“They are burning the church buildings, targeting the pastors and kidnapping church members. Choir members and groups have been attacked and others kidnapped either during choir practices or evening prayers,” wrote a Nigerian church leader to Barnabas Aid. Actions like this are forcing church buildings to close in parts of Nigeria. In Kaduna State over 200 churches had to shut down in a recent four-year period. Many Christians now meet for worship in homes or under trees in their villages. These attacks on church buildings are in addition to an estimated 45,000 Christian people killed in Nigeria since 2009. Pray that the Lord will have mercy on His people in Nigeria and bring their suffering to an end.
Thirty people were killed by suspected Fulani extremists, armed with guns, who attacked a group of Christian villages in Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria, shortly after midnight on 24 January. Many other attacks occur that are never reported to the wider world. Pray that grieving Nigerian believers will be strengthened by remembering that their sorrow and wretchedness are known to God, who sees and values every tear they shed (Psalm 56:8).
Nambam’s husband, whose name was Barnabas, was killed in an anti-Christian attack in Nigeria in 2023. Barnabas Aid has provided her with a simple three-room house for her and her children, with some land around it where she can grow food. She says, “After my husband was killed, I lost hope. I didn’t know that God will bring comfort and hope from our Christian family through Barnabas Aid.” Pray that the Lord will guide Barnabas Aid as we seek to provide houses for other families made homeless by anti-Christian violence in Nigeria.
Presidential elections in Chad are scheduled for the day after tomorrow, 6 May. The poll was thrown into doubt after the main opposition candidate Yaya Dillo Djérou was shot dead in a clash with government forces on 28 February. Pray that the election will be conducted in peace and safety and that whoever is elected will govern wisely and fairly for all citizens. Christians in Chad, just over a third of the population, often suffer discrimination from the Muslim majority, which dominates Chadian politics, civil service, armed forces and business. Pray for protection for Christians in this desperately poor country.
We bring to You today, dear Father, our Christian brothers and sisters in Vietnam. We know that some face difficulties because they are Your children, while others do not, but we pray that all will be built up in their faith. We pray for those who are denied basic documents and therefore cannot get healthcare or schooling. We pray for those who are kept under surveillance, intimidated, beaten or imprisoned. We pray for those who are summoned to “criticism sessions” where they are criticised publicly to try to make them deny Christ. In His Name we ask that You will give them endurance, courage and perseverance in abundant measure.
“This is a green area,” said the local government leaders to Y, who was church-planting in Java, Indonesia. Green is the colour of Islam, so this statement meant that they did not want any Christians or Christian activities in their area. Y reduced her ministry activities but did not stop. She reached the point where a building was needed for the Christians to meet, but Indonesian law requires approval from 60 non-Christian local households for a new church building. The Christians prayed and fasted, and, gathering her courage, Y began trying to collect the necessary signatures, even from the local government leaders who seemed to hate her. Much to her surprise they all signed their agreement to the proposed Christian “house of prayer”. Praise God for this and ask for His continued blessing and guidance on the growing congregation.
The vast country of Indonesia elected a new president in February after Joko Widodo completed the two terms in office allowed by the constitution. He was succeeded by Prabowo Subianto, a 72-year-old former general and defence minister. Subianto’s path to victory was helped with the support of Joko Widodo whose son Gibran Rakabuming Raka was appointed as Subianto’s vice-presidential candidate. Joko Widodo did much to combat Islamist extremism and to help Indonesian Christians during his tenure. Pray that President Subianto will serve the country that has more Muslims than any other with wisdom, compassion and justice.
Tuncer Cihan (aged 52) was shot dead by two masked gunmen during a church service on Sunday 28 January in Istanbul, Turkey. It was apparently a targeted assassination, and no one else in the congregation (which included European Christians) was shot at. Tuncer was a Turkish convert from Islam to Christianity. Islamic State (IS – also known as ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) later claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in response to calls by its leaders to target Jews and Christians. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey sent condolences to the church leaders and the police were quick to make arrests. Pray for the protection of all Christians in Turkey, especially those who are converts from Islam.
From this month onwards the ancient church building of St Saviour in Chora, Istanbul, Turkey will be used as a mosque. Dating from the fourth century, the church was first converted into a mosque after the Ottomans conquered Istanbul (then called Constantinople) in 1453. The building was repurposed as a museum in the mid-20th century, by which time Turkey was a secular republic. The plan to use it as a mosque again dates from 2020 when President Erdoğan issued a decree that also ordered Istanbul’s renowned Hagia Sophia cathedral to be used as a mosque from that year. Pray that Christians in Turkey will not be disheartened and that the day will come when it is used again for Christian worship.
Nearly 120,000 Armenian Christians from Nagorno-Karabakh fled to Armenia seven months ago when Azerbaijan seized control of Nagorno-Karabakh. Pray for them as they re-start their lives, trying to find new ways to earn a living and permanent homes instead of church halls or spare rooms of distant relatives. Barnabas is sending help. Ask that the Lord will comfort them in the sudden loss of their beloved homeland, which is full of ancient Armenian churches and khachkars (intricately carved stone crosses).
