Thank God! Christian lawyer, GAO ZHISHENG, has been released and allowed to go home. However, it is believed that he remains under close surveillance and is not yet free. Pray that he will soon be completely free and reunited with his family (his wife and children are living in the United States).
Pray for Uyghur house-church leader ALIMUJIANG YIMITI, serving a 15-year sentence. The Court has rejected his appeal. Ask the Lord to protect and strengthen him while in prison, and that authorities will act justly in his case. Pray that he, his wife, and their two young sons will rest peacefully in the knowledge of God’s love.
2. IRAN - Praise God for the temporary release of Pastor WILSON ISSAVI. The Court plans to review the charges against him. His faith remains strong, and he is in good spirits. He loves and wants to serve his Muslim friends. Please keep him in prayer.
MARYAM RUSTAMPOOR and MARZIEH AMIRIZADEH were back in Court for their appeal in mid-April. The Court process continues—the outcome has not yet been announced. Both women are sick and weak, suffering from various illnesses. They are determined to be faithful to Jesus, no matter what. Thank God they weren’t sent back to prison now.
3. VIETNAM: After refusing to renounce his new-found faith in Christ, SUNG CUA PO and his family were expelled from their village, and their year’s supply of rice confiscated. They fled into the forest. Ask God to protect, encourage, and provide for them.
Christian Lawyer, LE THI CONG NHAN (31) has been released after three years in prison. She now faces three more years of House Arrest. Praise God for her strong Christian witness and for her release. Ask God to use her, even during House Arrest.
Pastor NGUYEN VAN LY, serving an 8-year jail term for 'harming national security', has been temporarily released from prison on medical grounds. He was recently diagnosed with a brain tumour, and has had a stroke, his leg and arm are still partially paralyzed. He’s been sent to “a church-run home” for a year's medical treatment. Ask God to heal this strong man of faith. Pray that he will not have to return to jail.
4. MYANMAR (BURMA): Military violence against the Karen people has risen to genocide. Over 500,000 have died; millions are living as refugees. Ask the Lord to intervene. Pray for KAREN BELIEVERS to have grace and boldness as they suffer (they seem to be first on the receiving end of these atrocities). Pray that other countries will stop ignoring the situation.
5. PAKISTAN: Pray for SONIA MOHAN (19) who was abducted on April 1 after being tricked into leaving the safety of her home. Pray also for the many other Christian girls that have been similarly kidnapped. The girls are forced to convert to Islam and marry Muslim men. Ask the Lord to sustain and protect them—and to intervene on their behalf.
6. TURKEY: Pray for persecuted Believers in Turkey to remain bold in their faith, and forgiving of their persecutors. May God protect His Church, and grant His people courage to share the Gospel with others. Pray for genuine spiritual Revival in Turkey.
Pray for Uyghur house-church leader ALIMUJIANG YIMITI, serving a 15-year sentence. The Court has rejected his appeal. Ask the Lord to protect and strengthen him while in prison, and that authorities will act justly in his case. Pray that he, his wife, and their two young sons will rest peacefully in the knowledge of God’s love.
2. IRAN - Praise God for the temporary release of Pastor WILSON ISSAVI. The Court plans to review the charges against him. His faith remains strong, and he is in good spirits. He loves and wants to serve his Muslim friends. Please keep him in prayer.
MARYAM RUSTAMPOOR and MARZIEH AMIRIZADEH were back in Court for their appeal in mid-April. The Court process continues—the outcome has not yet been announced. Both women are sick and weak, suffering from various illnesses. They are determined to be faithful to Jesus, no matter what. Thank God they weren’t sent back to prison now.
3. VIETNAM: After refusing to renounce his new-found faith in Christ, SUNG CUA PO and his family were expelled from their village, and their year’s supply of rice confiscated. They fled into the forest. Ask God to protect, encourage, and provide for them.
Christian Lawyer, LE THI CONG NHAN (31) has been released after three years in prison. She now faces three more years of House Arrest. Praise God for her strong Christian witness and for her release. Ask God to use her, even during House Arrest.
Pastor NGUYEN VAN LY, serving an 8-year jail term for 'harming national security', has been temporarily released from prison on medical grounds. He was recently diagnosed with a brain tumour, and has had a stroke, his leg and arm are still partially paralyzed. He’s been sent to “a church-run home” for a year's medical treatment. Ask God to heal this strong man of faith. Pray that he will not have to return to jail.
4. MYANMAR (BURMA): Military violence against the Karen people has risen to genocide. Over 500,000 have died; millions are living as refugees. Ask the Lord to intervene. Pray for KAREN BELIEVERS to have grace and boldness as they suffer (they seem to be first on the receiving end of these atrocities). Pray that other countries will stop ignoring the situation.
5. PAKISTAN: Pray for SONIA MOHAN (19) who was abducted on April 1 after being tricked into leaving the safety of her home. Pray also for the many other Christian girls that have been similarly kidnapped. The girls are forced to convert to Islam and marry Muslim men. Ask the Lord to sustain and protect them—and to intervene on their behalf.
6. TURKEY: Pray for persecuted Believers in Turkey to remain bold in their faith, and forgiving of their persecutors. May God protect His Church, and grant His people courage to share the Gospel with others. Pray for genuine spiritual Revival in Turkey.
