IDOP 2008
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Sunday November 9th 2008
Sunday November 9th 2008
PLEASE PRAY FOR–
AFGHANISTAN
Continues to deteriorate. The Taliban's opium-funded insurgency is advancing. No liberty or security.
The nation:
- for God to graciously reveal himself to Afghanis (Isaiah 65:1) and to intervene to frustrate the ways of the Taliban ( Psalm 146:9).
- for God to move powerfully amongst the Afghan Diaspora, so that Afghanis in exile may become the parents, Christians, leaders and nation builders of the future Afghanistan.
The Church:
- for God to bless Afghanistan's secret believers and keep them safe so the Afghan Church may live and grow to be an instrument of blessing (salt), transformation (yeast), and truth-giving (light) for the nation.
ALGERIA
Al-Qaeda terrorism escalating. Government appeasing Islamists and state persecution of Christians intensifying.
The nation:
for God to give the government of President Bouteflika the foresight and courage to resist Islamist pressure to Islamise the state and repress the Church. May the repressive, anti-Christian law
on religion be repealed.- for the Holy Spirit to powerfully bless the gospel message of life, hope and salvation as it goes out into a nation traumatised and disillusioned by Islamic terrorism; may Christ bring new life to Algeria.
The Church:
- for continued Church growth and perseverance despite repressive legislation against proselytising (mission) and unregistered house churches.
BANGLADESH
Worsened since October 2001 due to Islamic radicalisation.
The nation (which once fought to be secular):
- for an honest and just government, and for
the people to resist
the false promises of Islamists.
The Church:
- for God to protect and sustain the small but growing persecuted Church from increasingly
intolerant and often violent Islamic elements.
BELARUS
Appears to be losing the favour of its patron, Russia.
The nation:
that the Holy Spirit will
bring revival to the
Orthodox Church, and a
great hunger for
openness, liberty and
true spirituality to the
masses.- for God to turn President Lukashenka away from isolation (traditionally sustained by Russia) towards openness, global engagement and liberty.
The Church:
- that during these days of repression, the Church will grow in prayerfulness, wisdom, grace and unity in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:3), fully
prepared and sanctified for the days of liberty
ahead.
BHUTAN
Transformation under way; emerging democracy; spiritual warfare expected.
The nation:
for God to bless those who are leading Bhutan from isolated repression into openness and liberty. Pray especially that God will unite the Bhutanese people behind these leaders; may their fears dissolve and may they find so much joy in liberty that Buddhist nationalism cannot gain a foothold.
The Church:
- for God to give the young Bhutanese Church great heavenly wisdom, so she may be a wise and sensitive agent of blessing through these days of transformation when many Buddhists are anxious.
BURMA (MYANMAR)
Intensive isolation and severe ethnic and
religious repression.
The nation:
- for God to give Burma an honest and just government that promotes religious liberty and equity for God to give Burma an honest and just government that promotes religious liberty and equity.
The Church:
- that God will protect and preserve the violently persecuted and hunted ethnic minority Christians.
- that the Holy Spirit will take and wield the
gospel message of Burmese Christians so it
penetrates the hearts of the highly resistant Burmese Buddhist majority.
CHINA
Wrestling with transformation. Intense spiritual warfare guaranteed.
The nation:
that God will continue to awaken and enlighten Chinese consciences. May China's pursuit of 'harmonious society' lead
many to the gospel of Jesus Christ.- for God to give the government divine wisdom in dealing with the immensely complex issues of such a large and multi-cultural nation. May there be security with justice, and development with sensitivity.
- that China's a vast network of some 1100 'loagai' (reform-through-labour prison camps, most used for forced labour) will be relegated to history.
The Church:
- that God will be the refuge and strength of China's imprisoned believers, healing their physical and emotional wounds and that the ever-present Holy Spirit may comfort and counsel their hearts.
- for continued church growth in the midst of
oppression and suffering. May Bibles be plentiful
and may God raise up more Christian pastors and evangelists to meet the enormous demand
created by nation-wide spiritual hunger. May he continue preparing the Church for the coming
days of liberty.
EGYPT
Worsened through 2008.
The nation:
for God to reveal himself to the Egyptians (Isaiah 19:19-25) as they struggle with issues of apostasy, religious
liberty, and Islamic
repression. Pray for an Arab Awakening.
