BARNABAS FUND – AID AGENCY FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
barnabasprayer To help you pray for the persecuted Church
MAY/ JUNE 2017 barnabasfund.org
Thank you for your prayers for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ, which make such a difference to them. We sometimes have to change or omit their names for security reasons, and we have only limited space to share their stories. But the Lord knows the people and places we are praying about. Please do not feel limited by the specific prayer requests, but pray as you feel led. On each Sunday we have provided a set prayer; please feel free to use these in their current form, to adapt them as you prefer, or to use the information they contain to frame your own prayers.
May/June 2017 2
May MONDAY 1 Nearly 200 Egyptian Christian families fled their homes in the northern Sinai town of Al-Arish in February. This followed the murders of at least six Christians in their town in less than four weeks. “We got messages that said: Leave tomorrow, you Crusaders, or we’ll hang your heads on the top of your houses,” said 89-year-old Seifein Morqos, the oldest of the Christians who fled, “I left with nothing but the clothes on my back and my walking stick.” President al-Sisi announced that the government would help to re-settle the families, who make up practically the whole Christian community of Al-Arish. Many of the families praised the caring welcome they received from the local authorities and churches in the places they fled to. Pray that the Christians will know the truth of God’s promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5) TUESDAY 2 In January Egyptian prosecutors dropped the case against
those who had stripped naked a 70-yearold Christian woman called Souad Thabet, beaten her and paraded her through the streets in May 2016. Seven Christian-owned houses in her village in Minya province had been looted and burned. Prosecutors claimed there was insufficient evidence to proceed, but Souad’s lawyers said the prosecution witnesses had been threatened. In February the case was re-opened. Pray that justice will be served. WEDNESDAY 3 Rejoice with Egyptian Christians at their Prime Minister’s announcement of the formation of a committee to legalise the status of churches that had been constructed without permits. This is the latest of several developments under President al-Sisi helping to ease Egypt’s severe restrictions on church buildings, which dated from the Ottoman era and were ultimately derived from sharia law. Because permits were previously so difficult to obtain, some congregations had no option but to worship in unlicensed buildings. This made them vulnerable to legal action or demolition. Such congregations now have until 28 September 2017 to submit a request for their case to reviewed by the new committee. Pray that permits will be granted without quibble and that there will be enough properly licenced church buildings for all of Egypt’s Christians (10 million or more) to worship freely. THURSDAY 4 On 19 February Islamic State (IS) released a video calling for the elimination of Egypt’s Christians and promising to “liberate Cairo” and free all the jailed Islamists there. The video described Christians as “enemies of Allah” and – significantly – “apostates”
i.e. people who had left Islam and therefore, according to sharia (Islamic law), should be killed. Sharia does not permit the killing of Christians who are not Muslim converts, so long as they are willing to submit to Islamic rule and live as despised second-class citizens – dhimmis. Ask the Lord to thwart the purposes of IS and praise Him that His plans stand firm for ever (Psalm 33:10-11).
SATURDAY 6 In March a four-day trauma-counselling seminar, funded by Barnabas, was held to train Syrian Christians how to help others deal with the horrors they have seen and experienced. This is the third such course since the war started, and the emphasis has been on learning to counsel children and young people, whose distress and trauma are often very evident. As the trainees now put into practice what they have learned, pray that the Lord will touch and heal those of all ages who have suffered so much for so long.
SUNDAY 7 O Lord, as the turmoil in the
Middle East escalates, as the pressures on Your faithful people grow, and as world powers become increasingly involved, we ask that You will foil the plans of the nations and of those who work for violence and injustice. Be a help and shield to Your people in the region as they wait in hope for You. Enable them and us to rejoice and trust in You and Your unfailing love, whatever is happening around us and in the wider world. We ask this in the Name of the Prince of Peace, as we look forward to His reign of justice and righteousness. (Psalm 33:20-21; Isaiah 9:6-7) MONDAY 8 Iraqi Christians rejoice at the liberation of the Plains of Nineveh and the city of Mosul from occupation by Islamic State (IS). This part of Iraq was the heartland of Iraqi Christianity but the Christians had been forced to flee to Iraqi Kurdistan when IS occupied it in 2014. However, they cannot easily return to their homes, most of which were sold by IS to Muslims who now live in them. So they remain “in limbo” in Kurdistan, crowded into temporary accommodation, unable to go home or to move on to safe countries where they can settle down and start new lives. Pray that each family may be clearly guided by God as to what they should do.
