Prayer Diary November/December 2012

7/31/2019 Prayer Diary November/December 2012

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THE AID AGENCY FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

to help you

pray for the

persecuted church

www.barnabasfund.org

prayer

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012


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2 BARNABAS PRAYER NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

Thank you for your prayers for our

persecuted brothers and sisters in

Christ, which make such a difference

to them. We sometimes have to

change or omit their names forsecurity reasons, and we have only

limited space to share their stories.

But the Lord knows the people and

places we are praying about. Thank

you for your understanding. Please

do not feel limited by the specic

prayer requests, but pray as you feel

led.

NovemberThursday 1 Today is the Barnabas Fund Day

of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. We are

encouraging Christians worldwide to dedicate

time today to praying for our brothers and sisters

who suffer because of their faith in Christ. A

prayer guide is available from our website,

www.barnabasfund.org/scs, or you can join

our Facebook event or Twitter feed for prayer

updates throughout the day. As you join in this

chorus of prayer, remember before the Lord the

International Prayer Summit being held in London,

and the many smaller prayer events that have

been organised around the world. Ask God that

in answer to the prayers of many Christians today

He will grant His gracious favour to His sufferingpeople (2 Corinthians 1:11).

Friday 2 Many Christian families have seen

their lives torn apart by the violent conict in Syria

between government and opposition forces.

Thousands of Christians have lost their homes,

incomes and possessions and are now unable to

afford food and other basic necessities. As well

as being caught in the crossre of a conict thatis not their own, Christians are particularly at risk

of attack by opposition forces and the militant

groups that back them. Lift up to the Lord our

brothers and sisters in Syria who are suffering

so grievously in this crisis; ask that He will be

their refuge and their fortress (Psalm 91:2) at this

troubled time, and that God will bring about a swiftend to the conict.

Saturday 3 Pray for the tens of thousands of

Christians in North Korea who suffer unspeakable

cruelties in the countrys notorious prison camps.

Many prisoners are worked to death while

enduring severe physical and psychological

torture. They receive very little food and will eat

anything edible for nourishment, including snakesand rats. Some are executed. The camps are

mainly located in mountainous regions and are

enclosed with barbed wire and electric fences,

making escape very difcult. North Korea heads

many lists of the worlds worst persecutors

of Christians, and the succession of a new

leader, Kim Jong-Un, in 2011 has brought no

improvement. Pray that our brothers and sisters

will stand rm in their faith in these appalling

conditions, and that their sufferings will be

relieved.

Sunday 4 Pray for the many churches

who are observing Suffering Church

Sunday today or later this month.

This year the SCS resources we

have produced focus on BarnabasFunds Proclaim Freedom campaign,

which seeks to bring the plight of the

persecuted Church to the attention

of those in authority. They include

a special feature on the churches

in the Middle East and North Africa,

whose safety and very existence is

currently threatened by a rising tide

of aggressive Islamism. Pray forChristians in these countries at this

difcult and challenging time, and

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pray that the campaign will effectively

promote freedom and respect

for human rights for persecuted

Christians throughout the world.

Monday 5 Pray for Nima, a 17-year-old

Iranian Christian boy who has been left to care

for his 12-year-old sister single-handedly. Nimas

parents, Fariba Nazemian and Homayoun

Shokouhi, have been languishing in prison without

charge since February 2012, on suspicion of

taking part in Christian activities, evangelising and

disturbing national security. Nima was arrested

along with them, but was released on bail after 36days. With no support from other family, he has

been working in a shoe shop to support himself

and his sister Helma. He has to send half of his

wages to cover his parents prison expenses.

Pray that the Lord will protect and comfort Nima

and Helma during this harrowing separation from

their parents, and that He will provide for all their

needs.

Tuesday 6 Pray for Behnam Irani (41), an

imprisoned Iranian pastor whose life is in gravedanger because of the regular beatings he

receives. The charges against Behnam, of action

against the state and action against the [Islamic]

order, are pretexts for locking him up because

of his Christian faith and ministry. He now has

difculty walking owing to the severe injuries he

has sustained from guards and other inmates; heis also losing his eyesight. He has been denied

medical treatment and kept in his cell despite his

frail state. Pray that the Lord will heal his physical

and mental injuries and protect him from further

harm, and that he will remain rm in his faith.

