Comoros
Overview
Comoros is among the poorest nations in the world, with less than 1 million people and few economic and educational opportunities. Comorians have no religious freedom, and leaving Islam is illegal. Sharing the gospel and discipling new believers are also highly restricted and can lead to expulsion for foreigners and brief imprisonments for locals. The strongest deterrent to becoming a Christian is societal pressure. Those who leave Islam to follow Christ are usually ostracized by their family and community. Some Christian organizations are allowed to operate, but they are strictly monitored and restricted to humanitarian projects. Despite these challenges, the gospel continues to spread inside the country.
Major Religions
Nearly 99 percent of Comorians are Sunni Muslims.
Persecutor
Anyone who leaves Islam is persecuted by family members and also risks possible persecution by the government.
What it Means to Follow Christ
Believers must meet in small groups and can share their faith only through one-on-one relationships. When they gather to read their Bibles or speak about their faith, they risk persecution from the community as well as imprisonment by the government. For example, when five believers hosted a Christian debate in a private residence, they were imprisoned upon their discovery. Prison terms are generally short, and treatment of Christians is usually left to the discretion of local village leaders.
Access to Bibles
Translating the Bible into the native languages has been slow and difficult, with only portions of the Scripture available after more than a decade of work. Most Comorian believers have digital versions of these translated portions on their smartphones.
VOM Work
VOM helps equip believers to share the gospel.