'We are displaced but Jesus is not': Fear and hope in Burkina Faso

If you arrive at Pastor Soré*’s shelter in Burkina Faso just after the rainy season, you’ll see a curious sight.

As you’d expect, the two big trees right by the family’s shelter will be green, nourished by the rainfall. But you’ll also see clusters of corn hanging from the branches. If you didn’t know any better, you might think that corn grows on trees in Burkina Faso. But it’s out of necessity that Soré and his family hang their harvest from the trees—it dries the corn and keeps the roaming animals from eating the corn.

Soré and his family have no other way to protect their vital food source. They live in a makeshift shelter, driven from their homes by violence.

Why? Because of their faith in Jesus.

When an Open Doors team met with Pastor Soré, it was in the hot season. During this scorching period, Burkinabé—which is what the people of Burkina Faso are called—hold their breath for the country’s impending hottest and driest months. Outside, life is 10 different shades of brown; it will be at least two months before Soré and his family can even think about planting. For now, they must survive on what food they were able to gather and store from last year’s harvest, hung in the trees, a symbol of their life on the run.

Despite the depressing surroundings and situation, there was much activity around the straw shacks where the family sleeps. The youngest children played; mama Awa, Soré’s mother, busied herself with something that she can sell to try to earn some money; Teresa, Soré’s wife, prepared food; and the teenage girls went to fetch water. There was no room or time for idleness—but it wasn’t sad. Laughter and singing erupted frequently from around the shelter; it was only baby Ester that wailed intermittently before she was coaxed into a contented sleep.

Whenever you meet them, there’s a contagious joy that emanates from the family, and it’s a bright light amidst the grim situation in Burkina Faso. It seems like a miracle.

And it’s even more miraculous when you consider how they came to live in this part of Burkina Faso.

Watch Pastor Soré's story:  

Three attacks and a dangerous escape

“We heard about the terrorist attacks which were getting closer to our area, and one night they came to us (the village),” Pastor Soré says. He speaks calmly—a typical demeanor for many Burkinabé. “When they arrived, they started making warning shots and all men started fleeing away immediately.”

From what Pastor Soré says, this was a sensible action because the way men and women are targeted by extremists in Burkina Faso are quite different. “Men are terrorists’ primary targets,” he explains.  “Because we know this, as soon as the terrorists entered the village, all the men began running away. Angry at not finding men, [the radicals] forced all the women to bring their husbands’ money. They took people’s money and all the goods they could carry, then left.”

Despite the robbery, Pastor Soré’s church was largely spared and no one lost their lives.
But then came the second attack.

This second time, the attackers came at night. “… A long time later, they came back again,” Soré remembers. “As soon as the news spread that they were around, the men started to flee. When the terrorists didn’t find men, they forced all the women in their own rooms and raped them. Men came back the next morning, and sadly realized that the terrorists raped all their wives and the whole village endured a deep affliction.”

But this wasn’t the end of the trauma for Soré’s village. The community was attacked a third time, in early 2023, and this time, the extremists burned everything they could, forcing everyone in the village to run for their lives.

“After the third attack, we were compelled to leave the village,” he says. And with that, Pastor Soré and his family became a statistic—in Burkina Faso, terrorist attacks have internally displaced more than 2 million people. Various jihadist groups drive the violent insurgency that has left many followers of Jesus fleeing their homes north of the country. And Christians are often their preferred target.    “We assume they are Muslim [extremists] through the words they speak before committing their actions,” Pastor Soré says. “They always start and end their actions by [saying] ‘Allahu akbar,’ [which means ‘God is most great’].

“When the terrorists come to churches and find Christians, they tell them that Christianity’s time is over, and they should turn to the Islamic religion. So, they warn Christians to stop conducting services. After warning, when they come back later and find you in the church, they kill you ...”

Although there is a socio-economic aspect that influences the insurgency, the religious motivation remains the biggest driving force behind the violence that is displacing millions. Not even moderate Muslims are safe from jihadists.  

“When the terrorists came the third time, they did not spare Muslims at all,” Pastor Soré says. “They burned the goods of all people, regardless of their religion. Now, when they abduct people, they later ask them to recite the Quran, and if you are unable to do it, you are likely to be killed.

“As Christians, we know we are hated by the terrorists …”


 

A new home … and a harder life

Life changed in an instant for pastor Soré. In the village he had a thriving church, and his family had a home with rooms and beds. Water was easy to access, and they were able to farm and keep everyone fed. The children were in school. But now, life was upended.
The city where they first arrived was already overcrowded with displaced people seeking refuge. Pastor Soré decided to take his family closer to Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. “It took us four days to arrive to this place,” he says. “We were weary, walking for three days without finding a means of transportation to carry us. The ladies and all the children were spending the nights on the roadside, and I was going back and forth, seeking a means of transportation.”

