September - October 2021 World Prayer News - 11. Thailand - AsiaLink: The Pattani Malay of Thailand are a ‘frontier’ people since only a handful are known to follow the Lord Jesus, the majority being Muslim. Somchai, a Thai believer, is eager to bring the good news of salvation to these dear people, even when the Church in Thailand shy’s away from attempting this. Outreach is difficult among such a closed and suspicious community. Pray for the gospel to take root in the hearts of many and for the Lord to bring many to Himself in faith.
Violence in Myanmar: As the military stage another coup in Myanmar and connections with the outside world are lost, remember those who are caught up in the fighting both in the capital but also in the border areas with Thailand. Here the villages of the Karen people have been systematically burned and bombed over the last few weeks. Just before the power outage and internet cut off our partners were able to send out some information about the situation, but now all contact is lost, and many people are fleeing for their lives. Please pray for those who have lost everything, who have nowhere to go and no one to turn to. Ask God to send His people with aid and the message of salvation in Jesus.
Refugees in Kurdistan : There are at least 17 refugee camps housing many thousands of Yazidi refugees who escaped from Sinjar in 2014 when ISIS overran the area. Many of these refugees has been there ever since. Some of them are young women who were held as sex slaves or traded among fighters as “wives”. Our partners are actively involved in some of these camps bringing relief, healing and the hope of the gospel and small churches are being planted. Please pray that our partners will continue to have access to the camps and that many will find a sense of hope among the hopelessness and find Christ as their Lord.
Covid-19 and Refugees: As Covid-19 continues its rampage through our world, people who are on the fringes of society continue to suffer most. In Myanmar a refugee living on the Thai side of the border was in the wrong place at the wrong time as a skirmish between two armies took place. He was wounded badly and local clinics can only help with antibiotics, pain relief and wound dressings. This man needs surgery but because of Covid-19 border controls are being tightly managed and the risks of transporting him to Thailand, where he could get the surgery he urgently needs, are too great. Pray for this soul and many like him who are suffering extra because of the Pandemic.
Families in Mongolia: Many families in Mongolia are broken. Due to lack of education and opportunities and even alcoholism, widespread in Mongolia, many children grow up in families unable to care for them properly. There is a real opportunity in Mongolia to reach families by offering life skills training. Ministry teams meet with families who are in need of help and teach vital skills to improve family life and the environment in which children are growing up. Through this practical help, teams are also able to introduce families with no exposure to Christianity to Biblical values and ultimately the Gospel itself.
Provisions for refugee camps: On the border of Thailand and Myanmar lie several refugee camps, some of which have been there for decades and which house up to 100,000 people. These camps are primitive and the people who live in them are reliant upon supplies being brought to them on a regular basis. Curfews and travel restrictions between provinces in Thailand are creating a situation which, if not addressed, will result in a massive shortage of basic necessities and food for these people. Pray that authorities will recognise what could become a bigger problem than the coronavirus itself, and relax measures in order that food and water can be made available within the camps. Pray for Christian people within the camps that they would be able to find ways of showing the love of Jesus to those who are in need.
The De'ang Pale People of Central Asia: The De’ang Pale People are an unreached people group who live in a various locations along the China/Myanmar/Thai border. Most of them are farmers or loggers. Buddhism, animistic beliefs and rituals cause them to be trapped in constant fear of Shamans and demons. They are considered to be relatively resistant to Christianity. Pray for those few Christians in this people group to have the courage to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus with their families and neighbours. Pray for them to be released from the fear and bondage of the spirit world and to be born again by the Spirit of the Living God and know HIS peace in abundance.
Chhetri people of Nepal: Nepal's Chhetri people are predominantly Hindu and speak Nepalese. They have many racial, cultural, and linguistic similarities to the people of northern India. Their domestic and religious practices are also patterned after the caste system found in India. They are mostly found in rural areas and depend on farming to make a living. Very few of the Chhetri in Nepal know Jesus. There are only 6,000 believers amongst the 4.1 million Chhetri. Christianity is looked at as a foreign religion. New believers are considered "untouchables" - the caste with whom you do not mix. Baptism is considered the ultimate proof of conversion, and the person performing the baptism can face up to a six-year prison term. Pray that God will encourage and strengthen those who have converted to Christianity. Ask the Holy Spirit to open the hearts of the Chhetri towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the gospel. Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Chhetri.
