International Day of Prayer - November 14, 2010

Sometimes there is a social disconnect between my laptop and the rest of the world. Today as I checked my email, reality hit me square in the face with a post from Open Doors USA. 
 






The persecution of Christians worldwide is ongoing and very real.  Would you commit to pray this weekend for those in the line of fire?  I cannot imagine the courage it takes to stand up for your faith, to face jail time, or even death for my beliefs.

I pray God moves with each and every prayer that assaults heaven this weekend!

Praying for the Persecuted in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a small country along the southern border of the former Soviet Union.  Like so many persecuted countries, the primary beliefs here are Muslim.  All religious communities must be registered with the government, and anything against the Muslim faith is certainly denied.

Community leaders are known for shutting off water and electricity to homes where Christians live in an attempt to drive them out of their villages.  The parents of children attending protestant schools have been warned to stop attending church.  The children were even forced to write out statements that stated they would stop attending church.

Would you pray with me this week that these Christians will be encouraged to stay faithful in their struggles?  Pray also for their government to lift  sanctions against believers and for all imprisoned for their faith to be freed.

Praying for the Persecuted in Afghanistan

"The constitution in Afghanistan states 'no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of Islam.' Most Christians are secret believers unable even to own a Bible. If exposed, Christians face fierce reprisals from family, community and the Taliban, including expulsion from their homes, verbal and physical abuse, intimidation, beatings, loss of employment, imprisonment and even death. There is no visible Church; yet the Church continues to grow."  -OpenDoorsUSA.org

This summer a firestorm of controversy erupted when an Afghan television station broadcast several citizens performing baptisms.  Riots broke out in several cities calling for the execution of those believers.  The call to execute anyone practicing christianity came from the top of the Afghan government.  While Muslims continue to assert that Islam is a religion of peace and community, their actions do not communicate that belief.

Despite the horrible conditions portrayed about converts, many persecuted christians continue to only ask for prayer to get them through their circumstances.  Would you pray this week for those who have no religious freedoms?  Pray also that our government would apply more pressure to Muslim countries to allow freedom of religion, and certainly to condemn their practice of executing converts.

Read more here
Read more here

Praying for the Persecuted in the Maldives

The Maldives are a chain of islands in the Indian Ocean, just off the southern tip of India.  Over 200 of the islands are inhabited, with their population being around 300,000.  The country is deeply Muslim.  No other religions are allowed.  Bibles are illegal for residents, but visitors are allowed to have them, however they cannot share them with the population.  Any current believers hide their beliefs and meetings deeply underground.

Despite the claim that foreigners may have bibles, anyone coming into the country to work is stripped of any non-Islamic items upon entry to the country.  Those items might be CDs, books, bibles or religious photos.

Would you pray for this country with me this week?

Praying for the Persecuted in Somalia

Somalia is one of the most brutal countries in the world, mostly run by terrorist groups.  Stories of horror are constantly emerging from this country about the persecution of Christians:

• A Christian man in Mogadishu was accused of trying to convert a Muslim boy and executed
• Another believer refused to betray his teacher in the faith, and his young sons were beheaded.
• An evangelist bringing Bibles into the country was discovered and shot.
• A Muslim background Believer was publically executed in a soccer stadium in SOMALIA. His crime was believing in Jesus rather than Mohammed. His wife, whom he married earlier this year and who is now pregnant, must live without him.
• A 17-year-old MBB in SOMALIA is being held in captivity by her Muslim parents because she refuses to renounce her faith. During the day she is shackled to a tree, and at night she is kept in a small, dark room.
• In SOMALIA an underground church leader who had previously escaped being kidnapped was just recently killed by Islamic militants. Now the militants say his body may not be buried, but must be left to the dogs.

Persecution is REAL!  Please pray for these brave souls who refused to denounce their faith in Christ.  May we all be this courageous in our faith!!

