Your daily prayer guide
prayer diary January-April 2020
Welcome
Your prayers are needed for Eritrea. Week 1: 12-18 January
As I carry out our US advocacy I am constantly reminded of the importance of the prayers of CSW supporters. Many of the places where we engage in advocacy are increasingly politically polarised and Washington, DC is no exception. Trying to get members of the different political parties to come together on any subject is difficult, even though freedom of religion or belief is not and should not be a partisan issue. The contentious political environment can make it easy to become cynical and demoralised.
Tomorrow, 13 January, will mark the anniversary of the removal of Patriarch Antonios, the legitimate leader of the Eritrean Orthodox Church. He has been under house arrest since 2007, after the Eritrean government removed him from power (in violation of canon law) for repeatedly objecting to government interference in ecclesiastical affairs and for refusing to expel 3,000 members of the Orthodox renewal movement, Medhane Alem. Pray for Patriarch Antonios this week: • For God to restore Patriarch Antonios to good health and to sustain him in his confinement.
The author of Psalm 119 speaks of being persecuted and his consternation at the apparent impunity experienced by the arrogant men responsible. He intersperses his questions about God’s plans to save him with affirmations of God’s faithfulness and the beauty of his word. In verse 28 the psalmist says, ‘My soul melts with heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word.’ (NKJV)
• That he would feel God’s powerful presence alongside him and know that his Father has not abandoned him. • For international pressure on Eritrea for his release to be effective in securing the patriarch’s freedom.
As I continue to raise cases of freedom of religion or belief, some of which are truly life or death, I am encouraged to remember that even though I’m the only CSW staff member here in Washington, DC, I am not alone. I have God on my side and I have you. Wherever you are in the world, your prayers open doors, hearts and minds here in DC. Your prayers can bring people who agree on almost nothing to stand together for those who suffer because of their religious beliefs.
Last July the 92-year-old patriarch, who is severely diabetic and has very high blood pressure, was effectively excommunicated by pro-government bishops who stated, ‘His name should never be mentioned and remembered, and those who do will be punished severely.’
As you use this Prayer Diary in the weeks to come, please remember that your prayers really do make a difference. We could not do the work we do and we certainly wouldn’t see breakthroughs without them!
In a video smuggled out of the country last April, which was used as a pretext for his ‘excommunication’, Abune Antonios said of his detractors: ‘The Eritrean Synod are the accusers and adjudicators, without listening to my side.
Thank you. Anna-Lee Stangl Head of Advocacy
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All images by CSW unless otherwise stated.
They broke the law of the Eritrean Orthodox Church.’ Eritrea is governed by one of the world’s most repressive regimes. In 2016 a UN Commission of Inquiry found that its officials have committed crimes against humanity since 1991 - including enslavement, imprisonment, enforced disappearance, torture, religious and ethnic persecution and murder – causing around 12% of the country’s population to flee. Find out more about Eritrea at csw.org.uk/eritrea
• For the release of every prisoner of conscience and a future of freedom and peace for all Eritrea’s citizens.
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This week please pray for Egypt.
Your prayers are needed for Vietnam. Week 3: 26 January-1 February Ethnic and religious minorities in remote parts of Vietnam continue to experience violence, as restrictive legislation couched in vague language allows law enforcement free reign to harass and target whoever they please. When he visited the UK in 2019, Vietnamese human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai urged us to keep praying for young human rights defenders in Vietnam as they continue to work in this increasingly dangerous situation. Find out more about Vietnam at csw.org.uk/vietnam
Week 2: 19-25 January Heavenly Father, we lift the nation of Egypt to you as religious minorities in the country continue to face discrimination and violence. We pray for provision and protection and justice for the many courageous human rights defenders, who experience government harassment, including travel bans and having their personal assets frozen. We call on you to act powerfully to bring an end to the use of blasphemy laws to victimise faith communities, secularists and atheists, such as Sherif Gaber.