Imprisoned for not denying Christian faith: A Christian is starting a one year prison sentence in the infamous Evin Prison in Iran for refusing to renounce Christ. Pray for the many imprisoned in Iran, for their safety & well-being.
Pray for safety in Kashmir: On 5th August, the Indian government ended the special status of autonomy enshrined in the Indian constitution and enjoyed by the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir since India’s independence in 1947. Kashmir is the only Muslim majority state in India. Tensions are always high in the region because of the ensuing dispute between the two nuclear powers. The removal of the special status was also accompanied by a clampdown in communication and large congregations banned, escalating the already significant tension in the area. AsiaLink has partners in the Kashmir region with whom they work closely and have not heard anything at all from them since this clampdown, which is obviously a cause of concern. They have no idea of their safety or of their current situation. Please pray for the whole situation and especially for the partners in Kashmir.
True riches in Brunei: Brunei is a tiny country in southeast Asia that suffers from severe Islamic oppression. Christians experience persecution in many areas of life. It is estimated that Brunei has more mosques per square kilometre than any other country in the world. The country is one of the few absolute monarchies left in the world. The sultan has complete executive power, unconstrained by politicians or parliament. Sadly, there are only a handful of believers among them. All Brunei Malay are classified as Muslims at birth. Conversion is considered illegal, and believers from Muslim backgrounds come under intense pressure to return to their original faith. Pray that the Lord would protect those who work among the Brunei Malay for the sake of the gospel. The Brunei Malay are generally very wealthy, with many having luxurious homes and a number of cars. Pray that worldly wealth would not leave them complacent in seeking spiritual truth. Pray for the establishment of more evangelical churches in Brunei.
Rescuing women ensnared in the sex trade: The sex trade in the capital of Thailand, Bangkok, ensnares countless women who are trafficked or see no other way to provide for their families. Our partners aim to rescue, restore and empower such women with the grace and the love of God. Please pray for the many women caught up in this industry. Pray that they would find freedom from those who exploit them and, that as the gospel is shared, they would find new life in the risen Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Persecution from anti-evangelism laws: Intensifying pressure from Hindu locals recently led to the forced closure of a church in Nepal. For two months, a group of Hindus disrupted services being held in the church. Members of the church abandoned their building and resorted to meeting in their own homes. However, the group of Hindus publicly threatened any Christian found meeting anywhere. Since the persecution began, the pastor of the church reported dwindling attendance due to fear. At the beginning of November, the church disbanded entirely. Opposition to Christianity in Nepal has been growing over recent years, accelerated by the recent passing of anti-evangelism laws. Please continue to pray with us for our partner and others in Nepal as they proclaim the gospel, plant churches and bring aid to needy people across the country.
Earthquake aftermath: At least 98 people have been confirmed dead and more than 236 severely injured in a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Indonesian tourist island of Lombok on Sunday 5th August. A second earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 hit the island four days later on Thursday 9th. Over 400 people have lost their lives as a result and the damage dealt to Lombok and the surrounding area has been described as “massive” by disaster relief workers in the area. Remember those affected by this disaster and pray for rescuers as they try to get basic supplies such as food and water to the worst hit areas.
Mob attack: In Pakistan, our partner “Peter” is facing severe persecution and needs your prayers. Peter is a Muslim-background believer, regularly facing the scorn of his nation’s Muslim majority. On several occasions, he has had to leave cities because his life was under threat. Most recently, he was due to appear in court because of the work he does, but the case has been postponed because the second party did not attend. With the case still not concluded, a mob descended on Peter’s home, forcibly removing him and his family. For the last week or so, they have been sleeping out in the open. This is not only an uncomfortable situation but also a dangerous one in the circumstances. Pray with us that the Lord would provide graciously for his servant in this time of need.