Source:  http://www.smyrnaministries.org/somalia

Praying for the Persecuted in Saudi Arabia

This week we are focusing our prayers for the persecuted on the nation of Saudi Arabia.  Ever since Islam gained control of the country some 1300 years ago, all other religions have been banned.  The nation considers itself the guardian of the Islamic holy sites, as Mecca is in Saudi Arabia.  Remember Islam dictates that every Muslim must make the trek to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

Unfortunately Saudi Arabia has one of the worst human rights records in the entire world.  This does not bode well for Christians caught evangelizing or meeting in private.  Christians are expelled, arrested, or executed.  Many times drug charges are brought falsely against them so that they remain in jail.

Sadly honor killings are popular in this country as well.  This is when one of their family members converts to christianity, someone in the family takes it upon themselves to kill them because they have dishonored the family.  The murder seems less important than the stain of christianity in their family.

With a population of 2.2 million, only 2.2% profess to be Christian.

This week can you pray for Saudi Arabia:

• That those who find Jesus through satellite TV programs and the internet will find fellowship and spiritual encouragement
• That expatriate and Saudi church leaders will be kept safe and have courage and wisdom
• For freedom from fear for congregations whose leaders are in prison or hiding.
• Pray for Christians working secretly to share the message of Christ in Saudi Arabia.
• Pray that nations of the world will pressure Saudi Arabia to act on their agreements and recognize the rights of their citizens.
• Pray that Christians from Muslim backgrounds will find fellowship and continue to grow in their relationship with the Lord.

As always, you can find more information at Open Doors USA or The Voice of the Martyrs.

Praying for the Persecuted - Iran

Pray that God may open a door to proclaim the Gospel of Christ.

"100 million Christians around the globe are currently suffering persecution for their faith.  Most often persecution takes the form of imprisonment, abuse, and hostilities. In some cases, however, Christians are asked to face more than scorn, prison, or the loss of health—they are asked to face death.

These individuals are the Christian martyrs of our faith. Jesus said in Matthew 10:39 “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” 

During the first century, almost all of Jesus’ disciples suffered martyrdom for his sake.  Peter was crucified upside down, Mark was torn to pieces, and Paul was beheaded. As Christianity spread throughout Europe and the British Isles, countless numbers of Christians were tortured and burned at the stake. And few can forget the moving story of Jim Elliot and four others who ventured into the Ecuadorian jungle, never to return.

This history reminds us of the great price that belief in God may demand and the great impact that such a sacrifice can have. 

But that history has not ended. 

Today there are still many Christians martyrs, those who give their life for their faith.  Every year and on every continent men and women face death because of their belief in Jesus Christ.  They are the Christian martyrs of this century; the fathers, mothers, grandparents, and children who have lost their lives for the sake of the gospel.  Around the world the light of their testimonies continues to shine.  Their impact is immeasurable and their stories should not be forgotten." (from Open Doors USA)

Persecution is real and it continues to plague the nation of Iran.  Of the 71.2 million people who call Iran home, only .35% are Christian.  They live in an Islamic run government, where christians are regularly harassed, abused, and imprisoned.  Read a few accounts of the persecution happening to believers:

• Ali Golchin, an Iranian Christian, has been held in solitary confinement in Tehran’s Evin prison since he was arrested several months ago.  His wife has been warned to not attend church and told that she will not see Ali until she converts to Islam.

