Somali Woman’s Heartbreaking Journey Of Faith
A Somali mother of three is facing severe persecution after converting to Christianity, leading to her expulsion from her family’s home and the breakdown of her marriage. The 31-year-old woman, whose identity remains confidential for her safety, shared that her decision to follow Christ resulted in her being cast out by her Muslim relatives in Jamaame village, Kismayo. Her husband, who was away on business, supported her father’s decision to remove her from the household, ultimately divorcing her under Islamic law.
Her journey to faith began after watching the “Jesus Film” with her children on Christmas Eve. Touched by the message, she decided to become a follower of Christ in January. Hoping to share the same message with her family, she later showed the film to her parents during Ramadan. Her emotional reaction to Jesus’ suffering during the crucifixion scene sparked a strong response from her father, who disagreed with her belief that Jesus is the Son of God. Following their disagreement, her father told her to leave with her children.
Attempts by her mother to mediate were unsuccessful, and after briefly leaving with her daughter, she later renounced Christianity and returned to her husband. Isolated and without family support, the woman has faced death threats from relatives accusing her of apostasy. In fear for her life, she fled with her children to an area near the Kenyan border and has since been moving from village to village in search of work. She is now seeking help to secure stable housing, education for her children, and a small business to sustain them.
Despite the hardships, the woman says she has found deep peace in her faith and prays that her family will one day also come to know Christ. She asked for prayers and support from Christians around the world as she hopes to eventually reach Kenya, where she believes her family will find refuge and assistance. In Somalia, where Islam is the state religion and converting to Christianity is considered a crime punishable by death, believers often face extreme persecution. The country ranks second on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List for nations most hostile to Christians.