Fifteen come to faith: Over the past few months our partners, Salt & Light, are celebrating the 15 people that have come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. On Valentine’s Day this year, they organised a two-day outreach among women currently trapped in the sex industry in their home city. The staff were able to make a connection with over 50 women and have been following up with them. The team also organised an outreach event for all those that they work with for a night of hearing from God’s word, fellowship and fun. Salt & Light have also been able to train new members of the team to begin outreach in different parts of Southeast Asia and are planning to continue expanding the team in order to reach more young women in the sex industry for Jesus Christ. Please continue to pray for Salt & Light team as they share the gospel and lead women out of physical and spiritual darkness.
Please Pray for the Situation: Five men were participating in a Christmas celebration in a village that had recently seen some locals convert to Christianity. One of these men showed the Jesus Film on a projector to the whole village and began to witness to those watching. He publicly encouraged people to accept Jesus, which is against the law in Laos. They were arrested and imprisoned. Please pray for this situation, for the men and for their families who must work to look after themselves and provide food to their imprisoned loved ones. We remember that the Lord alone is sovereign over all earthly powers and authorities.
No Match for God: Islamic leaders in Iran are seriously concerned about the spread of Christianity in the country. It is only by the grace of God that young Iranians are placing their faith in Jesus, especially considering the rigorous Islamic indoctrination of youth in families and schools. The Iranian government is actively seeking to reduce the growth of Christianity: increased numbers of Islamic teachers are being sent to turn youth away from the Christian faith while house churches are shut down. As active as the Iranian government is in its efforts, praise the Lord for His promise to not let the gates of hell ever overcome His church. Pray for the youth in this land to resist the pressures facing them, for safety as they seek to live faithfully and for a relaxation in the government’s efforts against them.
Bibles and New Believers: Over the past number of years AsiaLink has been able to support the printing and delivery of Bibles for the emerging church in China. The need for Bibles in local languages remains great. Yet 343,505 Bibles have been provided since the beginning of 2017. A new church was established a few years ago with about 70 people. Later they started children's ministry. Now they have about 800 people in the church. The Bibles came to those new Christians in perfect time. Pray for the new believers and for more Bibles.
Isolated Missionary Workers: Continue to pray for the people of Sri Lanka. The country’s evangelical population is growing in its missionary vision as it sends out more workers across the continent but opposition from local religious leaders is proving difficult. Ask the Lord to guard His work and His people. Pray too for the pastoral care of Sri Lankan missionaries overseas. Our partners have sent ten workers out so far. All are in isolated situations.
Blasphemy Laws: Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are sometimes used to settle personal scores and Christians are often wrongly accused and convicted. In February, Adnan Prince, a Christian evangelist facing the death penalty was granted bail due to apparent gaps in the investigation. Adnan had been in prison since November 2013, after he tried to correct misconceptions about Christianity in a Muslim book. he was accused by a work colleague of insulting Islam and Muhammad, and defiling the Qur’an. His lawyer said that Adnan still faces the death penalty. Please pray for Adnan and those facing similar ordeals because of their faith in Jesus. They would want us to pray that the Lord would use them in a mighty way to show his love to those who are prosecuting them. (AsiaLink)
A Practical Prayer - 5,000 Blankets: Two assistant pastors have been charged with unlawful association with an armed ethnic group, accused of serving as “informers and spreading false news on behalf of the armed insurgents”. These pastors face between three and five years in prison. Meanwhile, an urgent prayer request from a contact at refugee camps in the same region: "Night Temperature -4°C, elderly sick women trying to get warm under the sun. Mothers with new babies are sleeping on the ground... food, shelter, warm cloth in urgent need.” Please, join us in prayer for God’s provision of 5,000 blankets for these people living in desperate conditions, largely ignored by the media.
