The ancient country of Yemen is a land of extremes: arid deserts to lush mountains, beautiful people in squalid living conditions, gracious hospitality and frequent wars, a laid-back Sunni/Marxist South and a dominant Shi’ite Muslim North, a land of tremendous natural resources that remains the poorest of the Arab Muslim nations. Yemen is known for its ancient buildings that seem to grow out of the rocks, exquisite designs on the women’s hands, ceremonial daggers called "djambas" that the men wear, the export of frankincense, and a national pasttime of chewing a narcotic called qat. We also remember it as the homeland of the Queen of Sheba in Solomon’s time. There are some 16 million Yemeni people, a quarter of which are scattered across the Middle East and East Africa. There are even Yemeni communities in the United States and the U.K.!
The Yemeni people remain unreached by the Gospel because not only is it physically difficult for missionaries to live among them, they are also a religiously Muslim people. Christian presence among the Yemeni is largely comprised of expatriates who work in the country--some of whom operate medical clinics. Christian radio is also available, but family pressure against Christianity is strong.
There are only two church buildings in Yemen, one Catholic and one Anglican, both in the Southern port city of Aden, and both for Westerners. But there is not a single congregation of Yemeni Christians. Despite the bleak spiritual outlook, God is at work in establishing His kingdom even among this hard people. There are isolated believers scattered all over the country who are growing in God's grace. Pray for God to raise up a vital national church! Pray also for peace in this volatile country, that the kingdom of God could grow unhindered.
~Article by Nate Wilson; Photo by Paty Lam Kim; Map source: www.ceng.metu.edu.tr/~e78199/Walid
