prayer diary may - june 2015

8/9/2019 Prayer Diary May - June 2015

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A R N A B A S F U N D

– A I D A G E N C Y F O R T H

E P E R S E C U T E D C H U R C H

To help youpray for thepersecutedchurch

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a r n a b a s p r a y e r

barnabasfund.org

MAY /JUNE2015


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Thank you for your prayers for ourpersecuted brothers and sisters inChrist, which make such a differenceto them. We sometimes have tochange or omit their names forsecurity reasons, and we have onlylimited space to share their stories.But the Lord knows the people andplaces we are praying about. Thankyou for your understanding.

Please do not feel limited by thespecifc prayer requests, but prayas you feel led. On each Sunday wehave provided a set prayer; pleasefeel free to use these in their currentform, to adapt them as you prefer, orto use the information they containto frame your own prayers.

MayFRIDAY 1 A senior church leader fromBorno State, Nigeria, estimates thatthe Islamist militant group BokoHaram has killed over 20,000 peopleso far, Christians being one of itsmain target groups. He knows of35-40 pastors that have been killed.“Only the Person of Jesus Christ canstop Boko Haram,” he said. Anothersenior leader from Borno reported70 of his 150 churches destroyed.Media reports tend to underplaythe terrible violence of Boko Haramterrorists, who have the ability toappear suddenly in a new placemaking it dif cult for the Nigerianmilitary to protect the populationfrom them. Pray to the Person whois able to stop Boko Haram throughHis resurrection power, that He willintervene to save His people and otherinnocent civilians.

SATURDAY 2“This is just the beginningof the killings. What you’ve witnessedis a tip of the iceberg. More deaths arecoming.” These were the chilling wordsof Abubakar Shekau, the leader of BokoHaram, after his Islamist militantsmassacred as many as 2,000 civiliansin the north-east Nigerian town of Bagain January. He said that the killings had been committed at the command of Allah. Boko Haram’s frequent attackstarget Christians, schools, and securityforces, as they seek to establish their version of Islam in the territory theycontrol. Ask the Lord Jesus Christ toreveal Himself to Abubakar Shekau,and show him what God really wantshim to do. Pray that Abubakar Shekau will become a man who does justice andloves mercy (Micah 6:8).

SUNDAY 3 Heavenly Father, as we lookaround the world we hear news from

every side of Your children beingattacked, especially where they arefew in number, poor and oppressed.We feel overwhelmed by the scale ofsuffering but we remember that youare the everlasting God, Creator ofthe ends of the earth, who will notgrow tired or weary. So we pray withcon dence, asking You to act in powerto deliver our brothers and sistersfrom their enemies who seek todestroy them. Please strengthen theirfaith, increase their hope and enableto them to respond with forgivenessand love, as our Lord Jesus did, inwhose Name we pray.

MONDAY 4Every church building inZinder, the second city of Niger, wasdestroyed by Muslim rioters on 16January. The next day riots in the capitalNiamey burned or destroyed another 55


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churches, bringing the total to 72, as wellas 30 homes of pastors or Christians,at least four Christian schools and twoorphanages. The rioters were protestingagainst the publication of a cartoon ofMuhammad by the French magazineCharlie Hebdo . Pray for the tinyChristian minority in this desperatelypoor nation, as they struggle to deal withthis destruction. Ask God to comfortthose who mourn for ten people killedover the weekend of violence, one ofthem burned to death inside a church.

TUESDAY 5 After the riots in Niger inJanuary (see above) Christian leadersheld a press conference in which theysaid that they had forgiven those whodid them harm and that persecution was part of their life as Christians.Their attackers could destroyeverything, said the Christians, “butthey couldn’t take Jesus away fromus.” Pray that these words will havea lasting impact on Muslims in Nigerand open many hearts to Jesus as Lordand Saviour.

WEDNESDAY 6The deadline for gatheringsignatures for Barnabas Fund’s petition“Save the Christians of the Middle East” was 30 April. Please pray for wisdomas plans are made for the presentation

of the petitions to various governmentsand the UN. Pray that politicians anddecision-makers will take notice of thepublic interest and concern indicated by the number of signatures, and willrespond in practical ways to help the beleaguered Christians of the MiddleEast. (It is not too late to post yoursigned petition sheets to your nearestBarnabas Fund of ce.)