Wednesday 7 Give thanks that Iranian pastor

Youcef Nadarkhani was acquitted of apostasy

from Islam and released on 8 September. Thecourt in Tehran found him guilty of evangelising

Muslims and sentenced him to three years in

jail. But he was set free because he had already

served this period behind bars. Pray for the safety

of Pastor Nadarkhani and his family. Pray also

that the international attention this high-prole

case has attracted will result in the abolition of the

Islamic apostasy law, which prescribes the death

penalty for any adult male Muslim who leaves

Islam. Give thanks that, despite the danger, large

numbers of Iranian Muslims are turning to Christ.

Pray that the Lord will protect them.

Thursday 8 Praise the Lord that Rimsha

Masih, a Christian girl with Downs syndrome

who was arrested under Pakistans notorious

blasphemy law, was freed on bail on 7September. Rimsha was accused of desecrating

the Quran, which carries a mandatory sentence

of life imprisonment. It has since been suggested

that she was framed by the imam of the local

mosque, who is said to have planted burnt pages

of the Quran in the bag of rubbish from the family

home. Pray that the Lord will protect and comfort

Rimsha in her ongoing ordeal, as she still faces

the possibility of having to stand trial. Pray alsofor an end to violent attacks on Christians in

Pakistan, which are continuing unabated.

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Friday 9 The arrest of Rimsha Masih (see

above) gave an opportunity to some sections

of the Muslim community in her village of

Maherabad to full their desire to expel their

Christian neighbours. After Friday prayers thatsame week, Muslim residents took an oath in the

mosque to drive out the Christians. The mullahs

issued an ultimatum giving them a month to

leave, and shopkeepers and landlords refused

to do business with them. The community ed

the area, some staying with relatives and others

being temporarily housed in church buildings. A

leading Pakistani Muslim who has spoken out for

Rimsha has suggested that the Muslims forcedthe Christians out so that an Islamic school could

be built in the village. Pray that all the needs of

these Christians will be met, and that the Lord will

comfort them in their ordeal.

Saturday 10 Praise God that the mistreatment

and arrest of Rimsha Masih has attracted

international condemnation. It is rare for a case

of anti-Christian persecution to come under the

spotlight, but the shocking treatment of such a

vulnerable girl has led to high-prole criticism.

Both the United States and France spoke out

against her arrest, calling for the Pakistani

authorities to intervene. Politicians within Pakistan

and even Muslim groups have joined the chorus

of protest. In 2011, however, two politicians who

called for the reform of Pakistans blasphemylaw were assassinated. Pray that the shining

of the international spotlight on these pernicious

laws, which are so often used against Christians,

will lead to their repeal.

Sunday 11 When our pastor

informed us about the contribution of

food we were so happy and prayed to

the Lord Jesus Christ who providedus with food... We are thankful to

Barnabas Fund for stepping forward

at this difcult time. Barnabas Fund

received these words of thanks from

Salamat Masih and Yasmeen Bibi,

Pakistani Christians who have a

daughter with special needs. Theircommunity was forced to ee their

village of Maherabad, near Islamabad,

owing to violence and discrimination

following the arrest of Rimsha

Masih. Barnabas Fund is helping all

the displaced Christians with food

parcels. Pray that the Lord will bless

our support for this community,

and that the Christians driven fromMaherabad may be able to rebuild

their lives.

Monday 12 Christians in Egypt are facing a

challenging new era as President Mohammed

Morsi, of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, begins

to assert his authority. Morsi has tightened his

grip on Egypts media by shutting down outlets

that were critical of him or the Brotherhood, and

removing or replacing the personnel of others. In

the political sphere, inuential rivals have beenremoved, while Islamists have been placed in

positions of power. Pray that God will keep His

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BARNABAS PRAYER NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

children in Egypt safe during this turbulent time

when they are enduring so much pressure, and

that the rise of Islamist oppression and violence

will not be allowed to continue unchecked.

Tuesday 13 Since the Arab Spring uprising

in Egypt, there has been a marked increase

in the number of Christian girls and women

disappearing, being forcibly converted to Islam

and married against their will to Muslim men. This

was the disturbing conclusion of a report, Tell

My Mother I Miss Her, released on 18 July.

Its title was a direct quote from a victim, D, in a

recorded phone conversation to her father afterher abduction. She appealed for help to escape,

but the family has been unable to rescue her.

Pray for them, and the hundreds of other Christian

families undergoing a similar ordeal. Pray also

that this report will lead to decisive action by the

Egyptian authorities to protect Christian girls and

women.

