Keep them in your prayers

The following people used to be in Connect & Encourage, but it’s no longer possible to write to them (in most cases, this is due to security concerns), and we do not have the capacity to pass on your messages.

Egypt

In the past we’ve asked you to send cards, but at this time it’s difficult to ensure they will arrive in a timely manner. While the situation has improved for the Christian community, religious minorities are still targeted, and there are a growing number of human rights defenders among the nation’s prisoners of conscience. Iran

Over the lastfew years we’ve seen a pattern of religious minorities being arrested on national security charges, and in a number of current cases it couldput them at risk if they were to receive cards from other countries.

Nigeria

Rebecca Sharibu

Rebecca is the mother of Leah, a schoolgirl who was one of 110 girls abducted from their school in Dapchi, Nigeria by Boko Haram in February 2018. The next month, following negotiations by the government, the remaining girls were put into trucks to go home. But Leah wasn’t among them. She wasn’t released because she refused to convert in exchange for her freedom. Rebecca has been waiting for Leah to come home ever since.

Sudan

There have been significant changes in Sudan since former President Omaral Bashir was deposed and a Transitional Government took over in September 2019. In October 2021 the country was plunged into a new political crisis when a military coup raised significant concerns over the nation’s future. The months since the coup have beenmarked by excessive useof force against peaceful protestorsdemonstrating against the military takeover. The Church continues to support its members and the wider community through this extended period of uncertainty. Sadly, church leaders in many denominations are still grappling to hold administrative control overtheir affairs,with some facing criminal charges. Sudan Church of Christ (SCOC)

In October 2020 a criminalcourt in Omdurman acquitted eight church leaders of charges of criminal trespass filed against them by an illegitimate government-appointed committee. However, the case is now before the court of appeal.

The Episcopal Church of Sudan

The Episcopal Church is one of the largest Christian denominations in Sudan, and has several schools and medical centers attending to the needs of the entire community. The church also supports IDPs of every religion, offering humanitarian aid in many IDP camps. In the past, the church faced government harassment over the ownership of their properties and land disputes. Many of its buildings located in expensive areas were confiscated. Sudanese Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SPEC)

An illegitimate pro-government church committee appointed by the former regime sold most ofthe church’s properties and rented many buildings for exceedingly long terms, including the Khartoum Bahri Evangelical Church, which has mostlybeen demolished. Rafat Obid, wholeads the church’s legitimate elected committee, has been arrested on several occasions for “impersonating” a church official, andis now facinganother trial. Keep these people in your prayers

Central African Republic

Over 30,000 people fled the country and tens of thousands were displaced internally due to violence surrounding the 20202021 general elections that pitted armed groups against government forces backed by a UN peacekeeping mission, Rwandan troops and Russian paramilitaries. Episodes of violence continue, leaving the most vulnerable civilians at risk. Churches of all denominations are responding to support their communities, despite their own vulnerability. Vietnam

Nguyen Trung Ton

Nguyen Trung Ton is an outspoken human rights defender and Protestant pastor. He was arrested on July 30, 2017 on a charge of attempting to overthrow the state. In April 2018 Nguyen Trung Ton was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and two years’ house arrest. He was later transferred to a prison in a different part of the country. This makes it very difficult and expensive for his wife to visit him.

Nguyen Bac Truyen

Nguyen Bac Truyen is a legal expert and human rights activist who was abducted by police in July 2017. In April 2018 Truyen was convicted of “carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the government” and sentenced to 11 years in prison followed by three years’ house arrest. In reality, his only crime is defending the oppressed. A Hoa Hao Buddhist, Truyen speaks up for those of all faiths. In 2019 he went on hunger strike (along with other prisoners ofconscience) to protest the treatment of fellow prisoner Nguyen Van Hoa, a young Catholic activist.

Mexico

Juana

Juana and her family converted to Protestant Christianity in 2009. Because of their faith, they decided that they would no longer take part in local festivals or join in the activities of the majority religion. Just four months later, Juana, her family, and several other groups of Protestant Christians were driven out of their home village. As her husband died a few years ago, Juana is the sole breadwinner. Her children have to take care of themselves while she goes to work. Her oldest daughter, Adriana, has had to leave school so she can cook and care for her siblings.