THURSDAY 7 Tial Cem, a ChinChristian in Burma (Myanmar), builta 16m high concrete cross on the topof a hill in Chin State, on land owned by another Chin Christian. On 30January he was ordered to dismantleit or face two years in prison. This would make it the fourteenthChristian cross to be destroyed inChin State. Christians make up 80%of the Chin ethnic group, but they areprevented from building churches and

are subjected to forced labour andeviction from their lands. Praise Godfor the perseverance and courage ofthe Chin believers and pray that their witness will draw many to the Lord.

FRIDAY 8Pray for the mainly ChristianKachin people of Burma (Myanmar) who have been facing a fresh onslaughtfrom the Burmese army in its struggle with the Kachin Independence Army.Hundreds of Kachin villagers who wanted to ee were instead trappedand used as a human shield. At thesame time, two Kachin Baptist womenin their 20s, working as voluntaryteachers, were tortured, gang-rapedand killed by the army. According tolocal people, the army threatened to setre to the homes of anyone who spokeof the rape. Pray for an end to the violence against Kachin people.

A pastor’s house in Niger, destroyed inanti-Christian riots


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SATURDAY 9 A drug and alcoholrehabilitation centre run by Christiansin Sychevka, in north-east Kazakhstan,is due to have re-opened in April after being closed down for three monthsfor conducting religious worship,after the police raided the centre andfound religious books. Another caseagainst the same centre was droppedsix months ago; the four-year caseaccused its owners of inciting religioushatred, but nally the police admittedthey had no evidence to support theiraccusation. Pray for the director of thecentre, Yuri Morozov, who has beenned because of the religious worshipcharge, that he may be strengthened ashe faces these repeated attacks on himand his ministry.

SUNDAY 10 Lord Jesus, we pray forChristians seeking to be salt and lightin the very restrictive societies of

Central Asia, living with laws that growever tighter. We pray for Christianparents and their children, as moreand more legal obstacles hamper thework of ministry to children. Wepray for church leaders who have towrestle with bureaucracy that seemsdesigned to make it impossible forthem to ful l all the regulationsimposed on them. Please blessthem with joy, hope, perseveranceand wisdom as they respond to theconstantly changing situation. May allthey do bring glory to You.

MONDAY 11Iranian Christian EbrahimFirouzi completed his prison sentenceon 13 January 2015 but was notreleased. The judge issued a baildemand, but when his family went topay it they were rejected. Ebrahim,a convert from Islam, has been

arrested several times for his Christianactivities. Pray that the Iranianauthorities will set him free.

TUESDAY 12 Around 300 Muslimstudents, armed with iron bars andsticks, ransacked Panel High Schoolin Bannu, north-west Pakistan, on23 January, having jumped over theperimeter walls and forced open thegates. The Muslims were protestingagainst a cartoon of Muhammadpublished in the French magazineCharlie Hebdo , and they selected thisschool because it is a Christian school.“Whenever incidents occur in Westerncountries, the faithful Pakistanis areattacked. Christians, who are alreadyliving in constant fear for their lives, become even more vulnerable,”commented a Pakistani Christian. Askthat the Lord will wonderfully protectHis faithful people in Pakistan (2 Kings

6:15-17), especially in the north-west, where they are very few in number andliving in a strongly Islamic environment.

WEDNESDAY 13 Hindu extremistsattacked two Christian congregationsat worship on 11 January, one inJehanabad, Bihar state, and the otherin Kushulanagar, Karnataka state. TheChristians were accused of forcing orluring Hindus to convert to Christianity, but no formal charges were broughtagainst them by police. Pray thatIndian Christians will not be dismayedor discouraged by the frequent falseaccusations against them with regardevangelism but will continue toproclaim the Good News boldly.

THURSDAY 14 Indian Christiansgathered in Delhi in February toprotest against church attacks. “What


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have we done wrong?” asked oneprotestor. “Is serving the poor a crime,feeding the hungry a crime, visiting theprisoner a crime? … We are not goingto stop doing good.” Police forcedmany of the protestors on to buses anddrove them away. Pray that the Indianpolice will grant justice to Christiansand protect them from violence.

FRIDAY 15Barnabas Fund has helpedto repair 208 Christian homes andtwelve church buildings in Sri Lanka. All had been damaged by oods duringthe monsoon. In this remote area ofthe country, where Hinduism andBuddhism are strongly represented,Christians experience discriminationand marginalisation and they knewit was unlikely they would receivegovernment aid after the disaster. Thankthe Lord for the generosity of BarnabasFund supporters, which enables us to

help these suffering believers.

