Another attack in Burkina Faso kills 14 Christians: ‘The attacks have shattered the lives of our people’

Other details remain unknown. No one has claimed responsibility yet for the attack, but it is assumed to be the work of one of the several Islamic extremist groups active in the country—which include ISIS and Al Qaeda.

Pastor Samuel Sawadogo, who cares for displaced Christians in Kaya, Burkina Faso, recently spoke with an Open Doors field team about the brutal attacks against Christians in his country. “We don’t know who the attackers are, neither do we know who is sponsoring them,” he says. “All we know is that they attack Christians. These attacks have shattered the lives of our people. We are troubled and filled with pain over the deaths of our family members.”

“We are deeply shocked at yet another attack, and the fact that children as young as 12 were not spared,” says the Open Doors director in sub-Saharan Africa, JP Pretorius. “The shock and trauma these attacks cause are unimaginable. Our brothers and sisters in Burkina Faso need fervent prayer and urgent support to remain full of hope and unified in the face of increasing hostility. Church leaders in particular need God’s protection and wisdom as they minister to their flock, while facing specific targeting themselves.”

As part of an overall strategy of help for persecuted believers in Burkina Faso, Open Doors has focused recently on the socio-economic elements of our integrated help to individuals and communities across West Africa. During late October, for example, Open Doors was able to deliver relief aid to 560 of the most vulnerable Christian families forced to flee northern Burkina Faso to safer areas of the country.

Open Doors seeks helps Christians deal with the realities they face under radical Islamic ideologies in West Africa. We have been running integrated programs in West African countries to help Christians who are on the receiving end of radical Islamic ideology as they strive to remain firm in the faith. This includes persecution preparedness training, discipleship training, economic empowerment, ministry specifically to Muslim converts, leadership training and trauma care.

In the meantime, we can pray for our sisters and brothers as they mourn this latest attack, and try to recover. Will you join us?

1. Please pray for the Lord’s comfort and grace to be at work in the lives of all who have lost loved ones in the latest attack and that He would be close to the brokenhearted.
2. Pray that Christians would have the grace to remain firm in the faith as they face increased hostility and not give in to the temptation of tribalism and anger towards Muslims but continue to trust the Lord to fight their cause.
3. Many people, including Christians, have been severely traumatized by the deterioration in security and the displacement they suffered. Please pray the Lord will be at work in their lives to bring healing and comfort and to provide in their every need.
4. The extremist ideologies sweeping across the Sahel have brought destruction to so many lives. Please pray that the Lord would use these circumstances to display His glory. Pray that the Lord will draw in the many who are lost to Himself.
5. Pray for the role the Church plays in ministering to people. Thank the Lord for their determination to continue sharing Christ with the lost. Pray for wisdom and courage.
6. Please pray that the government would receive wisdom and display accountability as they seek to create order in the affected areas.
7. Pray for all international forces helping in the fight against extremists in the larger region. Pray they would be able to help bring stability and prevent the spread of violence to Burkina Faso’s neighbors.
8. Pray for wisdom and provision for Open Doors as we determine the appropriate interventions. Pray for the protection over staff as they travel to volatile regions. Pray for His blessing on all logistics.