17T07:31:53","slug":"vom-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2024\/04\/16\/vom-report\/","title":{"rendered":"TANZANIA: CHRISTIAN SURVIVES BRUTAL MACHETE ATTACK AT OVERNIGHT PRAYER SERVICE"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”49730″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”\u201cOne, two, three, \u2026\u201d began Temistocres Ngabona, counting the deep scars on his leg. \u201cFour, five, six, seven, eight, …\u201d he continued, moving to his right arm and then to his severed thumb and mangled fingers. As he reached the ninth scar, he buried his face in his arms, overcome with emotion as he shared with Voice of the Martyrs about the attack that nearly ended his life. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\u201c<\/span>Te<\/span>mistocres<\/span> was a nominal Christian in 2011 when he<\/span> married Deborah, a nominal Muslim, in a northern<\/span> Tanzanian town that was a mixture of both faiths<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> explains Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Hyun Sook Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>One day<\/span> shortly after the couple\u2019s marriage, a<\/span> pastor came to their door and invited<\/span> them to visit his church the following<\/span> Sunday.<\/span> Temistocres<\/span> agreed.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that <\/span>Sunday arrived with a downpour<\/span> of rain<\/span>,<\/span> but <\/span>Temistocres<\/span> told <\/span>his wife they<\/span> should keep their commitment. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>During<\/span> the service, God touched their<\/span> hearts and both <\/span>Temistocres<\/span> and<\/span> Deborah became fully devoted<\/span> followers of Christ<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Temistocres<\/span> told Voice of the Martyrs that s<\/span>everal years later, during another Sunday service, their pastor gave an impassioned<\/span> sermon on the need for prayer.<\/span> Convicted and compelled to<\/span> respond, <\/span>Temistocres<\/span> decided to<\/span> pray every night at the church,<\/span> all night long, for six months. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>He<\/span> and other church members would<\/span> meet at the church at 9 or 10 p.m.<\/span> for a prayer service, after which<\/span> a few people would remain and<\/span> take turns sleeping and praying<\/span> through the night<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]She says the <\/span>mosque less than a mile<\/span> away from the church<\/span> took notice of the prayer meetings.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Though Christians can practice their faith openly in majority-Christian<\/span> Tanzania, <\/span>Temistocres<\/span>\u2019 town <\/span>was<\/span> near the<\/span> Ugandan border, and radical Muslims<\/span> in the area would occasionally exert<\/span> their influence in the local mosque<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>Tanzanian believers, especially converts<\/span> from Islam, sometimes experience<\/span> persecution in <\/span>those areas.<\/span> Attacks on homes and churches<\/span> are possible, and intense pressure from<\/span> family members is <\/span>not uncommon<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”49733″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Temistocres<\/span> told Voice of the Martyrs that o<\/span>ne day during a meeting at the<\/span> mosque, a swarm of bees filled the<\/span> building and disrupted the service.<\/span> Some of the Muslims blamed the<\/span> praying Christians for the insect<\/span> invasion, believing the Christ<\/span>ians <\/span>had cursed the mosque.<\/span> Anger in the Muslim community<\/span> toward the overnight prayer group was<\/span> rising to a point of violence.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Overnight on <\/span>Oct. 13, 2014<\/span>, <\/span>Temistocres<\/span> and <\/span>one other church member, a new convert from Islam named <\/span>Dioniz<\/span>,<\/span> were <\/span>praying at the church<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>While<\/span> Temistocres<\/span> was sleeping and<\/span> Dioniz<\/span> was praying, <\/span>Temistocres<\/span> thought he was having <\/span>a <\/span>dream, in which he was<\/span> fighting with someone and a light<\/span> was flashing in his face<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]But then<\/span> he realized<\/span> the nightmare was real; a man wearing a<\/span> headlamp was swinging a large machete<\/span> at his head. A group of men from the<\/span> mosque had come to attack whoever was<\/span> at the church<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Temistocres<\/span> told Voice of the Martyrs that he <\/span>struggled to defend<\/span> himself in his half-asleep stupor as the<\/span> headlamp flashed in his eyes and the<\/span> attacker swung the machete wildly. \u201cI used my arms to block the blade; that<\/span> is how they cut me,\u201d he recalled. As his<\/span> eyes adjusted to the light, <\/span>Temistocres<\/span> was shocked that he recognized many of<\/span> the attackers.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Then he sensed the Lord speaking to him. \u201cI heard a voice say, \u2018Take a stone!