Muslim Converts to Christianity Must Often Keep Their New Faith Secret

LOME, Togo (Compass) -- Christians in the small, West African country of Togo face a subtle but growing threat from Islam.

"The only way people can come to Christ in many areas of our country is if they leave their surroundings and abandon their larger family. I am convinced that there are many Christians who are unable to declare themselves Christians openly for fear of persecution," said the Rev. Mitre Djakouti, president of the Assemblies of God in Togo.

"This especially applies to Sokode and the areas of mid and northern Togo. I know of four men and four women who keep their Bibles hidden and read them when no one else is around. They told me that since they have been reading the Bible, they have peace in their hearts," he said.

One of Rev. Djakouti's church members, a chemist, lost his wife when he became a Christian. Her Muslim family came and forcibly took her back.

"There is a sort of quiet, constant opposition to Christians. Nothing too obvious. But, for example, when we want to start a new church in an area where the authorities are Muslim, we cannot get the necessary permissions and find it very difficult to get premises or land. In the vicinity of a church, the Muslim community will lodge formal complaints against the noise of singing or praying. They try to stop us meeting," Djakouti said.

"At the moment, only widows and outcasts are allowed to become Christians; otherwise, the person will be expelled from their family and community. There is no tolerance towards a convert from Islam to Christianity."

Wolanyo Amegah, the Director of the Bible Society of Togo, said Christians in Muslim-dominated areas are fearful.

"We had set up our Bible stand at Gandare in front of the palace," he said. "It is a public place and we were not infringing any regulations. Someone came up to the staff and told them that the Muslim leaders were at that moment inside the palace working out how they would attack the Bible stand and beat up the Bible Society staff. Everyone began to get edgy. We decided to pack up and leave before the attack came.

"Suddenly, a Muslim called over one of our staff. 'Your Holy Book, how much are you selling it for?' he asked him quietly. Quickly he gave the man the money, grabbed the book and ran. We followed him as soon as the stall had been packed away, into the vehicle and off! This incident took place in 1986, but since then, the fear of reprisals has grown and not diminished."

Djakouti also told of a young Fulani man who became a Christian, and his Muslim father poisoned him. Within a few weeks he was dead, and his wife returned to her family in Burkina Faso.

"There are occasional incidents such as these, but generally it is a building menace," Djakouti said. "It is opposition to our expansion: It is all right for Muslims to make converts but not for Christians to preach the gospel."

Islam is expanding too, as mosques are being built almost everywhere. In one village of 5,000 inhabitants, there is a new mosque that has a capacity of 10,000 people. In Bafilo, the regional governor told the Christians that he could no longer support them because the Muslims had control of the region.

Another problem Christians face is the increased level of community aid sponsored by Muslims, thanks to money and support from oil-rich countries such as Saudi Arabia.

"Every village has a mosque built using funds from Saudi Arabia," Djakouti said. "One of our church members, who helps run a cooperative, rejected their request to build a mosque. The Muslims also wanted to dig a well for the community. He put his foot down and warned others about the consequences of letting them go ahead. He said that the community would reap forced Islam as a result.

"They buy land and build a beautiful new mosque right in the middle of where people are living. They don't care if it is a Christian community. Often they build in the most public places -- in full sight, in the middle of the market area -- as if they are stamping their authority on a place."

Young people are also finding educational opportunities in Muslim countries. "I know of several young men, one from K‚v‚, who have been sent to college and university in Egypt. When they return, they are very strong Muslims and preach to our young people," Djakouti said.

"The Muslims are after our young people," he said. "We are frightened and have much work to do. We have our teams of evangelists, and they are looked after by three pastors. But we wish we could offer the people more than just the message of the gospel. They have many needs. Most villagers have to walk three miles for water, six miles to school and four or five to the nearest clinic. What are they going to do when the Muslims offer them fresh water and a clinic?"

Christian leaders in Togo believe they must do more than simply bring spiritual help to the people if they are to strengthen the church.

"Islam is gaining ground because we are not in a position to offer people physical help," Djakouti said. "We hardly have the funds for our own development, and certainly cannot match the sort of money coming in for the development of Islam through the Gulf States."

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Source : https://www.strategicnetwork.org/index.php?loc=kb&view=v&id=8899&fto=280&