PRAYERPRAYEROctOber 2018

continued

Open Doors Canada8-19 Brownridge Rd.Halton Hills, ON L7G 0C6www.OpenDoorscA.org

Oct 18 | AlgeriA – Praise the Lord for an answer to prayer after the Algerian government re-opened two of six previously closed churches in June. Pray for the re-opening of more churches and that the Algerian Church will continue to withstand this wave of pressure.Oct 19 | libyA – Pray for God to protect sub-Saharan African believers who live and work in Libya. They face persecution both because of their ethnicity and their faith.Oct 20 | JOrDAn – A group of Christians are planning a trip to Jordan this year to minister to refugees in that country. Pray that nothing will hinder this trip from taking place. Pray also that the Lord will use the trip as a source of hope for refugees in Jordan.Oct 21, Sun | MiDDle eAst – One of the biggest challenges our partners in the Middle East are facing, is finding qualified Christians to be part of the work needed for ministering via social media platforms. Pray that our local partners will find the right people to help them in this work.Oct 22 | syriA – Please pray for those refugees and displaced people who have returned to their ruined and burnt-out homes and cities. Pray that they will have the courage and perseverance to start from scratch as they face huge challenges in rebuilding their lives and homes.Oct 23 | lebAnOn – Praise God for all the opportunities that the Church can take advantage of in serving the needy among the refugees in Lebanon. Pray that the leadership of the Lebanese Church will remain obedient to Jesus’ promptings to serve.Oct 24 | KuwAit – In Kuwait, Believers from a Muslim background experience all sorts of problems, such as legal problems related to personal property. Pray that God will undertake for them as they serve Him in this country and that they will stand firm despite the persecution they face.Oct 25 | irAq – Please pray for this divided country – that the various people groups will once and for all be able to live together in peace. Pray that the elections that took place a few months ago will lead to lasting stability.Oct 26 | irAq – Pray for the Church leadership in Iraq – may God give them wisdom as they and their church members start returning home to repair what remains of their houses and churches, after the devastation caused by Islamic State.

Family in Homs, Syria, walking into the neighbourhood of their house. their house

was restored or is in the process of rebuilding.

telephone: 905-636-0944

Oct 27 | cOlOMbiA – The main agents of Christian persecution in Colombia are leaders of criminal groups. Pray for the protection of Christians who live and minister in areas where these criminal and revolutionary groups are active.Oct 28, Sun | AzerbAiJAn – It is a punishable offense to bring religious literature into Azerbaijan. Pray that God will grant wisdom and safe passage to get Christian literature into the country to help Christians grow in their understanding of the Bible and their faith in Jesus Christ.Oct 29 | turKey – Christians from a Muslim background often experience heavy pressure from family, friends and their community to return to Islam, especially as Turkey becomes more nationalistic and Islamic in nature. Pray for endurance for them and that they will be able to minister graciously and with much love to their families.Oct 30 | AfghAnistAn – The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan does not allow citizens to convert from Islam. Please pray for godly change to take place in the country, so that Christians can worship God more openly and freely, without fear of being persecuted.Oct 31 | bAhrAin – Despite being a majority Islamic country, Bahrain is relatively tolerant of other religions. Yet the law bans religious practices that violate Islamic custom. Christians, therefore, face various restrictions. Pray that God will open the eyes of this country’s leaders so that true religious freedom will reign.

“ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

October

Antonio and Marina. Both are pastors of a church. They face restriction on the operations of the church from the Guerilla’s, e.g. sharing

Christian literature is not allowed, and they can only meet together on a Sunday.

*Representative photo used to protect identity.

*Names changed and representative images used for security purposes.

interfaith dialogues to build bridges instead of getting caught up in the plans of these Islamic radicals. Oct 11 | niger – Salifou is a believer in Jesus Christ and a descendant of a famous chief. He faces daily pressure from his family to return to Islam. Pray that through his testimony and perseverance his children, sister and the rest of his community will come to know Jesus.Oct 12 | guineA – Mother Luupou* used to be involved in witchcraft and other traditional practices in her village. A few months ago, she became a Christian. She is now severely persecuted and has been abandoned by her family. Thank the Lord that He is watching over Luupou – may she keep sensing His presence with her.Oct 13 | guineA – A young convert, John, is being threatened by his family and village because of his faith. Pray for the Lord’s protection over John. Pray also that the Lord will reveal himself to the rest of John’s family.Oct 14, Sun | MAli – Thank the Lord for the faith of Julianna (33) who refused to convert to Islam after marrying a Muslim man. Her husband abandoned her and their baby because of her refusal. Pray that she will not give in to discouragement and will continue to grow in her relationship with Christ. OD helped her with an income generating gift so that she could start a small business. Thank the Lord for her faith. Pray that she will not be discouraged by her difficulties, but instead continue to grow in her personal relationship with Christ. We also thank the Lord for a pastor’s family who selflessly took her in to help her out in her time of distress. Oct 15 | nigeriA – Praise the Lord for providing the resources necessary to present trauma care seminars to help those affected by the violence of Boko Haram and Muslim Fulani herdsmen. Pray that through these seminars, the Lord will continue to heal the many women and children who have lost their husbands and fathers in the violence.Oct 16 | MOrOccO – In Morocco, local Christians meet in houses because they cannot get permission and official recognition to meet in public. The authorities also monitor them and they risk persecution if they evangelise. Pray for wisdom and guidance for Christians in this country.Oct 17 | tunisiA – Habiba* has been a believer for less than a year. She wants to share her faith with her family but is afraid. Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance for her in reaching out to her family with the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Julianna and her son.

