Prayer Points

Calls For Accountability In Eritrea May 18, 2026
Human Rights Watch is warning countries not to rush into restoring diplomatic ties with Eritrea without clear steps toward justice and accountability. Reports say the United States is considering easing sanctions that were imposed over serious human rights abuses Continue Reading Isolated And Oppressive Regime In Eritrea May 11, 2026
The regime in Eritrea is shaped by a strong focus on control, security, and survival. It comes from a long history of war and struggle, which has made the government cautious and highly centralized. Leaders see many outside influences Continue Reading Education System Under Control Of The Eritrean Regime May 4, 2026
The education system in Eritrea has grown since independence, with more schools and more children attending classes than before. On the surface, this looks like progress, but the reality is more complex. The government closely controls what students learn Continue Reading Persecuted Christians In Eritrea April 27, 2026
Christians in Eritrea are facing serious challenges to their freedom of religion. Many have been arrested simply for practicing their faith in churches that are not officially recognized by the government. Although some prisoners were recently released, they were Continue Reading Harsh Rule Drives Eritrean Exodus April 20, 2026
Eritrea is one of the world's main sources of refugees, despite its small population. Many people leave because of strict government control and a lack of freedom under President Isaias Afwerki. Citizens are forced into long national service, often Continue Reading Eritrea Abuses Force Players To Flee April 13, 2026
Seven players from the Eritrea national football team have gone missing after a historic win against the Eswatini national football team. The team won 4-1 on aggregate to reach the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations for the Continue Reading Eritrea Fights To Protect Children Amid Rising Global Deaths March 30, 2026
Eritrea has made progress in improving child health over recent years, but the global rise in child deaths in 2025 was a serious concern. In Eritrea, children under five have benefited from vaccination programs, better nutrition, and improved access Continue Reading Severe Rights Abuses In Eritrea March 23, 2026
People in Eritrea face serious and ongoing human rights problems. Reports from the United Nations Human Rights Council say the government has committed crimes like torture, imprisonment, and forced labor for many years. Many citizens are forced into long Continue Reading Detention Without Trial In Eritrea March 16, 2026
Oppression in Eritrea has been widely reported by international organizations and news outlets for many years. The government has been accused of restricting freedom of speech, controlling the media, and imprisoning people without proper trials. One example is the Continue Reading Eritrean Priest Held Two Decades Without Charge March 9, 2026
Gebremedhin Gebregergis, an Eritrean Orthodox priest, has been imprisoned for more than twenty years in Eritrea without any charge or trial. He was arrested on 19 November 2004 together with two other Christians. Since then, they have been held Continue Reading Rising Tensions Between Eritrea And Ethiopia March 2, 2026
Tensions are rising again between Eritrea and Ethiopia, raising fears of another war in the Horn of Africa. The two countries have a long and troubled history. Eritrea became independent from Ethiopia in 1993, but it later fought a Continue Reading Christians Face Harsh Persecution In Eritrea February 16, 2026
In Eritrea, Christians experience intense persecution and fear. The government recognizes only four religious communities: the Eritrean Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, and Islam. Christians from other churches, particularly Protestant churches, are not recognized by the Continue Reading Tensions Rise Between Eritrea And Ethiopia February 9, 2026
Eritrea has rejected accusations from Ethiopia that its troops are operating inside Ethiopian territory, calling the claims false and politically motivated. The dispute began after Ethiopia’s foreign minister sent a letter demanding the withdrawal of Eritrean soldiers and accusing Continue Reading Eritrean Migrants Trapped By Traffickers February 2, 2026
Migrants from Eritrea often leave their country to escape poverty, repression, and endless military service. Many hope to reach Europe for safety and a better life, but their journey is extremely dangerous. A recent case in the Netherlands showed Continue Reading Rising Tensions Between Eritrea And Ethiopia January 20, 2026
Tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia have risen again after Ethiopia’s police said they seized 56,000 rounds of ammunition sent by Eritrea to rebels in the Amhara region. Ethiopia accused Eritrea of supporting the Fano rebels, who have been fighting Continue Reading Eritrea Ranks Lowest On Press Freedom January 6, 2026
Eritrea has one of the worst press freedom situations in the world. It kept the lowest position in the 2025 Global Press Freedom Index, showing that there is almost no independent media in the country. The government controls all Continue Reading Prisoners Freed After Years Without Trial December 8, 2025
13 people were released from Eritrea's notorious Mai Serwa military prison, where they had been held without trial for over 18 years. These included a 69-year-old Olympian cyclist, Zeragaber Gebrehiwot; businessmen; engineers; and senior police officers. They first got Continue Reading Faith Barriers In Eritrea November 28, 2025
Eritrea has many people groups, and a large number of them remain unreached by the Christian faith. Ten of the 15 groups, or about two-thirds, are unreached, and seven are frontier groups where almost no Christian work happens. This Continue Reading Tensions Rise Between Eritrea And Ethiopia November 18, 2025
Eritrea and Ethiopia are facing serious tensions over access to the sea and control of ports. Eritrea’s Foreign Minister accused Ethiopia of preparing for war and said Ethiopia’s actions insult Eritrea’s independence. Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Gideon Timothy, said Continue Reading Severe Food Insecurity In Eritrea November 3, 2025
Food insecurity in Eritrea is a serious problem that affects a large part of the population, especially in rural areas. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about 65% of Eritreans suffer from undernourishment, and around 78% of Continue Reading The Harsh Reality Of Eritrea’s Girl Soldiers October 23, 2025
In Eritrea, girls are forced to serve in the military from as young as age 16, usually during their last year of secondary school. The indefinite, compulsory service has been likened by former recruits to a slavery system, with Continue Reading Ethiopia Accuses Eritrea Of Plotting War Over Red Sea Access October 13, 2025
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of working with a group linked to the Tigray conflict to start a new war. A letter from Ethiopia’s foreign minister to the United Nations claims that Eritrea and a hardline Tigray faction are supporting Continue Reading 24 Years of Silence: Eritrean Journalists Still Jailed Without Trial September 29, 2025 Four Eritrean journalists, including Swedish-Eritrean Dawit Isaak, have been in prison without trial for 24 years. They were arrested in 2001 during a government crackdown on free media and political opposition in Eritrea. Dawit was briefly released in 2005, but Continue Reading Eritrean Embassy Rejects Plea To Free Jailed Christian Leaders September 1, 2025 A coalition of Christian and human rights activists picketed outside the Eritrean Embassy in Washington, D.C., to present a letter demanding the release of seven Christian church leaders imprisoned in Eritrea for more than 20 years without trial. The leaders, Continue Reading Global Calls To Free Eritrean Pastors After 20 Years August 26, 2025 On August 21, charities including Open Doors UK & Ireland launched a campaign calling for the release of seven Eritrean pastors jailed for 21 years without charges. The campaign, marking the UN Day for Victims of Religious Violence, is in Continue Reading Call To Free Eritrean Church Leaders Jailed For 20 Years August 18, 2025 Christian groups are urging Eritrea to release seven church leaders who have been jailed without trial for over 20 years. The #Voices4Justice campaign states that these men have been denied their legal rights and family visits. Some belong to evangelical Continue Reading Eritrea’s Ongoing Internet Blackout August 12, 2025 Eritrea is one of the least connected countries in the world. In 2025, the government continues to block mobile internet access for its citizens. People in Eritrea cannot use mobile data and must rely on slow, limited internet from a Continue Reading Ethiopia And Eritrea’s War Crimes In Tigray August 4, 2025 A new report shows that Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers committed mass rape, forced pregnancy, and sexual torture in Tigray. Health workers treated thousands of survivors, including babies, children, and elderly women. Many were raped in public, by many attackers, often Continue Reading Gash Barka Acts To End Child Marriage July 29, 2025 Eritrea’s Gash Barka region is stepping up efforts to end child marriage. At a meeting in Barentu on July 19–20, local women’s union leaders reported strong actions underway to eliminate underage marriage while also boosting women’s socio‑economic status. They highlighted progress Continue Reading Rising Tensions Between Eritrea And Ethiopia July 21, 2025 The relationship between Eritrea and Ethiopia has become tense again, showing signs of a new cold war. In a recent interview, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki denied Ethiopia’s claims that Eritrean troops are still on Ethiopian land and causing problems. He Continue Reading

