Saudi officials called in at least eight members of a mostly African congregation that meets in Jeddah, after monitoring the group for the past three months. Middle East Concern, a Christian advocacy group, says those detained were questioned about their activities and warned to stop going to worship services.

Endeshawe Yizengaw is one of several Ethiopian and Eritrean workers the Saudi kingdom arrested and accused of receiving aid from the United States and Great Britain to evangelize Muslims. Mr. Yizengaw seems content to get the last word and pay the price for it. In prison he told 300 cellmates, "Jesus is Lord" until a police officer threatened him and a companion "to cut our heads off." That's OK too, said Mr. Yizengaw, who was then beaten and finally deported on May 16. "The church of our great Jesus is continuing in Jeddah. There are many, many believers there."