The Church:
- for Egypt's Coptic and other Christians to grow in prayerfulness, knowledge of the Lord, grace and faith in the midst of hardship and Islamic persecution. May God be building and sanctifying his Church in preparation for when revival comes to Egypt.
- for Egypt's growing number of converts from Islam: pray for their safety and that they will live and grow in knowledge of the Lord and in grace, and as lights to their nation.
ERITREA
Worsened since May 2002 – severe persecution.
The nation:
for God to intervene and bring peace, justice and liberty to Eritrea. (Isaiah 59:15b-19)
The Church:
- for God to redeem the Church's suffering so that good may come from evil. Pray for healing and comfort for those who have/are suffering. Pray especially for freedom and justice for more than 2000 Christians presently imprisoned for their faith.
- that the fire of persecution will eliminate religious
competition, fix all eyes on Christ, and forge
unity and brotherly love amongst Eritrea's Christian denominations and individual believers.
INDIA
Critical deterioration; grave risk. Federal election due by May 2009 and Hindu nationalists are gaining ground.
The nation:
for God to awaken Indians to the dangers of fascist Hindutva (militant Hindu nationalism); may he stir Indian consciences and awaken hearts and minds, so that Hindutva, violence and anti-Christian propaganda will be rejected in preference for truth, harmony and liberty.
The Church:
- for God to protect India's Christians, most of whom are vulnerable, poor and without 'voice'.
- for God to give great heavenly wisdom and courage to evangelists and bless their witness.
- for the Church to grow in prayerfulness, casteless solidarity, wisdom, grace and perseverance in the face of suffering — that she might emerge from the fire of persecution refined, sanctified, united and glorious.
INDONESIA
Deterioration. Government is appeasing violence Islamic fundamentalists.
The nation:
for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Jusuf Kalla and all in authority in Indonesia, that they will have motivation, moral conviction and strength to implement justice and
stand against Islamic radicalisation and violence. (1 Tim 2:1-4)
The Church:
- for God to frustrate the ways of the wicked (Psalm 146:9) and protect the churches, pastors, evangelists, Christian leaders and all believers in these days of Islamic radicalisation and escalating violence.
- for the Christians of Papua, that God will hear their cries and deliver them from the potentially genocidal effects of Javanese Muslim domination and military (TNI) repression.
IRAN
Critical deterioration and escalating belligerence in pursuit of regional hegemony.
The nation:
for God to continue
stirring up within the
people a hunger for liberty, justice, human
rights, scholarship,
beauty and truth — things
Persians historically have delighted in. May God
also give them the courage to pursue liberation.
May God intervene to bring down Iran's
repressive, belligerent, apocalyptic regime
controlled by Shi'ite clerics and enforced by Islamic Revolutionary Guards.- for God to continue moving powerfully amongst
the Iranian Diaspora, so that Iranian Christian
and political leaders might be raised up and prepared to serve the nation.
The Church:
- for safety, wisdom, provision and perseverance for Iran's violently oppressed and persecuted Christians, including a growing number of converts from Islam who face severe persecution and are at risk of public execution. May they shine as stars in the midst of darkness, displaying their joy and abundant life amidst repression, depression and a culture of death and revolution (Philippians 2:14-15).
IRAQ
Continued deterioration: no liberty and no security. Religious polarisation. Looming genocide.
The nation:
that God will still the turmoil of the nation (Psalm 65:5-7), frustrate the ways of the wicked (Psalm 146:9) and intervene against aggressors and all enemies of his Church.
The Church:
- for God to protect churches, pastors, evangelists and believers from terrorism and from lawless
violence at this time of intensive insecurity when
murder, torture, kidnap, forced conversions and
rape of non-Muslims are endemic. May God be
their refuge, strength and help (Psalm 46). - that in the midst of violence and trauma, the faith and love of believers (including hundreds of thousands who are refugees) will be a witness to all around them: may all suffering be redeemed.
- for the furnace of persecution to produce a
Christ-focused Church that is refined, sanctified,
and united in love and truth across ethnic and denominational lines.
JORDAN
Deterioration through 2008.
- for understanding and unity amongst Jordan's traditional (mostly ethnic) Christian denominations and the growing Protestants as Muslim hostility grows. May all Jordan's churches heed Christ's call to witness (Matthew 28:19, 20), and to take up the cross (Luke 14:27), and to be 'as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves' (Matthew 10:16 ESV).
