In front of me sits Bedros, who is the project manager for the Danish European Mission’s project in Yemen. He talks passionately about the tragic situation in Yemen, but also about how God works in the midst of chaos, and how the underground church is quietly growing.
“The underground church in Yemen has now grown to about 10,000 native convert Christian. Some estimate that the number is even higher. The majority come from a very conservative Muslim background, both Sunni and Shia Islam, as well as from both the northern and southern parts of the country.”
There are many reasons why Yemenis are seeking to escape Islam. One reason Bedros points to is that some do not feel that their spiritual thirst is being met in Islam. “Many Yemenis have a deep spiritual longing that is only fulfilled when they encounter the Jesus of the Bible. Another reason is also that people have seen the war between Sunni and Shia Muslims for 10 years. Both sides say Allahu Akbar (God is great, ed.) and kill each other in his name.”
“Many Yemenis have a deep spiritual longing that is only fulfilled when they encounter the Jesus of the Bible” – Bedros
The fledgling converted church has evolved, so that now for the first time three generations have been seen in the same space for worship. In Yemen, men and women do not have the tradition of sitting together, but it happens when Christians meet. “We say that only Jesus can do this, because we are brothers and sisters in him,” says Bedros with a smile.
The Converted Church in Yemen is new and still in its early stages
As far as is known, for several hundred years there have only been very few indigenous Christians in the country. Instead, the church has been represented primarily by foreigners and guest workers, who have had their own churches where services are not held in the local languages.
“Twenty-five years ago, a spiritual search began among the local people, and at that time perhaps a maximum of ten indigenous Yemenis had converted to the Christian faith. They were scattered throughout the country and did not know each other,” says Bedros.
In 2003, the number of Christians may have reached 20. Then small communities began to emerge, meeting secretly in underground churches, but due to persecution, the groups were disbanded again.
In 2007, people again began meeting in small groups in secret, especially in large cities. “We have tried to build trust between believers. It takes a long time, as people are afraid of each other and may suspect each other of being spies. Many new Christians have stood completely alone and at first thought that they were the only Christians in Yemen,” says Bedros with a gentle smile at the nascent but positive development.