SATURDAY 16Praise God that PastorTandin Wangyal has been releasedearly from prison in Bhutan on 19January after paying a ne. Pastor MonThapa, who was arrested at the same

time, as they carried a sick child to aclinic, received a lighter sentence and was released last year. Both had beencharged with holding a religious meetingand showing a lm without approvalas well as collecting “illegal funds”. TheChurch in Buddhist-majority Bhutan was underground until 2008 but someChristians are now beginning to practisetheir faith openly. Pray for an easing ofrestrictions against our brothers andsisters. Pray that the release of PastorTandin will encourage them as they seetheir prayers answered (Acts 12:13-17).

SUNDAY 17 O Lord, we rejoice at the rapidrate of Church growth in China. Only Youknow the number of Christian believersin that vast country. We want to praytoday especially for our brothers andsisters in the city of Wenzhou, which hasso many Christians that it is sometimescalled “China’s Jerusalem”, and for the

rest of the province of Zhejiang in whichthe city is situated. We ask for an endto the surge of violence against churchbuildings in the province last year,during which hundreds were targetedfor demolition and at least 410 crosseswere torn down. We pray that you willcause the Chinese authorities to lookfavourably on the growing number ofChristians and recognise them as peoplewho contribute to a peaceful, harmonioussociety. We ask this in the Name of theLord Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

MONDAY 18 A senior Kenyan Christianleader explains, the aim of the SomaliIslamist group Al-Shabaab for Kenya(a nation which is 80% Christian)is to make it ungovernable, to makethe Church fearful, and to preventChristians from doing outreach inMuslim areas of the country. Others

One of 208 Sri Lankan Christian familieswhose flood-damaged homes have beenrepaired with help from Barnabas


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report that Christians are indeedtraumatised by the violence of Al-Shabaab militants and have started tohide their crosses or other Christiansymbols, and to travel in unmarked vehicles instead of vehicles painted withChristian wording. They are afraid ofdiscussing Islam. The government has banned all-night Christian meetings because of security concerns. “Willthe next generation nd a Church inKenya?” asked another senior Christianleader earlier this year. Pray thatKenyan Christians will heed the Lord’scommand to Joshua, “Be strong andcourageous. Do not be terri ed; do not be discouraged” (Joshua 1:9).

TUESDAY 19 George Karidhimba Muriki,a Kenyan church leader, was shot dead by gunmen on a motorbike outside hischurch in Mombasa, as people gatheredfor Sunday worship on 11 January.

Although Kenya is Christian-majoritythe city of Mombasa is Muslim-majorityand there have been a number ofattacks on Christians in recent years.Pray for the Lord’s protection over Hispeople in Mombasa and that they mayreact to the violence in a Christ-like waythat brings Him glory.

WEDNESDAY 20 “We have secured agreat victory today as the body ofChrist,” wrote a Tanzanian Christianto Barnabas Fund on 6 February.He was referring to the fact that theTanzanian government had withdrawna proposal to introduce Islamic courtsusing sharia law. Thank the Lordfor this development. Pray also forthe proposed new constitution andupcoming general election, planned for28 October, that the Lord’s purposes will be ful lled.

THURSDAY 21Many Eritrean Christiansare held in prison for years, withouttrial and in the harshest of conditions.But praise God the number is muchlower than it used to be. According to“Church in Chains” there are now about300 Christian prisoners, many of themheld in Me’etr prison in the remotenorth-west. Pray for these brothers andsisters, whom the Lord knows by name,that He will sustain and comfort them.Remember especially Dr Ki u, PastorKidane and Rev Haile, who have each been held for eleven years. Pray also fora group of Christian women who werearrested at a wedding in 2006 and arestill in prison.

FRIDAY 22Twen is a 32-year-oldEritrean Christian, who has been inprison since she was arrested at aprayer meeting in January 2005. Shehas refused to sign a statement that she

will not engage in Christian activitiesand therefore continues to be detained.Once, when ill, she was allowed tospend a month at her family home in Asmara, but after this she made herown way back to prison. She is active incaring for the other women in prison.Pray that her life may bring glory to theLord and be a powerful witness to theprison guards and authorities.

Twen has been in prison in Eritrea for ten years


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SATURDAY 23 India’s Prime MinisterNarendra Modi spoke to a Christianaudience on 17 February saying, “Mygovernment will not allow any religiousgroup belonging to the majority or theminority to incite hatred against others,overtly or covertly.” This was a welcomemessage, especially given that Mr Modiis a Hindu nationalist and leader of theBJP party, which has strongly anti-Christian elements within it . Pray thatMr Modi will follow his words withactions that match.

