India: Churches and homes face demolition
Two communities served by Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries could be demolished due to confusion over who owns the land. Church buildings, hundreds of homes and medical clinics in North West India have been served with eviction notices to move out in April because ‘their homes and church buildings were built on land that really belongs to the government.’ Most of the people have lived there for 30 years. In one area the residents are poor day labourers and a few government employees. Another area is home to middle class teachers, medical professionals, engineers and businessmen. Residents contend they legally purchased the land from a tribal group selling portions of it off before the state was created. A similar situation recently occurred elsewhere resulting in the demolition of several homes and a church. Pray: for God’s intervention and protection for the believers, their homes, places of worship and work. (Pr.2:6-8) More http://www.gfa.org/news/articles/churches-homes-disputed-land-face-demolition/
Nigeria: Post Election needs
Tuesday’s gubernatorial and states' legislature votes ended the 2011 elections on a very peaceful note across the country, after weeks of outraged protesters attacking Christian supporters of the president. Relief officials estimate at least 65,000 were displaced as a result of election tensions. Security forces reinforced northern states where post-election violence included killing and maiming innocent citizens, setting fire to business premises, private homes, and places of worship. Authorities blamed Islamist sect Boko Haram for challenging Nigeria's Christian government. Nigeria has a Muslim North and Christian South with hostility between them exacerbated by indigene/settler laws, discriminatory employment practices, and resource competition.
Pray: for the concluding election results to be accepted across the country and for Boko Haram to lose authority and status in communities. (Nu.6:26)
More: ttp://www.christiantoday.com/article/more.than.500.dead.in.nigeria.election.violence/27891.htm
Libya: War shrinks Christian communities
Tripoli's Roman Catholic bishop focuses on keeping Moammar Gaddafi’s men and anti-government rebels out of his church since most of his congregation has fled Libya's violence. After a recent Mass several Muslim women, all Gaddafi supporters, followed Bishop Giovanni Martinelli into the vestry tearfully demanding he call the Vatican asking the pope to halt NATO airstrikes. Some of his parishioners, especially African migrant workers, are using St. Francis Church as a sanctuary because they dread going into the streets where they are harassed by Gaddafi's security forces. The war has battered and scattered Christian African migrant labourers, Filipino health care workers, and European expatriates living in Tripoli. Missionary activity is not allowed, though clergy say the regime has respected Christians's freedom of worship. Pray: for the Christian communities to be in a place of hope and faith, used by God to minister in love to their neighbours. (1Th.5:21-22)
North Korea
North Korea is considered the world's most repressive nation. Christians are seen as refusing to accept the supreme authority of the late Kim Il Sung, North Korea's first leader, and his son, Kim Jong Il. Please pray for Christians in North Korea who can be killed simply for owning a Bible. All Christian meetings, Christian literature and Bibles are banned so believers are forced to meet in secret. Ask God to protect North Korea's underground church and raise up strong leaders. Many Christians have been sent to death camps as political prisoners and subjected to brutal treatment in appalling conditions. Please pray for Christians in detention asking God to help them to endure and share Christ's love with their fellow inmates. Before the Communists came to power, there were 300,000 Christians in North Korea and the capital Pyongyang was known as 'Asia's Jerusalem'.
