Iran: Hunger for scripture
Despite persecution, the Iranian church is growing rapidly with over 300,000 New Testaments printed and leading Iranians to Christ. Church leaders are asking for more Bibles as they believe large-scale Scripture distribution will be instrumental in millions of Iranians coming to know Jesus Christ. One church planter received 1,000 New Testaments last month from Elam Ministries and said the New Testaments are the best way to share the love of Christ with the Iranian people. ‘I have personally given thousands out over the last few years and I’ve only had one person tell me they don’t want it.’ He added, ‘A few weeks ago we witnessed to a lady who was about to commit suicide and we gave her a New Testament. Praise God she did not go through with her plans. Please pray for her to find salvation and for the many others in Iran on the brink of suicide. Pray the Word of God will reach them too.’
Praise: God for Bible translators and fearless Christians in closed countries and ask Him to open more avenues of ministry throughout Iran. (1Ki.8:42)
Chalke asks next PM to acknowledge contribution of Christians
Faithworks’ founder Steve Chalke is calling upon the next Prime Minister to acknowledge the indispensible contribution to the economy made by the Christian voluntary sector. Chalke said that such recognition from the incoming Prime Minister would be a vote of confidence that would drive Christians to serve their local communities even more. ‘The Christian contribution to society is hugely significant,’ he said. ‘Local churches contribute millions to regional economies across the country and if Westminster more openly acknowledged this, the encouragement it would bring to the unsung army of volunteers and paid staff in churches and other Christian groups would release a tsunami of care which would help compensate for the inevitable forthcoming public spending cuts.’ According to the group, an estimated 370,000 Christian volunteers contribute services to the value of around £486 million each year in England alone, donating around 65 million hours of their time.
Pray: for recognition and encouragement of the Christian voluntary sector by the incoming government. (Is.61:9)
Zimbabwe: Possibly increased violence and pray for pastors’ conference
Two issues supplied by a reliable but anonymous source. First: ‘Robert Mugabe’s Zanu Party (PF) is recruiting youths for training in sophisticated murder and torture techniques for a campaign of violence against the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T). The campaign of terror is expected to roll into motion in July after the South African soccer World Cup ends and the media spotlight shifts elsewhere. High-level sources within Zanu (PF), MDC-T and the security services said the purpose of this plan was to plunge the country into total anarchy making it impossible to continue with the drafting of a new constitution. The youth recruitment drive is expected to be funded by the state, there are 10,000 illegally recruited members of the Zanu (PF) youth militia on the government payroll. Second: Next week there is a Pastors' conference where leaders will be praying for unity and repentance between leaders and denominations to see both 2 Chron 7:13-14 and Isaiah 58:6-14 coming to pass especially in Zimbabwean Churches!’
Pray: for God's healing of relationships within Zimbabwean society at every level and for the stronghold of fear and death to be broken over the territory.(Eph.2:14)
Sudan: Christians pray ahead of elections
We are urged to pray for the country’s first democratic elections in 24 years taking place from April 11 to 13 that could help pave the way for lasting peace, or spark another civil war. Relief organisation Samaritan’s Purse International said, ‘In 17 years of doing relief work in Sudan we’ve witnessed so much horrific violence. With this historic election Sudan sits at a crossroads and has an opportunity for long-term peace. We are asking every Christian to join us in prayer for the people of Sudan’. Sudan has been embroiled in a 21-year civil war sparked by government efforts to impose Islamic law on the mostly Christian south. The war was one of the longest lasting and deadliest of the late 20th century with an estimated 2 million civilians killed in southern Sudan and more than 4 million people displaced because of the violence.
Pray: that all polling stations will be safe and secure, for peaceful elections, for political stability in Sudan and for an end to the conflict in Darfur. (Ps.12:5)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.pray.ahead.of.sudan.elections/25580.htm
Seven aids for general election intercession
For those of us finding it difficult to hear God’s still small voice in the orchestra of political sound bites there are a number of valuable websites available to help our intercessions in the final lap of the election race. (hustings) documents a summary of the local husting meetings held in the past few weeks. (2) The Care General Election Prayer Guide can be downloaded from Prayer Forum (3) Initiatives and suggestions from Christians in Politics can be downloaded at Susa (4) A concise election twelve point prayer plan is on the World Prayer Centre website (5) 24-7 Prayer offer an election prayer meeting plan that can be downloaded from EAUK (6) Information concerning the Christian Peoples Alliance candidates and speeches are at (7) This week's Insight article is a scripture based prayer pointer distributed through the Parliamentary Prayer Fellowship. Click the 'info' button.
