SOMALIA - Christian transporting Bibles killed – Compass Direct News

On Sept. 15, 69-year-old Omar Khalife, a Somali Christian, was shot dead by members of al-Shabaab, a Muslim extremist group, when Bibles were found in his possession, according to Compass Direct News. At approximately 10:30 a.m., a bus transporting Omar Khalife was stopped by extremists at a checkpoint near the city of Merca. When the extremists discovered 25 Somali Bibles in one of the bags Khalife was delivering to an underground fellowship group they demanded to know who owned them. When the passengers did not disclose the owner, they used photos in the bag to determine the owner. When they realized the photos resembled Khalife, they asked him if the Bibles were his. When he did not respond the extremists shot and killed him. They transported Khalife's body and the Bibles to Merca and displayed them as a warning to others. Later that day, a member of the extremist group reported Khalife's death on a local radio program. Khalife, who had been a Christian for 45 years, was active in sharing the gospel and baptizing Christian converts from Islam. He is mourned by his wife and seven children. Praise God for the life and testimony of Omar Khalife. In recent months, Khalife is the latest believer killed by the Muslim extremist group al-Shabaab. Ask God to protect and encourage believers who courageously continue to stand for Him in the midst of danger. Pray for peace in war-torn Somalia.