A North Indian Challenge: The North of India remains deeply challenging. Please join with us in asking the Lord to glorify Himself in places like Kashmir and Jammu in the northwest where Christians have always been few. Christian growth in this region often meets with opposition so pray on for protection for God’s people and ongoing witness to his name.
Campaigns for complacent believers: Prayer is requested by our partners for gospel campaigns. One evangelist writes to say, “By late October and into November, several youth renewal meetings and evangelistic crusades are being planned. I believe it must have been one of the effects of economic and political changes; many young people went to Yangon upon the news that companies have opened up and new jobs are available. Many young people are tired of tilling the ground everyday with little return to their barns. They look for a new way to make a living and that means, for most people, leaving their home towns. Hence, it is very common to have few young people in the churches these days.” Please pray for the unbelieving communities and complacent believers being reached through the campaigns.
Buriad Mongols: A spring training school run by our Mongolian Missions partners is currently in full swing with 13 students. The term ends in mid-May. They have plans in place to reach out to Buriad Mongols living outside Mongolia. Scouting trips have already taken place for this new work to communities in both China and Russia. The Buriads (Buryats) are a Mongolian sub-group that has emigrated and resettled elsewhere over time. They are the primary people group now in Siberia. Please pray this month for the Buriad people, scattered in some of the world’s least-hospitable environments.
Yazidi refugees in Iraq: Please continue to pray for Yazidi refugees who have come to Kurdish cities in Iraq in their tens of thousands. They need help. Many are hungry and face little compassion from those around them. Pray for local Iraqi churches as they reach out and make Christ known to Yazidis. Ask for opportunities to bring basic relief where needed. Pray the Lord would keep these doors open. And pray for those who have the chance to build friendships and to share God’s Word among Yazidis. Ask that God would bless His Word and bring many to Him. Pray for a strong, indigenous Yazidi church to be established. That would be amazing and only God can do it!
New workers in Sri Lanka: Pray please for our Sri Lankan partners as they train new workers to reach out to some of Asia’s least-reached people groups. We thank the Lord for a new training centre that has been acquired recently. Pray for every class and conversation that takes place both to encourage and guide and to challenge existing mission workers returning for training and new workers preparing themselves for ministry years ahead. Pray for Sri Lanka’s young Christians as opportunities for teaching and training on world missions open up. Pray for more workers for the open doors in Asia.
China Mobile: With China Mobile now covering more than 99.99% of the country, internet access is widespread in China and many have turned to their smartphones to access Bibles. Religious material uploaded within China is often more readily available to access than that uploaded outside the country and many of China’s Christian smartphone users have made use of the web to access God’s Word. The authorities however watch the net-users closely and President Xi Jinping is leading one of the harshest Internet crackdowns in recent memory. Authorities report investigating 7,400 criminal cases of cyber crime in the last 6 months, targeting users who might, among other things, be looking at “illegal and harmful information”, including Christian material. Some 66,000 websites have already been investigated and 15,000 people arrested for an array of suspected internet crimes. Pray that the Lord would continue to build His Church.
The Chalou: The Chalou are a people group in Afghanistan that has traditionally been greatly despised. They are often even thrown out of the mosques. When aid is being distributed they are mostly overlooked. Our partners were recently able to provide food for six hundred Chalou families living in complete poverty in a camp in Kabul. They would love to have more opportunities to help so pray please for open doors to return to the Chalou. Ask for protection on His people. Pray for the poor, the despised and downtrodden.
Cyclone Pam disaster: The people of Vanuatu are reeling after Cyclone Pam brought mayhem and destruction to their South Pacific nation. Winds of up to 180mph slammed into the 65 islands making up the archipelago, flattening homes, crops, and knocking out bridges and roads. Vanuatu’s president described the damage as ‘unprecedented’ and up to half of Vanuatu’s 277,000 population are estimated to have been affected by the disaster. Vanuatu is one of the world's least developed countries with around 80% of the population making a living through subsistence farming. Pray for people as they start on the road to recovery and for the government to rebuild schools speedily so children don’t miss out on their education. Pray too that the church globally will take action on climate change to help protect the world's poorest people from more disasters like this.