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We give thanks for the legalisation of 168 new buildings beloging to the Coptic Orthodox Church, and celebrate the gains made by the Christian community with regard to freedom of religion or belief. We pray that these new freedoms would be enjoyed by other minorities, and for a lessening of social hostilities towards church construction. We also pray for wisdom and for a strategy for the nation’s security forces that will defeat
all sources of terrorism, while protecting and upholding the rights of citizens. Most of all, we pray that by the end of 2020, we will have seen the advancement of justice and equality for all Egyptian citizens, regardless of their religion or belief.
Sunday 26 January
Tuesday 28 January
Yesterday was the beginning of Tet, Vietnamese Lunar New Year and the most important holiday in the calendar. Pray that the coming year will be one of justice and peace for Vietnam’s religious minorities.
Pray particularly for strength, healing and protection for Nguyen Van Hoa. In May 2019, Hoa’s former cellmate reported that Hoa sustained bruises and abrasions, and had been choked and beaten by a prison guard.
Monday 27 January
Wednesday 29 January
Nguyen Bac Truyen is a Hoa Hao Buddhist who gives free legal assistance to people facing religious persecution. He’s currently serving an 11-year prison sentence, and went on hunger strike last year to protest the mistreatment of a fellow prisoner, Nguyen Van Hoa, a Catholic activist. Ask God to sustain them.
Pastor Nguyen Truong Ton has been in prison since 2017 as a result of his tireless defence of human rights. He’s being held in a facility very far from his home, which makes it difficult and expensive for his wife to visit him. Pray for God to bless them both with comfort and endurance.
Thursday 30 January ‘[My wife] told me she received many cards from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland...It made me feel like I was part of a big family.’ These were the words of human rights lawyer and former prisoner Nguyen Van Dai, speaking at our conference last year. Give thanks for everyone who campaigned and prayed on his behalf. Friday 31 January Nguyen Van Dai asked us: ‘Please pray for young people in Vietnam to come together to fight towards democracy.’ Join us in praying this today. Saturday 1 February Lord God, we thank you for the many human rights defenders in Vietnam who risk their freedom and safety for the rights of their fellow citizens. We commit them to you and ask you to be their vigilant protector and deliverer in the coming year. Amen.
We ask this in faith, and in the name of your son Jesus Christ, who was a refugee in Egypt so soon after his birth. Amen.
Find
out more about Egypt at csw.org.uk/egypt
Nguyen Van Dai at our Pursue Justice Live event
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Pray for the UN.
Your prayers are needed for Cuba.
Week 4: 2-8 February
Week 5: 9-15 February
‘When I put my suit and tie on the morning I went to the UN for the first time, I cried. I was doing something that I used to do, and it brought me back to myself.’ - Mohaned In the most recent issue of Response, Claire Denman, UN Officer, told us about the privilege of taking long-time CSW partner and Sudanese human rights lawyer Mohaned to the UN, to advocate for an international response to the democracy protests that were taking place around the country. Find out more about Sudan at csw.org.uk/sudan Sunday 2 February
Wednesday 5 February
Mohaned was forced to leave Sudan recently because of his human rights work, and now lives abroad. Speaking at the UN was the first time he had undertaken any significant advocacy since he had to leave. Thank God for this opportunity.
Please pray for CSW as we finalise our advocacy for next Human Rights Council (HRC) session in Geneva (24 February-20 March), and that what we do will influence policy and assist individuals around the world.
Monday 3 February ‘I was a voice for victims, martyrs, elders...And CSW gave me the opportunity.’ Mohaned’s words remind us of the importance of amplifying the voices of those suffering human rights violations around the world. Pray that we would be able to help many more be the voice for their communities.
Thursday 6 February To operate effectively, CSW must maintain good working relationships with UN staff and members of country delegations. Partnerships with other NGOs are also important, and CSW is part of an NGO Committee on freedom of religion or belief at the HRC, where
organisations work together on issues of concern whenever appropriate. Pray that God continues to bless these relationships. Friday 7 February Pray for the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Dr Ahmed Shaheed, and his staff as they work to protect and promote this fundamental right, and pray that countries represented at the UN would take strong and decisive action to protect this right at every opportunity. Saturday 8 February Lord God, we thank you for the opportunities we have to advocate for freedom of religion or belief, and for the brave and tireless work of individuals like Mohaned who are willing to speak out for what is right. We pray you would protect and provide for them, and continue to guide us as we advocate for a peaceful and just future for those of all creeds and none. Amen.
