Pray for the Persecuted Church
January 2018
Pastors
And I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. – Jeremiah 3:15
January 1 | SAUDI ARABIA – Pray for encouragement for leaders here. Many are working in secret and under heavy pressure.
January 2 | TAJIKISTAN – Pray for Tajik Muslim Background Believer Pastor Bahrom Kholmatov, who was sentenced to three years imprisonment. Even though it is not easy, he remains strong. Please keep this pastor and his wife and children in prayer.
January 3 | CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC – The situation in CAR is deteriorating. A local leader explains that violence originates mostly between Seleka and anti-Balaka militiamen. Pastor Tokon was one of those killed in a recent attack.
January 4 | MEXICO – Pastor Daniel Escalera has suffered extreme persecution at the hands of organized crime. Ask God to give him courage and resilience.
January 5 | CUBA – Interdenominational dialogue is being promoted and it is already bearing fruit. Pray for church leaders to continue to talk and move forward in common purposes and ideas.
Refugees
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. – Philippians 3:20
January 6 | INDIA – The Indian government has plans to deport many Rohingya Muslim Background Believers living in India as illegal immigrants. Pray for them as they face many hardships for their faith.
January 7 | PHILIPPINES – We recently visited believers in evacuation centers. They’re requesting prayer for the Lord’s peace, an end to the conflict and also for the leaders who are stepping out boldly to help distribute Bibles and practical aid.
January 8 | LEBANON – There is a lot of internal struggle here, including corruption, citizens reluctant to pay taxes and there are many refugees. Pray for the Lord to provide guidance and peace to believers in Lebanon.
January 9 | IRAQ – Most Iraqis have never seen anything but war and rumors of war. This has resulted in many fleeing as refugees, not
knowing what tomorrow will hold. Pray for many to come to faith in Jesus in this nation. Pray they continue to look to God for security and peace.
Discipleship
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
– Matthew 16:24
January 10 | INDIA – The anti-conversion law has been initiated by more and more states, so pray for believers trying to be faithful and share their faith, although their government is growing more hostile to the gospel.
January 11 | INDONESIA – Firman* set up a small business with the purpose of sharing the gospel to his customers, and he has successfully began mentoring a peer. The peer’s parents became suspicious and complained to the local Islamic leader. Pray for this brother’s ministry to continue and not be hindered.
January 12 | CENTRAL ASIA – The mufti (head of local Muslim authorities) in one district has called Christians “betrayers of true religion,” and has asked families to forbid their children from communicating with Christian children. Pray for believers to continue to grow despite the hostile environment.
January 13 | BRUNEI – There are no Christian bookshops in this Islamic country and Christian materials cannot be imported in large
quantities, yet discipleship remains one of the crucial needs here. Pray for God to provide all these believers need, including mature believers and materials when possible.
January 14 | INDONESIA – A partner told us how it’s suspected that 39 Christians recently converted to Islam after they were given clothes and money. They are hungry and in need, but pray for these individuals to come back to the truth of Jesus and allow Him to provide their every need.
Churches
And he is the head of the body, the church… – Colossians 1:18a
January 15 | ETHIOPIA – A mob attacked the Full Gospel Church in Tikil Dingay. They stole money and assaulted some of the church’s
members. The attackers were likely from an extremist group. Pray for this body of believers.
January 16 | KYRGYZSTAN – Pray for a church that has been targeted by vandals in Tokmak. Pray for security and courage for these believers.
January 17 | CHINA – Pray for churches here that are supporting missionaries; that they will be able to understand and embrace the
mission of unity. Many missionaries are isolated serving Buddhist Background Believers.
January 18 | ISRAEL AND PALESTINE – Praise God for the opportunity to partner with a local church in a wonderful initiative to provide schools and churches with children’s books and materials.
January 19 | INDIA – Pray for churches in northeast India. Many have yet to understand the impending and arising political situation
that will eventually affect the Church at large.
January 20 | SRI LANKA – Villagers recently destroyed a church and warned them to discontinue all worship services. The government officials also sided with the attackers and discouraged the believers from worshipping.
January 21 | EAST AFRICA – Ibsa (54), a local church leader, ministers to persecuted Christians in East Africa. He attended an Open Doors trauma counseling training and has since helped many dealing with pain and depression. Pray that his ministry continues effectively.
Women
My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. – Psalm 73:26
January 22 | KENYA – Please pray for Caroline, widow of one of the four men brutally killed by al-Shabaab militants in the town of Kasala Kairu. She witnessed the attack and is severely traumatized.
January 23 | KYRGYZSTAN – Sister Hamida* has been a believer for 15 years, but her Muslim husband came home one day very angry and beat her and wanted her to refuse her faith. Pray for this sister as she has escaped her husband but struggles with fear and sorrow,
and is also forbidden from seeing her children.
January 24 | ERITREA – Christians are mourning the death of Fekadu Debessai Negassi, an Eritrean Christian mother of four, in Metkel-Abet prison. Conditions in this prison are notoriously harsh and inhumane.
Believers
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. – Romans 6:4
January 25 | YEMEN – A Yemeni brother, Jaden*, has requested we join him in prayer for those facing persecution in his nation during war. Pray for bombing victims to forgive persecutors, and for hope and peace to infiltrate.
January 26 | VIETNAM – Four families were thrown out of their village a few months ago, and Open Doors has provided them with land and shelter thanks to your support. Join us in praising God that they are now safe and together.
January 27 | UGANDA – Pray for Edith (40) from eastern Uganda who is being targeted because she is a Christian. An influential sheikh found one of her goats grazing and broke its leg. The sheikh practices witchcraft and has intimidated Edith from reporting
the incidents.
January 28 | CAMEROON- Kadidja, a 12-year-old girl, comes from a Muslim background, but has come to faith in Jesus and shared with her family. Her mother has since come to faith too!
January 29 | BHUTAN – Remember in your prayers newly formed Bible study groups, organized by Open Doors.
January 30 | TUNISIA – Pray for Imen*, a young girl who has been sharing her faith with her classmates. She is under intense pressure from the school to stop doing this.
January 31 | NIGERIA – Please pray for evangelist Musa who lost his hand in an attack by radical Muslims in 2016. Pray that the Lord would continue to sustain him and give him strength to live free from debilitating anger.
*Names have been changed to protect identity.
Source: Open Doors
Promise of Joy 