Hope for women in Afghanistan: A 21-year-old woman was awarded the 2015 International Women of Courage award in Afghanistan for her role as the first female air force pilot in her nation. Despite death threats from insurgents, and even her own extended family, she refuses to be intimidated or silenced. Pray for her safety. Ask that her case could be an example of perseverance and courage for many women struggling under heavy burdens, giving other young women hope and inspiration. Ask the Lord today to bring more women to Himself in Afghanistan. Pray for effective workers among them.
Sichuan province: The province of Sichuan in South West China has been at the forefront of the country’s unrelenting economic development. Everything from tea to cars is produced here in the ‘Land of Abundance’, so called due to its rich natural resources, temperate climate and fertile soils. 14 million of its 90 million population live in the capital, Chengdu. But the greatest challenge facing Sichuan’s growing church seems to be the enormity of the task of reaching their neighbours. It is directly connected to Yunnan, Tibet, Qinghai and Xinjiang - home to some of the least reached peoples in the world. Large portions of this population are ethnic minorities with little or no witness in their language. Pray for the miraculous spread of the Good News to the unreached people.
Shing Kachin refugee camp: The Shing Kachin refugee camp in Myanmar burned down back in December. Over 180 families displaced by the ongoing conflict in Kachin State were living in the camp. No one died, but the one church in the camp and more than 100 temporary shelters were destroyed along with food and personal belongings. The refugees face severe difficulties as winter in this region near the Chinese border is cold. Please pray that food, warm clothes and rebuilding materials would be delivered to them despite the government’s blockade of aid to these camps.
The Northern Pumi: The 50,000 or so Northern Pumi people live in China’s Sichuan province and are strongly Tibetan Buddhist in outlook. Ancestor worship is practised with few Christian believers. Food, for example, is not eaten until it has been placed on a tripod - an invitation to the ancestors to eat first. Spirits are also believed to dwell in the wooden centre post of their homes. In 1960, five different tribes were assimilated into this one group and as a result there are five different Pumi dialects. An increasing number of Chinese words are being introduced to their vocabulary. They are one of hundreds of minority groups in China that desperately need Christ. Please pray for a Bible for the Pumi people. Pray, please, for the Good News to spread to these minorities.
Arrests in China: Media reports have indicated that large numbers of South Koreans have been arrested in North East China over recent months. They are thought to have been involved in ministry to North Korean refugees escaping to China. Some reports have suggested that more than 1,000 South Koreans have been detained or deported over recent months as China continues its crackdown along their border with neighbouring North Korea. Some westerners were also arrested in August 2014 and remain in detention. Pray for the Lord to free those detained. Ask Him to guard His people. Pray that China’s authorities would exercise justice and mercy towards the many minority groups in the country, including those from North Korea who are frequently repatriated.
Tremendous growth: From as few as four Christians in 1989, the Mongolian Church now has more than 40,000 members. It has been a steep learning curve but Mongolians are now running many former foreign-led ministries, are producing their own worship music and theological books and developing national effective leadership. There are also Mongolian missionaries serving both within and beyond their own borders - all within one generation. There is so much to give thanks for! Pray for many more Biblically astute leaders as well as for breakthroughs amongst the unreached peoples such as the Muslim Kazakhs and the Nomads.
Signs of spiritual growth: Afghanistan’s landslide in the northeast briefly made international news but thousands still suffer. Over 2,500 are believed to have died, but searching for bodies has stopped and the area declared a mass grave due to overwhelming levels of mud and rock. Pray that those who’ve lost everything, from home and livelihood to loved ones, will reach out to the One who can meet their need. There have also been encouraging signs of spiritual growth in the country. Locals are beginning to tackle the responsibility of teaching and training the few new believers, but face serious harm if discovered. Pray the believers would be protected from harm and strongly equipped, united in faith, and filled with His power, courage, and wisdom.