very small groups, and feel very lonely without the usual fellowship. Pray for God to strengthen these Christians amid the tightening regulations.Oct 5 | chinA – Samuel (early twenties), a Believer from a Muslim background, has been diagnosed with stage four cancer. His wife has since discovered she is pregnant. Samuel feels very despondent as they cannot afford his medical treatment and he feels like a burden to his wife. Please pray for both provision and strength for Samuel and his wife.Oct 6 | PAKistAn – Pray for the new intake of students at the ALIVE Bible College. They started their theological studies in mid-September. Pray that they will know that God is with them over the course of the next three years. May what they learn be used to further extend God’s Kingdom. The situation for Christian minorities in Pakistan continues to be difficult under the leadership of Pakistan’s new prime minister Imran Khan. Khan has spoken in support of the country’s strict blasphemy laws, which have been used disproportionately against religious minorities. Please pray for God’s wisdom for the leadership of the country.Oct 7, Sun | bAnglADesh – Pray for Eusuf (21) who is attending Open Doors training to help him grow in his faith. He asks that we pray for God’s help as he attends this training, and also for the salvation of his wife.Oct 8 | brunei – The number of Christians in Brunei is rapidly shrinking in the face of intense Islamisation by the government. Please pray that God will equip the remaining Christians to stand strong in the faith – and for ways to keep sharing the faith – despite the difficulties. May the Lord grant his people wisdom and discernment for sharing the Gospel.Oct 9 | MAlAysiA – The general secretary of the Council of Churches in Malaysia has requested that the new government seriously consider issues affecting religious minorities, such as churches’ right to run mission schools. Pray that the government will heed these requests. A Catholic was appointed as the new chief justice in the majority-Muslim country a few months ago. The appointment of Richard Malanjum, 65, from Sabah state on the predominantly Christian island of Borneo, signified to many that Malaysia’s new rulers are on a reformist course. Around 60% of Malaysia’s 32 million people are Muslim. There are also significant Buddhist and Hindu minorities, while Christians comprise almost 10% of the population.Oct 10 | inDOnesiA – Islamic radicals are trying to cause division between Muslims and Christians in Indonesia. Pray for religious leaders, from both sides, to step up and get involved in

Oct 1 | KAzAKhstAn – In Kazakhstan, the law concerning young people sharing the Gospel, is becoming stricter. Pray that God will give these young people wisdom and guidance in sharing their faith despite this law.Oct 2 | tAJiKistAn – Pray for Believers from a Muslim Background as the persecution, stress and problems they face are increasing. Pray for God’s wisdom for them in how to stand firm in their faith and deal with this pressure. Amendments to Tajikistan’s Religion Law, which came into force in January, have given the state a “total control” over religious freedoms. The State is now much more dictatorial in its stance towards freedom of religion. Oct 3 | KyrgyzstAn – Pastor Miran* was falsely accused of paedophilia in 2017 by local Muslim authorities as an act of revenge because he follows Christ. Despite being vindicated of this accusation, he and his family continue to be persecuted by their Muslim community. Pray for the safety of pastor Miran and his family, as well as for perseverance.Oct 4 | chinA – The situation in north western China for the church continues to deteriorate as the government tightens its control on religious expression. Believers from a Muslim background (MBB’s) living in that region urgently need our prayers. Since 2017 the Chinese government has been systematically rounding up Uyghur and Kazakh men in the far north-western province of Xinjiang, and taking them to remote, purpose-built ‘Re-education Centers’ where they are detained. Some have not returned home since they were taken in 2017. These centers are instruments of an unprecedented cultural cleansing of these primarily Islamic ethnic minorities. A number of MBB Christians have been taken as well, leaving distraught wives and children behind. As with the general population, MBBs are scared and saddened by the latest campaign, and are desperate for news of their loved ones who have disappeared. Many have been left with no income, meaning the wives have to find some kind of work to pay for food and their children’s education. As religious meetings are forbidden, believers are afraid to even meet in

The Presidential palace in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

China_2010_0050100305.

October

*Representative photos used to protect identity. *Names changed to protect identity.