Four Christians were working on a Bible translation to teach the Muslims the Gospel. Muslim attackers broke into their office and shot two of the Christians. They then tried to kill the head translator, but two more Christians covered him and were hacked to death, sacrificing themselves for him. According to one report:
Two of the Wycliffe workers were apparently killed by gunshots, while two others laid on top of the lead translator and died while “deflecting bludgeoning blows from the radicals’ spent weapons,” and managed to save his life.
Mae Greenleaf, prayer coordinator for Wycliffe Associates, said that several other people were also injured in the raid.
The organization explained that the remaining team has vowed to re-double their effort to translate, publish and print the Gospel for the eight language communities that they had been working on.
“Please ask the Lord to mend the hearts and wounds of the translation team who have gone through this horrible ordeal. Pray that God will strengthen their minds, their hearts, and their bodies to be able to continue the translation of the gospel for their people,” Greenleaf asked.
“Pray with me for the killers too. Pray for these whose hearts are so hard. Pray the Lord will open their eyes to what they have done. Please ask the Lord to meet them, each one, right where they are. Pray that He will show Himself merciful, that they will know His forgiveness, His love, and His peace” she added.