Rockets fired into the sea: During April, North Korea returned from several months of relative quiet by firing rockets into the sea. This in itself is not unusual – North Korea often puts on an aggressive show of strength during South Korea’s joint annual military drills with America. Many believe the rockets are simply a demonstration of their anger at the drills, which they say are ‘preparation for invasion’. However, on this occasion over 30 rockets released - considerably more than the usual amount. Please pray that the rockets remain nothing more than harmless demonstration. Ask the Lord to use political talks to reach agreements that benefit ordinary North Koreans and increase stability on the troubled peninsula.
Under attack: In January we received this brief note from our friends working among the Kachin people who had just come under attack. “A total of six civilians were killed and buried in the village. One of them was mentally disabled and did not know he needed to run away. He was severely tortured and killed. The rest were not identified. They had already been buried and as the graves were being dug up for identification, we came under attack again. Houses and refugee camps were destroyed and damaged. Valuable materials were taken and the remaining materials and utensils including aid recently supplied, were destroyed. There are also unexploded mortars lying around the village which is very dangerous for the people.” We ask that you continue to pray for Burma - that political change would be genuine, lasting, and would filter down to remoter areas.
Abandoned and enslaved: Pam arrived at a refuge for street-girls in August this year. She had been abandoned by her parents as a baby and taken in by people from another major ethnic group, the Hmong. However, she was treated more as a slave than an adopted daughter, having been ordered to ‘serve’ her new family. She was sent to the capital city to earn money for the family and unsurprisingly ended up selling alcohol and working as a prostitute until she came across the team from the refuge. She begged them to take her in. It has been great to see the progress. While she is no longer gripped by the chains of prostitution, she remains a fragile soul, admitting recently, that all she had ever wanted in life was to be loved. Pray for Pam as she makes the long adjustment. Ask God to help the staff as they disciple her.
300 turning to the Lord: There are more than 400 minority groups in China - some have seen huge growth in the Gospel while others have witnessed green shoots for the first time. In one minority people group alone some 300 people have recently come to the Lord and now translation work is taking place to ensure God’s Word is available in their own language. Furthermore, leadership training has been taking place. One particular lady been involved in all of this and has also led 25 people from the group to Christ in the last 6 months! We praise God for how he is using this special lady to establish His Church.
Growth despite restrictions: Vietnam is one of the few remaining Communist countries today. We receive regular stories of surveillance of Christians, restrictions, arrests and imprisonment. Paradoxically, the churches are growing - both those registered and unregistered, and especially so in rural and mountain regions. There is much to thank the Lord for. It is also interesting to note that the government has permitted increased numbers of Bibles in Vietnamese and in some of the 100+ other languages used today. Pray for our partners who are using this currently open door to print and distribute in as many places as they can.
Dzongkha New Testament : The Dzongkha translation of the New Testament is currently being distributed so please pray for the effective spread of God’s Word among the Bhutanese. Christians from neighbouring countries are active in ministry to the people of Bhutan and indeed many Bhutanese have come to Christ through these efforts. Nevertheless, among the five largest peoples (Dzongkha, Tshangla, Lepcha, Kheng and Gurung) only the Lepcha have any significant Christian population in Bhutan. Ask the Lord to build vibrant groups of witnessing Bhutanese believers in every ethnic group.
Reaching oral learners: An estimated 4.35 billion people worldwide are oral learners, either choosing not to read or unable read at all. Oral societies include most of the remaining Unreached People Groups, so creative ideas for communicating the gospel in ways that these people can understand are of vital importance. One such idea is to use solar-powered digital audio players to get God’s Word into hundreds of unreached communities. The immediate goal is to send 100 solar-powered digital players to Myanmar with the Scriptures in both the Karen and the traditional Myanmarese languages. Please pray that millions of Myanmarese people will soon be hearing some really Good News.
An ambitious goal: The Mongolian Church has a goal to have 10% of the population as active church members by the year 2020. This means approximately 3,000 more churches need to be planted. Although this is an ambitious goal, Mongolian church leaders are committed to playing their part to bring it about. Pray for our partners who have taken on the task of developing provincial leaders to oversee church planting and pastor the pastors. Additionally, they will provide small loans to help rural churches develop small businesses that will generate an income for church planters to release them to carry out this work.
