Somali Christian Killed, Four Children Kidnapped

My heart always grieves when I see children being abused, used for ill purposes and hurt by evil people.  I do not think I will ever understand how anyone can hurt a child, and so this story really touches my heart.  Sadly, Compass Direct is reporting about how four children have been kidnapped from their mother - so she could be released from the custody of her captors, after her Christian husband was martyred.

In Somalia they are targeting converts from Islam to Christianity, and this was why Osman Abdullah Fataho was targeted and then killed.

Here's more from the Compass Direct article:  Full article here.

Fataho was a long-time Christian deeply involved in the activities of the small, secret Christian community, sources said. Area Christians said they suspected someone had informed the insurgents of Fataho’s faith.
 
The assailants abducted his wife and children, later releasing her on the condition that she surrender the little ones to be trained as soldiers, sources said.
 
“We know they have taken the children to brain-wash them, to change their way of life from Christian to Muslim and to teach them the Quran,” said one source. “Al Shabaab was aware that her husband was a Christian, but they were not sure of her faith.” 
 
Abducted were 5-year-old Ali Daud Fataho, 7-year-old Fatuma Safia Fataho, 10-year-old Sharif Ahmed Fataho and Nur Said Fataho, 15. 

**** Please keep these children and church in your prayers.