SUNDAY 24 Lord Jesus, as we rememberthe gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost,we pray for Christians in Iran whoface constant harassment from theauthorities, that they might knowthe Spirit’s enabling as they reply toquestioning by security forces and asthey witness to their faith in prison.May their hope and con dence be like

that of one pastor who said that he feltsorry for the authorities as they tried tosuppress the Iranian Church, becausethey did not realise their efforts weredoomed as they were trying to opposethe work of the Holy Spirit.

MONDAY 25Please continue to pray forIranian Pastor Farshid Fathi, a convertfrom Islam, who remains in prison. On5 March the prison imam demandedhis Bible for inspection, but PastorFarshid refused to hand it over becausehe had permission from the prisonsuperintendent to have it. It is likelythat Farshid may have up to two yearsadded to his sentence for “insulting”the imam because of this. Pray that theIranian authorities will lose interestin harassing Christians who are activein ministry, especially those from aMuslim background. Pray that they will

cease to fear the growth of the Churchas more and more Iranian Muslimsnd Christ as Lord and Saviour. Prayfor conversions of Iranians in seniorpositions of authority.

TUESDAY 26Twenty-one Christians, who had been kidnapped in Libya, were beheaded by Islamic State (IS) militants,the whole process shown in a videoreleased by IS on 15 February. Twenty were Egyptian while one was an African,also working in Libya. His nominalChristian faith had been re-kindled bythe Egyptians, so that when IS camelooking for Christians he refused to savehis life by embracing Islam, but insteadembraced martyrdom. Thirteen of theEgyptian men came from the same village. Pray for the grieving families,that they may nd comfort in knowingthat their loved ones were martyred because of their faith in the Lord Jesus

Christ. Martyrdom is considered bythe Egyptian Church to be one of thehighest gifts that God can bestow on Hisfaithful followers.

WEDNESDAY 27Praise God for the safearrival in Iraqi Kurdistan of the 30containers of high quality insulatedtents and associated equipment that will comprise Sawra (Hope) Village fordisplaced Iraqi Christians. There were various delays on the long journey byland and sea, so pray that the settingup of the camp will proceed swiftly.Barnabas Fund is nancing this projectto provide shelter for up to 1,000displaced Iraqi Christians.

THURSDAY 28The Saudi Arabiangovernment makes no provision forreligious freedom: the of cial religionis Sunni Islam, its constitution is the


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Quran, and its legal system is basedon a strict interpretation of sharia law.No non-Muslim places of worship arepermitted, and the small number ofSaudi Christians practise their faithin extreme secrecy. Even expatriateChristians are sometimes punishedmerely for worshipping together inprivate homes. Pray that the Saudigovernment will yield to internationalpressure and introduce greaterreligious freedom. Pray for those whocurrently suffer for their faith in Saudi Arabia. Pray that Lord will be theirstrength and shield (Psalm 28:7).

FRIDAY 29 About 35 predominantlyChristian villages cluster along the banks of the Khabur river in northernSyria. On 23 February they wereattacked by Islamic State (IS) militants, who captured almost 300 Christians.Some 1,200 families ed and Barnabas

has sent aid to assist them. Church buildings were destroyed in the attackincluding one at Tel Hurmoz, believedto be one of the oldest in the country. Another attack occurred on 7 March.Pray for all the Christians, captured ordisplaced, and that God will interveneto stop the advance of IS in Syria.

SATURDAY 30 A week after they weretaken hostage by Islamic State (seeabove), 23 of the Christian captivesfrom the Khabur villages in northernSyria were freed on the condition that would not return to their village. “Theysaid if we returned and they capturedus again they would kill us withoutany other option,” said one of thosereleased. “They would behead the menand enslave the women.” Islamic Statehas already sold many Iraqi Christianand Yazidi women as slaves, and has aset price list, starting at £27 (€34, $43)for the oldest. Pray that the rest of theSyrian hostages will be released, soonand unharmed. Pray also that God willcomfort the 1,200 families who havelost their homes and that He will givethem courage to face the future.

SUNDAY 31 O Triune God, we pray toyou for our Iraqi Christian sisters who

have been captured by Islamic Statemilitants and sold as slaves aroundthe Middle East. We remember alsothe other non-Muslim women and allthe children, even very little ones, whohave also been captured and sold.We pray that You will help each oneto bear the unbearable, and to knowthemselves loved and treasured byYou despite the human shame they areenduring. In Your mercy, enable themto nd their way to freedom.

JuneMONDAY 1 When “Samuel” and his wife were baptised in Bangladesh on2nd February, to mark their decisionto leave Islam and follow Christ, they were attacked by local people when theyreturned home that evening. An imam

One of the thousands of Syrian Christianswho fled their homes in villages along theKhabur River


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slapped the wife’s face in front of theirtwo young children and the family werethreatened that they would be expelledfrom the village, where they are the onlyChristians. When two other Christiansheard of this and told the police, of cers visited the village and warned thecommunity not to harass Samuel andhis family, because every citizen hasthe right to practise their own faith inBangladesh. Thank the Lord for action by the police, which is quite unusualin a Muslim-majority context. Praythat the family will be allowed to live inpeace as Christians.

TUESDAY 2 One of the Christians who went to the police on behalf of Samuel(see above) was “Paul”, the Bangladeshipastor who baptised the couple, who ishimself a convert from Islam. The nightthat he returned from the police, a mobattacked his house, destroying the fence

and beating him up. He has now losthis job. Please pray that the Lord willprovide for him and protect him and allthe believers whom he cares for.

WEDNESDAY 3 Police in the city of Jaipur,Rajasthan, northern India, detaineda group of 20 Christians distributinglea ets to local residents on 26 February.Inside the police van and at the policestation, the Christians were kicked and beaten with belts and sticks. Then they were released. Although the Church inIndia is growing fast, so is harassmentof Christians especially those engaged inoutreach and witnessing for the Gospel.Pray that they may count it pure joy toface such trials and testing (James 1:2).

THURSDAY 4 Narmurad Mominov, aChristian leader in Turkmenistan, was ned on 27 February after police

raided a family home he was visiting.The police tried to force everyonepresent at the meeting to writestatements renouncing their Christianfaith and promising never to attendreligious meetings, but most refusedto do so. Narmurad’s ne was only £19(€27, US$29) but this is equivalent totwo weeks average income for a farmerin the region. Pray that Christians inTurkmenistan, especially those whoare converts from Islam, will be strongin the Lord as they follow him in thecontext of strict and burdensomeregulations and much harassmentfrom the authorities.

FRIDAY 5On Sunday morning 15 March,suicide bombers attacked two churchesin the Youhanabad neighbourhood ofLahore, Pakistan. Youhanabad is oneof the largest Christian communities inthe country, and most of its inhabitants

are very poor. Although the combinedcongregations numbered about 2,000,only 19-20 people died because thechurch member volunteers on securityduty had stopped both bombers fromentering inside the buildings. Prayfor healing for the injured (at least80 people) and consolation for the bereaved. Thank God for the courageof the Christians who prevented the bombers from doing worse damage,some at the cost of their own lives.

SATURDAY 6 After the suicide bombingsagainst churches in Youhanabad,Lahore, Pakistan (see above), manylocal Christians protested on thestreets. Church leaders from all over thecity gathered in Youhanabad to showtheir solidarity and to urge Christians torespond peacefully. Responsibility forthe attacks was claimed by the Islamist


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group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, which hassplit off from the Taliban and pledgedallegiance to Islamic State (IS). Theyalso announced, “We promise that untilan Islamic system is put into place inPakistan, such attacks will continue.”Pray for Pakistan’s Christians, who willnow be feeling very insecure in theirhomeland and wondering if they willforced out by extreme violence andthreats in a repeat of what IS is doingin Iraq.

SUNDAY 7 Father God, we pray for ourbrothers and sisters in North Korea,who put their lives at daily risk byfollowing Your Son. We pray especiallyfor those detained in prison labourcamps, where they could easily dieunder the harsh regime and the extrasevere treatment which they getas Christians. Please sustain themthrough hunger, pain and exhaustion.Enable them to keep their eyes xed onJesus, the author and perfecter of theirfaith, who for the joy set before him,endured the cross, scorning its shame.In His Name we pray. (Hebrews 12:2)

MONDAY 8 Christian Montagnards fromthe Central Highlands of Vietnam areeeing again to Cambodia to escapepersecution in their homeland, wherethey are threatened with prison if theypractise their Christian faith. While afew have gone to register as refugees inthe Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh,most are hiding in the jungle for fearof being deported back to Vietnam bythe authorities. Hundreds had ed toCambodia in 2001 and again in 2004after being evicted from their lands. Praythat they may take comfort in the Lord’s words of af rmation and His promise ofeternal life to those who have left homesand elds for His sake (Mark 10:29-30).

TUESDAY 9 Remember in prayer themainly Christian Kachin people ofBurma (Myanmar) as every day moreand more ee their villages, which areunder heavy air attack by Burmese

military. Some are taking shelter incamps within Burma and others arecrossing the border into China. InNorthern Shan state, where it wasreported in March that there wasghting every day, hundreds of people,mainly women and children were newlydisplaced that month. Some had losttheir husbands and fathers, killed bythe Burmese army. Barnabas Fund hassent help. Please pray for all who aresuffering so intensely that the help theyare receiving from fellow-believers will bring them hope, encouragement andspiritual strength as well as relievingtheir practical needs.

WEDNESDAY 10 “If I ever tried to dothis ministry in my own strength, I would have given up long ago. Butthe Lord is my joy and strength,” saidRudiman, an Indonesian church-

Some of the injured from Youhanabad inhospital. Barnabas has sent help for medicalcare, funeral costs and other needs


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planter supported by Barnabas Fund. When Rudiman received death threats,his little congregation begged him tohide in his house, but he told themto trust, pray and leave it to the Lord.Over time the new believers recognisedthat Rudiman’s response was theright one and this built them up intheir Christian faith. Thank the Lordfor Rudiman’s example and pray forhim and the 39 other church-planterssupported by Barnabas Fund inIndonesia; all of them are ministeringin Muslim-majority areas, where theyare likely to face hostility.

THURSDAY 11Most churches inCameroon are in the south, and churchleaders pay little attention to the plightof fellow-Christians far away in thenorth, which is very poor and wherethe Islamist militant organisation BokoHaram is active. Many people in thenorth have been killed, many cattlestolen and crops burned, more than100 villages stand empty. Hundreds ofschools have closed down and manychurch buildings have been destroyed.Tens of thousands of Nigerian refugees

have sought safety there as they eefrom Boko Haram’s violence in theirown country. “We ask prayer, prayer,prayer for this crisis,” pleaded aCameroonian church leader. Pray thatchurch leaders will have the skills torespond effectively to this crisis andalso to bring pastoral care to thosetraumatised by what they have suffered.

FRIDAY 12“Every night they target apredominantly Christian village toplunder,” wrote a pastor from Maroua,Cameroon earlier this year, aboutthe activities of Boko Haram in hiscountry. Pray that the Cameroonianmilitary may win back control of theterritory that Boko Haram has taken. Ask that the faith of the Christians willnot fail as they wait nightly to see ifthey will be attacked. May they not give way to fear, but know in their hearts apeace that passes understanding.

SATURDAY 13Christians in Malicomprise only 7% of the population, sothey are conscious that, if Islamists wereto target them consistently, it would nottake long to overpower them completely.The Malian Church is teaching itsmembers to respond to provocationand violence with peace, to try toovercome by the word of their testimony(Revelation 12:11) and to be salt andlight in their society (Matthew 5:13-16).Pray that the Lord will strengthen, guideand enable them to live for Him in theirMuslim-majority nation.

SUNDAY 14 Almighty God, we join ourprayers with those of many Christiansin Africa, asking for your blessingand guidance on believers who holdpositions of political power in theircontinent. We pray that they will have

Rudiman and his family


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wisdom and courage to use theirposition to help Your people, especiallyin responding to the challenges theChurch currently faces. May theyrecognise that they have been giventheir position “for such a time asthis” (Esther 4:14). We pray that otherChristians will support and pray fortheir brothers and sisters in politics,recognising that they need special helpto walk with You in such a calling. Weask this in the Name of Christ.

MONDAY 15 Christians form abouta third of the population of Chad.They are very aware of the pervasivein uence of their strongly Islamicneighbour, Sudan which has beenseeking to re-Islamise the Muslim-majority north of Chad and toIslamise and Arabise the Christian-majority South, where 1,000 mosqueshave been planted. Muslims dominate

politics, “pulling the strings” evenif not in actual power. The policeforce has been effectively Islamised by the forced retirement of the olderof cers who were mainly Christian. AMuslim who converts to Christianitymay be seized by security forces and brainwashed. Chad is surrounded by countries where Islamist militantgroups are very active. “We are sittingon re,” said one Chadian Christianleader, “Pray for us.”

TUESDAY 16 In February Boko Haramattacked targets in Chad and Niger forthe rst time, apparently in retaliationfor a decision by the African Unioncountries on 30 February to ghtagainst the Islamist insurgencygroup. Christian homes in Nigerhad been marked in advance withthe sign “P52”* to identify them for

attack. The government of Nigerinvited Christians to participatein a protest against Boko Haram,putting them in a prominent placeat the front of the procession. Thankthe Lord for this af rmation by theNigerien government and pray that both the Nigerien and the Chadiangovernments will be able to preventBoko Haram from attacking again.