\u2019\u201d<\/span>, <\/span>he <\/span>told Voice of the Martyrs.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>So,<\/span> I found a stone and threw it.\u201d<\/span> The stone hit his assailant in the head,<\/span> knocking him down.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”49726″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Radical Islamists attacked Temistocres with a machete during an overnight prayer service he was attending at his church.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Temistocres<\/span> also collapsed and could<\/span> not get back up. He realized his left leg<\/span> was <\/span>badly injured<\/span> and was nearly severed<\/span> just above his ankle. Another man struck<\/span> him with a large knife three more times<\/span> before the attackers ran off.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Temistocres<\/span> told Voice of the Martyrs that it was at that moment that he <\/span>saw his<\/span> friend <\/span>Dioniz<\/span> alive for the last time. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>The<\/span> attackers had struck <\/span>Dioniz<\/span> in the head,<\/span> and he was struggling to escape in the<\/span> darkness<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>But <\/span>Dioniz<\/span> stumbled into a wall, then<\/span> collapsed near the front of the church<\/span> and died.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Temistocres<\/span> told Voice of the Martyrs he feared <\/span>the attackers might return<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>So<\/span> he <\/span>pulled himself,<\/span> half crawling and half sliding, out<\/span> the church door, across the ground,<\/span> through a field and onto a path, where<\/span> he hoped someone might find him<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>He believed he would <\/span>die, <\/span>so <\/span>he cried out to<\/span> God<\/span>, <\/span>\u2018<\/span>God, forgive me! If there is any<\/span> way I wronged you, forgive me and now<\/span> receive my soul.<\/span>\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Temistocres<\/span> told Voice of the Martyrs that a<\/span>t about 2:30 a.m., a woman found him and brought him some water. She<\/span> also called <\/span>the authorities<\/span>, who eventually<\/span> took him to a hospital.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Temistocres<\/span>\u2019<\/span> wife, Deborah, learned later that<\/span> morning that her husband was critically<\/span> injured and <\/span>Dioniz<\/span> had been killed.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]When she reached the hospital, she was<\/span> shocked by his appearance. \u201cWhen we<\/span> looked at each other, I started crying,\u201d<\/span> she <\/span>told Voice of the Martyrs<\/span>, \u201cand he also started crying.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”49734″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”To express their gratitude to the Lord, Temistocres and Deborah used funds from a successful VOM-sponsored business to build a church on their property.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Deborah was allowed to see<\/span> Temistocres<\/span> for only <\/span>a short time<\/span>, and<\/span> the doctors did not give her details<\/span> about his condition. But <\/span>she told Voice of the Martyrs that <\/span>when she left<\/span> his room, she heard a voice say, \u201cFear<\/span> not; I am with you.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Police later arrested one of the<\/span> attackers that <\/span>Temistocres<\/span> had<\/span> recognized, <\/span>reportedly finding<\/span> bloody<\/span> clothes as evidence against him.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Shortly after the suspect was<\/span> arrested, people Deborah didn\u2019t<\/span> know brought food and drinks to the<\/span> hospital for <\/span>Temistocres<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>As she was<\/span> about to give her husband some juice<\/span> that one of the strangers brought,<\/span> Deborah <\/span>said she <\/span>sensed the Holy Spirit telling<\/span> her not to give it to him. When she<\/span> asked who had brought the juice, a man ran from the room. She learned that the man was related to one of <\/span>Temistocres<\/span>\u2019<\/span> attackers, and police later confirmed<\/span> that the juice bottle <\/span>contained<\/span> poison.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Deborah told Voice of the Martyrs that l<\/span>ater, someone offered to bring them<\/span> money<\/span>, which she believes was <\/span>likely a<\/span> bribe to drop the<\/span> charges<\/span>,<\/span> and another person offered<\/span> food that they believed was tainted.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that t<\/span>he man arrested for the assault<\/span> and murder was released for <\/span>unspecified reasons, <\/span>and <\/span>Temistocres<\/span> has seen his<\/span> attackers in the city. But <\/span>she says <\/span>Temisocres<\/span> chose<\/span> to show them grace. \u201cThey are forgiven,\u201d<\/span> he <\/span>told Voice of the Martyrs<\/span>. \u201cI know that they did something<\/span> that they <\/span>didn\u2019t<\/span> know, like Jesus said,<\/span> \u2018Father, forgive them, for they know not<\/span> what they do.