News & analysis

From Twitter

• Armenian #Christian buildings demolished by Turkish authorities http://t.co/XNmZ85K9 7 hours ago

• Lent Prayer - Afghanistan http://t.co/hsLuNTuq 16 hours ago

• Lent Prayer - Afghanistan http://t.co/a8KkNzeN 22 hours ago

• Joy as pastor is unexpectedly released from Turkmenistan labour camp in prisoner amnesty http://t.co/f7UtwHkS Tue, Feb 2012 16:32

• Islamist violence drives nearly 95% of #Christians from Nigerian state "We have 2 leave because the sect is hunting us" http://t.co/TqAjnO8G Tue, Feb 2012 16:08

Daily prayer

• Churches in Russia that do not have a permanent building of their own are especially vulnerable to harassment from the authorities. Increasing numbers are being fined or threatened for holding meetings for worship that have not been specifically approved by the authorities. Leaders can be prosecuted even when their churches are registered and meeting regularly in rented premises. Around half the prosecutions are successful; these attract negative publicity for the churches and put their legal status at risk. Some leaders say that the position of Protestant Christians is more precarious now than in Communist times. Pray that all Christians in Russia will have freedom to meet and worship the Lord without unfair restrictions. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed 24 hours ago

• Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh became the fourth dictator to be toppled by the Arab Spring in November 2011. After months of violent protests against his three-decade rule, Saleh agreed to a deal that transferred power to his deputy, Vice President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, in return for a promise of immunity from prosecution. Today (Tuesday 21 February), a referendum-style election will take place to approve Hadi, the sole candidate, as president for a two-year term. The ousting of Saleh has not brought peace, and some factions that are opposed to the arrangement have been campaigning for a boycott of the poll. Pray for stability in Yemen, and for a regime that promotes justice and freedom for all its citizens. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Tue, Feb 2012 00:00

• Hindu radicals in Kandhamal district of Orissa State in India hoisted their saffron flag on the construction site of a new church on 6 October 2011. The incident, which took place during a Hindu festival, was provoked by the gathering of building materials by local Christians, and brought the work on the site in the village of Bakingia to a standstill. The previous church had been destroyed during the anti-Christian violence by Hindu militants in Orissa in 2008, but the community had started rebuilding after receiving compensation from the government. Pray that further extremist violence against the Christians of Bakingia will be prevented, and that they will be able to rebuild their church and worship in peace. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Mon, Feb 2012 00:00

• Pray for Faryal Bhatti (aged about 13) and her family, who have been forced to leave their home in Havelian, Pakistan, after she accidentally misspelled a word at her school on 22 September 2011. When answering a question, Faryal inadvertently misplaced a single dot in one word. This turned the word naat, which refers to praise of Muhammad, to laanat, which means “curse”. Enraged Muslims demanded that she be brought before a court for violating the country’s “blasphemy laws”. Despite her explanation that the mistake was without malicious intent, and some Muslim leaders speaking out in her defence, Faryal was expelled from her school and her family threatened and evicted from their home. Ask for the Lord’s blessing and protection of Faryal’s family as they rebuild their lives elsewhere. Pray that the government of Pakistan will abolish the controversial blasphemy laws. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Sun, Feb 2012 00:00

• A 12-year-old Pakistani Christian girl, Amber, was abducted, raped, and forcibly married to one of her Muslim assailants. Thank the Lord that she managed to escape after an eight-month ordeal during which she was subjected to daily sexual and physical assaults by her “husband” and another man. But though free, Amber is not safe, and her family have been forced into hiding as the attackers seek to hunt them down. The police have refused to register a case against the offenders and instead told Amber’s parents to hand her over to her husband. Pray that the Lord will be for her a rock of refuge and a strong fortress to save her (Psalm 31:2). Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Sat, Feb 2012 00:00