May/June 2017 3
FRIDAY 5 The people of Syria have endured six years of civil war. For Christians, this time has been even worse as anti-Christian persecution was unleashed, which was never known in Syria before the war. At the time of writing, the conflict is waning in places, including the largest city, Aleppo, where life is beginning to become a little more normal. But the future is unclear and Damascus and Homs, which had been relatively peaceful, are under attack again. Both have significant Christian communities. Everyone longs for peace and stability. Please pray that God’s hand will be over this country to bring peace, freedom and justice, and that the previous good relationship between Christians and Muslims will be restored.
Training Syrian Christians in trauma counselling, with support from Barnabas
May/June 2017 4
TUESDAY 9 A seminar was held on 25 January for Arabic-speaking churches in Kuwait on the theme of “Trust Your Bible”. As well as looking at the authenticity of the Bible, there was a focus on equipping Christians to defend their faith against Muslim accusations that the Biblical text has been distorted. Pray that the 80 participants will continue encouraged and strengthened in their personal faith and will also be able to explain it more effectively to Muslim friends, neighbours and colleagues. WEDNESDAY 10 Malaysian pastor Raymond Koh was kidnapped from his car at 10.31 a.m. on 13 February by men in black balaclavas who whisked him away in their convoy of SUVs. The incident was recorded on CCTV and took place less than 100m from a police station, but the police have apparently been unable to locate him. Pastor Koh had been very active helping marginalised groups of society, but a thanksgiving dinner for this a few years ago was raided by the Selangor Islamic Department. Soon after that, a bullet was mailed to him in an envelope. Pray that he may be released or rescued from his captors. THURSDAY 11 On 16 March Pakistan’s Interior Minister announced that Pakistan will represent the global Muslim community on the issue of content on social media platforms which Muslims deem “blasphemous”. “We will take any steps necessary . . . FaceBook and other service providers should share all information about the people behind this blasphemous content with us,” he said. Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency is
seeking an expert on international law to advise them, and its Foreign office intends to liaise daily with America’s FBI. Two days earlier Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had said that blasphemy is an “unpardonable offence” and his party tweeted that he believed “the blasphemous content on social media is a nefarious conspiracy to hurt the religious sentiments of the entire Muslim ummah [worldwide nation of Islam]”. Many Muslims believe that any statement disagreeing with what Islam teaches is blasphemous, so anyone expressing, for example, the view that Muhammad was not a true prophet would be considered to have blasphemed. Pakistan’s proposal to police the whole planet on this issue is therefore a serious threat to freedom of speech and religious liberty. Pray that God will protect His people from false accusation. FRIDAY 12 A Danish man is to go on trial in June, charged with blasphemy under an 1866 law which has only been used three times before. The man had posted on FaceBook a video of himself setting fire to a Quran. Other prosecutions under this law were in 1938 (for anti-Semitic posters and leaflets), 1946 (for play-acting a baptism at a ball) and 1971 (for broadcasting on radio a song that mocked Christianity) but in the last case the accused were acquitted. Pray that Islamic attitudes to blasphemy and freedom of speech will not gain influence in other parts of the world. SATURDAY 13 Two Christian street preachers in Bristol, UK, were found guilty on 28 February of religiously aggravated harassment. They were
SUNDAY 14 Lord Jesus Christ, we
pray today for all Christians in Saudi Arabia, whether expatriates or Saudi converts from Islam. May Your shed blood protect each one, in a nation where any public sign of Christian presence or practice is forbidden and there is a death penalty in law for Muslims who leave Islam. We thank You for the work of the Holy Spirit to nourish them in their faith, and we pray especially for those who can never meet with other believers. May they be blessed with a special closeness to You. May they hear Your voice in their hearts to guide and comfort them hour by hour.
MONDAY 15 The Evangelical Fellowship of India recorded 38 incidents of hate crimes against Christians in the first two months of 2017. For example, on 23-24 February twelve Indian churches held a Peace Festival
in Badarpur, Delhi. On the second day a mob of about 250-300 Hindu extremists attacked the seated audience of 1700 people, injuring many people and damaging the stage, furniture and sound system. Pray that the Prince of Peace will comfort His persecuted people, giving them – even when under attack – a peace that the world cannot give. TUESDAY 16 Bartu Urwan, an Indian Christian aged 50, died in Jharkhand state on 20 January after being forced by villagers to spend 17 hours in a cold pond because he refused to re-convert to the tribal religion Sarna Dharam [Religion of the Holy Woods], which he had left to follow Christ. His wife endured the same ordeal but survived although she fell seriously ill. Bartu’s martyrdom occurred after three years of harassment which had driven seven other convert families back to their old religion. During the long winter night in the water, the villagers kept asking Bartu if he was ready to forsake Christ and return to Sarna Dharam. He always answered, “I will not deny Christ . . . I will continue to believe until my last breath.” After his death, the villagers would not allow his son Beneswar to bury him unless the family returned to Sarna Dharam. So Beneswar, helped by four others, carried his father’s body for 10km to government land where they could bury him. Pray that Bartu’s faithfulness unto death will inspire the few other Christians in his village and will give courage to the seven families who recanted their Christian faith to return to Christ. WEDNESDAY 17 Pastor Jacob Joseph was leading the Sunday worship on 29
May/June 2017 5
fined and ordered to pay costs, totalling about £2,000 each. The case stemmed from events on 6 July 2016 when Michael Overd from England and Michael Stockwell from the USA read from the Bible and preached in a shopping centre. Their forthright criticism of many other religions angered passers by. A public prosecutor said in court that quoting parts of the King James Bible in the context of modern British society “must be considered to be abusive and is a criminal matter”. Pray that religious liberty and freedom of speech in the UK may be protected, so that followers of any religion may be able to express their views freely. There will be a re-trial in the summer; pray for a “not guilty” verdict.
