23-year-old Namata Habiiba had been invited to attend a church service – and after hearing the Gospel – she accepted Christ and decided to leave Islam to follow Jesus.
With her whole life ahead of her and a bright future in store, Namata was now free to live out the commands of Jesus and make His name known.
But when she returned from church that day and told her stepmother where she had been – a premeditated act soon followed – and Namata’s earthly life had a tragic ending.
Namata’s stepmother Sauya was outraged that her daughter was denouncing Islam to follow Jesus and refused to speak to her.
Later that day after eating a meal her stepmother had made, Namata began to feel sick and started complaining of stomach pains.
Her friend who was there and had been fasting at the time recalled the horrific series of events.
Morning Star News reports:
“The friend shouted for Sauya, but there was no response, she said. Soon neighbors arrived, but Sauya had disappeared, Habiiba’s friend said.
They rushed Habiiba to a hospital in Bugiri, where a doctor gave her medication, but she soon died, the friend said. A postmortem, she said, determined she had died from ingesting rat poison.
Habiiba leaves behind a 3-year-old child, an area resident said. The father is a married Muslim who had planned to take her as his second wife, the source said.”
Absolutely heartbreaking.
Namata Habiiba did nothing wrong – she lost her life simply for putting her faith in Jesus Christ.
Now her child will grow up without a mother – all because those who hate Christ decided they needed to take her life.
While this most recent killing in Uganda is horrific and heartbreaking, it’s a sobering reminder that all over the world our brave brothers and sisters in Christ are losing their lives when they decide to follow Jesus.
One father even poisoned his own daughter for becoming a Christian and leaving Islam.
Yet despite unspeakable persecution, these men and women still leave behind their Muslim backgrounds and put their hope and faith in Christ – knowing it could cost them their lives.
And while sometimes we think Muslims will never “get the Gospel” and follow Jesus – time after time, there are countless stories of former Muslims speaking about the incredible way the Gospel changed their lives and led them to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
But still – the pain many families experience as their loved ones are killed for following Jesus is real and truly heartbreaking.
So in the meantime, let us continue to pray for the people of Uganda – and especially for those Namata Habiiba leaves behind like her friends and young child.
May the peace of Jesus bring them comfort that surpasses all human understanding.
And let us continue to pray for all of those who are exposed to radical violence every day – and still risk their lives to follow Jesus.
As Christians, Jesus told us we would suffer in this world for His name’s sake.
May the reality that there are so many who truly suffer for choosing to accept Christ be a sobering reminder to us all that following Jesus does have an earthly cost.
Will you commit to pray for the people in Uganda?
Do you know or have met a Muslim who has come to Christ?
You can post your answers to our Facebook page and join in the conversation with other believers from all around the world.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17
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