Raise Your Voice to
End Forced Church Closures
in Indonesia!
Since 2006, dozens of churches have been sealed shut by government
officials across Indonesia who fear pressure from radical Islamic
groups. As recently as March hundreds of Indonesian Christians on the
outskirts of the capital of Jakarta watched in utter dismay as
authorities used heavy machinery to tear down the church that they had
been locked out after more than 12 years of peaceful services.
Let those at the highest levels of Indonesia’s government know that
they cannot sit idly by while churches are shut down at the behest of
extremist groups. Sign our petition today!
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Christian Broadcasts to Continue in North Korea
TWR is launching new Christian broadcasts into North Korea to give
people hope in God. CEF and TWR are partnering together to air "Gospel
Train for Children" so that parents will learn to share the good news
with their children. Many Christians in North Korea meet in secret and
some 100,000 Christians are in prison camps for refusing to follow the
regime's founder Kim Il-Sung. Many Christians outside the camps meet in
underground churches and secretly listen to TWR. One Christian listener
said, "If not for the Word of God, and your love and devotion in the midst of our sufferings, our lives would be dark and hopeless.” TWR will continue to air the good news in North Korea, giving people hope in God in the midst of darkness and suffering.
Pray for the North Korean believers to persevere and develop an unshakable faith
Pray that those listening to the broadcasts will hear the Gospel and accept Christ as their personal savior
Pray that
parents will raise their children in the way of the Lord by learning to
share the Gospel through the Gospel Train broadcast
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Two Christian Communities in Pakistan Torched in One Month
Nearly 200 homes in the Joseph Colony of Lahore, Pakistan were destroyed by a Muslim mob. The Supreme Court
condemned the police for not doing anything to protect the Christians
being attacked. On April 3, another mob of Muslims damaged a church and
shops owned by Christians in the Francis Colony of Gujranwala. The
local police had assured the Christians in the colony that they would be
safe, but the second attack confirmed otherwise. Asif Barkat described
the situation: "The police [were] doing what [they] does best: nothing.
Their bias towards Christians is quite evident, because when the
Muslims were raiding our church and property, they just watched, but
when we confronted them, they started hitting us with batons and used
live ammunition to deter us."
Pray that the Muslims will hear the Gospel and be saved
Pray that there would be peace in this situation
Pray for the Christians, that they will display love in the midst of persecution
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Church in Kenya Endures the Trauma of Persecution
It has been a year since the attack on the African Inland Church in
Garissa, and Open Doors has recently spoken to the believers who
remain in Garissa. The Christians there are holding on to Jesus but they
still feel afraid. Lydia Ndavi said that she "missed some Sunday
church services out of fear. You know, when I hear rumors of a possible
attack, I get afraid and stay home that Sunday." Caleb reports that
the church in Garissa is struggling to keep going due to "continued
insecurity." Muslim extremists are targeting churches, pastors, and
Christian businesses.
Pray that the believers will no longer be controlled by fear, but by God's peace
Pray that there would be revival in this Church, that they will let their light shine in the darkness
Pray that the believers who are persecuted will be comforted and encouraged by the Holy Spirit
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American Pastor Imprisoned in Iran Told to Deny Christ
Pastor Saeed Abedini, an American citizen imprisoned for his
Christian faith in Iran, was given an ultimatum to either deny Christ or
remain incarcerated. Saeed Abedini, an American Pastor in Iran, has
been sentenced to eight years in prison in Iran for planting house
churches. He says that the officials have given him the choice to deny
Christ or remain in prison. The ACLJ has obtained a recent letter from
Saeed, which describes the stress and pressure he is facing in prison: “‘Deny
your faith in Jesus Christ and return to Islam or else you will not be
released from prison. We will make sure you are kept here even after
your 8 year sentence is finished.’ These are the threats that prison
officials throw at me. My response is Romans 8:35-39.”
Pray that Pastor Saeed will stand firm and not recant, pray that he will persevere
Pray that he will be strengthened by the presence of the Lord
Pray for the officials, that they will be saved and hear the gospel as a result of Saeed's witness
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Christian Murdered by Muslim Youth in Pakistan
A 20-year-old Christian boy name Allah Ditta was living in Talab
Sarae, a small village in Pakistan. On April 4 a gang of Muslim boys sat
in the street and started saying filthy remarks to the women of the
Christian colony. Alla Ditta abused them in return and asked them to
leave the colony. Sadam pulled out his gun and shot Allah Ditta in the
head. Alla Ditta died on the spot. Aneeqa Maria, the Voice Chief
advocate, said, "It is a pity that in the country of over 180
Million people, Christians are living their lives in fear and under the
shadows of death...Nobody knows when his time is coming up for being
slaughtered. Law enforcing agencies and police are looking for such
incidents so that they can make money as a bribe from the offender,
making this appalling confrontation a catastrophe."
Pray that those responsible for the murder will be convicted and repent
Pray that the Muslims who turn to violence would be saved
Pray for Alla Ditta's family, that they will be comforted, and put on love and forgive the one who killed Alla Ditta
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Christian Convert Captured and Tortured in Somalia
Al Shabaab, a terrorist group associated with al Qaeda, has
kidnapped Hassan Gulled who converted from Islam to Christianity. Gulled
had fled to Kenya in 2007 searching for safety and to start a better
life, but he returned to Somalia to visit his family. While in Somalia,
al Shabaab militants monitored (stalked) him for three weeks and then
captured him into a Land Cruiser and drove away while his family watched
helplessly. It is possible that Gulled is dead. He was probably interrogated and pressured to recant his Christian faith.
Pray that Hassan Gulled is safe and will be found
Pray for the efforts of al Shabaab to be stopped in Somalia
Pray for religious freedom for Christians in Somalia
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Providing assistance, advocacy and awareness to persecuted Christians with integrity towards God and our donors.
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"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of the destitute."
Proverbs 31:8
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