May/June 2017 6
January at his church in Chhattisgarh state, India, when a mob of at least 300 Hindu extremists (men and women) burst in, objecting to the service and pushing people around. They also vandalised cycles, scooters and other vehicles outside. When Pastor Joseph went to the police, they told him to stop holding church services. The same evening Hindu extremists stormed into his home, (where several Christians were visiting) and argued and threatened until the police arrived and took everyone to the police station for a few hours. Having listened to both sides, the police again ruled that Pastor Joseph must stop holding church services. He requests prayers for God’s guidance as to how to continue his ministry in this situation. THURSDAY 18 Christians in Nepal feel that they are treated as second-class citizens in their homeland. In this Hindu-majority state, Christianity is seen as a foreign religion imposed from outside and no one pays attention to their concerns. Governments change so rapidly that any progress made in relating to officials soon becomes worthless as a new government takes over after a few months. The Church has grown fast over the last 60 years, but is still less than 1.5% of the population. Nepalese Christians ask prayer for political stability, peace and progress in their country (still recovering from a terrible earthquake on 25 April 2015), and justice for Christians. FRIDAY 19 A community of 7,500 Christians from the Santal ethnic group in Bangladesh have been living in tents for the last six months. Their homes
were burned down, apparently by the police, on 8 November 2016, in order to evict them from land on which a Santal community had lived since it was given to them by the British in 1928. The Santali Christians are very poor and have had little opportunity of education. Most of them work in sugar mills. Barnabas Fund is seeking to provide new homes for them and other facilities. SATURDAY 20 There is increasing violence against Bangladeshi Christians, especially those involved in outreach ministry amongst Muslims, and some have been killed. Sometimes a Muslim expressing an interest in the Christian faith will come to visit an evangelist or pastor. Next time he will bring two or three other “seekers”. After a few visits, they set on their Christian host and kill him. Church security guards are also being attacked – one was killed on 22 December and another was stabbed (but not fatally) on 11 March. Please pray for God’s protection and gift of discernment for His people in Bangladesh, including the many secret believers. SUNDAY 21 Lord Jesus Christ, who
said to Your followers, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted,” we pray today for all around the world who grieve for those killed for Your Name’s sake. Speak to their hearts and remind them that You, who wept when your friend Lazarus died, truly understand their loss and pain, whether they were bereaved yesterday, last week, last month, last year or many years ago. We pray especially for those whose loved ones have disappeared and their fate is unknown. Comfort them with Your
peace and the assurance that they will meet again, if not in this world then before Your throne in glory.
Christians in northern Nigeria mourn for their dead TUESDAY 23 “Do we still have rights to exist as a church in northern Nigeria? Is religion still part of the fundamental human rights guaranteed by the United Nations and our own Nigerian constitution? Do we have any right to
WEDNESDAY 24 Ghana appears relatively stable, but Islam is growing fast. Some Muslims claim that it has tripled from 15% to 45% since 2000 but a more likely current figure seems about 30%. There is also a huge influx of illegal immigrants from other West African countries, most of whom are Muslim. Political Islam and Islamic extremism are beginning to emerge. Pray for the Christian majority in Ghana to be alert, wise and just in responding to developments in their country. THURSDAY 25 Adama Barrow, the new president of the Gambia, has pledged that his nation will re-join all the international organisations from which his predecessor had withdrawn the small West African country, such as the Commonwealth and the International Criminal Court. He also rejected his predecessor’s idea of turning the Gambia (which has a large Muslim majority) into an Islamic state. Praise God for President Barrow’s statements and pray that he may be able to maintain a peaceful and stable society with full religious liberty for all, including the small Christian minority. FRIDAY 26 Zimbabwean pastor Patrick Mugadza was released on bail on 12 March after eight weeks in custody. Praise God for this answer to prayer.