• Ali Kaboli (51) converted to Christianity as a teenager and has been serving in lay ministry for decades.  Over the years, he has been repeatedly arrested, threatened and interrogated and has faced travel restrictions and an arson attack on his home but has remained undeterred.  On May 2, secret police arrested him in his carpentry workship in Gorgan. With the exception of one brief telephone call, he has been refused contact with any visitors since his arrest. Since his arrest, several of the Christians who attended Bible studies in his home have been questioned by police. Though he has not yet been charged, Kaboli faces the possibility of prosecution for holding "illegal" religious meetings in his home. He could also be charged under Iran's apostasy laws for converting from Islam, even though it took place thirty-three years ago. Kaboli is married with five grown children.(Source: persecutionblog.com) 
• On July 18, 15 newly converted Christians who were travelling to the north eastern city of Bojnoord to meet and to fellowship with believers were arrested in the city of Mashhad, the capital of Razavi Khorasan. Government security forces reportedly had previous knowledge of this trip and, in a pre-planned and coordinated effort, forced the bus carrying the Christians to be stopped en-route to their destination. The security then boarded the bus and arrested the believers.All 15 detainees were transferred to the Ministry of Information's central detention centre. In the days that followed, they were subjected to harsh and inhumane interrogations. After one week, 13 of the believers were conditionally freed, after they agreed to sign promissory notes and post bails.Two remaining detainees, 48-year-old Reza and 23-year-old Ehsan Behrooz, refused to sign any forms or post bail and thus remained in detention at last report. (Source: Farsi Christian News Network)
  

Would you please join me this week in praying for the nation of Iran and the Christians who call this country home?

Praying for the Persecuted in North Korea

Today is our first look at the world's most persecuted countries where Christians are hunted like animals, tortured and killed because of their belief in Jesus Christ.  These brave warriors for the Lord need our prayers like never before.

At the top of the list again is North Korea.  From the Open Doors website:

"The first position of the World Watch List in 2010 is again reserved for North Korea, the country where every religious activity is recognized as an insurrection to the North Korean socialist principles.

The situation for Christians is extremely harsh at this moment, even though the North Korean regime is slowly and steadily losing her iron control on North Korean society, and Kim Jong Il’s physical health worsened after his stroke.

Through mobilizing every resource of power, North Korea is desperately trying to control society in order to eradicate Christian activities. By means of a 150 days and a 100 days combat campaign, the North Korean government has and is trying very hard to demolish the street market system.

Furthermore, during North Korea’s strict searches considerable numbers of Christian believers have been exposed. During the mentioned campaigns, the North Korean regime especially targeted secret Christians all over North Korea to arrest and kill them.

They have used various horrible ways of torture against arrested Christians. Christians were sometimes used as a means of testing biological or chemical weapons. In spite of these inhuman circumstances, Christianity is growing and the chances to hear the Gospel are growing especially for those who live in cities nearby China."

It is hard for us in the United States and other rich countries to believe that this kind of treatment of Christians exists in our world today.  But in truth, there are few nations that have the freedom of religion that we enjoy.

Would you join me in praying for the nation of North Korea for the next week?  Our family is praying through the month of Ramadan for many nations.  You can print the prayer calendar here.

Two websites have devoted their resources to highlight the needs of the persecuted church:  Open Doors USA and Every Home for Christ.  You can download many resources and prayer calendars from both sites.

Join me again next Thursday as we learn about our fellow believers in Iran.

Praying through Ramadan and the Persecuted Church

Today marks the first day of Ramadan for over 1 billion Muslims around the world.  "This year Ramadan runs from August 11 through September 9. During those dates, most Muslims will fast from dawn until dusk, seeking to shed away their sins through acts of restraint. They believe this is a time of purification accomplished through good deeds and self control."

"Violent demonstrations against Christians commonly increase during Ramadan.  During this time of spiritual severity, however, many have miraculous visions of Jesus and put their trust in Him.  This is why it is so urgent for Christians to be united in prayer throughout Ramadan." ( from Open Doors USA)

Can I urge you to pray for both Muslims and Christians at least once a day through this season?  Go to the site Open Doors USA  to learn more about Ramadan.  You can also print a Prayer Calendar to guide you through the month of prayers.  This is a great way to expose our children to the difficulty many Christians face because of their faith.

For the next 10 weeks on Thursdays, we will explore the Top 10 Nations on the World Watch List of the Persecuted Church.  I hope you will join me as I present each country so that we can continue to pray for so many who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ.