#prayforthepersecuted

Maldives

The Maldives is a tropical nation in the Indian Ocean composed of 26 ring-shaped atolls, which are made up of more than 1,000 coral islands. Every Maldivian must be a Muslim. Anyone who leaves Islam loses their citizenship. Converting to Christianity is illegal and gathering as a church is virtually impossible. There is no religious freedom in the Maldives or a completed Bible in the local language. Because of the pressure, many Christians flee the country. If anyone converts to Christianity, they are forced to read the Bible in secret. Bibles cannot be imported and owning one could result in imprisonment. A Christian’s freedom of speech is also restricted and they can go to prison for saying anything that doesn’t align with Islam. Christmas celebrations are banned. Christian weddings or funerals have to take place in secret. If someone’s faith is discovered they could lose custody of their children, their inheritance and be cut off from their families.

Pray for Maldives

Pray for God to help secret believers in the Maldives find one another for fellowship and encouragement.

Pray for Christians to find creative ways to read the Bible, despite it being banned.

Laos

In Laos, Christianity is seen as a threat. If a Christian won’t deny Jesus and become Buddhist, they experience physical violence and discrimination. Persecution can be so intense; some believers are forced to flee and live in the jungle. Half of the Christian population in Laos do not have a Bible translated in their local language. This makes attending church a crucial part of learning the word of God. However, going to church attracts trouble. Many services are monitored and regularly disrupted. Local communities won’t allow churches to be built. House churches are also completely illegal. Christian students are forced to attend Buddhist temple rituals. In rural parts of the country, many people also practice tribal rituals. They believe Christianity will anger the spirits and must be eliminated. Despite all of this, the church in Laos is growing.

Pray for Laos

Pray for wisdom as Christians share the gospel with Buddhist family members and friends.

Pray Christians can have access to the word of God and be part of their local church.

Colombia

Columbia’s long-running war on drugs has resulted in major issues of corruption and violence. Christians who stand up to the drug cartels are extremely vulnerable. Many church leaders have been kidnapped or received death threats because they’ve helped victims of the drug trade.  Persecution also comes from indigenous groups. In their communities, tribal religion is an integral part of life. Anyone who converts to Christianity is threatened and can even be exiled for their faith. In some circumstances, Christians have been killed.

Pray for Colombia

Pray for the government to be more open to Christianity.

Pray for Christians pressured to renounce their faith, that they will remain faithful.

North Korea

North Korea: The Hardest Place To Follow Jesus. North Korea has been the most dangerous country to be a Christian for 17 years. North Koreans are forced to worship the Kim dynasty, and nothing else. Anyone with links to Christianity is arrested, tortured and even killed. Despite this, the underground church is growing, with an estimated 300,000 Christians in North Korea. North Koreans are indoctrinated to worship the Kim family. Children are taught to report their own parents’ activities. Christian parents often don’t tell their own children about their faith in Jesus. It is forbidden to own a Bible in North Korea. So, therefore, some believers memorize their Bible, then destroy it. Others carefully hide their Bible and only read it when they’re alone.  If Christians are caught, they are sent to labor camps. Their entire family will be arrested and found guilty by association. Some may not know anything about Christianity or that their relative is a believer. However, many still take the risk to follow Jesus, and there have been reports of underground churches in prison camps.

Pray for North Korea

Pray for Kim Jong Un to know Jesus and have a change of heart towards Christians.

Pray for Christians to hold on to their faith in Jesus whatever the cost.

Yemen 

In Yemen, Christians are suffering the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Extremist groups utilize the chaos caused by civil war to grow their influence. Christians can’t meet together and faith must be kept secret. The only four churches in the country have all been damaged by the conflict. Even before that, they were only used by foreigners. Islam is the state religion and Sharia law dictates all legislation. Evangelism by faiths other than Islam is prohibited and Muslims are forbidden to convert to any other religion. Anyone who becomes a Christian is at risk of being detained by their family, imprisoned or killed.

Pray for Yemen

Pray for the gospel’s message of love to change hearts of Islamic extremists.

Pray secret believers strengthen and encourage each other and reach out to the lost.

Indonesia

Indonesia has the largest population of Muslims in the world. Many church buildings have been closed down. The law states that a church can only operate if they have at least 90 members, the consent of 60 non-Christian neighbors and the approval of the regency chief. Even then, they are not guaranteed approval or protection.   According to the government, Christians are allowed freedom of religion. But many are still vulnerable to acts of persecution and violence.  Islamic extremist groups have a lot of influence within government and society and because of this, attacks against Christians often go unpunished.

Pray for Indonesia

Pray for religious tolerance in the wake of increasing Islamic extremism.

Pray for converts to reach Muslims for Christ.

Pakistan

Pakistan is the most violent country for Christians. Islamic extremists attack churches, with increased attacks around religious holidays like Easter and Christmas. Christians are abducted, forced to marry Muslims and even killed for their faith. Many are forced into hiding. The government doesn’t usually intervene. Muslims make up 96% of Pakistan’s population. Only 2% are Christians. Those who convert from Islam are targeted by extremists and seen as betraying their community. The low, dirty jobs in Pakistan are officially reserved for Christians. Christians are considered unclean, and can be denied access to pharmacies and hospitals. Strict blasphemy laws pressure communities. Church activities are closely monitored, making life difficult for the Pakistani Christian. School children are often taught to hate Christians. If their faith is discussed, teachers and pupils constantly pressure them to convert to Islam.

Pray for Pakistan

Pray for Christians to love and forgive those who persecute them.

Pray for converts from Islam that they will not be afraid of the cost of following Jesus.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a Muslim country. The Islamic State and the Taliban control over 40% of the country. The only local Christians are converts. New Christians are considered to be insane for leaving Islam. If they won’t recant, they may end up in a psychiatric hospital, be beaten or have their houses destroyed. Some believers even lose their lives if they follow Jesus openly. Converting to Christianity brings shame to a Muslim family. They’ll do everything in their power to bring a new Christian back to Islam. This can involve violence. However some families witness the life-changing power of Christ. There have been cases where entire families become Christians and are forced to flee the country.The influx of Islamic extremist groups has resulted in many deaths. In 2017, there were at least 8,000 casualties, according to the UN. They especially target Christian foreigners living and working in the country. Believers are forced to live out their faith in secret.

Pray for Afghanistan

Pray for secret believers, that they will be encouraged to live out their faith and share the gospel, regardless of the cost.

Pray for God to help secret believers overcome their fear as the level of violence increases. Pray they know the comfort and peace of God.