May/June 2017 7
MONDAY 22 Christians in Godogodo, Kaduna State, Nigeria, suffered greatly from the attacks of Muslim herdsmen in 2016. Many houses and businesses were attacked and much of their farm produce was stolen or destroyed. Over 60 Christians were killed in a single day. “This year, we hope we will be allowed by these people to farm,” wrote a local pastor in February 2017. “We have a major fear this year that they might not allow us to farm and if that happens, one could only imagine the extent of the poverty that will engulf the region . . . There are silent killings almost on weekly basis now. These people are armed with AK 47s and innumerable rounds of ammunition . . . People need to farm this year else, the hardship, poverty and famine cannot be quantified. Pray along with us that God will send His angels to send these people packing.”
practise our religion where we live?” These were the words of Bishop David Bakare, chairman of the north-west zone of the Christian Association of Nigeria, earlier this year, as he protested against repeated demolition of church buildings by the authorities. Pray for justice for the Christian minority in northern Nigeria.
May/June 2017 8
Pastor Patrick’s “crime” this time was that he predicted President Mugabe would die in 2017, but previously he got arrested for holding up a placard that said, “Mr President, the people are suffering. Proverbs 21:13.” Another Zimbabwean pastor who has spent time in prison for trying to help the suffering Zimbabwean people is Pastor Evan Mawarire, arrested for treason because of his “This Flag” movement calling for justice to be restored in Zimbabwe. Pastor Evan said he learnt to practise freedom when inside and “not allow the walls to wall his spirit in”. Pray for any Zimbabwean Christians in prison today because of their courageous and prophetic challenges to the current government of their country, that they will be strong and free in spirit even while behind bars. SATURDAY 27 Give thanks for answered prayer in Sudan. Two of four Christians who had been accused of various serious “crimes” are now free. Pastor Kuwa Shamal, who had been detained since May 2016, was released in January after the charges against him were dropped. Petr Jacek, a Czech aid worker and filmmaker, was given a life sentence on 29 January for “espionage”, because of his work reporting on the plight of Sudanese Christians, but was then given a presidential pardon and left Sudan on 26 February. Continue to pray for Pastor Hassan Abduraheem and graduate student Abdulmonem Abdumawla, who have been given prison sentences for “abetting espionage” (i.e. assisting Mr Jacek) and “inciting strife between communities and spreading rumours undermining the authority of the state”. Pray that their legal appeals will be successful.
SUNDAY 28 Lord Jesus Christ, we praise
You for Your love for little children and we ask Your blessing on Christian children in many countries who live with injustice, hostility and violence just because they are called by Your Name. Give them a strong and simple faith in You. May they cling to the promises in Your Word, drawing courage from them for their daily lives. Teach them to love and forgive those who seek to harm them. May their young lives be a witness to classmates, teachers, and all around them. We ask this for Your glory.
MONDAY 29 Praise God that many Muslims in Uganda are turning to Christ. But they can face great persecution. When the Muslim relatives of Jazila (26) heard rumours that she had become a Christian, they questioned her, and she affirmed three times that it was true. They told her that according to sharia she should die, but instead they threw her out and burnt all her possessions - clothes, shoes, mattress, bedding, crockery and money. Her father cursed her and said she was no longer his daughter. On the same day Fauzia (22) was thrown out of the family home by her relatives, who then wrote a formal letter stating that she was no longer a member of their family. Fauzia responded that she could never go back to Islam because Jesus had healed her after eight years of sickness and now He was her Saviour and Lord. Jazila has a 4-year-old daughter and Fauzia a 3-year-old son. Pray for our sisters who have lost everything for Christ’s sake. TUESDAY 30 “The Muslim community is hunting you, but your Christian brothers are suspicious [of you as a new convert from Islam]. At that moment is where
we lose many Muslim converts.” These are the words of Ugandan Pastor Umar Mulinde, a convert from Islam who has suffered over twelve assassination attempts, as he describes the anguish of new believers, rejected by their Muslim community and not accepted by the Christian community. Pray for Pastor Umar’s discipleship centre, supported by Barnabas Fund, which he set up to help new Christians from a Muslim background spiritually, emotionally and practically. Pray that they may not fall away. Ask also for Pastor Umar’s protection – he was severely injured in one attack and lost an eye.
