Prayers for the persecuted church (7/2/2010)

06/23/2010 Pakistan (ICC) Use of Blasphemy Laws In Order To Make Christian Leave Land— Rehmat Masih currently resides in prison and faces the death penalty because he has been falsely accused of blaspheming Mohammad, a crime punishable by death. Masih’s family has stated that the accusation was made because the Muslims were having a land dispute with Masih. Full Story.

Pray that Masih will be released from prison and that the charges will be dropped.
Pray that Masih’s family will remain safe and be able to keep their land.
Pray that other Christians will not be wrongly accused of Blasphemy Laws to solve vendettas.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Pakistan.

06/22/2010 Pakistan (CDN) Christian Child Kidnapped and Forced into Cruel Labor— An 11-year-old should never work 11 hours a day, however Danish Masih is forced to toil over farmland in chains. Fed only half a loaf of bread per day, Danish is now weak and ill from working in these conditions for the last one-and-a-half years. The landowner has invited the boy to convert to Islam and promised in return that he "will be freed from the iron chains, and his work will be eased and he will be served better meals." He also suggested that his family's debt might be forgiven if he converted. Full Story

Pray that Danish Masih will be reunited with his family.
Pray that strength would be given to Masih.
Pray that the Muslim landowner will find Christ through Masih.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Pakistan.

06/22/2010 Kyrgyzstan (Christian today) No End to the Violence in Krygystan— Imagine whole streets in your neighborhood burnt to the ground. This is the reality in Osh, Kyrgyzstan where fierce fighting is still occuring between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks. There are riots, killings, and pillaging. Humanitarian help has been limited and food supplies are diminishing. Full Story .

Pray that the Kyrgyzstan violence will cease.
Pray that Christians will be safe especially when aiding people.
Pray that more food and water will be given out by humanitarian organizations.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website.

06/21/2010 Vietnam (Open Doors) Vietnamese Pastor and Believer Cruelly Targeted — Pastor Du was not taken to prison in a car, but rather was dragged by his own motorcycle. He is a prisoner who refuses to denounce his faith. Another family (Po) has had their food supply and motor bike stolen by their neighbors because they refused to pay homage to ancestors. The family is now forced to live in a forest with their three children. Full Story

Pray that Pastor Du will be released from prison.
Pray that the Po family will find adequate shelter and food.
Pray that the Po family's Vietnamese neighbors will be intrigued by Christians rather then exploiting them.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Vietnam.

06/21/2010 Morocco (Christian Today) Two Christians Deported Without Children— Eddie and Lyn Padilla were punished for taking in unwanted children. The Padillas were forced to leave the country, charged with proselytizing children living at the Village of Hope, a place for orphaned children. Within two hours, the Padillas had to pack and to say goodbye to their children. The family has appeared on Capitol Hill for help. Full Story

Pray that the Moroccan government will let the Padillas take back their children.
Pray that other Christian organizations will remain safe in Morocco.
Pray that there will be greater religious freedom in Morocco.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Morocco.

06/19/2010 United States (ANS) Son of Hamas In Danger of Being Assassinated if Deported to West Bank— Mosab Hassan Yousef will be appearing in front of Congress on June 30 to see if he will be sent back to the West Bank. Mosab, the son of one of Hamas' founders, converted to Christianity after spending time spying for Israel. His work for Israel and his book that exposed Islam and Hamas would put him in serious danger if he is forced to return to the West Bank. Full Story

Praise God that Mosab has decided to follow Jesus Christ.
Pray that other Muslims will be inspired to convert.
Pray that Congress will intervene in Mosab's situation.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website.

06/23/2010 United States (ANS) Four Christians arrested for Proselytizing at Arab Festival— On Friday, police arrested four Christians for sharing their faith with Muslims during the Arab International Festival in Dearborn, Michigan. A visiting resident of Toronto, who observed the incident, said the Christians were engaged in intense, but respectful dialogue when they were arrested. He also reported that when one of the men, Dr. Nabeel Qureshi, was arrested, people were clapping and shouting "Allahu Akbar." Full Story.

Pray that Christians will have good relationships with Muslim communities.
Pray that the court hears both cases without bias.
Pray that churches will find unique ways to share gospel.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website.

Prayers for the persecuted church (5/21/2010)

5/19/10 United States (BP) References to God Banned from Classroom- "I wondered what had changed in our culture and in the school district's opinion of the banners that they'd all the sudden tell me to take them down," said a San Diego math teacher who was forced to remove posters with phrases like "In God We Trust" from his classroom walls. Although a federal judge ruled that the school district was wrong to order the removal of the posters, the school district is now appealing that decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Full Story

Pray that the judge's first decision would be upheld and that the teacher would be allowed to leave the posters in his classroom.
Pray that the Father would raise up righteousness in our nation.
Pray that the Holy Spirit would convict hearts and draw many to Himself.