Country Information

Eritrea sits on the Red Sea, with its ancient history linked to the Aksumite world and long trading links across the Red Sea. Over centuries, it experienced successive external rule (Ottoman-influenced coastal powers, a long period of Italian colonial rule, and later federation/annexation with Ethiopia) before a hard-fought war of independence in the late 20th century and formal independence in 1993. Eritrean culture is richly layered: several major languages (Tigrinya, Saho, Tigre, and others), strong oral and liturgical traditions, and a mix of religions — Christianity (ancient Oriental/Orthodox forms and newer Protestant communities) and Islam — that shape music, festivals, art, and communal life.

Christian faith has profound roots in the region (the Christianization of Aksum in late Antique times), and the Eritrean Orthodox tradition is one of Africa’s oldest continuous Christian communities. Historically, the missionary and episcopal efforts associated with the Aksumite Church and figures such as Frumentius (often credited with bringing and consolidating Christianity in Aksum in the 4th century) were pivotal in establishing an ancient Christian identity. Over centuries, the ancient church maintained close liturgical and theological ties with other Oriental Orthodox communities; in modern times, Roman Catholic and multiple Protestant/Evangelical missions and leaders have also contributed to Christian life and institutions in Eritrea.

Many Eritrean teens live with daily pressures that shape faith formation: forced national service (often long-term conscription), reports of forced labor and restricted freedoms, limited access to open religious education for some denominations, family separation from emigration, economic hardship, and the trauma those conditions cause. Those pressures push young people toward pragmatic survival choices (migration, prioritizing income over church life), increase distrust of institutions (including religious bodies seen as aligned or compromised), and reduce time and space for sustained discipleship and community life.