KOSOVO
Historically part of Serbia and the official 'church lands' of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Now a self-declared independent Albanian Muslim republic, recognised by 43 of the UN's 192 states.
for comfort, grace and great wisdom for the vulnerable, Serbian Orthodox remnant in what is now the Albanian Muslimmajority self-declared Republic of Kosovo. Pray for God to be their shield (Psalm 33:20), their refuge and strength, their help in times of trouble, and their fortress (Psalm 46).- for the Spirit of God to generate Christian love and solidarity across ethnic and denominational lines so that Kosovo's minority of Albanian Christians (mostly evangelicals) might bring glory to God through demonstrations of courageous, sacrificial brotherly love and Christian solidarity.
LAOS
Serious persecution.
The Nation:
for an end to the severe Communist oppression of Christianity, and the Lao government's genocidal campaign of terror against the Hmong (a pro-West, largely Christianised ethnic minority).- that rights-affirming nations will use their influence to leverage human rights reform and religious liberty in impoverished Laos.
- For God to bring spiritual awakening and moral conviction to the dominant, majority ethnic Lao, so they might be instrumental in bringing change to Laos.
The Church:
- that Christians (mostly ethnic minority Khmu and Hmong) will be sustained, kept safe, and blessed with faith, peace, assurance of God's love and presence.
- for healing for all those who those have been tortured, beaten, or attacked by the military, especially the Hmong who have been attacked with chemical weapons ('yellow rain'), butchered, starved and driven into exile where there is still no refuge. May God uphold and preserve them, raise up voices on their behalf and deliver them from evil.
LEBANON
Grave risk caused by Hezballah's rising power.
- for Christians across all
levels and fields of
society to find unity in
what is true, just,
righteous and God-glorifying;
and may they
have the courage to
stand for these principles in spite of the terrifying
opposition. May God protect and preserve his
witness and empower his Church as
peacemaker, light-giver and healer. May Lebanon know the LORD (Psalm 87:4) and rejoice (Psalm 29:6).
MALAYSIA
Opposition to 'creeping Islamisation' is growing!
The nation:
- for God to continue
working in the hearts
of Malaysians,
drawing them towards
openness, progress
and liberty, so that
decades of 'creeping Islamisation' might be reversed.
The Church:
- for God to raise up Christians of great courage
and conviction to speak with wisdom and grace
in these days of searching and questioning.
MOROCCO
Persecution — but reform gives grounds for hope.
- for King Mohammed VI and the elected government in Morocco to persevere with reforms: may they be instruments in the hand of God for his good purpose so that religious freedom may become a reality.
NEPAL
Transformation under way; emerging democracy; spiritual warfare expected.
The nation:
for God to intervene in
Nepal as the new
government writes a
new constitution and leads the nation into openness and religious liberty. Please pray for the government to have wisdom and sensitivity in pursuit of justice, equity and peace. Pray for the people to be united across ethnic and religious lines, and that they will find so much joy in liberty that they will
not be tempted by Hindu nationalism.
The Church:
- for God to give the Nepalese Church great heavenly wisdom, so she may be a wise and sensitive agent of blessing through these days of transformation.
NIGERIA
Religious fault-line nation
The nation:
that state, community and religious leaders will have hearts committed to peace, liberty and justice; may they have the wisdom and strength to prevent sectarian tensions and clashes.
The Church:
- for God to protect and sustain the Christian minority in northern Nigeria where Islamic Sharia law heightens Islamic zeal and leads to crippling discrimination, repression and violent persecution.
- may God give the free and often prosperous
Christians of southern Nigeria a deep burden for
their persecuted and usually impoverished brothers and sisters in the north; may this be
evident in fervent, unceasing prayer and sacrificial generosity. (Isaiah 58:5-7)
NORTH KOREA
Severe persecution. However, belligerent North Korea seems to be losing some of the support of its patron, China.
The nation:
- for the Spirit of Christ to infiltrate the nation, bringing in his gospel and power, through cracks that God will make and doors that God will open, or through supernatural means like dreams and visions. May Christ bring justice, righteousness, healing, comfort, abundant life and salvation to the people, freedom to the prisoners, and healing to the land. (Luke 4:18,19)
- for God to move North Korea away from isolation
(traditionally sustained by China) towards
openness, global engagement and liberty. - for the Spirit of God to direct Chinese and South
Korean authorities as they formulate policy
initiatives aimed at improving conditions and hastening reforms in North Korea.