For more general information, please go to ICC’s website.




5/18/10 Morocco (ICC) New Wave of Christian Expulsions from Morocco- International Christian Concern has learned that 23 foreigners have been notified of expulsion from Morocco since May 10, marking a second wave of Christian deportations from the country. The recent notifications of expulsion are officially attributed to proselytizing, which is illegal under Moroccan law. Earlier this year, the enforcement of anti-proselytizing laws resulted in the deportations of approximately 40 US citizens and many other foreign expatriates from Morocco. However, Moroccan authorities have refused to explain the charges. Full Story.

Pray that the Father would continue to raise up faithful witnesses in Morocco.
Pray for the families of those believers being expelled from Morocco.
Pray that all of the Moroccan authorities' efforts to restrain the word of truth from being released in their country would be completely futile.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Morocco.



5/17/10 Pakistan (ICC) Pakistani Official Fires 15 Christians- International Christian Concern has learned that on May 12, an official of the Pakistani government fired 15 Christian employees in an apparent discriminatory measure in Lahore, Pakistan. Though the administrator of the Solid Waste Management Department allegedly accused the Christians of neglecting their duty, the Christians disputed the charge and contended that they were fired because of their faith. Their Muslim colleagues were not fired from their job. The Christians have asked the Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs to intervene in this situation and reinstate them to their position. Full Story

Pray for the light of truth to shine on this situation and expose all the works of darkness.
Pray that the fired employees would trust in the Father for their provision.
Pray that the Father would use these believers as salt and light among their colleagues.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Pakistan.

5/17/10 Pakistan (Christian Today) Brutal Attacks Prompt Call for Protection of Pakistan's Christian Minority- Following a report from Release International documenting the reports of Christians "who told of relatives who were burnt alive by militants in their homes in Gojra...and others who had been falsely accused of blasphemy," the former Bishop of Rochester is calling on the Pakistani government to protect its Christian minority. One believer told Release International, "These people can attack again whenever they want. We can do nothing - only believe in Jesus. We have a strong trust in him." Full Story

Pray that true justice would be established in Pakistan and uphold the lives of the oppressed.
Pray that the Father would continue to increase the capacity of His church in Pakistan to trust in Him in all circumstances.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Pakistan.




5/15/10 Laos (CDN) Lao Christians Expelled from Village Suffer Critical Illnesses- A group of 48 Christian villagers in Laos were forced from their village at gunpoint in January for refusing to renounce their faith. They have built temporary shelters at the edge of the jungle and have been forced to survive "on food found in the jungle and water from a hand-dug well that is unfit for cooking or drinking." Despite being assured of their religious rights by officials in March, Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom reported that the villagers have suffered from "diarrhea, dehydration, eye and skin infections, fainting and general weakness for the Christians expelled from Katin village, and one person has died." Full Story

Pray that the Father would bring swift and miraculous healing and restoration to the villagers who are suffering in order that His name might be glorified in Laos and cause many to come to salvation in Messiah.
Pray that the villagers would continue to remain steadfast in their faith and trust in the Father.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Laos.




5/18/10 India (ANS) Believers Plead for Pastor's Release- Close to 50 anti-Christian extremists attacked a church in India on a Sunday morning and kidnapped Pastor Abhay Jhadav. While looting the church, the extremists dragged the pastor outside and began to beat him. The pastor was held behind bars for about seven hours under allegations of forced conversion before the members of the church were fortunately able to convince the police that the allegations were false and provoked by envy. The church is requesting prayer for Pastor Jhadav - "that he will be protected from future attacks, and also that those who oppose Jesus will come to know Him intimately." Full Story

Pray for the strengthening of Pastor Jhadav's faith in the face of persecution.
Pray together with the church in India that "those who oppose Jesus will come to know Him intimately."

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on India.

5/21/10 India (CDN) Hindu Nationalists in India Plan 'Religious Cleansing' in Madhya Pradesh District- Hindu nationalist organizations are beginning to prepare for a large "reconversion" event next year. The organizations have declared their intentions to "rid Mandla district of all Christian influence." The ground-breaking ceremony for the rally to be held in February incited some nationalists to attack a house church on May 2nd. One of the "objectives" that has been disclosed so far includes "(driving) away Christian pastors, evangelists and foreign aid workers from the district." Full Story

Pray that the Father would bring the pride of those who hate His children low in order for them to recognize their own need for salvation.
Pray that the efforts to drive believers out of the district would be futile, and that the Father would strengthen His church and so frustrate the plans of the nationalists organizations that the "reconversion" event is entirely prevented from taking place.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on India.