Sunday 9 February There has been increased pressure on religious leaders, with some being arbitrarily prohibited from leaving the island. In July 2019 four leaders were prevented from travelling to Washington DC to participate in the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. Pray that all travel restrictions would be immediately lifted.
their citizens the basic right to grieve according to their beliefs.
Monday 10 February
Wednesday 12 February
‘They want me to stop being a pastor.’ Apostle Alain Toledano Valiente, who leads a large unregistered church, has received multiple police summons as a result of his ordinary pastoral work - and in September was charged with the crime of ‘disobedience’. Ask God to protect and sustain him.
In August 2019 the government withdrew its permission for the Catholic Church to hold public celebrations for National Youth Day. Despite this, the Church went ahead with their plans and simply ensured the festivities were held in Catholic properties. Thank God for the Church’s determination in the face of opposition.
Tuesday 11 February
Tuesday 4 February
In July 2019 some Catholics were prevented from attending the funeral of Cardinal Jaime Ortega. Among them was Dagoberto Valdes Hernandez, who had known the Cardinal since his student days. Pray that God would soften the hearts of the authorities and grant
Pray for wisdom and strength for Claire as she regularly travels to the UN to continue advocating for human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, in Sudan and in other countries of concern.
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Apostle Alain Toledano Valiente told CSW, ‘In Cuba, pastors are more at risk than criminals and bandits.’ Just under a year ago Cuba voted in a new constitution which contains fewer protections for freedom of religion or belief. Since then, church leaders and human rights defenders have faced increased harassment and restrictions on their freedoms. Yet they continue to defy the government’s intimidation, determined that they should be able to practise their faith publicly and freely. Find out more about Cuba at csw.org.uk/cuba
Mohaned being recognised for his advocacy
Thursday 13 February In October the US Commission on International Religious Freedom called for Cuba’s Head of the Office of Religious Affairs (ORA) to be forbidden from entering the US because of their responsibility for severe
religious freedom violations. For many years religious leaders have repeatedly identified ORA officials as responsible for the majority of these violations. Praise God that their voices have finally been heard. Friday 14 February Pray this verse over all religious communities in Cuba: ‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) Saturday 15 February God our Father, be near to all those religious communities which are being denied their right to practise their faith. Protect and sustain them, and give them the courage to resist the government’s measures to limit their fundamental human rights. Amen. 7
Pray for China.
This week please pray for India.
Week 6: 16-22 February
Week 7: 23-29 February
A few months ago, CSW held our first ever events on freedom of religion or belief in Australia, focusing on China. It was a great opportunity, with expert speakers on China’s various religious and ethnic groups discussing issues such as church closures and the mass imprisonment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. Find out more about China at csw.org.uk/china
John Dayal is a writer and human rights activist, and one of our long-term partners. His courage and perseverance in speaking up against injustice - despite the harassment and death threats he’s received - are truly inspiring.
Sunday 16 February
Wednesday 19 February
Friday 21 February
Though the issues discussed were not new, many attendees were moved to take action in response to what they heard. Pray for more opportunities to hold events like this in the future.
Continue to pray for the estimated 1-3 million Uyghur Muslims who are being held in ‘re-education’ camps in Xinjiang Province. Though the camps have been widely condemned internationally, these statements have yet to lead to positive change.
‘Do you intend to make a mother give in and give up by making her suffer pain and despair over her son’s loss of schooling? Or, are you using his son to strike the imprisoned father and force him to bow to your menacing?’ These words were written by Li Wenzu, Quanquan’s mother and Wang Quanzhang’s wife. Ask God to bless her and her family with continued courage and perseverance.