June THURSDAY 1 At the time of writing, several countries across Africa face famine as a result of the worst drought for many decades. If rain has fallen in March and April, there should be a harvest in June in parts of East Africa. But it will take years for life to be restored to normal for families whose livestock have died, who have sold everything they owned to buy food, or who had to eat the seed they should have
Praise God for the generosity of Barnabas Fund supporters, enabling us to feed over 100,000 starving Christians in East Africa FRIDAY 2 “I understood that if we take part in Christ’s suffering, we will take part in His glory. It gives me power to continue my ministry.” This is how one Central Asian pastor described what he had learned on three-day retreat for groups of church leaders in a country where Christians experience severe pressure from the authorities and from local Muslims and their leaders are often arrested and fined. Indeed, some of the leaders who had planned to attend one of the retreats (which were funded by Barnabas) could not do so because of police raids and investigations. Another said joyfully afterwards, “I have got freedom from my fears.” Pray that these
May/June 2017 9
WEDNESDAY 31 Many Eritrean Christians have suffered terribly for their faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Communist Eritrean government allows certain denominations to function but brutally represses others, including evangelicals, Pentecostals and Orthodox. Tens of thousands of Christians have therefore fled their homeland. Pray that Eritrean Christians will continue to hope in the Lord wherever they may be and whatever conditions they are enduring.
planted because otherwise they would have died of hunger. Barnabas Fund’s Project Joseph has been feeding over 100,000 of the hungriest Christians in East Africa. This includes 70,000 South Sudanese who fled to Uganda seeking food, even though parts of Uganda were so badly affected that people were eating termites and digging for lungfish in the dried-up swamps. Please pray for a good harvest now and in future seasons, and for wisdom to know how best to help people restore their lives.
May/June 2017 10
faithful servants of God will continue to remember what they heard from Him during the retreats and will be encouraged daily. SATURDAY 3 Adib first encountered the Gospel at English classes in his homeland Afghanistan, when the teacher used Bible verses during the lessons. When he decided to follow Christ, Adib thought he as the only Christian in Afghanistan. He was delighted to be linked to a church of other Afghan believers, but later a spy in their midst betrayed them all to the government. After much persecution, he fled the country and went to India. Here his status is uncertain and is concerned that he may be deported back to Afghanistan where he could be executed for apostasy from Islam. Pray for Adib and other Afghan Christians in the same situation, that the Lord Jesus will protect and keep them. SUNDAY 4 O Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Counsellor, we ask You to minister to all secret believers, who cannot meet to praise and pray with others, who do not know the joy of fellowship with Christian brothers and sisters, who must seek here and there for opportunities through books, radio, TV or online to get teaching to help them grow in their faith. Please speak to each one, reminding them of the words of the Lord Jesus, enlightening their hearts and minds with full understanding, consoling them with the sweetness of Your presence. We ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. MONDAY 5 Christians in Albania today are enjoying greater freedom than in
the past. One Christian congregation meets for worship in an old cinema and is allowed by the mayor to hold evangelistic meetings in the square in front of the cinema at Christmas, Easter and other special times. Many new churches have been started in the last two decades. Pray that pastors, evangelists and church-planters will have wisdom to make the best use of the opportunities they currently have and for new Christians to be well grounded in their faith. There are also many challenges, for example, the growing presence of radical Islam, which is changing attitudes to Christians. This particularly affects Christians from Muslim backgrounds living in small rural villages, who are sometimes beaten by their relatives and prevented from going to church. TUESDAY 6 The city of Kardzhali is the centre of the Turkish community in Bulgaria and has the largest mosque in the country. The influence of Islam is growing in the region, which has more than 300 mosques in all. The mayor of Kardzhali turns down all requests from church leaders to mark Christian holy days, but allows all the national holidays and Muslim religious festivals to be celebrated. There are small fellowships of Turkish Christians from a Muslim background, all of whom have faced harassment or persecution such as losing their jobs or finding that shopkeepers refuse to sell to them. Pray that the testing of their faith will develop perseverance and maturity (James 1:2-4). WEDNESDAY 7 Trans-Baikal Territory lies in southern Siberia, near to the world’s largest and deepest lake. On
10 February its administration issued a directive to heads of districts and cities, warning them that various Protestant organisations had begun doing missionary work in remote villages of Trans-Baikal Territory, helping people with food and clothes. The directive gave instructions not to cooperate with these organisations and, if they held any large-scale events, to inform the FSB (formerly called the KGB) and various other authorities. Please pray that the Christians targeted like this will not be disheartened and that their work and witness will win many to Christ.
FRIDAY 9 “Is an ordinary person allowed to read the Word of God?” “Lord, forgive my sins. Help me go on the right way.” “I am dying, help me!” These are some of the messages that have come in to a Christian radio station in the North Caucasus area of the Russian Federation, which is supported by Barnabas Fund. Pray for the radio station staff, trying to respond to these comments, that the Holy Spirit will give them the right words for each one who contacts them, whether Christians growing in their faith, or Muslims seeking the Truth.
