In the past, I didn’t believe in God, but recently I was baptized. My mother-in-law is not a Christian but supported me in becoming a Christian. We were both watching your channel when you invited us for a prayer. And she lifted up her hands and prayed with you. I was very surprised and impressed. You are making really good and effective programs. The Lord works in places you cannot always see."
— Viewer in Türkiye
Tonight, Afaf will wait for the lights to go out; for the house to surrender to sleep. When silence finally falls, she will reach for her phone and secretly open the Bible app.
“My brothers are very extremist and fanatical,” she told SAT-7. “They beat me because of my faith in Christ. So, every night, I wait until they sleep so I can open my phone.”
For those like Afaf, who came to faith in Christ from a different background, Libya can be an extraordinarily lonely place to follow Jesus. Believers make up an estimated 0.4 percent of the population.
“Fear and Panic”
For Afaf, isolation has shaped years of secret faith.
She was prompted to follow Christ more than a decade ago after the murder of 21 Christians – 20 Egyptians and a Ghanaian who had been working in Libya – by so-called Islamic State militants. Footage of the chilling incident was broadcast around the world, showing how the men remained faithful to the end.
Afaf’s decision to follow Jesus has also proved costly for her.
“I live with extreme fear and panic,” she said. “I feel guilty for not being able to read the Bible regularly. And I still can’t forgive all those who hurt me in my life.”
According to the Open Doors 2026 World Watch List, Libya is one of the most dangerous places in the world for Christians. They face intense pressure from family and society, and many are forced to practice their faith in secret.1
It makes connecting with people in their own language – and their own homes – especially important. SAT-7 has recently begun producing short prayers and Bible devotions voiced by Libyan believers in their own dialect, bringing words of faith and encouragement directly to people in the country.
“Peace and Comfort”
Despite living under relentless pressure, Afaf’s deepest desire is not revenge or escape. It is to become more like Jesus.
“I wish I could forgive. I wish I could forget. I wish,” she wrote to SAT-7, “that you would help me be like Christ.”
The Viewer Support Team sympathized greatly with Afaf and spent time comforting her, sharing Bible verses and praying. They sent links to relevant SAT-7 content and encouraged her with the story of Job.
“Hallelujah, glory to the Lord,” she replied. “Very comforting words. I felt peace and comfort. O Lord, create in me a pure heart. May God gladden your hearts as you gladden mine.”
Tonight, Afaf will wait once again for her brothers to fall asleep before opening her Bible. Let’s pray for her as she follows Jesus in secret, asking for His power and peace in this Libyan home.
Please Pray
That God will protect Afaf and other Libyan believers who must follow Jesus in secret, giving them strength and opportunities to grow in their faith.
For SAT-7’s new Libyan content. Pray that the short prayers and Bible devotions voiced by Libyan believers will be heard by many in the country and have an impact in their lives.
For SAT-7’s Viewer Support Teams as they connect directly with Isolated Believers and others in need of comfort and encouragement.