Monday 17 February Give thanks that the events attracted many people who were receptive to the information we shared about Uyghurs in China and religious minorities more generally, and wanted to take action. Tuesday 18 February In Australia we met with several amazing organisations and individuals working on religious freedom. Pray for the development of good relationships with these organisations, and that we can work together to improve life for China’s religious and ethnic minorities.
Thursday 20 February In September 2019 Quanquan, the six-year-old son of imprisoned human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang, was prevented from going to school due to police pressure on the school. Pray that Quanquan would be able to return to school and study in peace.
Saturday 22 February Lord God, we thank you for the success of our events in Australia. We pray that the significant international interest in the situation for religious and ethnic minorities, especially the Uyghurs, translates to action on their behalf very soon, so that they can live in freedom and peace. Amen
And India needs people like him more and more. One of the biggest threats to religious freedom is the rise of far-right Hindu nationalism. Hate speech by Hindu extremists regularly incites discrimination and violence against religious minorities, and last September three Christians in Jharkhand State were tragically lynched by a Hindu nationalist group after being accused of cow slaughter. Meanwhile, several states have passed legislation that criminalises converting to another religion. Find out more about India at csw.org.uk/india Sunday 23 February Pray for comfort for the families of the two men who died in the lynching in September, and for physical and emotional healing for the surviving man, Philip Horo. Monday 24 February ‘Even though it was a humiliating moment for us as it all happened in a public area...we will continue to share our faith.’ Praise God for the determination of Leo Johnson and his wife Jenifa, who were threatened and intimidated after spending a day giving out Christian tracts last September. Tuesday 25 February Thank God for the countless courageous human rights defenders we know, such as John Dayal, who put themselves at risk to speak up for justice.
not commit. A total of seven Christians were falsely accused of the 2008 murder of a Hindu monk; the murder sparked the worst anti-Christian violence in India’s history. Give thanks that the remaining five men were granted bail in November last year.
after receiving threats from Hindu fundamentalists. Three other families were forcibly converted to Hinduism. Pray that they would be able to live in safety, peacefully practising their faith.
Thursday 27 February
Almighty God, we know that your love reaches to all corners of the earth. We ask you to stretch your hand of protection over the life of every person who experiences intimidation, harassment or threats from extremists. We also ask for lawmakers’ hearts to be changed and anti-conversion laws to be repealed, so that all India’s citizens can live out their beliefs in peace. Amen.
‘My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber.’ (Psalm 121:2-3) Pray this verse over India today. Friday 28 February Seven Christian families were forced to flee their village in Jharkhand State last June
Saturday 29 February
Wednesday 26 February Li Wenzu holds family picture and husband’s detention notice in Beijing. Thomas Peter/REUTERS
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Last year two men were released on bail after spending over 10 years in prison for a crime they did 9
Your prayers are needed for our Latin America Team. Week 8: 1-7 March
Week 9: 8-14 March
‘They want me to stop being a pastor,’ Apostle Alain Toledano Valiente told us, discussing the intimidation and harassment he’s experienced over the years at the hands of the Cuban authorities - including his home and church being demolished twice. The pressure has increased in recent months, but he’s courageously refusing to give in. Across Chile, Cuba, Colombia and Mexico, members of religious minorities like Apostle Toledano Valiente experience discrimination, abuse and worse because of their faith. Our Latin America team works hard to document these cases, to offer support and solidarity to those affected, and to bring about real change through advocacy. Find out more about Latin America at csw.org.uk/latam Sunday 1 March
Tuesday 3 March
In August Pastor Aarón Méndez Ruiz, the director of a Christian migrant shelter in Mexico, and his colleague Alfredo Castillo de Luna were kidnapped and forcibly disappeared. Pray for the return of the two men, for authorities to conduct a full investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable.
Much of our information comes from local partners on the ground who document religious freedom violations, often at great personal risk. Thank God for their courage and dedication, and pray for their protection.
Monday 2 March Twice destroyed - never defeated. Apostle Alain Toledano Valiente, a prominent leader in the Apostolic Movement in Cuba, has experienced repeated government harassment over the years, including his church and home being demolished twice. Pray for a breakthrough in his case as we continue to advocate for him.