Wednesday 14 The Church in Egypt is

being subjected to cheap political blackmail

and political thuggery, according to Christian

rights group Copts Without Chains. This was

their response to demands from Islamists in the

Constituent Assembly at the end of August that

the Churchs funds be brought under state control.

This seems to be yet another attempt to intimidate

and restrict the Egyptian Church, but the Islamistsdemand may have an even more sinister agenda:

to deect growing public concern regarding

Muslim Brotherhood nances and affairs. Pray

that church leaders will respond wisely and that

the Church in Egypt will be allowed to continue

its ministry without state harassment and

interference.

Thursday 15 Kill or physically attack theenemies of the religion of Allah the Christians in

all of Egypts provinces, the slaves of the Cross.

This was the command given to all brothers and

sisters in leaets distributed by militant Islamist

organisations in Egypt. A nancial reward was

offered to those who helped to achieve Allahs

rights against his enemies. Egypts Christians arefacing increasing pressure and persecution from

supporters of the new Islamist government. Pray

that the Lord will keep them safe from violence.

Friday 16 God is real. When we believe,

we are healed from sickness and immediately

delivered from the possession of evil spirits. We

cannot deny the reality of Gods power. This

bold testimony was the response of TongkounKeohavong, a village leader from Laos, when

faced with the choice of renouncing his faith or

facing violence and eviction. Over 30 villagers

from Tongkouns village of Nahoukou, in

Savannakhet province, put their faith in Christ

between February and August. Five Christian

families were then summoned before village

ofcials on 7 August and told to recant and stop

gathering for worship. Pray that the threats

against them will not be carried out, and that the

villagers will be able to lead their Christian lives in

peace.

Saturday 17 Pray for Bountheung, a Christian

leader in Borikhamxai Province in central Laos,

who was arrested in late August for converting

300 people to Christianity. The Christian residentsof Nongpong village, who came to Christ after

meeting Bountheung, were also faced with

the stark ultimatum: either renounce their new

faith or face eviction from their homes. The

government controls or interferes in many of the

activities of churches in Laos, as it recognises

only certain Christian denominations. Give thanks

for the new faith of these 300 villagers, but pray

that Bountheung will be released, and that thereligious freedom of Christians in Nongpong and

elsewhere in Laos will be upheld.

5

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Sunday 18 Pray for the vulnerable

Christian community in West Java,

Indonesia, where two churches

were forcibly closed in late July and

early August. The congregations, inBogor and Bandung, were the latest

in a series of churches in the area

to face harassment. The large tent

used to house the 500-strong Bogor

congregation while they awaited a

permit for a building was sealed off

on 7 August. The authorities denied

that Islamist pressure had forced

their hand, claiming there had beenlocal opposition to the presence of

the tent. On 29 July, protestors sealed

off the building in Bandung. Lift up

to the Lord these congregations

in the face of such obstruction to

their meeting together, and pray

that Christians in West Java will be

able to meet without the danger of

harassment.

Monday 19 Pray for Christians of South

Sudanese origin, who have been stranded

in Sudan since the South voted to become

independent in July 2011. Hundreds of thousands

were stripped of their citizenship and are now

trapped in dire conditions of poverty, often unable

to work or send their children to school. Many

live in makeshift shelters, where ooding has

made conditions even worse. Christians are

not welcome in Sudan: Islamist president Omar

al-Bashir intends to make the next constitution100% Islamic and strengthen sharia law, which

treats non-Muslims as second-class citizens. Pray

that as the Lords people in Sudan face these

menacing conditions, He will be their strength and

their shield (Psalm 28:7).

Tuesday 20 In early September, Barnabas

Fund launched a major rescue operation to

airlift 2,000 of the neediest Christians trappedin Sudan to safety in South Sudan. Around 800

women, mostly widows, and 1,200 children are

being taken from Khartoum to Juba, where they

will be able to begin new lives with the support of

the Church there. After overcoming some major

obstacles by the grace of God, the rst of twelve

chartered ights arrived in Juba on 19 September.

Give thanks for this safe arrival and for the 157

Christians now living in relative security in South

Sudan. Pray that the remaining ights will proceed

smoothly and without hindrance, and that the Lord

will bless those arriving in Juba as they begin to

put down roots in their new home.

Wednesday 21 The assassination of a

radical Muslim cleric with suspected links to the

Islamist militant group al-Shabaab sparked riotsin Mombasa, Kenya, at the end of August. Five

churches in the coastal city were attacked as

Muslim youth clashed with police in two days

of violence. At least four people were killed.