At the time, Teresa was pregnant with their youngest daughter, Ester, and Wenkun, their son, was four. But the “family” as it stands now is much larger than four people. Pastor Soré and Teresa care for 15 other Christians; most are young children and teenage girls who have been either orphaned or given to him to care for. The responsibility to care for so many lays heavy on the young evangelist’s shoulders.

“By God’s grace, I finally [found] someone who was coming here (to Ouagadougou) and he accepted to transport us and our belongings,” Pastor Soré remembers. “I was very sad, and my greatest concern was about their faith. I was wondering whether they will still keep their faith in Christ after this difficult experience and I have been asking God to help them to never depart from Christ, wherever they will go.”

Soré’s church in his home village was mainly comprised of converts from Islam. Because of that, he was worried that, without support they would choose to return to the Muslim faith. Despite the pain and indignity of being forced from their home, Soré maintains the zeal of an evangelist and the heart of a pastor. “When we left the village, I was convinced that the people who stayed with me will abide in Christ,” he says. “But I really did not know about those who were scattered. As far as I’m concerned, no matter the hardships, I will never depart from Christ. Salvation is so valuable; we should keep it preciously. That’s why I was concerned about their faith.” 

Despite getting closer to the capital city, the family still had no idea what to do or where to go. They happened to meet a pastor while they were on the roadside, and told him their story. When he heard what happened, he offered them some land. There was no infrastructure or house on the piece of property, but it was at least a safer place.

And so, Pastor Soré, Teresa and the 15 other Christians set up camp.


 

Trusting God amidst a lack of basic necessities

“We were so sad when we arrived in this empty space,” he remembers. It’s been a year—but it still looks stark and hopeless. Many displaced people in Burkina Faso end up living with family or in government internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. But the overcrowded camps were not an option for Soré’s big group, and they had no local family to take them in. The only option that remained was the desolate piece of land.

“One of our first issues were that of water,” he says. “We started looking for a water source, and found it 2 km (about 1.2 miles) away from our place.”

The cans hold about 20 litres (about 5 gallons) of water, a heavy load even to pull in a cart. Plus, during the rainy season, the ground grew muddy and even harder to travel. The family prayed for a solution, and eventually they were able to get a donkey to pull their cart so they can usually access water—as long the donkey cooperates.

But the problem of shelter remained. “It was very embarrassing and hard to stay,” Pastor Soré says. “When we arrived in this empty land, we stayed in the open space for two days. Then we went to the bush to cut stakes and used tarpaulins and fences to make the first shelter to stay in.” Since then, the family has built on the initial shelter, adding more tarps and scraps to expand the covering.

The shelter is there, but it is inadequate. During the rainy season, water gets inside and flows through their sleeping area. In the dry season, the heat is so extreme that no one can stay inside the tents. And when it’s cool, the tarps and ground both get cold, and sleeping becomes difficult. When it rains, the ground stays wet and attracts mosquitos. It’s an extremely difficult life.

“We are sad to be in such a condition, not knowing how to get out of it, and we have been trusting God for change,” Pastor Soré says.

The condition of their shelter was only one problem. The land is in a remote area, and there aren’t many people nearby. “If we have a security problem, who could help us?” Pastor Soré asks. “Who could assist us in this isolated place in case of sickness or death? If robbers come to attack us, who are our neighbors who could help?

“Since it is in the bush, another issue is that in the night, snakes come when they see our lights. Every night I had to be watchful killing the snakes, while my family members were sleeping … the rainwater carries snakes, that enter the shelters.”

Additionally, the area around the shelter is equally as inhospitable. Teresa has to cook for the entire group in an open area, unprotected from the wind, dust and heat. When it rains, it means they cannot have a fire to cook with, so the family has to wait to eat anything until the ground dries. And the remoteness of the land means Pastor Soré cannot farm or do other work to earn money for him and his family. “There was no income generating activity I could do and take care of my family,” he says. “I was wondering what kind of income source we could get here, since there are no other people around. It was very hard, but I had no other option than accepting to stay with my family in these conditions.”

And yet, even among all of this pain and uncertainty, Pastor Soré’s faith in God remains. He continually gives glory to God for the limited resources the family has—and offers continual gratitude for the blessings he sees. “We are not responsible and we did not pray for these hardships to happen,” he says. “God has given us strength to live without murmuring and complaining. When we go somewhere, people will not know that we are living in such conditions. Only by visiting us will they know it. Unless we tell you, you cannot look at us and realize that we are suffering.”
 

Walking alongside the suffering

Thanks to the gifts and prayers of Open Doors supporters, there has been a lifeline extended to Pastor Soré and his family to help them know they aren’t alone—or forgotten. “While I was in these hardships, I was asked one day to come and testify about our situation,” Pastor Soré says. “This was how I got in touch with [Open Doors].

“The ministry first helped me with prayer that really comforted me,” he continues. “I was comforted to know that my testimony can be helpful to other people going through similar hardships. In addition to the prayer support, the ministry helped me with seeds and fertilizers. It helped me to grow crops and feed my family members. They also helped us with food, including rice and oil. We wholeheartedly praise God for such blessings and thank the ministry.”