Pray: for revival to break out once again in the so-called 'hermit kingdom'. (Eph.2:22)
More: http://www.releaseinternational.org/javascript/prayers.htm
Israel: Pressure on Messianic Jews
Voice Of the Martyrs sources say Messianic Jews in Israel are facing increased pressure from groups opposed to freedom of religion. One group, Yad L’Achim, staged a demonstration against a Messianic congregation of 150 in Ashdod. ‘The speech against believers was slanderous and vicious,’ said a VOM source. An Israeli television station recently profiling Yad L’Achim described them as a militia that goes outside the law to carry out its agenda. Many Messianic Jews have had residency visas and even their citizenship revoked once their faith in Jesus was discovered. Others face constant harassment at their homes and businesses. ‘It is very important for you who pray for the Messianic body in Israel to understand the depth of the paranoia and the hatred for the name of the true Messiah of Israel,’ the Voice of the Martyrs source said. Pray: for God to strengthen and encourage the persecuted, blessing those proclaiming His truth. (Jn.17:3)
Iran: The battle for Iran
In recent months a campaign of threats and opposition against any faith contrary to Shiite, especially the Christian faith, has been under way by Shiite clerics and all media outlets connected to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Christian News Agency (MohabatNews) reported a meeting of cleric leaders speaking out against ‘the ever-increasing activities of ‘false Christians’ (Protestant and born-again Christians!), and ‘false Christianity’. Adding, ‘the Pope is actively atempting to spread Christianity inside Iran and such actions will result in exposing the Catholic Church for issues that would be very costly to the church’. Iran has the largest population of non-Christians in the 10/40 window. Violence and crime is rising. Iran has the highest drug per capita in the world with people turning to drugs and prostitution to escape pain and hopeless situations. But, praise God! Iranians are hungry for truth. There is an unprecedented openness to the gospel message (see praise item below)
Pray: protection for all Christian mission to Iranians so that many more will find hope, peace, and redemption through Christ. (Lk.24:47)
More: http://www.iranaliveministries.org/
Syria: Confrontation and confusion
Syrian state media reported ‘violence accounts were exaggerated propaganda’; however two government members resigned in protest to violent crackdowns. The Bishop of the Syriac Orthodox church, Philoxenos Mattias, said, ‘We are with the government and against movements opposing it, in Syria we don’t have problems like Christians in other countries. We have no problem with the president.’ See Meanwhile two Syrian bloggers recorded opposing views:- ‘The media is mistaken. I am Christian and Syrian and know that Syrian Christians are for the government. Sunni Muslims are trying to bring it down’ a different Syrian blogger wrote, ‘Christians are afraid they will lose the Allawites protection; the Allawites of losing their privileged position; the Asaads and Baath party of losing the millions of dollars from abusing their position and the Sunnis are sick of being second class citizens in a country where they are the majority.’ See Pray: the Lord will accomplish His plans and purposes, bringing a smooth transition of power to leaders under His authority. (Jude1:25)
Royal wedding threatened by Islamic terrorists
In Yemen the al-Qaeda cell run by Anwar al-Awlaki is working to launch a terror attack against the UK (this is the group behind the ink cartridge bombs discovered at East Midlands Airport at the end of last year). See Also on Tuesday an anonymous Scotland Yard source warned, 'Radical Islamic groups warned the British government they will make the Royal Wedding a literal nightmare.' The terrorist threat level in the United Kingdom is currently 'severe' which means that an attack is 'highly likely.' According to the Scotland Yard source the police commanders have issued warnings that British law enforcement will take pre-emptive action to counter suspected terrorists, including warnings to specific individuals and arrests. Police are confident they can maintain security along the route to and from Westminster Abbey. However, there is a potential for attacks to occur elsewhere in London or other parts of the British Isles.
Pray: that God's wisdom will direct the psychiatrists, psychologists and police officers working to counter threats and attacks. (1Tim.2:1-2)
Joy is still possible in a world of injustice
Delivering his Easter sermon at Canterbury Cathedral, Dr Rowan Williams affirmed that it was possible to experience joy and happiness in spite of difficult circumstances. He pointed to the examples of Christians who remain faithful despite facing threats and attacks in Pakistan and northern Nigeria. ‘Authentic happiness doesn’t take away the reality of threat or risk of suffering; it’s just there. This is one of the hardest things to get hold of here. How can I feel ‘happy’ in a world so full of atrocity and injustice? How can I know joy when I’m aware of my own failure, my own shabbiness, my own depression? There are no answers in theory because this isn’t a matter of theory. Joy’, he maintained, was ‘not feeling cheerful or simply pretending that things are not so bad after all and it’s a grim reproach that’s all too often what people half-expect from Christians, a glib and dishonest cheerfulness,’ he said. Pray: for people to find a lasting connection to joy through Jesus Christ. (Ps.19:8)
Christianity has made an ‘enormous contribution’ to Britain
The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has spoken of the ‘enormous contribution Christianity has made’ to Britain. In an Easter message, he said that the season ‘reminds us all to follow our conscience and ask not what we are entitled to, but what we can do for others. It teaches us about charity, compassion, responsibility, and forgiveness. No matter what faiths we follow, these are values which speak to us all,’ Mr Cameron added. His words came ahead of a meeting on Wednesday with senior Christian leaders in Downing Street for an Easter celebration. Wednesday's No 10 meeting included representatives from various denominations and is being touted as an endorsement of Britain's Christian heritage and identity. It is the most explicit outreach to Christian groups by the British Government in recent times. Prior state-led engagement with religion has focused almost exclusively on Muslims and the Islamic faith.
Pray: that those in the public eye would continue to acknowledge our Christian heritage. (Mt.10:32)
More: http://www.ionainstitute.ie/index.php?id=1427