SUNDAY 11 We praise You and thank You,
Father God, for You so loved sinners that You gave your one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. So that the people in India and in all nations may hear and understand this divine secret, and come to trust in the Lord Jesus and escape the clutches of Satan, we pray, Father God, that You will do miracles, show signs and wonders, whatever way it may be, and lead each one of them to the Son of God. We ask that the Holy Spirit of God will guide and use us to fulfil His will and purposes, and we surrender ourselves to Him. (A prayer by an Indian church leader, adapted)
MONDAY 12 Twenty people in a Hindumajority village in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra state, India, summoned three Christian families for “peace
May/June 2017 11
THURSDAY 8 An Indian Christian missionary has become the first known person to be deported from Russia under its draconian Religion Law which came into effect in July 2016. Pastor VictorImmanuel Mani’s deportation separates him from his Russian wife and their young child. He is appealing against the decision; pray that his appeal will succeed. Many Protestants have been targeted under the wide-ranging and confusing new legislation. (Forum 18)
SATURDAY 10 “Selima” in the North Caucasus came to the Lord by listening to Christian radio. Local Muslims demanded her death and burned her Bible and Christian literature, but Selima kept her faith and won to the Lord her husband, children and daughter-inlaw. The family did not know any other Christians and they worshipped together at home secretly, hiding their Bible in the garden. They continued listening to Christian radio. One day they had a visit from someone from the radio station. Selima asked after “Aysha”, one of the radio staff who had cancer and for whom Selima had been praying for years, ever since reading about her in a Christian magazine. “I am Aysha, and I am healed,” was the answer. Praise God for His wonderful encouragement for Selima and her family; pray that they will continue strong in their faith.
May/June 2017 12
talks” on 28 February. They told the three Christians who attended the meeting to leave the village because they did not want any Christian presence there. They then assaulted the Christians and vandalised their homes. The police did not register a case against the attackers, merely warning them and instructing them to repair the damaged houses. Pray that the Lord will strengthen and protect vulnerable Christian minority communities in India who cannot depend on human help (2 Thessalonians 3:2-3). TUESDAY 13 According to official figures in Punjab, India’s Sikh-majority state, Christians comprise only 1% of the population, but the Punjab Christian United Forum estimates that they are about 15%. Some Christians believe it is higher. Most of the Christians are very poor agricultural labourers working on the lands of wealthy Sikh families. Being so poor and apparently so few in number, their needs have tended to be ignored e.g. their need for burial places. Back in 1994 the state government of that time had promised to let Christian dalits (the lowest social strata) have a quota of government jobs, the same as Hindu and Sikh dalits, but this was never implemented. Last year, the state government established a Christian Welfare Board and allotted funds for the neediest Christians. Pray that this policy will be implemented. WEDNESDAY 14 In the last two years, the pattern of anti-Christian incidents in Sri Lanka has changed. Attacks by Buddhist extremists have declined, but incidents initiated by police or local government officials have increased and so have legal restrictions. The
role of the state as a perpetrator of Christian persecution has greatly increased in the last four years. Evangelical Christians are particularly targeted, even by the government’s Christian Affairs Department. A government circular issued in 2008 requires new Christian places of worship to get official approval; it is being misused against evangelical churches by local government officials, often instigated by Buddhist monks, to try to force pre-existing evangelical churches to be registered. Hindus or Muslims predominate, Hindu extremism and sharia (Islamic law) are becoming an increasing challenge. Pray for Sri Lankan Christians, under attack from all directions, that the Lord may direct their hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance (2 Thessalonians 3:5). THURSDAY 15 As Buddhists in Sri Lanka turn to Christ, Christians are falsely accused of converting them with offers of money, jobs, or other incentives. Christians have even been arrested for performing Christian street drama, accused of trying to convert people by unethical means. Pray that Sri Lankan Christians will continue courageously to share the Gospel in their homeland, and that the false accusations against them may be speedily dismissed. FRIDAY 16 For the last two decades, Sri Lanka has had a very high murder rate. It used to have the world’s highest suicide rate. Sri Lankan men are amongst the highest consumers of alcohol in the world. In this society of so many troubled individuals, pray that Christian believers may bring
hope, healing and wholeness. Pray that Christians will cease to be seen as a threat to harmony, but rather as a blessing to all.