Suicide attack: On 3rd February suicide bombers and gunmen dressed as police, stormed the Kirkuk police station, detonating what some say was the biggest explosion they’d ever seen. The car used in the bombing was said to be painted like a police car, and the gunmen who charged the building after the explosion were reportedly dressed as policemen. Many bystanders were injured and killed during the blast, and although no militant group has claimed responsibility for the act, the attack comes as the Prime Minister is involved in a political crisis with his former government partners and with provincial elections taking place in less than three months. Pray with us for the nation of Iraq. Pray for peace and joy for the people there, as well as for a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Increasing persecution of minorities: India is the world’s second most populated nation, with just over 1.2 billion people. Christians are thought to make up about 2% of the total population. The country has become increasingly known for its persecution of Christians and various religious minority groups. Recently, the Indian government has made it illegal for the cross of Christ to be displayed in any public place. India is a land that needs Jesus. Pray for strong, indigenous partnership, for effective ministry among nationals and for the Spirit of God to anoint the work and workers to advance His Kingdom and glorify the name of Jesus.
'Heavy government suspicion': Vietnamese house churches remain in a difficult situation. Reports of attacks on church buildings, meetings and worshippers remain. Officials continue to play a part in these state-sponsored attacks. The Hmong Christian movement in Vietnam’s Northwest Mountainous Region is reported to have grown from nothing to approximately 400,000 believers in the last two decades. It’s the Hmong people, and Christians specifically, who remain under “heavy government suspicion” according to Compass Direct. They continue to suffer outright harassment and even persecution. It is said that more than half of Vietnam’s Protestant congregations remain unregistered. Hundreds of congregations have applied for proper registration and documentation but have been repeatedly denied. Pray with us for our brothers and sisters there who long to worship openly and freely.
Infant mortality: New statistics on infant mortality rates appear to reflect improving conditions as North Korea emerges from the devastating famine that killed millions. A recent UNICEF report stated that the under-five mortality rate had fallen to 3.3% (from 5.8% in 2000). This compares favourably to many other developing countries yet is far behind South Korea at 0.5%. Despite these improvements, conditions are still highly unfavourable for North Korean children. Pray for creative ministry opportunities and for the government to be held to account for its actions so that reform can be realised.
The 'threat' of the gospel: More than 100 Islamic studies teachers were ordered to attend a one-day seminar on the ‘threat’ of Christian proselytizing, according to The Jakarta Globe. The seminar was jointly organised by the state education department and Johor Mufti department. Pray against government-sponsored acts like this that continue to generate and spread confusion and hatred toward those who seek to share the gospel in Malaysia. Ask God to raise up His Church here and to strengthen them, sustain them and encourage them in their purpose to glorify His name. Pray that Jesus Christ would be made known.
Cancelled permits: Christians in Riau Province are angered over the recent decision by government officials to cancel church building permits five months after construction began. The authorities have stated that the site will be used for other purposes and that “the Muslim community no longer accepts the presence of a Christian place of worship.” In Indonesia, a building permit is required for any construction, which workers and parishioners were able to produce, despite the invasion by local authorities. In addition, 60 signatures from local Muslim residents are required to legitimise Christian places of worship. Pray for those seeking to worship God in Indonesia. Pray for places of worship, for freedom to worship, and for the boldness to worship despite ongoing harassment and persecution.
'Ethnic cleansing of Christians': Christians in the Syrian city of Homs report ‘ongoing ethnic cleansing of Christians’ by al-Qaeda Islamist militant groups in Syria. Some reports indicate that nearly 90 percent of Christians living in Homs have been expelled and forced to flee their homes - estimated to be over 50,000 people. Pray for Christians in Syria as tensions continue to mount. Pray for protection, peace, and the very presence of God for our brothers and sisters there. Pray for an unleashing of the Holy Spirit and for those who carry out the persecution to encounter our Living God.