The Church:
- which exists mainly in horrendous prison labour camps as well as in underground, secret house-churches and in exile, that these most cruelly abused believers will be preserved and strengthened in their faith and hope by the ever-present Holy Spirit.
PAKISTAN
Critical deterioration; grave risk. Northwestern tribal areas are largely under al-Qaeda- Taliban control. The Taliban is advancing and terrorism is escalating.
The nation:
for the government and the Army to have the will and courage to defeat the Taliban and al-Qaeda in the north-west, and confront intolerant, regressive Islamic fundamentalism.- for the present troubles to cause Pakistani disillusionment with Islam to increase and be the catalyst which would enable decades of Islamisation to be reversed.
The Church:
- for God to protect Pakistan's Churches and
individual believers from Islamic terrorism. Pray
especially for the small, vulnerable Christian communities living under Taliban rule and Sharia
law in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of North West Frontier Province (NWFP). - for God to bless all Christian witness in
increasingly hostile and insecure Pakistan. May
Christian grace and hope be instrumental in leading many to Christ.
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES [PT]
Continued deterioration, particularly in Gaza.
The nation:
for God's Holy Spirit to infiltrate, bringing a powerful spiritual awakening, supernaturally turning the people's hearts away from the culture of death, hatred and violence that has enslaved so many, towards life, hope and peace. Pray for an Arab Awakening. (Luke 1:37 'Nothing will be impossible with God'.)- for God to open the hearts of Muslim Arabs to receive the gospel (Acts 16:14), the message of Pentecost that was given to them 2000 years ago (Acts 2:11).
The Church:
- for God to protect the Christians living in the PT, in particular in Hamas-ruled Gaza, as resurgent, intolerant, militant Islamism replaces Arab nationalism and threatens the existence and future of Christian churches, businesses, homes, livelihoods and families.
- for God to grant the Christians of the PT great heavenly discernment and wisdom with great grace and courage so they might demonstrate the gospel truth to their Muslim neighbours,
particularly that through the Cross of Jesus Christ the two (Jew and Gentile) can be one. (Ephesians 2:15b-16) - for God to protect Christians living in Gaza—which is ruled by Hamas whose patron is Iran— where resurgent, intolerant, militant Islam
threatens the existence and future of Christian
churches, businesses, homes, livelihoods and families.
PHILIPPINES
Continued risk of unrest and terrorism in Muslim south.
The nation:
- for God to give the government great wisdom as it negotiates peace with the south's ethnic Moro Muslim, so that religious liberty is not undermined. Pray for peace and for Islamic terrorism to end.
The Church:
- for God to bless the pastors and evangelists of Southern Philippines with wisdom, grace and strength as they risk their lives to witness for Christ in frequently hostile Muslim communities.
RUSSIA
Protestants under pressure due to geopolitical issues.
For the Holy
Spirit to
bring
reforming
revival to
the Russian
Orthodox Church, and for wisdom, grace and boldness for the growing Protestant minority. May Russia's churches be united in truth and in commitment to mission, because Russia faces
profound challenges: fundamentalist and militant Islam; emerging fascism; escalating materialism; drug addiction; alcoholism and HIV-AIDS; as well as the widespread hopelessness and listlessness that are lingering consequences of decades of violently imposed atheistic Communism.
SAUDI ARABIA
Principal worldwide disseminator of intolerant, jihadist, Sunni Islam.
that God will give wisdom to Christians in Saudi Arabia—virtually all expatriate workers—to know how to share the gospel and worship without unnecessarily endangering lives; may they be protected from Islamist terror and may the gospel spread in spite
of all the obstacles.- for God to continue to empower and bless those gospel radio and satellite ministries that are reaching right into Saudi homes and hearts and doing the unthinkable: leading Saudi Arabs to Christ.
- for God to intervene and bring the cleric-administered,
state-funded (by oil) national
industry of global dissemination of anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, pro-jihad and pro-Sharia
Wahhabist Islamic ideology to a decisive end.
SOMALIA
Continued deterioration due to jihad. No security.
- for God to protect and sustain Somali Christians: those living in lawless war-ravaged Somalia; those in Ogaden (Ethiopia); and those who are refugees in Yemen and Kenya and elsewhere. May they live and grow in grace and faith.
- for many in the Somali Diaspora to receive
Christ and the education they need to return to
Somalia one day as community and church leaders.
SRI LANKA
Serious deterioration as civil war resumes and fuels Buddhist nationalism.