Al-Shabaab responded by calling on Kenyan

Muslims to take all necessary measures to

protect their religion. Since Kenya sent troops

into neighbouring Somalia in October 2011 to ght

al-Shabaab militants, there have been a numberof attacks by the group, including the targeting

of churches and Christian gatherings. Pray that

NOVEMBER 18 - 21



Islamic militancy will be restrained in Kenya and

that Christians there will suffer no further violence.

Thursday 22 Lift up to the Lord Eva Abdullah,

a 17-year-old convert from Islam to Christianity,who has been jailed for two years in Tanzania.

Eva was falsely accused of desecrating a Quran

by a group of radical Muslims after she refused

to return to Islam. It is thought that the judge

who sentenced her on 26 July had been bribed

by Islamic militants. Eva was disowned by her

parents when she became a Christian three years

ago. Give thanks that the Lord hears the needy

and does not despise His captive people (Psalm69:33); pray that He will comfort Eva in her ordeal

and strengthen her in her faith, and that justice

may be done for her.

Friday 23 Equipping leaders and future leaders

with a deeper knowledge of the Bibles teachings

is hugely important for their spiritual development

and ministry. Barnabas is supporting a Bible

school in Central Asia that provided theological

education to 42 students in the last academic

year. Undertaking such study involves great risk:

somebody must always be on alert in case a new

person entering the church is a secret agent.

But the students were so keen to acquire more

knowledge and skills for their ministries that the

school was extended for a month and a half. Give

thanks to the Lord for the enthusiasm of thesestudents to go deeper into their faith. Pray that

what they have learned will greatly impact their

communities, and that the Lord will keep them

safe while they study.

Saturday 24 Lift up to the Lord our struggling

Christian brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan, as

a legal decision to close Greater Grace Church

in the capital, Baku, was upheld by the countryshighest court of appeal on 31 July. This was

an important test case for religious freedom;

the church is the rst to be closed since a strict

Religion Law requiring all churches to re-apply for

registration was introduced in 2009. The church,

which has a congregation of nearly 500, had

previously been legally registered and denieshaving ever broken the law. Pray that this decision

will be reversed by the Supreme Court, and that

the congregation may remain strong in their faith

despite this ofcial hostility towards their church.

Sunday 25 The situation has got

markedly worse since July and

we dont know why. Lift up to

the Lord Protestant Christians inTurkmenistan as they face increasing

harassment from the authorities.

In one incident a Christian mans

house was raided; his mother was

intimidated, and his business closed

down. He was forced to leave the

area. Throughout the summer,

incidents of this kind, and of legal

action being taken against Christians,

became increasingly common.

Although Turkmenistans constitution

grants religious freedom, a Religion

Law passed in 2003 forbids any

activity by unregistered religious

groups, and Christian activity is often

suppressed. Pray for Christians in

Turkmenistan, that the Lord will betheir shield during these trials and a

rock in whom they can take refuge (2

Samuel 22:3).

Monday 26 Pray for the Christian residents

of a village in Serdarabad district, Turkmenistan,

who were threatened with expulsion from their

homes at a village meeting called by imams and

local ofcials. The leaders also threatened tokeep Christian children under close scrutiny at

school; there have been a number of instances of

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Christian pupils suffering discrimination. Pray that

the threat of expulsion will not be carried out, and

that the Lord will bring peace to this vulnerable

community. Pray also that He will protect and

strengthen Christian children in Turkmenistan intheir school and home lives, that they may grow

up strong in their faith.

Tuesday 27 Give thanks that Bahrains

monarch has granted a plot of land for the

building of a new church in Awali. This welcome

move goes against a ruling earlier this year by

Saudi Arabias most prominent religious scholar,

the Grand Mufti, who called for the destruction ofall churches in the Arabian Peninsula. The kings

grant of a 9,000-square-metre area of land was

gratefully received by senior church leaders, but

the decision attracted criticism from Muslims both

within and outside Bahrain. Pray that the king

will not be swayed from this gesture, which has

been described by a church leader as a sign

of openness, by the opposition to it. Pray also

that this will serve as an encouragement to other

Muslim-majority countries to extend a hand of

goodwill towards Christians.

Wednesday 28 Converts from Islam to

Christianity in Saudi Arabia are in deadly peril.