Azerbaijan is systematically destroying the Armenian Christian history of Nagorno-Karabakh. Some Christian buildings have been knocked down and the stones removed, so it appears that nothing has ever stood there. Others have been converted for non-Christian uses. In still other cases, Azerbaijan writes a new history for the buildings or the khachkars (cross-stones), claiming that the Armenian inscriptions are “forgeries” added to the original work of a vanished tribe of “Caucasian Albanians”. All this is continuing despite a prohibition from the International Court of Justice. In effect, Azerbaijan is ethnically cleansing not only the land but also the historical record. It is as if they are trying to persuade the world that Armenians, who became the first Christian nation in 301, never existed. Pray that Azerbaijan will cease this destruction.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the courage and perseverance of Your followers in North Korea. Protect them as they meet together to worship You, knowing that they will be terribly persecuted if they are caught doing this. Be with them as they read Your Word in a country where Christians have been executed just for owning a Bible. Strengthen those in labour camps, where they are starved, tortured and worked almost to death. Although North Korea is cut off from the rest of the world, may its Christians rejoice to know that, through persecution, they are part of a great company of prophets and martyrs who have gone before (Matthew 5:12).
Since 1 January 2024 a new Patriotic Education Law has been in force in China. The law applies not just to schools but also to religious groups and all sectors of Chinese society. Guidelines on how religious groups should follow the law have been issued by the Chinese Communist Party. The main gist is that the thoughts of Xi Jinping, the president of China, must be learnt, thought and practised by religious groups. Pray for all Christians in China, especially church leaders, that the Holy Spirit will give them wisdom and courage to continue faithful to Christ in this increasingly difficult environment.
Today is the 21st birthday of Leah Sharibu, a Nigerian Christian who has been held captive by Boko Haram terrorists since she was 14 years old. She was kidnapped with other pupils from her school, but all the others were soon released. Leah was kept because she refused to deny Christ and convert to Islam. While in captivity she has been forced into marriage with a Boko Haram commander and had at least two children. Lift up Leah in prayer to the God who rescues (Daniel 3:29), asking Him to keep her Christian faith strong and to restore her soon to her loving parents who long to see her again.
Christian girls or women who have been held captive by Boko Haram and then released/escaped are not always accepted back by their local community. Sometimes they are labelled as “annoba” (a Hausa word meaning “plagues”) and “Boko Haram wives”. This is because the community fears that the girls were turned into radical Muslims during their years of captivity. Even their children can be viewed with suspicion as possible future terrorists. Pray for a loving, trusting, welcoming attitude to these young women who have endured so much for so many years.
Christianity in Hindu-majority Nepal has grown fast since the 1950s, mainly by the evangelistic efforts of the early converts. However, it is still seen as an “alien faith” not belonging in Nepal. Those who leave Hinduism to follow Christ are viewed as having abandoned not just their religion but also their family, culture and community. They may face persecution, especially if they were high-caste. Christians may find themselves facing discrimination, for example being barred from public jobs. The media tend to be negative towards Christians. Pray that Nepali Christians will “consider it pure joy”, whenever they face trials of many kinds, because they know that the testing of their faith produces perseverance which will make them mature believers (James 1:2-4).
Christians in Nepal can face persecution not only from the community but also from the authorities. Since 2018 it has been illegal to attempt to convert a Hindu or a Buddhist or to “hurt religious sentiment”. With this vague wording, almost any Christian activity could potentially be deemed illegal. At the end of last year, Nepali pastors were facing nine court cases on fabricated charges under this law. There is a possible punishment of five years in prison. Lift up these pastors in prayer to our God, who in all things works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Nepali Christians believe it is because the Church is growing so fast that they are being persecuted.
“Seeing our people in our church excited to learn and discuss makes us feel blessed. This has brought a huge change in our lives,” exclaimed Asmita, a member of a local church in Nepal, who have been built up together by a training ministry fondly nicknamed “Bible college at home”. The members of Asmita’s church range from women who are barely literate to students doing university degrees. The range of the different courses helps Christians wherever they may be in their faith and whatever their level of education. Some courses are used to prepare new converts for baptism, others to equip experienced church leaders. Pray that each of the 5,473 students, of all ages and walks of life, will grow in their faith and be better able to face pressure and persecution. Barnabas helps to fund this training.
Thank You, heavenly Father, for sending the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter and Counsellor. We ask that our brothers and sisters who are suffering for the sake of Christ, who are hungry or frightened, sick or grieving, in prison or on trial, injured or tortured, will know the presence of Your Spirit. May He guide their thoughts to Your promises and our eternal hope. May He put the right words in their mouths as they respond to their persecutors. May He remind them of Jesus’s teachings, especially those who have no access to a Bible in their suffering. May He fill them with overflowing peace and joy.
Please pray for a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land and for all who have suffered there so terribly since 7 October 2023. Remember especially the Christians of Gaza, who number about 900 people within a Gazan population of some 2 million. At least 20 have been killed. At the time of writing they are mostly sheltering in the compounds of two churches in Gaza City; this is in northern Gaza where food aid has been even scarcer than in the south. At the end of February, the Christians were saying that they had heard of other groups being given food by the UN and Red Cross but had not received anything themselves despite their pleas.