Prayers for the persecuted church (3/15/2010)

3/8/10 Nigeria (ICC) 500 Christians Slain in Muslim Jihad Attack in Nigeria- On March 8, 2010, a group of Nigerian Muslims mercilessly slaughtered 500 Christians in the village of Dogo Nahawa. At 2 a.m. local time, the Islamic radicals stormed into the Christian village and butchered the faithful believers--most of them women and children. Thus far, Nigerian police have arrested 93 people in this brutal act of Christian persecution.. Full Story.

Pray for the families of these 500 murdered Christians as they mourn the deaths of their loved ones.
Pray that the Nigerian police will find, arrest, and convict all of the murderers.
Pray that the Lord will place a hedge of protection around Nigeria's Christian population.

For more general information, please go to ICC's website on Nigeria.

3/8/20 China (ChinaAid) Chinese Land Official Says, "Golden Lampstand Church Will Be Destroyed.”- In September of 2009, China's beautiful Golden Lampstand Church was confiscated by the Chinese government. Since that time, military police have been stationed in and around the building to keep faithful Christians from entering. Now Chinese government officials are demanding that the six-story, beautiful Golden Lampstand Church be completely destroyed! Full Story.

Pray that the Chinese government puts a stop to its plans to destroy the Golden Lampstand Church!
Pray that China's military police will leave the Golden Lampstand Church.
Pray for the mental and physical strength of China's Christian population.

For more general information, please go to ICC's website on China.

3/8/10 Morocco (ICC) 33 Children Forcibly Abandoned by Morocco- The Village of Hope orphanage in Ain Leuh, Morocco, is home to many children who have been abandoned by their parents and society. Unfortunately, Moroccan officials have been given orders to close this loving home. According to sources, the orders are based on the fact that the staff has been proselytizing orphans to Christianity. If the Village of Hope orphanage is indeed torn down, then these poor children will have to live on the streets or in government “mega” orphanages. Full Story.

Pray that the government orders to close the Village of Hope orphanage are reversed.
Pray that the Village of Hope workers help bring many children to Christ.
Pray that the Moroccan government will stop persecuting their Christian citizens.

For more general information, please go to ICC's website on Morocco.

3/9/10 Iran (CDN) Iranian Pastor Tortured, Threatened for ‘Converting Muslims’- According to sources, an Iranian pastor who has been accused of ‘converting Muslims’ is being tortured in prison! On February 2, 2010, Iranian security agents arrested Rev. Wilson Issavi after he finished a house meeting in Isfahan. Issavi’s wife has reported that her husband has obvious signs of torture and is in very poor condition. According to Iranian officials, Issavi may be executed for his alleged activities. Full Story.
Pray that Rev. Wilson Issavi is released from prison.
Pray that all charges are dropped against Issavi.
Pray that the Lord will place a hedge of protection around Rev. Wilson Issavi and his congregation.

For more general information, please go to IICC's website on Iran.

3/5/10 Pakistan (Spero News) Christians Protest Second-Class Status Under Islamic Law- The Pakistani government has been using its blasphemy law to interrogate and persecute innocent Christians. Recently, Gulzar Kanwal, the owner of a cosmetics shop in Wandu, has been erroneously accused of blasphemy by a group of fundamentalist Muslims. These false accusations have caused this faithful Christian to be threatened, insulted, and detained by the Pakistani police. Kanwal is now scared to reopen her shop. Full Story.

Pray for a hedge of protection to be placed around Gulzar Kanwal and her cosmetics shop.
Pray that the Pakistani government stops using and abusing its blasphemy law to persecute Christians.
Pray that the Pakistani government will begin enacting laws to protect its Christian citizens.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Pakistan.



3/10/10 Pakistan (BosNewsLife) Pakistan Christian Dies After Gunmen Storm House- On March 10, 2010, a group of armed Muslims barged into Mukhityar Masih’s home and attacked the faithful Christian. Masih’s only crime was lodging a police complaint about his Muslim landlord. The merciless attack was so terrible that Mukhityar Masih ended up dying of a heart attack. Pakistan authorities have yet to detain any suspects.. Full Story.

Pray for Mukhityar Masih’s family as they mourn the death of their loved one.
Pray that the government of Pakistan will find and arrest Masih’s murderers.
Pray that the Pakistani government will start protecting their Christian citizens.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Pakistan.