Join International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

Let’s join the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on November 9 or 16, 2014 in our churches. Here’s a guideline for prayer.

The General Situation of the Suffering Church
The situation of the suffering church has worsened in 2014. Countless thousands of brothers and sisters are victims of discrimination and persecution; many have lost their lives.

Focus Asia
Prayer subject:
Please pray for people suffering persecution, imprisonment, and even death for being a Christian.

Focus Africa
During a morning worship service on Sunday, January 26, 2014, members of the Boko Haram forced their way into a church in Chakawa, Adamawa, in northern Nigeria and opened fire on the worshippers. The attackers carried long knives and slit the throats of church members, who desperately tried to escape through any open door or window. Outside, other terrorists eagerly awaited gunning down as many fleeing people as possible. Fifty-two Christians died that day. Later, a few others died at the hospital as a result of injuries incurred. The goal of Boko Haram is to wipe out Christianity in the entire region. The magnitude of the attack combined with the looting and destruction of Christian homes proved that Christians were definitely singled out. All the believers are in a very difficult time. But in all this they are resolved to show love to their enemies. Revenge has no value. Hatred must be replaced with God’s love.

Prayer subject:
Pray that God will heal the victims, build His church on the seeds of the martyrs and change the hearts of Boko Haram and other Muslim extremists.

Focus Middle East
According to statistics, more than 25% of the Syrian Christians have left their country. However, there are Christians like Fathi (pseudonym) who stay in the country and help the people in need through the local churches. The city of Aleppo has experienced fierce fighting for more than two years. Lately there are rumors of the so-called Islamic State fighters being ready to overtake control of the whole city. “Of course, on the other side I thought of my family. I am afraid for their lives, but not for myself. The last years the Lord had to protect me when I was stopped at checkpoints, went through certain areas of the city and the country. God protected me; that keeps me going”, Fathi said.

Prayer subject:
Pray for men and women like Fathi who help people who have to leave everything in their villages or cities in Syria and flee to Aleppo. Pray that they will be strengthened by the Lord, and helped to cope with the trauma caused by many years of war. Pray that the Lord gives wisdom how to respond to difficult situations.

Download Call for International Day of Prayer.