7. ERITREA - Recently, 17 young soldiers, gathered for prayer, were arrested and thrown into jail. Pray for physical & spiritual strength for them, and for all Eritrean Believers who are imprisoned for their faith. Pray for the future of the Church in Eritrea. More than 2,200 Christians remain unjustly imprisoned for their faith in Eritrea. Pray for the wives and families of these prisoners; especially of imprisoned pastors—that God will provide their daily needs, and continue to encourage & build them up in the faith.
8. SUDAN: Ending two decades of fighting between Sudan's northern and southern regions, the elections concluded on April 15th. Pray that the Peace Accord will stand, and that Christians will be free to worship in peace. Pray for a stable, democratic government to be established. Pray for the growth of the Church; for healing, consolation, and peace.
9. NORTH KOREA: A U.S. Christian MISSIONARY (name unknown) has been sentenced to eight years of hard labour. His treatment shows the plight of Believers in that reclusive country. Pray fervently for the Church in North Korea. Pray that Christians will have opportunities to share the love of Christ, even with those who oppress them. Ask God to sustain the 50-70,000 Christians in prison camps. Many die from starvation and overwork. Pray for their release, and the closure of these camps. When Christian escapees are caught they are often publicly executed as an example to others. Strict control over all aspects of people’s lives means that no one can speak out for justice without severe retribution. Pray—for an end to these executions—for Christian lawyers, journalists & civil activists to speak out boldly for freedom—for those without rights and/or resources, to know the love of Jesus and see justice restored. Give thanks for the courage and perseverance of Christians who continue to meet together to teach and encourage one another—at the peril of their lives. Pray for the safe delivery of Bibles and Christian literature to them. Pray that those Believers attending state churches will gain insight into the truth, and have the courage of their convictions.
10. ALGERIA: Pray for the “TAFAT” Church. A gang of extremists destroyed their building & its contents. Yet the Christians stood firm, even daring to keep on meeting together in their vandalized building. Please uphold PASTOR MUSTAPHA in prayer, asking the Lord to continue to give him wisdom & courage as he leads his church during this difficult time. Please also pray for the Believers & for the advancement of God’s Kingdom across Algeria.
11. NIGERIA: In recent months Nigeria has experienced wildfires of terrorism, violence and murder — 500 people, mostly Christian, were slaughtered. Pray that the hearts of Believers would be filled with peace. Pray for comfort and grace for those who mourn the death of loved ones. Pray for healing for those who were injured.
12. BANGLADESH: Pray for three Christians who were beaten, and are being held in a pagoda in Lemuchari village in an attempt to force them back to Buddhism.
13. MEXICO: Remember the Believers who are suffering persecution in this country— especially in Oaxaca, Jalisco, Guerrero and other localities. May God give wisdom, health, protection & joy to the Ministry Workers who serve them; may He strengthen His Church.
14. EGYPT: Pray for MAHER EL-GOHARY (former Muslim) and daughter DINA (15). They’re trying to get their Christian identity officially recognized by the Egyptian state. A few weeks ago, when they ventured out from their hiding place to get some bottled water, someone threw acid at Dina. Ask God to help them—make a way for them—give them safety, courage and daily provisions. “The eyes of all wait upon Thee …” Ps 145:14-16
A huge mob attacked a Christian community in northern Egypt, for erecting a wall around their church. They pelted the building with rocks before assaulting several of the 400 Believers who had sought refuge inside. They also burned about 28 Christian homes. Pray for peace and justice. Pray for an end to anti-Christian violence in Egypt.
15. KYRGYZSTAN: There is much political unrest in the country, with “pockets of chaos.” Several evangelists are facing deportation. Pray God’s protection for Believers, and for open doors for ministry. Pray that religious freedom will be respected under the rule of law, and that Christians will no longer be subjected to harassment. May God grant them peace. After weeks of instability in April, the interim gov’t has set the date for parliamentary and presidential elections—Oct., 2010. A new constitution referendum is slated for June 27th. Pray that Church will be deeply rooted in faith and keep growing. Pray that a new government will be put in place that will allow freedom of religion for all.
16. LAOS: In spite of a decree assuring them of religious freedom, over 48 Christians were expelled from their village—forced to leave behind all their possessions. Some of their homes have been destroyed. These Believers are now living in temporary shelters on the edge of the jungle. Recently they heard that local officials are planning to burn down these temporary shelters too. Ask God to intervene. Pray for strength, provision, and peace.
17. SOMALIA: Pray for the relatives and friends of murdered Church leader MADOBE ABDI, who was kidnapped and killed by a militant group which appears determined to rid Somalia of all Christians. Several believers have been killed in the past year. Specifically targeted are Believers with Muslim backgrounds (though Abdi came from a Christian family). Pray for the Church in Somalia, where Christians are under pressure on all sides. Members of the government-aligned Islamic Courts Union, a coalition of Sharia judges and militants, are alleged to have set fire to a Christian home in a district of Mogadishu last month, after learning that it contained a Bible and Christian literature.
18. AROUND THE WORLD: Pray for those who distribute Bibles and Christian literature, that all materials will arrive where needed. Pray for wisdom and financial support for those who minister the message of Christ’s love electronically - by Radio, TV, and the Internet, etc.