Open Doors partners have been able to help displaced people like Pastor Soré in Burkina Faso—and the other countries across sub-Saharan Africa where Christians are pushed out of their homes because of their faith. Right now, 16.2 million followers of Jesus have been forcibly displaced, many of them by targeted persecution. The needs are massive, and your gifts and prayers are so important to start healing the wounds of displacement. Pastor Soré has begun this process—but there is still a long way to go.

Open Doors partners in Burkina Faso have also been able to walk alongside Pastor Soré and his family as they try to make ends meet and live for Jesus. And Pastor Soré’s remarkable faith shows the resilience of a church under attack. “What helps me keep my faith is the truth that I may suffer physically, but my spirit who is in Christ is not affected by physical suffering,” Pastor Soré says. “The Almighty God is with me, and He blessed me when I was in the other village. He was with me in good times, and He is still with me in these hardships.

“All the people who are staying with me have the same faith, they never murmur or complain about our condition.

“I do believe that we are displaced, but Jesus is not and will never be displaced from our lives. He is always with us. This truth strengthens my faith and helps me in this difficult time, and I’m glad with God.”
 

The hope for new fruit

Despite the reality of their situation, Pastor Soré still looks forward to continuing his ministry “My plan is to get my own place for the ministry, and I have been asking God for it,” Pastor Soré says. “God’s plan for me is not to pastor only my family members. I was pastoring a church with more members. I need a place where I can build a bigger church and continue the ministry as I have been doing. I trust and pray God to help me leave this place someday and do the ministry on my own place.

“The call for evangelism is still in my heart, and I’m unhappy I cannot do it here,” he continues. “Currently, I can spend 12 months without going out for evangelism. I still want to do it but the conditions don’t allow me. I really ask God to open doors for me to continue evangelism for souls to be saved, because I was doing this work before coming here.”

And yet, even in the midst of the difficult surrounding and the dry desert around him, Pastor Soré has been able to share his faith. “Another thing that strengthens my faith is that despite our miserable condition here, Jesus still brings other people who get saved,” he says. “And this shows me that He is with us, and He is in control.”

It also seems that his suffering, while significant and unwanted, has prepared Pastor Soré’s heart for future ministry. In a place like Burkina Faso, where Christians can be brutally attacked for their faith, such a heart can be used by God to reach so many. “The Bible says that the righteous are blessed, but they may also go through difficult times,” he explains. “While we are still on the Earth, we may experience both realities. When I look in the Bible, I see that all warriors encountered difficulties in their lives, even though the difficulties may look different. It’s my turn today, and an important truth about suffering is that suffering is never eternal, but Jesus is eternal. I’m convinced that one day, Christ will put this suffering to an end, and it will go as it came.


 

Ongoing need—and ongoing faith

Much of the corn that hung from the trees last year has been eaten. Now only a bag remains and will have to be stretched to feed the many mouths of Pastor Soré’s family. The lack of food is a constant concern—but the assurance of God’s faithfulness is equally as constant.

“The corn is running short, but I know that we will never lack food,” Pastor Soré shares. “Since Christ is with us, by the time it finishes, He will give us food again. I never worry about food. My life is more important than food, and as long as I’m alive, I will not lack food. I may not have money to buy food, but I have faith that Jesus who is faithful can use other people to give us food.”

Speaking with Pastor Soré can be constantly surprising—the suffering of him and his family are constantly in focus. The shelter is bad, the food and water are scarce, the pain of being forced from their homes by extremists lies just under the surface. Yet, the depth of pain is not what you will be left with. Instead, it’s the miraculous hope of Christ—and the reminder that the same Jesus who gives that hope is the one who will sustain the church in Burkina Faso for generations to come. “This joy and peace come from the Lord who made us look glad and confident,” Pastor Soré says. “My family members have already experienced God’s hand in the past, and they know the same God is still with us. They don’t look unto me but unto God, and God has really given them the ability to live victoriously in these problems. My family members are neither moved by suffering nor abundance. Only Jesus is [their] focus. When you ask the smallest one to pray or preach, he can do it. Making them to grow in the image of Christ is my work, and they are really shaped accordingly.” 

Here’s how you can pray with Pastor Soré and his family:

“Christians all over the world, please I would like to ask you to pray. First, for all Christians in Burkina Faso, notably those who are displaced and living with me, to stay firm in their faith.

“Second, pray for me to keep a strong faith and succeed in the work God has called me to do.

“Also pray for me to get a land where my family members can stay and follow Christ all the remaining days of our life. “I ask you to pray for us to get our own water source and get enough clean water for our family.” 

Open Doors works through partners throughout sub-Saharan Africa to care for believers targeted by extreme violence. Our work includes distributing Christian materials (including Bibles), providing both emergency and long-term socio-economic support, trauma care, discipleship training and more. Click here if you'd like to make a gift to support this vital work. 

*Name changed to protect identity