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Somali Gospel Resources
A special welcome to all visitors of Somali heritage! This page contains links to Bibles, stories and websites written in Somali which tell about Jesus and His love for the people of Somalia.
Many followers of Jesus are praying that God will bless the Somali people, and some of the links on this page have information to help them learn more about the language and culture of Somalia.
Thank you for visiting. May the grace and peace of God be yours today!
*NOTE: Many of the following links are outside our site and open a new window in your browser.
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Somali Publications About Jesus
Audio Scriptures International previously offered an online tract in Real Audio story in Somali called "A Portrait of Jesus". The online audio has been removed temporarily. Hopefully, it will be back online soon.
Somali Bibles
Somali Bibles to purchase:
(Your purchases from Amazon support our ministry. Thank you!)From Amazon.com:
Mouseover the title for pricing info. Click on title for more information.
- Somali Bible (blue hardcover)
- Somali Bible - New translation (hardcover)
- Somali New Testament (paperback)
Title: Axdiga Cusub
Background Info on the Somali People
Somalia is located in the Horn of Africa. Its population is 99.9% Sunni Muslim. When civil war broke out in 1991, about 7 million people were displaced, and hundreds of thousands still live in refugee camps. Somali refugees are now found in the Arabian Peninsula, the Gulf, Western Europe, North America and New Zealand.According to the World Factbook, approximately 7.2 million people live in Somalia. Ethnic groups include 85% Somali, 14% Bantu, and 30,000 Arabs. Somali is the official language, but Arabic, Italian, and English are also spoken.
The Somali Immigrant Aid Organization reports the number of Somalis in Toronto grown to over 90,000.
Over 100,000 Somalis now live in the United States, primarily in Minneapolis, San Diego, Seattle, Columbus, Atlanta and the Washington, D.C./Virginia areas.
Minnesota is now home to the largest Somali population in the U.S. (more than 15,000).
The Red Sea Mission Team publishes a profile of the Somali people. They estimate that there were several hundred Christians living in Somalia before the missionaries were expelled in 1977. The number today is unknown.
A Sense of Belonging: Somali Settlement Experience in Canada contains first person stories and cultural insights such as this:
"Did you know that it is polite to leave a little bit of food on your plate when eating at a Somali’s? This custom indicates to your Somali host that he/she has given you a plentiful serving of food. Finishing your plate would indicate that you are still hungry. "Islam-online.net has published an article, "How Are the Somalis Doing in America?"One Somali immigrant, Abdirashid Ali Warsame, has published his personal story on his homepage. He is a Muslim, who came to the U.S. through the work of Church World Service and Lutheran Social Services. He shares these insights into religion and education:
"Virtually all Somalis are Muslim. One particularly interesting aspect of Somali immigrants is that upon immigrating it is common for them to return to more traditional Islamic practice, which was very difficult to maintain in the refugee camps." And on education, "Somali has a strong tradition of education. Most Somali have completed at least some high school. A large percentage of men have college education. Additionally most Somali adults speak several languages including English, Italian and Arabic. Swahili, French, and Major Ethiopian languages are also widely spoken too. Generally Somalis from the northern Regions are English-educated while those from southern regions are Italian educated."
Information for Churches
Perhaps you've noticed that several Somali families have moved into your community. Your church would like to get acquainted with them and find ways to serve your new neighbors. But how can you begin?Begin by cultivating a loving heart, a listening ear, and the habit of prayer. Look for opportunities to learn about other cultures and develop skills for cross-cultural communication. There are lots of resources on this site, including the article "How to Start a Cross-Cultural Ministry," that can help you prepare to move forward in faith.
The Jesus Film is a great way to share the gospel in the "heart language" of your Somali neighbors. Campus Crusade for Christ has produced this beautiful film of the gospel of Luke and translated it into over 600 languages, including Somali. Your church can buy a video for less than $20 and sponsor a "Somali Night" to show the film and begin a dialogue. Ask Somali leaders in the community if they would like to see the film and if they'll help you invite other families.
To order the Jesus Film, visit Jesusfilm.org. Or order by phone from Campus Crusade at 1-800-432-1997.
Answering Islam offers the testimony of a Somali believer.
Learn the Language
If you want to honor your Somali friends, learn a few phrases in their language.Talk Now - Somali! is an affordable book/audio that uses games and quizzes to make learning fun and relaxing.
Colloquial Somali: A Complete Language Course is available on audio cassette or paperback.
You can also buy a Somali-English, English-Somali Dictionary and Phrasebook
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