\u2019\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”49725″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Scars are visible on the leg of Temistocres from a machete attack during an overnight prayer service at church. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]After hearing of the attack, a <\/span>local Voice of the Martyrs contact<\/span> visited<\/span> Temistocres<\/span> at<\/span> the<\/span> hospital.<\/span> V<\/span>oice of the Martyrs <\/span>helped<\/span> pay<\/span> for<\/span> Temistocres<\/span>\u2019<\/span> medical<\/span> needs,<\/span> including<\/span> 10<\/span> surgeries,<\/span> t<\/span>reatment<\/span> for<\/span> multiple<\/span> infections<\/span>, <\/span>and<\/span> months<\/span> of<\/span> rehabilitation.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a<\/span> miracle<\/span> that he<\/span> is<\/span> here<\/span> today,\u201d<\/span> the<\/span> local Voice of the Martyrs contact <\/span>said.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Very<\/span> early<\/span> in<\/span> his<\/span> hospitalization,<\/span> Temistocres<\/span> began<\/span> to<\/span> consider<\/span> how he<\/span> could<\/span> thank<\/span> God<\/span> for<\/span> preserving<\/span> his<\/span> life<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>Ultimately, h<\/span>e and<\/span> Deborah decided to donate their land to<\/span> the church as an offering of thanksgiving.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Church members wept when they heard<\/span> about the gift, but <\/span>Temistocres<\/span> told Voice of the Martyrs that <\/span>family<\/span> members struggled to understand why a<\/span> man with such severe injuries would give<\/span> away his most valuable possession.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cMy<\/span> father told me, \u2018I heard that you offered<\/span> the plot to the pastor,\u2019\u201d <\/span>Temistocres<\/span> said.<\/span> \u201cI answered my father, \u2018I <\/span>didn\u2019t<\/span> give to the<\/span> pastor. I gave my plot to the Lord.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”49737″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Temistocres, Deborah, and their three daughters. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Because <\/span>Temistocres<\/span> and Deborah<\/span> continued to see the attackers in town,<\/span> they decided to move to another area for<\/span> their safety. <\/span>Local Voice of the Martyrs contacts <\/span>helped<\/span> Temistocres<\/span> launch a small poultry<\/span> business.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\u201c<\/span>The business has done well,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>T<\/span>he couple <\/span>used the proceeds from the business to buy <\/span>a plot of land and buil<\/span>d<\/span> a church <\/span>building <\/span>on the property.<\/span>\u201d<\/span> She says t<\/span>he church <\/span>currently <\/span>has 71 members and<\/span> 150 children who regularly attend.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Temistocres<\/span> is our true pastor,\u201d one<\/span> of the church\u2019s leaders <\/span>told V<\/span>o<\/span>ice of the Martyrs<\/span>. \u201cWhat you see here is because of his love and his heart. We love him, and he<\/span> loves us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]In addition to his work at the church,<\/span> Temistocres<\/span> told Voice of the Martyrs that he <\/span>hopes to receive <\/span>additional<\/span> training in<\/span> ministry to Muslims. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>He<\/span> wants to show them the same kind of<\/span> love that he received when a pastor<\/span> first visited his home years ago<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]During a recent worship<\/span> service, <\/span>Temistocres<\/span> tearfully thanked God<\/span> directly from the<\/span> pulpit. \u201cAsante,<\/span> Yesu,\u201d he said in<\/span> Swahili<\/span>, meaning, <\/span>\u201cThank<\/span> you, Jesus.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says Voice of the Martyrs posts prayer requests for <\/span>persecuted <\/span>Christians <\/span>and formerly persecuted Christians <\/span>like <\/span>Temistocres<\/span> on its website at <\/span><\/span>https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/<\/span>en\/<\/span><\/span>prayer\/urgent\/<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”49730″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”\u201cOne, two, three, \u2026\u201d began Temistocres Ngabona, counting the deep scars on his leg. \u201cFour, five, six, seven, eight, …\u201d he continued, moving to his right arm …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":49729,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[869,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-china-special","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","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":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49723"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49723\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49775,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49723\/revisions\/49775"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}