The Mosuo: We continue to receive regular news from work among the Mosuo people. Good things are happening there despite the surrounding challenges. Sichuan province with its 88 million inhabitants is where many Mosuo live. It has the lowest Christian percentage of all Han-majority provinces in the country. There are 44 ethnic groups in the region, 33 of which are completely unevangelised. Most speak mutually unintelligible languages. Still, over recent years, the gospel has begun to reach some of these groups and the first converts ever have come to Christ. Please pray for believers from other ethnic minority groups in neighbouring provinces as well as from among the Han population who have relocated to that region. Pray that they would invest the time needed to learn local languages and culture sufficiently to share the gospel with the minorities from Sichuan.
Mistreatment of refugees: Mohsen Al, a 22 year old former student at the University of Arak, was recently denied citizenship to Iran, his home country and place of birth. Born to an Iranian mother and exiled father from Iraq, Mohsen was denied a birth certificate by Iranian officials and has been told he must report ‘back’ to Iraq, although he’s never lived anywhere other than Iran. As a result, his marriage is now null and void and he has no opportunity for appeal. In his desperate attempt to find a solution he came across Luke 6:29 and found salvation through this lesson of love. Mohsen now blogs on Christian persecution and the rising problem and mistreatment of refugees in the Middle East. He asks for prayer for fellow Christians who are mistreated and persecuted for their faith in Christ. He also asks for prayer to support misplaced refugees who are denied a right to the only life they’ve ever known.
Young people: Prayer is needed for the young people of the Maldives where 44% of the population is under 15 years old. The extremely high divorce rate means that many children grow up without the love and care of both parents, often resulting in behavioral problems. Furthermore, the incidence of sexual abuse in the islands is staggering - most young children are abused by their stepfathers, uncles, brothers or others. It’s estimated that 70% of young people in the Maldives regularly take drugs.
Converting to Islam: Officials in Pakistan confirm the number of people converting to Islam from other religions, especially Christianity, is on the rise. An estimated 50 to 60 Christians are thought to ‘embrace’ Islam each month through their signing of official documents, which state that they accept Islam, “without any greed or pressure and promise to remain in the religion for the rest of their life.” Pray for the Christians of Pakistan. Pray that the truth of Christ within them would grow larger than the threat of those around them.
The Mahimal: The 150,000 Mahimal Muslim fishermen sail their boats on the waters of the Sylhet region of Bangladesh, the only hint of modern technology being the nylon nets they use to haul in their catch. Before they set out on their first fishing voyage of the year, they say prayers to Allah, receive blessings from religious leaders and offer money to mausoleums of holy saints in hopes of ensuring success. In spite of all their efforts and the importance of fish in their country, these boatmen are confined to the lowest classes of society. Around 98% of the population of Bangladesh are Muslims and the Mahimal are one of many of the people groups who are unreached with the gospel. Ask God to open doors for Christian witness in Bangladesh.
Vietnamese evangelists: Vietnam is the largest of all the Southeast Asian countries. Most of its people groups are still unreached, including the Green, Red, and White Gelao. These groups have no known believers. However, Vietnamese evangelists are labouring day after day in conditions that are less than ideal. Pray for all those who are endeavouring to take the message of the gospel to their countrymen and women and for new believers to know the strengthening of God's Holy Spirit, and have courage in the face of opposition, to stand up for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Peer pressure: Every one of Afghanistan’s people groups is regarded as among the least-reached in the world today. They have a relatively open government which may well be somewhat tolerant of an ‘outside’ faith, but at grassroots it is very different. The oppression is from within, from one’s peers, from family members all around. The shame and family retribution against a son leaving Islam for faith in Christ has led to many losing their lives. Women too face persecution from within their own homes if they turn to Christianity. Pray for the Lord to build His Church among the Pashtun and the Hazaras, the Uzbecs and Tajiks and among so many where today there is still no knowledge of the all-surpassing grace of God.