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Your prayers are needed for Inspirational women.
Wednesday 4 March Due to the government’s control of communication lines, getting information into and out of Cuba can be difficult, and can compromise the security of our partners. Ask God to keep his hand of protection over everyone we are in touch with. Thursday 5 March A simple lack of awareness of human rights is behind many of the situations we see. Pray for opportunities to train local authorities, as well as ordinary citizens, in Mexico and Colombia - teaching them what freedom of religion or belief means and how to properly document human rights violations.
Friday 6 March ‘Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!’ (Psalm 118:15) Pray this verse over the Latin America team today. Saturday 7 March Sovereign Lord, thank you for sending us such talented, committed staff to speak up for people facing injustice for their beliefs across Latin America. Uphold them today we pray, and give them the spiritual and practical resources they need to continue their work. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Go to csw.org.uk/
connectencourage to send a letter of encouragement to Apostle Toledano Valiente.
At CSW we are blessed to work alongside and draw inspiration from some truly remarkable women. Almost daily we find ourselves interacting with women who devote their lives to promoting and protecting religious freedom, and we learn about others who risk their rights and safety in order to stay true to their faith. This week thank God for their incredible courage and resilience, and pray for his continued protection over them. Sunday 8 March On International Women’s Day pray for a brave and inspiring young Nigerian woman: 16-year-old Leah Sharibu. Since February 2018 Leah has been held in captivity by an offshoot of the terrorist group Boko Haram, and has not been released because she refuses to convert. Monday 9 March Remember today women who courageously speak up for their loved ones’ rights. Pray for Vu Minh Khanh who campaigned tirelessly for her husband Lawyer Dai’s release; for Grace Gao who has travelled the world raising her father Gao Zhisheng’s case; and for Rebecca Sharibu, mother of Leah, who continues to campaign for her daughter’s release. Tuesday 10 March Pray for comfort and endurance for Jiang Rong, the wife of Pastor Wang Yi who leads Early Rain Church in China. In December 2018 Jiang and her husband were detained, along with over 100 other members of their
church. Jiang was released in June 2019, but is still waiting for her husband to be freed. Wednesday 11 March Every Sunday the Cuban Ladies in White, a peaceful activist group, protest the unjust detention of their loved ones. After attending Mass they peacefully walk through their town to remind the authorities that they are waiting for justice. Pray for protection over these women, who are regularly beaten or detained in an attempt to prevent them from attending church. Thursday 12 March Today pray for all female human rights defenders who promote and protect religious freedom. Pray in particular for our long-
standing partner in Pakistan, Michelle Chaudhry; ask God to continue to protect her and bless her work. Friday 13 March Pray this verse over all of these women: ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ Revelation 21:4 Saturday 14 March Heavenly Father, we ask that you continue to fill these women with your strength and inspire them to always speak up for justice. May we in turn learn from their example and be filled afresh with a profound desire to see freedom of religion or belief respected around the world. Amen. 11
Your prayers are needed for Pakistan.
Pray for Colombia.
Week 10: 15-21 March Asia Bibi’s release from prison in 2018 after eight years on death row, having been falsely accused of blasphemy, showed the world that justice is possible, and we thank God for this amazing answer to prayer after you prayed and campaigned for many years! Yet this Christian woman should never have been in prison in the first place, and she is simply the most high-profile victim of Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws, which affect hundreds of lives every year. Find out more about Pakistan at csw.org.uk/pakistan Nazbano Bashir, mother of Akash Bashir, who was killed in a church bombing in 2015.
Monday 16 March Discriminatory government adverts specifically stating that only Christians can take up sanitation work continue to be a real concern. Despite social media criticism of such policies and promises by government bodies to remove the advertisements, the discriminatory practice continues. Pray that the government will take positive steps to end such practices. Tuesday 17 March
Sunday 15 March Praise God that Asia Bibi is now safe in Canada, after the Supreme Court overturned her conviction. Ask God to provide everything she needs, spiritually and materially, to rebuild her life.