Pray: as the Lord leads into areas of government and the election process. (1Ti.2:1-2)
India: Christians seek Easter protection
Archbishop Marampudi Joji of Hyderabad sought police protection for conducting Easter services, particularly the Good Friday procession through public streets. The city witnessed Hindu-Muslim violence in the last week of March and police impossed a curfew in the violence-hit old city areas with propitiatory orders banning assembly of more than five people. Although the flare up was political rather than religion-related the Archbishop told UCA news, ‘We have requested police protection to conduct Holy Week services within our churches.' He also said that Christians in areas where curfew was imposed will ‘find it difficult to attend the Holy Week prayer.’ He has asked some parishes not to have processions and for
congregations to go home quietly after religious ceremonies. Police relaxed curfew in a few areas on April 1 after the situation improved.
Pray: for this and all Easter Christian services in India to be anointed, protected and a prevailing witness to non Believers. (Mt.28:18-20)
More: http://www.ucanews.com/2010/04/01/police-protection-sought-for-holy-wee
India: Christians faced 1,000 attacks in 500 days in Karnataka State
Open Doors reported ‘Christians in southern Karnataka State are experiencing an unprecedented wave of persecution, having faced more than 1,000 attacks in 500 days, according to an independent investigation by Justice Michael Saldanha, a former state High Court judge. In the latest attack on 17 March, a mob of 150 people led by the Hindu extremist organisation Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) and its youth wing, Bajrang Dal, stormed the funeral of a 50-year-old Christian identified only as ‘Isaac'. During his funeral, a mob pulled Isaac's coffin apart, threw his body onto a tractor and dumped it outside, saying his burial would have contaminated Indian soil. State authorities have denied the results of the inquiry, saying the number of attacks is significantly less. Many Christians face false charges of fraudulent or forced conversions. In his report, Justice Saldanha states that Christians are regularly ‘dragged to the police station under false allegations, immediately locked up, beaten and denied bail’
Pray: that Karnataka State will have a reliable justice system and that Christians will receive just treatment from the police and law courts. (Jas.1:12)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/india/16634/
China: Christians call to end internet censorship
A London conference was held last week by Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Release International to raise awareness of persecuted Christians in China. Release International called on Microsoft and Yahoo to follow Google's lead and refuse to censor the Internet and reports of persecution in China. ‘Religious persecution is a daily reality in China,’ said Release CEO Andy Dipper. ‘The Chinese people need to be told the truth and gatekeepers to the Internet, namely Microsoft and Yahoo, have a duty to let the truth be told.’ The conference highlighted the plight of human rights lawyer, Gao Zhisheng, who disappeared more than 400 days ago after defending leaders of the persecuted house church and practitioners of the banned movement Falun Gong. Praise God Gao has been interviewed, see Praise article below.
Pray: that Gao Zkisheng would be released immediately along with many others in similar circumstances. (Ps.4:1)
North Korea: High ranking defector speaks out
On Thursday AFP reported Hwang Jang-Yop, the highest-ranking official ever to defect from North Korea is calling for ‘ideological warfare’ against the hard-line regime and says China could easily bring it down if it chose to. Jang-Yop, who is at the top of North Korean agents' hit-list, is paying a tightly guarded visit to Washington as he seeks support from US policymakers and activists against his former government.The 87-year-old mentored leader Kim Jong-Il, presided over North Korea's parliament and is credited with developing the regime's ideology of ‘juche,’ or self-reliance. Speaking on Wednesday to a small audience at a think-tank, Jang-Yop discounted the options either of attacking or engaging Kim's regime and said it was instead crucial to show North Koreans the human rights violations around them. For insights from sensitive Christian sources to help you pray for North Korea click the info button below.
Pray: for God to give Jang-Yop the words that would be heard around the world to bring a colossal nonviolent turnaround of regime in North Korea. (Is.41:2)
Pakistan: Christians call for repeal of blasphemy laws
Riaz Anjum Masih, Chairman of the Pakistan Christian Movement has stressed the need for unity among the Christians of Pakistan and urges them to launch a united effort to scrap all discriminatory laws against minorities. He also called for repeal of those sections of the constitution which allegedly discriminate against religious minorities. ‘Although the constitution of Pakistan is unanimously agreed-upon, the Christians and other religious minorities have some reservations about it.’ said Masih. He went on to say that according to the constitution it is necessary to be a Muslim for attaining high posts of Government. He vowed to launch a struggle from the platform of the Pakistan Christian Movement to see the number of reserved seats for minorities increased. Unveiling his plans for uplifting the Pakistani Christian community Masih said they would establish a Christian educational fund to provide educational opportunities for Pakistani Christians as it is imperative for them to get higher education.
Pray: that God would strengthen the voice of the Pakistan Christian Movement and provide fresh standards of justice in that country. (1Pt.4:10-11)