SUNDAY 18 Dear Lord, we pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in Iran, as the government continues to harass them, arresting, interrogating and imprisoning them, and closing down whole churches. Please keep their hearts in perfect peace, that they may not be fearful of beatings, torture or any coming ordeal. We pray also for prominent Christians, falsely accused on TV and radio of terrible crimes, that they would be comforted by the knowledge that You also experienced false accusation. We praise You that the Church continues to grow despite it all. We pray all this in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
TUESDAY 20 Anti-Christian media reports in Turkey showed a marked increase last year, according to an analysis by the Association of Protestant Churches in Turkey. Media outlets displayed New Testaments alongside “terrorist propaganda” confiscated by law enforcement. Anti-Christian billboards and leaflets were particularly noticeable around Christmas and New Year. Christians in Turkey face many other difficulties from the authorities. Pray for them, especially the Protestants (mainly converts from Islam) of which there are over 140 known fellowships, large and small, and doubtless many secret believers. WEDNESDAY 21 Eight days after deciding to follow Christ, “Khi” began to pray for a Bible. After 65 years his prayer was
May/June 2017 13
SATURDAY 17 The position of “suicide capital” of the world is no longer held by Sri Lanka but by Guyana in South America. Amongst those who feel they cannot endure life any more are some who have converted from Hinduism to Christianity and consequently face persecution, isolation and spiritual attacks of many kinds. Pray for Lifeline, a new Christian ministry being established with support from Barnabas Fund, to provide counselling and support on Biblical principles to all people tempted to commit suicide. Pray for volunteers from local churches who are being trained for this ministry, especially in Berbice, which is the area of the country with the maximum number of suicides. Ask that God will give them the right words for each individual they speak to or meet with.
MONDAY 19 Former Iranian President Rafsanjani died in January. Although often seen in the West as a “moderate” he had played a major role in the Iranian Islamic Revolution of 1979. During the early years of the revolution and while he was president (1989-97), Christians had suffered terribly, and several died (executed or mysteriously murdered) during his presidency. He backed groups which opposed his political rival Ayatollah Khamenei and therefore backed some reformist factions. This put a brake on some of the most extreme Islamists in the Iranian political and clerical establishment. With Rafsanjani’s death this brake has been removed, meaning that persecution of Christians is likely to increase still further. Pray to the Lord who upholds the cause of the oppressed and sets prisoners free that He will protect His people in Iran. (Psalm 146:7)
May/June 2017 14
answered. During those 65 years, Khi had become a pastor and five times made an arduous journey from his south-east Asian homeland to another country to buy a Bible; every time it was seized by the border guards and burned or thrown in the river. Khi’s Bible was one of tens of thousands distributed to Christians in his homeland with help from Barnabas Fund. Praise God for watching over the safe delivery of His Word to these faithful believers and for the transforming effect these books are having on poor and oppressed Christians.
Pastor Khi with the Bible for which he prayed 65 years THURSDAY 22 A marginalised rural Christian community in south-east Asia has been badly affected by flooding due to typhoons. Crops and houses were destroyed and many fell sick with malaria and similar diseases. “They have to hide themselves inside a house without electric light to study the Bible,” wrote a church leader to Barnabas Fund, trying to explain the level of hostility and persecution that the Christians faced from the non-Christian majority. Barnabas has provided rice, sugar, salt, cooking oil and medication. Pray that they may rejoice in their heavenly inheritance to come, while now they “suffer grief in all kinds of trials” (1 Peter 1:3-6). FRIDAY 23 As North Korea flexes its muscles with missile launches and
makes threats to the international community, pray for its severely persecuted Christian community, many of them held in terrible labour camps on starvation rations, abused and tortured, sometimes worked literally to death. The regime will tolerate no Christian activities at all, and some have been executed just for owning a Bible. Pray that, despite all this, our brothers and sisters will know they are not forgotten by their Lord, and that His presence and promises will strengthen them to endure. SATURDAY 24 Buddhists in Sri Lanka are becoming Christians, even some who have spent years as Buddhist monks and been actively involved in persecuting Christians. Almost every Buddhist village has one or two churches in it. Praise God for the move of His Spirit in Sri Lanka. Pray for the converts from Buddhism, who face much persecution and rejection from their families. They are considered to have lost their Sinhalese Buddhist identity by deciding to follow Christ. Pray that they will be fully accepted and warmly welcomed into the Church as their new family, and find their new identity in Jesus. SUNDAY 25 Lord Jesus, we lift to you the many frail and elderly Christians, who suffer greatly in times of persecution. It is hard for them to flee, so many opt to stay put while younger relatives leave to seek safety elsewhere. Please protect and provide for them, when their family is no longer there to do so. May they know the truth of Your promise that “My power is made perfect in weakness.” Although their bodies and minds may
falter and fail, keep their spirits and their faith strong until You call them Home. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
TUESDAY 27 Praise God for answered prayer for Babu Shahbaz Masih, the illiterate Pakistani evangelist who was accused of desecrating the Quran after pages with his name written on them were found in a street in Lahore. The charges against Babu have been dropped and he has been released from custody. However, the police advised him not to go home because of the continued hostility of the Muslims who had accused him (and apparently tried to frame him). Pray for the protection of Babu, his wife and three children, and that Babu may be able to resume his evangelistic and healing ministry elsewhere. WEDNESDAY 28 Pakistani Christians were bitterly disappointed when an anti-terrorism court acquitted all 115 suspects accused of setting fire to Christian homes in Joseph Colony, Lahore, nearly four years earlier in
THURSDAY 29 The issue of Muslims entering the United States was much in the news when President Donald Trump took office. “Paul and Debbie Newheart” are a Middle Eastern couple sharing the Gospel amongst Muslim refugees in the USA. Pray for those who have come to know the Lord Jesus through Paul and Debbie’s ministry and pray for His protection over them as well as over Paul, Debbie and their children who face many kinds of spiritual attack. FRIDAY 30 A German pastor has said that Muslim translators are deliberately mistranslating the words of Afghan and Iranian migrants in his country who have converted to Christianity, trying to hinder their applications. To make matters worse, the genuineness of the converts’ new faith is assessed by German officials who are, in the words of the pastor, “clueless” and may not know the difference between the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed. On the other hand, they may ask the new converts to name the two sons in the parable of the Prodigal Son or to say how Martin Luther died. Please pray that Jesus, who is the Truth, may keep safe His true followers, despite all these hazards.
