Pray for Christians in the Gaza Strip
On 25th February an explosive device was thrown at the home of a doctor who works at the Al Ahli Arab Hospital, run by the Anglican Church. The bomb was thrown towards the parking area of his home and damaged a relative's car. Nobody was injured but the family has been badly shaken by the incident and subsequent threats made against him and his family.
The Christian community in the Gaza Strip is deeply impacted by this attack. In addition to the pressures that they share will all the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip, they feel very vulnerable as a small Christian community in an area controlled by Hamas and other strongly Islamic groups. There is growing pressure against them, for example to stop any activity in which boys and girls participate together. There are an estimated 3,000 Christians amongst the 1.6 million population of the Gaza Strip (i.e. 0.2%). Many Christians have moved to the West Bank or further afield, and many of those that remain wish to leave.
The Director of the Palestinian Bible Society issued a call to prayer today (i.e. 4th March) in which he stated: "As I look into Gaza, my heart is broken over this place. I feel that there are serious attempts by the enemy to darken this place by taking out the light and salt of it. I invite you today to stand with the persecuted body of Christ in Gaza by praying for them and keeping them lifted in front of the throne."
Palestinian Christians request our prayers that:
a. The doctor and his family will know the peace, presence and protection of Jesus at this time. Likewise for all Christians in the Gaza Strip
b. Church leaders in the Gaza Strip will be sustained in their ministry by Father, Son and Holy Spirit
c. Officials will act to provide effective protection; and will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him
Violence at Garbage City in Cairo
A dozen died and about 140 were injured in an outbreak of violence between Christians and Muslims in the Mokottam area of Cairo on March 8. A ministry leader in the city reports:
“Egypt is going through very tough times, with a crumbling system of law and order and an army which—though the only authority “in charge” at present—seems to be quite weak and at time indecisive. Although the Revolution brought some good and necessary changes, it also caused quite a collapse in the fabric of society, including the economic system. Millions of people are out of work, partly because foreign companies, investors and tourists have not returned. Naturally, this all has a negative impact on people who are trying—in vain—to feed their families and is causing great social unrest.”
Mission Network News reports:
“The transitional period is key to the freedoms minorities will experience. The Muslim Brotherhood is taking a pro-democracy stance. What that means in practice could be very different from "freedom." Moeller explains, "Unfortunately, as is often the case in revolutions, the ones that emerge as the most organized and the strongest on these things are the ideological committed In this case, these are the extremists groups that are calling for a more radicalized Sharia law based Egypt in the future."
"Our prayer is that it doesn't take a violent turn, as these indicators [predict]. However, we recognize that the church will be under pressure in the next few months--and maybe more pressure than ever before," Moeller says.
Right now, it's hard to anticipate what the future holds for believers. Pray for those facing economic and social challenges because of their Christian faith. Pray that the new government will uphold the constitutional freedom of religion. Pray that the ministry of churches in Egypt will continue and that the Gospel will be preached throughout this nation.”
Prayer for the Liberation of North Koreans
North Korea is considered the worst human rights violating country (by death rate) and the worse persecutor of Christians in the world today. Many millions have been brutally murdered in a genocide that has continued unrestrained for over half a century. Please join the Worldwide Church in repentance and united intercession for the healing, liberation and salvation of all North Koreans.
An estimated over 4,000,000 north Koreans have died of starvation since 1995. Enough food aid has been sent to North Korea to feed the entire population, but the government has diverted it to the ruling party, military, and sold the food aid on the black markets, leaving the average north Korean unaware of food aid from the west.
Up to 1,000,000, including women and children, are believed to have died in brutal concentration camps since 1972. Three generations of entire families can be imprisoned because a relative is suspected of being unfaithful to the regime. Violations of human rights in North Korea include: Gas chambers, chemical and medical experimentation on political prisoners, forced abortions and infanticide, systematic torture, starvation, rape, slavery (brutal forced labor), arbitrary imprisonment, public executions.
Please join believers worldwide in mourning and repentance for the genocide of north Koreans, cruelty and all atrocities which have been committed against the north Korean people.
Please pray for the repentance of Kim Jong Il (dictator), Kim Jong Un (believed to be Kim Jong Il's successor), and all members of the north Korean regime; for the repentance of all officials, guards and military who have committed atrocities and been cruel, for God to raise up godly leaders and godly government over northern Korea at this time, and for the healing, liberation and salvation of all north Koreans right now. Pray for a mighty, unprecedented revival in North Korea and the healing of this land!
"And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly." Luke 18:7-8
Pray for the Peoples of Laos
The Ninth Party Congress is to be held in three or four month’s time. The Party Congress is a five yearly meeting in which the all-powerful Politburo and Central Committee are chosen and the five-yearly national plan approved. In reality these decisions are made behind the scenes in advance of the Party Congress. There could be a struggle for power between groups representing the interests of northern and southern Laos, and those favoring greater allegiance with either Vietnam or China. Competition between these regional interest groups is likely to become more intense in the coming months as whichever group gains control of the Politburo and Communist Party Central Committee will benefit most from corruption and patronage networks.
• Pray for wisdom for the new Prime Minister, Thongsing Thammavong, and all those who serve in the Communist Party and Lao Government.
• Ask God to overrule in the decisions as to who is in the new Politburo and Communist Party Central Committee, and in any decisions that are made in the upcoming Ninth Party Congress.
• Pray for action to be taken at the highest levels to curb corruption.
• Pray for government and party officials who have had previous contact with Christians and heard the Gospel to seek the Lord themselves and be favorable towards Lao believers.
• Pray for a group of Jesus’ disciples, in every village of Laos, worshipping in their heart language.