Following the 2013 targeted attack on Christians in Joseph Colony, Sawan Masih, who was accused of blasphemy, remains in prison, having been sentenced to death in 2014. His case has been repeatedly adjourned and delayed. Pray today that his case would swiftly come before a judge who overturns his conviction and frees him without delay. Wednesday 18 March In 2017 Mashal Khan, a student, was brutally beaten and killed by a mob. He had been falsely accused of blasphemy, and
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Week 11: 22-28 March was murdered before the allegation was investigated. His death shocked the nation and reignited debate on the blasphemy laws. Pray that out of this tragedy will come real reform. Thursday 19 March Hundreds of Hindu and Christian girls every year are abducted, forced to marry a Muslim and to convert to Islam. In 2016 Sindh Province introduced legislation to address this issue. Praise God for this development and pray that similar laws will be adopted nationwide. Friday 20 March Praise God for the work done by the researcher Arafat Mazhar, showing that the Islamic texts used to justify blasphemy laws in fact contain provisions that non-Muslims should not be killed for blasphemy. Ask God to open doors for Mr Mazhar as he strives to change the thinking on this issue. Saturday 21 March Lord of all, you know the name of each person accused of blasphemy and awaiting trial, for months or perhaps years, though they are not known to us. We ask you to comfort them in their waiting, and to bring about a miracle so that this unjust legislation is completely reformed. In your Son’s holy name we pray, Amen.
Pastor Plinio Rafael Salcedo was murdered last August at his home in northern Colombia, an attack that’s thought to be linked to a protest two days earlier calling for peace in the region. We thank God for his bravery in taking a stand for justice that he knew could endanger his life. An armed conflict that lasted half a century and claimed millions of victims officially ended in 2016, when the government signed a peace agreement with the largest guerrilla group, the FARC-EP. Yet Colombia is still far from peaceful. The second-largest guerrilla group, the ELN, is overtly hostile to religion; in some of the areas it controls, religion is banned outright, and hundreds of church leaders who defied these restrictions have been assassinated. Find out more about Colombia at csw.org.uk/colombia Sunday 22 March Commit to God the wife and two young children of Pastor Salcedo, as well as the congregation of the church he led. Ask God to strengthen them, comfort them and provide for them. Monday 23 March Sadly, despite the signing of the peace agreement, violations of religious freedom and other human rights have worsened in many parts of the country. Pray for peace, reconciliation, and the healing of the land. Tuesday 24 March Pray that the government would implement the peace process fully, including putting in place a transitional justice system which would investigate the human rights violations that happened during the conflict, including war crimes.
perpetrators of violence. Pray that those in power would find a way to navigate the difficult balance between justice and peace, and find an acceptable compromise.
position that makes them vulnerable to pressure from armed groups who wish to control communities. Ask God to protect church leaders throughout the nation.
Thursday 26 March
Saturday 28 March
‘They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more.’ (Isaiah 2:4 NLT) Pray this verse over Colombia today.
Loving Father, today we thank you for the life of Pastor Salcedo and ask you to comfort and strengthen his family and congregation. May his death prompt action to offset the dangers facing church leaders in Colombia, and be part of the path towards true peace for the country. Amen.
Friday 27 March Church leaders such as Pastor Salcedo are often de facto community leaders, a
Wednesday 25 March Many Colombians distrust the peace agreement, feeling it is too lenient on the
Pastor Plinio Rafael Salcedo
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This week please pray for our Faith and a Future campaign.
Pray during Holy Week. his greatest suffering Christ offered comfort to the good thief. Pray that all those facing unimaginable suffering on account of their beliefs would be comforted by Christ today.
Week 12: 29 March-4 April Last year Iranian church leader Yousef Nadarkhani went on hunger strike for three weeks. His sons, Yoel and Daniel, have been prevented from continuing their education until they agree to take Islamic religious classes. And although their father is in prison, he didn’t let that stop him taking a stand for his children’s rights. Across the world, countless children experience abuse and discrimination at school because of their faith - some are even forced out of education. That’s why we launched the Faith and a Future campaign, to ensure every child can have both faith and a future. Read more on p.2 of the January issue of Response. Sunday 29 March
Wednesday 1 April
Ask God to move powerfully in the hearts of the iranian authorities to allow Yoel, 15, and Daniel, 17, to return to school. Their father has been fighting for 11 years for his children’s educational rights.
