This is Part 3 in a three-part series of blog posts about the case of Eva Abdallah, accused of blasphemy last year in Tanzania. Click to read Part 1 and Part 2.
Does VOM condone what Eva did? No, we don’t. It would have been wiser not to choose an action that is so deeply offensive to Muslims. We would never encourage any Christian, persecuted or otherwise, to purposefully antagonize a non-believer. But while it may not have been the best choice, her desire to show God’s power and glory in a tense situation is admirable.
VOM's founder, Richard Wurmbrand, always encouraged reaching our enemies with love. His book, Jesus, Friend to Terrorists, is written in that vein. We shower those who persecute us with blessing and love, modeling Christ. Pastor Wurmbrand won over many antagonistic fellow prisoners, prison guards and interrogators that way.
But right or wrong, Pastor Wurmbrand also refused to let the sleepy church in the West forget about their suffering brothers and sisters. As a ministry charged with bringing the Western church into fellowship with the persecuted, VOM could not forget our sister Eva, suffering in prison because her faith motivated her persecutors to provoke her.
And the letter-writing efforts of so many of you here and around the world made a difference to Eva in prison. She was overwhelmed with the unexpected encouragement of the letters and cards. The colors, the verses and the hand-written notes were deeply meaningful. She told us, “From the bottom of my heart I felt extreme joy because I knew there were some Christians who were praying for me even though they didn’t know me.”
Now that she’s free, Eva wants to study the Bible more and continue to witness just as boldly as she always has. She’s living in a different city, but she’s just as determined to bring glory to the God who changed her life.
And this is not the end of her story. It’s just the beginning of how God will use this young woman for his purposes.
YOUR TURN: Does it change your opinion of Eva's story now that you know more details? Share your thoughts in the comments to this post.
To write letters to Christians currently in prison because of their faith and Christian activities, visit www.PrisonerAlert.com.
Dory P. has worked with VOM for six years. She grew up in Ecuador, met her husband while working with another mission organization, and now lives in Oklahoma. Between Dory, her husband and two-year-old son, they share five passports. Dory helps tell the stories of the persecuted through VOM's newsletter, and her husband serves with VOM's international department.
In her situation, being that a Muslim influence was new in her town, I can see why she had less fear of doing what she chose to do because she was thinking of the outcome, and trusting God to work it out to show them He is real. I think it did work out that way. Sometimes our responses to persecution really is the indicator that Jesus gives us peace and love that is beyond this world. And I'll be praying her persecutors did see that. Amen, sister Eva! Doubltess she learned a lot from it, and will not do that again, but she will be respected most likely and maybe have a way to talk to some of those women.
Posted by: Brooke Gillette | June 09, 2013 at 09:04 PM
It simply reminds me that none of us always do what is 'right'--that sometimes we cannot know the best response. Praise God, He reads our hearts and acts accordingly. Love assumes no wrong; we as Christians need to support one another and let God work out the details. She did her best in a tough situation. I pray I will do my best in my (far less) tough situations. And I praise God HE will act perfectly for my good and His glory!
Posted by: Billie Jo | June 09, 2013 at 03:01 PM
GOD know all everything everyone !
do not worry about all everything everyone !
always life in faith to JESUS GOD SAVIOR for salvation !
love GOD and love others no matter how who what when where !
obey to the Law of GOD and obey to the Love of GOD !
pray pray pray pray pray pray pray to GOD !
daily thanks praises worships GOD !
Posted by: STAR777 | June 09, 2013 at 09:37 AM