The Holy Land violence is also affecting the West Bank, where there is a substantial Christian minority. Many Christians there used to have jobs in the tourist trade, but the conflict is keeping tourists away and therefore those jobs are disappearing. “Lack of income and resources in the city is truly devastating,” wrote one Christian from Bethlehem to Barnabas Aid. Pray that our brothers and sisters, living where the Prince of Peace was born but facing such an uncertain future, will have His peace in their hearts, whatever happens around them.
The conflict in the Holy Land has spilled over into southern Lebanon. By mid-February around 90,000 Lebanese had left the south to seek safety in Beirut and other areas. Most of the Christians in the south are amongst them. “They all hope to go back to their homes and villages, so we are praying for a truce, for peace and the fighting to stop,” wrote a church leader in Lebanon to Barnabas Aid in February. Add your prayers to those of Lebanese Christians.
Syria continues in the turmoil of civil war and the deprivation caused by international sanctions. Humanitarian needs are huge. Ask the Lord to have mercy on this suffering country, which has in the past welcomed so many Christians seeking refuge there. Many Christians are now leaving Syria because they “have no more hope of peace, security and resources to enable them to live and survive”, writes a Syrian Christian leader. Pray that the Lord will guide each family and give them hope.
Praise God for the zeal of hundreds of young Middle Eastern Christians in Germany, who meet weekly in groups of 50 to 100 to study the Bible together. Most of them are second-generation immigrants, whose parents fled to Germany from countries such as Syria, Iraq and Turkey to escape persecution. Having grown up in Germany, they find German easier than their parents’ language, Aramaic, and Barnabas has provided them with German-language Bibles. Pray that their faith will not grow dim as they live in a safe and secure country where there is much less to test them than their parents endured.
It is now 13 years since Christian children in Tajikistan were banned by law from going to church. Pray that those now approaching adulthood, who can probably not remember being in a Christian worship service or prayer meeting, may look forward with enthusiasm to their 18th birthdays because after that they may go to church. Ask that they will be filled with a deep desire and longing to worship the Lord with His people. Ask too for wisdom and guidance for all Christian parents in Tajikistan, teaching their children the faith at home.
Dear Lord, we bring before Your throne today our Christian brothers and sisters in Turkmenistan, whose lives are hemmed in with many restrictions and dangers. We pray that You will touch the hearts of the Turkmen authorities to allow more Bibles to enter their country. We pray that You will prompt them to allow more churches to be registered so that Christians can gather for worship legally, instead of being arrested for meeting illegally in homes. We pray that, as the state authorities approve the appointment of all church leaders, You will work through them to raise up the leaders of Your choice to pastor Your suffering people in Turkmenistan. We ask it all in the Name of Christ.
“All the events that take place around us – catastrophes, natural disasters, wars, persecution of Christians and much more – are signs of the end times,” wrote some believers in a Central Asian republic. “But despite all this, the Lord keeps us in His hand and strengthens us in service. We haven’t had any serious disasters so far. Although minor earthquakes occur quite often, avalanches occur very often in mountainous areas, floods occur, and there are persecutions in places, but in general we have very favourable conditions for evangelism.” They invite us to praise the Lord with them for peace in their country and that Christian ministry is able to take place, praying also for His continued guidance and provision.
A growing consciousness of national identity is developing in Kazakhstan, especially in the south and west. Because Islam is part of the Kazakh identity, this is leading to greater hostility towards Christians, not only Kazakh converts from Islam but also the many Russian Christians who have never been Muslims. Another problem for the Russian Christians is that some in Kazakhstan are becoming increasingly anti-Russian. In the 2021 census about 17% of the population declared themselves Christian (down from 26% in 2009); they are mainly Russians (and Ukrainians). Pray that all Christians in Kazakhstan will “live such good lives” among the non-Christians that hostility and false accusations will melt away and the Lord will be glorified (1 Peter 2:12).
A congregation in Kazakhstan is running special activities to strengthen its members in the face of persecution and hostility as Kazakh consciousness of national identity grows. Most of the congregation are first-generation Christians, a mixture of converts from Islam and former atheists. Pray for wisdom for those who are teaching them and that the Holy Spirit will make them strong, firm and steadfast in their faith (1 Peter 5:10).
The authorities in Kazakhstan often invite Protestant pastors to events or consultations. For example, one was invited to the mayor’s office of his city and asked to take part in the city’s work with youth and families. Some pastors rejoice over these unexpected opportunities, while others mistrust the intentions of the authorities and wonder if there is a hidden agenda. Pray that all the pastors may have the spiritual gift of discernment and may know how to be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16).
Iman Golzar was arrested from his home in Dezful, Iran, by plainclothes agents at midnight on 16 January. They also seized his computer and CCTV. He was released on bail on 7 February, to the tremendous relief of his parents, who are both deaf and had not known where he was being held. At the time of writing, it is not known whether he has been charged with anything, but Iranian converts from Islam like Iman are typically charged with “acting against national security” or similar offences. Ask the Lord, who knows Iman’s exact situation today, to protect Iman, whatever he is accused of.