Children across Pakistan are learning from textbooks that distort history and encourage discrimination against religious minorities. After we presented a petition signed by over 5,000 CSW supporters to the UK government, officials promised to reexamine their position to ensure UK aid is not used to fund biased textbooks. Praise God for this breakthrough!
Monday 30 March Thank God for Pastor Nadarkhani’s immense courage in undertaking a hunger strike while in prison himself, on false national security charges relating to his church work. His steadfastness has been an inspiration to many. Tuesday 31 March Give thanks to God that sixyear-old Kevin from Mexico is back in school! His dream is to be a doctor, but his education was interrupted when he and other members of his faith community were driven from their homes. Hundreds of you joined our campaign for Kevin, and he returned to school last September. 14
Thursday 2 April
Friday 3 April Quanquan is just six, but the Chinese authorities are punishing him for who his father is. Wang Quanzhang is a human rights lawyer in prison on charges of ‘subversion of state power’, and now his son has been prevented from going to school. Pray that Quanquan will be able to resume his education. Saturday 4 April Lord of all, we thank you for Kevin’s return to school! Truly you are an unstoppable God, and we pray in faith that you will continue to work miracles in the lives of every child we are lifting to you this week. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Take action for
children’s educational rights at faithandafuture.com
16-year-old Leah Sharibu was one of 110 girls abducted from their school in Nigeria by terrorists in 2018. The next month, following government negotiations, the surviving girls were taken home. Leah, however, wasn’t released because she refused to convert. Pray for comfort and strength for Leah’s parents, Nathan and Rebecca, and brother Donald; and that she would soon be released.
Thursday 9 April
Week 13: 5-11 April As we enter Holy Week and meditate on Christ’s passion and death, let us bring before God all those currently suffering for their religious beliefs, particularly those in the darkest of situations who are desperately praying for change. May we remember that through his death on the cross, Christ has given meaning to suffering. And let us pray with confidence, knowing that our Lord is never far away. Sunday 5 April ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ (Matthew 27:46) Remember those held hostage because of their faith, for whom this opening verse of (Psalm 22), which Christ echoed on the cross, must ring true. The psalmist ultimately declares confidence in God’s deliverance; pray that those unjustly detained would likewise know that God will never abandon them. Monday 6 April
Kevin returns to school
‘I thirst.’ (John 19:28) Remember all those facing the gravest of injustices on account of their beliefs, especially those who thirst
for huge institutional change in their countries. Pray that they wouldn’t lose hope in God’s power to transform even the worst situations. Tuesday 7 April ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ (Luke 23:34) Pray today that all those who cause suffering to others on account of their faith would come to recognise what they’re doing, and would have a profound and immediate change of heart. Wednesday 8 April ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’ (Luke 23:43) In the hour of
‘Woman here is your son… Here is your mother.’ (John 19:26-27) Pray for all those around the world whose family members have been detained or have disappeared because of their beliefs. Ask Christ to strengthen and sustain them as they desperately wait for news of their loved ones. Friday 10 April ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ (Luke 23:46) Jesus humbly offered up his suffering to the Father. This Good Friday pray that Christians who are denied their religious freedom would be able to join their sufferings with Christ and, following his example, offer them up as a loving sacrifice to God. Saturday 11 April ‘It is finished.’ (John 18:30) Loving Lord Jesus, with your very final words you declared the completion of your earthly ministry by which you made salvation possible. May your words – words of victory and not of sorrow – bring profound comfort to all those we work for. Amen.
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Our manifesto #13
We believe in the power of prayer to bring change.
CSW is a human rights organisation advocating for freedom of religion or belief. As Christians we stand with everyone facing injustice because of their religion or belief. T +44 (0)20 8329 0010 @CSW_UK /CSWUK csw.org.uk Registered Charity No. 281836
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