Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law – a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. Matthew 10:34-36
David Abdulwahab Mohamed Ali (2008)
Killed by his Cousin
David’s conversion from Islam to Christianity was strongly opposed by his Somali Muslim family. Consequently he had not seen them for many years when, in April 2008, he travelled back to Somalia from Ethiopia, where he had been living since 2000, to visit his sick mother.
On 22 April, one of David’s cousins came to him with two members of the Islamic militant group al-Shabaab, to question him about his faith. They asked him if he was a Muslim or an infidel, to which he replied, “Neither. I am a follower of the Messiah.” David’s cousin, to avenge the family’s honour, pulled out a gun and shot the 29-year-old. The other two did the same. They dragged his body to a mosque, praising Allah that “an apostate was dead”.
David was described as a gifted evangelist who led many to the Lord. He was a linguist and philosopher who shared his faith and thoughts through blogs. Some Somalis called him “The Great Thinker”.
I know the sorrow I will bring to my family.
It has cost me tears of blood to take such a step
and give those I love such pain.
Who is there who cared for home
and family more than I?
All my earthly happiness was to be found there.
But you, O God, who united us with such
tender affection,
weaned me from what I loved that
I might serve you.
Theophane Venard (martyred 1861)