The nation:
that God will protect Sri Lanka from the schemes of Buddhist nationalists, so that Christians may serve the poor and needy,
and so Sri Lankan Christians may witness and worship with liberty and security.- that the authorities will reject hostile anti-Christian militant Buddhist nationalism. May they uphold the law, defend the weak and respect the constitutional guarantee of religious liberty.
The Church:
- that God will protect and bless his servants as they minister, teach and evangelise in an increasingly dangerous and hostile environment. May the Church continue to grow and provide blessing.
- for God to empower the Church as a peacemaker
and light of truth, in the midst of dark civil
conflict.
SUDAN
Religious fault-line nation at grave risk of disintegration and war.
The nation:
for God to effectually call Christian humanitarian workers across the world—engineers, entrepreneurs, teachers, health-care workers and more—that they may provide all the humanitarian assistance needed for rebuilding the south after decades of destructive jihad.- for the Spirit of Christ to infiltrate and transform the Muslim Arabs of Sudan, softening and enlightening their hearts and turning them towards peace and progress.
The Church:
- for God to raise up leaders amongst the South Sudanese, in churches, local communities and government. May the church be an instrument of unity, strength, vision and blessing.
- for spiritual wisdom for all Sudan's pastors and Christian leaders who serve and minister daily to a traumatised people who have no desire to return to war.
TURKEY
Worsening due to escalating Islamic radicalism
and Turkish nationalism.
The nation:
for Turks and Kurds to
resist the pull towards
intolerant Islam and ethnic
nationalism.- for anti-Christian, anti-'missionary', anti-'foreign' and anti-Western propaganda to be exposed as false and destructive. May it be profoundly rejected in preference for equity, liberty, peace and progress.
The Church:
- for strength to endure and great wisdom to know how to handle persistent discrimination, harassment, media disinformation, incitement, and increasingly violent persecution.
- for increased freedom and security for churches, gospel distribution and prayer ministries.
TURKMENISTAN
Under new President after decades of severe repression.
The nation:
for God to give
President
Berdymukhamdov the
wisdom, foresight,
confidence and courage to keep moving Turkmenistan in a
positive direction one step at a time. May
religious liberty become a reality.- for the Spirit of God to generate a great hunger in Turkmenistan for openness, liberty and spiritual truth.
The Church:
- for God to give the young, persecuted Church great wisdom so she may negotiate the new Turkmenistan strategically. May God help Turkmenistan's Christians to grow in grace, knowledge and maturity, so they might radiate hope and be ready to share and be a blessing to their hungry nation.
UZBEKISTAN
Threatened by revolutionary and militant Islam. Protestants persecuted primarily for geopolitical reasons.
The nation:
for Uzbekistan's
relationship with the West
to be repaired and
developed for the advancement of religious liberty. Pray especially for Uzbekistan-European Union ties to promote
confidence and liberty.
The Church:
- for God to grant the small, young Uzbek Church comfort, grace, strength and wisdom from the Holy Spirit to stand firm and move forward in faith as persecution mounts against it from both the radicalising Muslim community and the embattled, embittered government.
VIETNAM
Serious persecution.
The nation:
- for God to bring religious freedom to Vietnam so the Church can minister, serve and witness in freedom and security.
The Church:
- for God to heal, comfort and sustain Vietnam's oppressed, persecuted and imprisoned believers and their families. May the Church displaying the refreshing righteousness of Christ in the midst of a nation struggling with corruption, dictatorship and injustice (Philippians 2:12-14).
YEMEN
Critical deterioration in 2008. Government moving against 'missionaries' and 'apostates' for political gain.
- for God to protect, sustain and encourage the growing church as it emerges into a state riddled with Islamic fundamentalism and destabilised by Sunni vs Shi'ite conflict.
ZIMBABWE
Continued deterioration; grave risk of increased repression.
The nation:
- for God to intervene in the political process to bring peace, security and good governance.
- that the regime of Robert Mugabe will stop interfering in and politicising the Church. May all regime-appointed, corrupt, persecuting, puppet-priests be removed.
The Church:
- to have great wisdom as it seeks to serve the nation as peace-maker and healer. May solidarity across tribal and denominational lines; conviction regarding to truth and righteousness; and courage and integrity amidst persecution mark the Church in these dark days.
- to emerge from these days of fiery trial, refined, united and sanctified - all prepared for the great days of healing and spiritual blessing ahead.
To find more information on specific countries of interest, including others not listed here,
visit the WEA RLC website