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)
