Militants killed Annette’s husband but a Release International-supported project is helping to rebuild her life, writes John Lawson.
Our recent appeal featured the story of Juliette, whose husband, Andre, a pastor, was shot dead in his church during a raid by militants on his village in the Centre Nord region of Burkina Faso in May 2023.
Sadly, her story is not an isolated one. On the same visit to Burkina Faso earlier this year in which I met Juliette, I spoke to another widow, ‘Annette’*, whose testimony was even more heartbreaking.
Annette lived in northern Burkina Faso with her husband, a tailor and church youth leader, and their three-year-old son. She was 24 years old and into the advanced stages of pregnancy with their second child when their village was attacked by a large number of armed Islamic militants.
The group, which had ridden in on motorbikes, surrounded the church and told everyone to sit on the ground before entering the church and setting fire to the pulpit. They then told all the men to stand behind the church and the women to stay seated outside the front.
The next thing she heard was the sound of gunfire. The pastor, his son, her husband and three others had been shot dead. The militants then told them all to leave the area, warning that, should they not, the group would return and kill everyone, including the women and children.
Annette fled to a different town where her husband had family members and gave birth to their daughter nine days later. Her husband’s family, however, blamed his death on her Christian faith. They tried to pressure her into marrying another family member, in accordance with Islamic tradition, and in so doing to become a Muslim, but she refused and fled again – this time to Ouagadougou, the capital.
There she went to a church and explained her problems to the pastor, who found her the small place to live where we visited her, a single room rented for 5,000 CFA (£7) a month.
‘Now I see that I am not alone’
Annette used to weave traditional clothes and would like to do so again but needs more equipment. However, thanks to the diligent work of our local partner in locating displaced widows such as Annette, Release International is now supporting a project to help them to rebuild their lives through initial assistance with housing and food. During this time they are given help to start making a living, usually building on their existing skills and experience, eg, weaving/tailoring, hairdressing, door-to-door selling or rearing poultry. Funding is provided for the necessary equipment and materials to get them started.
Their children are supported through school by our education project. In addition to this material support our partner visits them regularly, reading God’s word, praying, and even weeping with them, and expressing Christian solidarity with them through their grief. Annette told us that she likes to read the Psalms because King David also passed through difficult times.
She said: ‘Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters [in the UK]. May God give you strength in your daily Christian walk. Now I see that I am not alone.’
*Name changed to protect identity.
HOW YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT HELPS MARTYRS’ FAMILIES
A Release International-supported project in Burkina Faso is transforming the lives of martyrs’ families by providing pastoral care, assistance with housing and food, help to make a living and support for children’s education.
To make a gift to help the families of martyrs please call 01689 823491 or give securely online here, selecting ‘Help families of Christian martyrs’ from the drop down options.
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