May/June 2017 15
MONDAY 26 The government of Pakistan’s Punjab province is opposing moves to introduce a “Protection of Minorities” law to criminalise forced conversion and forced marriage. A similar law was passed in Sindh province in November but is currently being reviewed following opposition from Islamists. Christian and Hindu girls and young women are often kidnapped by Muslims, forced to convert to Islam and then marry a Muslim, sometimes their kidnapper. Pray that each of the four provinces of Pakistan will introduce and enforce legislation to ban this practice which affects an estimated 1,000 women and girls a year.
March 2013. On that date a Muslim mob, estimated at 3,000 people, rampaged through the Christian community, destroying 178 homes, 75 shops and a church. No one has yet been brought to justice for this incident, but a Joseph Colony Christian called Sawan Masih has been sentenced to death for blasphemy, the false accusation which triggered the mob violence. Ask that the Judge of all the world will bring justice to His poor and defenceless children in Pakistan.
UK 9 Priory Row, Coventry CV1 5EX Telephone 024 7623 1923 Fax 024 7683 4718 From outside the UK Telephone +44 24 7623 1923 Fax +44 24 7683 4718 Email info@barnabasfund.org Registered charity number 1092935 Company registered in England number 4029536 For a list of all trustees, please contact Barnabas Fund UK at the Coventry address above. Australia PO BOX 3527, LOGANHOLME, QLD 4129 Telephone (07) 3806 1076 or 1300 365 799 Fax (07) 3806 4076 Email bfaustralia@barnabasfund.org Germany German supporters may send gifts for Barnabas Fund via Hilfe für Brüder who will provide you with a tax-deductible receipt. Please mention that the donation is for “SPC 20 Barnabas Fund”. If you would like your donation to go to a specific project of Barnabas Fund, please inform the Barnabas Fund office in Pewsey, UK. Account holder: Hilfe für Brüder International e.V. Account number: 415 600 Bank: Evang Kreditgenossenschaft Stuttgart IBAN: DE89520604100000415600 BIC: GENODEF1EK1 USA 6731 Curran St, McLean, VA 22101 Telephone (703) 288-1681 or toll-free 1-866-936-2525 Fax (703) 288-1682 Email usa@barnabasaid.org
barnabasfund.org
New Zealand PO Box 27 6018, Manukau City, Auckland, 2241 Telephone (09) 280 4385 or 0800 008 805 Email office@barnabasfund.org.nz Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland PO Box 354, Bangor, BT20 9EQ Telephone 028 91 455 246 or 07875 539003 Email ireland@barnabasfund.org Singapore Cheques in Singapore dollars payable to “Olive Aid Trust” may be sent to: Olives Aid Sdn Bhd, P.O. Box 03124, Subang Jaya, 47507 Selangor, MALAYSIA Singaporean supporters may send gifts for Barnabas Fund online via Olive Aid Trust: Beneficiary: OLIVE AID TRUST Bank Name: United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Berhad Swift Code: UOVBMYKL Location: KUALA LUMPUR Account Number: 140-901-654-0 International Headquarters The Old Rectory, River Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire SN9 5DB, UK Telephone 01672 564938 Fax 01672 565030 From outside UK: Telephone +44 1672 564938 Fax +44 1672 565030 Email info@barnabasfund.org Barnabas Fund is a Company registered in England Number 4029536. Registered Charity Number 1092935 © Barnabas Aid Inc. 2017
Front cover: An Egyptian school student pictured using scriptural literature funded by Barnabas