The Eritrean government has ordered that the Kale Hiwot Church surrender all of its property and physical assets to the government, according to a September 20 report from Compass Direct.

The written confiscation order by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs targets possessions of the church's relief department, which has functioned as a legally recognizable non-governmental organization (NGO) under the Eritrean Relief and Rehabilitation Commission for more than twenty years. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has been closing down NGO operations in Eritrea for the past two years.

According to local Christians, the government has no legal authority to enforce such an order. If carried out, the confiscation order would include all of the denomination's church buildings, schools, vehicles and other assets.

The central offices of the Kale Hiwot in Asmara's Paridizo District were raided and closed last October. During the raids, security police arrested all of the administrators, staff and a few visitors. The church's computers, office equipment and files were also confiscated.

This order follows previous steps of imprisoning pastors and key church leaders and raids on various church buildings. "[This confiscation order] is a direct attack upon the church," one source told Compass. "It is the final act of banning this church."

Pray that the order against the Kale Hiwot Church will be rescinded. Ask God to move in the hearts of government leaders that they would recognize religious freedom for all of Eritrea's citizens. Pray that those who have been arrested will be released. Pray that those in Eritrean prisons will be encouraged by the examples of other men and women who have remained faithful in the face of terrible opposition (Hebrews 12:1-3). Pray that Christians throughout Eritrea will take comfort in the fact that God commends those who suffer for doing good (1 Peter 2:20-21).

For more information on the severe persecution facing Eritrea's Christians, click here. Video testimonies from Eritreans who have been forced to flee their country are also available on VOMC's multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/.