WEDNESDAY 17Christians in Nigernumber fewer than 250,000 outof a total population of 17 million.Many political leaders assume thatall Nigeriens are Muslim so anyChristian is automatically regardedas a foreigner. Pray for a change ofmindset within Niger, to recognisethat Christians and the Christian faithcan be a part of their country again, 14centuries after Christian Berbers fromNorth Africa rst brought the faith,

which slowly disappeared again.

THURSDAY 18 “What happened inthe Central African Republic (CAR)can happen in any country,” said achurch leader remembering the wayin which Islamists seized politicalpower by force in 2013. “We werenot prepared with strategies. Werealised the weakness of the Church.”He explained how church structuresdid not allow the Church to resistthe persecution that followed, as theSeleka Islamist militants destroyedchurch buildings, slaughtered pastors,and raped their wives and daughters.Church attendance dropped, butchurch leaders met together to prayand plan a response, realising thatgreater exibility was required in orderto respond to persecution. “We need your prayers,” he said. Pray for wisdom


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for church leaders in CAR and thatthey may be well prepared for furtherchallenges in their country.

FRIDAY 19 “As a church we feel we areforgotten by the rest of the world. It ishard to understand. Barnabas Fund isthe only organisation to this day whohas given substantial help, supporting500 families,” said a church leaderfrom the Central African Republic(CAR) earlier this year, recalling aidgiven by Barnabas Fund to care for victims of anti-Christian violence. When Islamists seized politicalpower by force in this 85% Christiannation two years ago, “the church was forsaken and it was really hardto respond”. Some elements of thepopulation responded instead withfurther violence. Pray that the currentpeace may be maintained, with afunctioning government that is not

seeking to create an Islamic state inCAR. Pray that CAR Christians will feelthemselves part of a worldwide caringChristian family.

SATURDAY 20 Although Christianmajority, the new nation of SouthSudan has declared itself a secular state.Muslims, who are estimated at lessthan 10% of the total population, aregiven equal priority and visibility with

Christians at every formal event. As the war-ravaged country’s infrastructureis rebuilt, the booming constructionindustry is dominated by Muslims, whoalso own most of the hardware stores.In Juba, the capital, three-quartersof the shops are closed on Fridayafternoons because their owners havegone to pray at the mosque. Childrenare easily converted to Islam. ManyMuslims from Kenya and Uganda are becoming South Sudanese citizens. Thissituation is a great disappointment tomany South Sudanese Christians whohad so looked forward to a nation oftheir own as respite from the pressuresof the strongly Islamic northern state.“The Church is unprepared and hasno planned response,” commentedone South Sudanese Christianleader recently. “The Church needsto be enlightened, empowered andenvisioned for the task.” Pray for this.

SUNDAY 21 Lord Jesus, we pray todayfor Pastor Yat Michael, from SouthSudan, in prison in (north) Sudan alongwith Pastor Peter Yien. Together theyare accused of sharing the Gospel withMuslims, which is illegal in Sudan.Please sustain them and give them joy in You. We pray that their lawyerwill be guided by the Holy Spirit as herepresents them, and that they maybe released soon. We pray also fortheir wives, who have been allowedvery little communication with Yat andPeter since their arrest, that they willnot let their hearts be troubled but willtrust in You. (John 14:1)

MONDAY 22Church leaders in theMiddle East lament the rapidlydiminishing light of Christian presencethere, as Christians are forced from

Barnabas provided aid for Christian victimsof violence in CAR


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their homes and homelands by Islamistmilitants and especially by the brutaladvance of Islamic State (IS) in Iraq andSyria over the last year. The “religiouscleansing” effect created by IS’s threatsand savagery looks set to replicate theeffects of the Armenian and AssyrianGenocide that peaked 100 years ago, which depleted Turkey of almost allits Christian population. Ask the LordJesus Christ to act in power to maintaina Christian witness in the region whereHe Himself lived His earthly life and where the Gospel has been proclaimedcontinuously ever since.

TUESDAY 23On 16 March themilitant group Islamic State (IS)published photos online showingtheir destruction of churches in Iraq,replacing centuries-old crosses withthe black ag of IS. Earlier in themonth, the international media were

incensed by the IS destruction ofancient Assyrian statues in Nimrud,near Mosul, but little attention waspaid when the same thing is doneto the church buildings of modern Assyrian people. Pray that theinternational community will rally tothe support of Christians and otherminorities, whose very existence isthreatened by the extreme and violentideologies of IS.

