Date post: | 15-Jun-2015 |
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Spiritual |
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36 SYRIA
INTRODUCTION The church in Syria is relatively tolerated,
and Christians are free to join in services.
However, the secret police know everything, and Muslim Background Believers face a lot of pressure from family
and friends.In the spring of 2011, the Arabic Spring reached Syria and the violence has lasted
for months. Many foreign Muslim extremists
entered the country and started to threaten Christians. Living in a very insecure
time, church leaders fear that in the future
the freedom for Christians will be cut off. PRAYER Dip the bread and salad items into the hummus (a common Syrian food) and pray
for the nation.Pray: for Muslim Background Believers to remain strong in their faith under persecution.Pray: for future freedom for churches in
Syria.
35 TUNISIA
INTRODUCTION Tunisia is the country that started the movement
of demonstrations and protests that spread
throughout North Africa and the Middle East. The
regime of President Ben Ali tumbled in 2011.
There is pressure on Christians, coming both from
the authorities and from families. Many Muslim
extremists entered the country and intensified
the pressure on Christians but there is also good
news; the Church in Tunisia is growing despite all
the pressure. Many seekers find Jesus Christ
through the Internet and Christian television
programmes.
PRAYER Tunisian crochet is famous, considered to be a
mixture of crocheting and knitting. Grab some
knitted garments and hold them. Just as the
fabric is held together, pray for unity and support
for the Tunisian church.Pray: for new Christians to find fellowship and
support.
Pray: for Christian media to continue to reach
out and lead Tunisians to Christ.Pray: for the future regime.
15 EGYPT
INTRODUCTION Egypt is home to nearly 10 million Christians,
about three quarters of all Christians in the
Middle-East, but Islam is the state religion. The
protests brought Muslims and Christians together
against a hated dictator as they demanded
change, however relations deteriorated afterwards. Persecution of Christians in Egypt
is on the rise, with a substantial increase in numbers killed, physically harmed and
churches/houses attacked.When trying to change their religion on their
identification cards, Christians face a lot of
problems; believers Maher and Dina El-Gohary
were forced to hide for two years! PRAYER Follow the directions and make your own
origami pyramid.Pray: for the unsettled political regime, and
Egypt’s future.Pray: for believers facing persecution and
discrimination.Pray: for those that have lost loved ones in
recent attacks.
26 LIBYA
INTRODUCTION Under the rule of Muammar Gaddafi, thesituation for Christians in Libya was already
extremely harsh. The feared secret police made
sure that restrictions on the organisation of
church activities and distribution of Christian
literature were enforced and evangelism was
criminalised. During the uprisings that started in February and
led to civil war, Christians were more open about
their faith in Jesus Christ. These Christians now fear
the consequences of their witness. Because of
the unrest, 75% of the expat Christians left the
country and it is not clear how many Christians
remain or will return in the future. PRAYER Desert covers much of Libya, and is one of the
most arid places on earth. Fill a bowl with sand
and run your hands through the grains.Pray: for peace in Libya.Pray: for local believers to find ways of gathering.
Pray: for Muslim Background Believers who
face rejection and sometimes torture from their
families.
5 IRAN
INTRODUCTION Many Christians in Iran are persecuted and
put in jail because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
Armenian, Assyrian and Chaldean churches
are officially recognized by the government,
but they are forbidden to preach the gospel.
Muslim Background Believers often attend
house churches. It is very difficult to let people
know that you are a Christian. Since the presidential elections in 2009, there have been
many arrests; some released, but many are still
in prison. Life in an Iranian prison is very hard
and often there is no legal help. However there
are thousands of ‘underground’ believers and
God is on the move!
PRAYER “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat
falls to the ground and dies, it remains only
a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many
seeds.” (John 12:24) Take a seed and place it in
some soil.
Pray: for the church in Iran, that despite all the
pressures and suffering ‘it will produce many
seeds’.
Pray: for the growing number of secretbelievers in Iran.
8 YEMEN
INTRODUCTION In Yemen Islam is the only allowed religion and
Islamic law, Sharia, is the source of all legislation.
The government forbids conversion from Islam to
Christianity. In 2011, Muslim Background Believers
were arrested and imprisoned for becoming
Christians. Believers live in fear of being arrested
and put in jail without any official charges.
Pressure to convert to Islam is enormous.The government has used excessive force to
crack down on protestors after 10 months of mass
protest.
PRAYER A common spice used in Yemen is ‘Hawajat’,
which is a mixture of turmeric, black pepper,
cumin, coriander and cardamom. Get hold of
various spices and mix them together in a bowl.Pray: for a positive response to Christian radio
and TV, and revelation from God to those who are
seeking.
Pray: for the revelation of Jesus to the Islamic
fundamentalists.Pray: for foreign Christians to be able to reach out
to the local people.