WEDNESDAY 24Ethnic Fulani Muslimskilled at least 82 people from the villageof Agatu, Benue state, in Nigeria’s“Middle Belt” in an attack at 4 a.m. on15 March, in which they also destroyedhouses, food barns, trees and farmland.“The entire village is like a killing eld, with the stench of blood everywhere,”said a local resident. The village isinhabited by the mainly Christian

Egba ethnic group. Frequent attacks by Fulani Muslim herdsmen add to thepressures faced by Nigerian Christians, who are also a main target of BokoHaram militants. Pray that the Lord willcomfort those who lost loved ones andpray also for healing for the 25 villagers who were injured in the attack.

THURSDAY 25 “We are having thenews of 2 churches been burnt inBukoba, 1 in Ma a last week and 4Christian houses have been burntin Sakura, Pangani, Tanga.” Thisupdate came in an email to BarnabasFund from Tanzania on 18 March,giving a snapshot of the ongoinganti-Christian violence there. Theattack on Christian homes in Sakuracame from local Muslims angered bythe way the Christians did not followsharia law. Pray for the protection ofChristians in Tanzania and that the

authorities will ensure they are freeto live as Christians in this Christian-majority nation.

FRIDAY 26 A recent four-day conferencein Central Asia, funded by Barnabas,trained 54 pastors and ministryleaders, all from Muslim backgrounds,to help them recognise Islamicelements in their local culture and toadopt a more Biblical way of life. Manyhad unwittingly continued to lead a

Christian leaders’ conference in Central Asia


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partly Islamic lifestyle, especially inthe family home, despite their decisionto follow Christ. Praise God for theeagerness with which the participantslearned how to focus on the Bible’steachings and to live in a moreChristian way.

SATURDAY 27The Muslim minorityin Rwanda (5%) are very active inproviding social care, for example,schools and health centres, visitingpeople in hospital, feeding the poorand vulnerable, providing low-interestcredit, and hospital-visiting. AlthoughIslam was mainly found in the townspreviously, newly built mosquesare appearing at 5km intervals inrural areas. Muslim young men areencouraged to marry Christian girls, who then convert to Islam. Fivehundred young Rwandan Muslims were sent to Arab countries to study

Islam in 2008, thus creating a strongcadre of well educated Muslim leadersthat was previously lacking. Pray thatRwandan church leaders may be alertto Islamic strategies in their countryand that Christians may be wellgrounded in their faith.

SUNDAY 28 Heavenly Father, we pray forour brothers and sisters in Tanzania,who face increasing violence, withChristian schools, churches andChristian-owned vehicles being set onre, sometimes several in a week, eventhough Christians form the majorityof the population. Please protectchurch ministers and other Christianworkers who are particular targets ofviolence. We ask that Your angels willkeep a special watch over Christiansin Zanzibar, where they are so few innumber and face so much hostility. We

pray that Tanzanian Christians may livetheir lives wisely amongst their Muslimneighbours and show that they aredifferent. (1 Peter 2:12)

MONDAY 29 Christians in Burundireport that Islamisation has spread outfrom the towns into the rural areas.Many Christians are converting inresponse to practical assistance fromMuslim sources; Christian girls alsoconvert after marrying Muslim men.Muslims hold positions in governmentand other structures of society. Thereare not only Muslim schools but evenMuslim universities. The impressiveand beautiful Islamic buildingsgreatly outshine the equivalentChristian buildings. Christians see agrowing assertiveness of the Muslimcommunity, both on the politicalscene and in terms of deliberate acts ofprovocation, for example, destroying

Christian symbols in some areas, anderecting mosques near churches. Praythat Burundian Christians will be strongin their faith and love for the Lord.

TUESDAY 30 Muslims often praythat Christians will be divided. African Christians are conscious thatthey are already very divided, forexample, by the plethora of Africandenominations, by doctrinal issues,and by tribal differences. Pray that African Christians, and Christianselsewhere too, may be brought tocomplete unity to let the world knowthat the Father sent the Lord JesusChrist and has loved believers as Heloved His Son (John 17:23).

* "P52" may be a reference to a very early papyrus fragment of John's Gospel, and a way ofbranding Christians as heretics.


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Front cover: Displaced Iraqi Christians

prayer diary may - june 2015

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