Wahhabism, an extreme and puritanical version of

Islam, is strictly enforced in the country: apostasy

from Islam is punishable by death, and the publicpractice or spreading of any religion other than

Islam is strictly forbidden. Pray for two men, one

Saudi and one Lebanese, who, at the time of

writing, are awaiting trial for allegedly helping a

Saudi woman convert to Christianity and ee

the country. The woman ed to Lebanon and

is now said to be in the UK. Give thanks for her

conversion, but pray for God to overrule in this

case and that the men will be released unharmed.Pray also that the Lord would protect other

converts from Islam in Saudi Arabia.

Thursday 29 We are afraid the anger will

engulf us. An Egyptian Christian expressed the

concerns of many of our brothers and sisters

in Muslim-majority countries as violent protests

erupted against a lm that Muslims judged to beoffensive to Islam. During one demonstration in

Cairo, a Muslim cleric burned a Bible in front of

thousands of Muslim protestors, while several

Christians in Egypt were harassed or attacked.

A church compound was destroyed in Pakistan

(see 5 December), and threats were also made

against Christians in Sudan. Minority Christian

communities are often associated in Muslim

minds with the West because of their faith, so theyreadily become targets of Muslim rage. As hostility

between Muslim-majority countries and the West

continues, pray for protection for vulnerable

Christians and for an easing of tensions.

Friday 30 Pray for the millions of Christians

who will go to bed hungry tonight because of the

pressure and persecution they suffer as a result

of their faith. They may be desperately poor owing

to long-standing discrimination, as in Pakistan,

or displaced from their homes by anti-Christian

violence and unable to work or afford food, as in

Syria. The family breadwinner may be imprisoned,

or forced into hiding by hostility from the local

community, leaving the family with no source of

income. Give thanks for Barnabas Feeding Fund,

NOVEMBER 27 - 30



which enabled us to feed 60,000 Christians in

long-term projects in the year to June 2012, and

ask the Lord to help us continue to meet this basic

need for His persecuted people.

DecemberSaturday 1 Continue to remember four

Christians from the UK whose claims of religious

discrimination in the workplace are before the

European Court of Human Rights at the time of

writing. They include Nadia Eweida and Shirley

Chaplin, who were both barred from wearing across openly at work. Yet in a landmark ruling

on 5 September, the European Court of Justice

decided that people from outside the EU who

are unable to practise their faith publicly are

entitled to claim asylum in EU countries. Praise

God for this decision, which should make it

easier for Christians to escape oppressive

regimes elsewhere, and pray that the freedom

of Christians in the EU to express their own faith

publicly will not be restricted. Pray especially for a

positive outcome in the current court cases.

Sunday 2Give thanks for a rare and

signicant move towards justice

for Christians in Orissa state, India,

who have suffered so deeply from

violence by Hindu extremists. Acourt has ordered that the killers

of Michael Nayak, a church leader

whose murder in July 2011 was

originally registered as accidental

death, should be brought to justice.

Michaels family had protested

against the original verdict of a

motorcycle accident, as his only

injury was a hole below the ear andhis motorbike was not signicantly

damaged. The evening before,

Michael had willingly given a lift

home to two of his Hindu friends; he

was not seen alive again. Praise God

for this unexpected and welcome

decision, and pray that it will deterfuture anti-Christian violence in

Orissa.

Monday 3 Christians in India continue to be

the target of brutality by Hindu extremists. Edwin

Raj, a Christian from Kanyakumari District, Tamil

Nadu state, was killed on 26 August when a mob

attacked a prayer meeting in Sasthancode village.

The mob then proceeded to go on a violentrampage in a nearby village; two Christians,

Gnanamuthu and his son Johnson, were beaten

when they tried to stop them. They were taken to

hospital with serious head injuries. On 13 August,

three Christian women were harassed and beaten

by around 15 men in the same district; they were

still recovering in hospital two weeks later. Lift up

to the Lord the Christians in this area as they face

danger from Hindu extremism, and ask that He

would protect them from future violence. Pray also

for healing for those who have been injured in

these attacks.

Tuesday 4 A church building in West Bengal,

India, was attacked on 23 August by a group

of youths who have repeatedly harassed the

congregation and smashed several windows overa number of years. They gather in front of the

building, where they gamble and use offensive

language during worship services and ministry

activities. The group threw faeces and threatened

a Christian woman who appealed to them to

stop vandalising the building. Pray that the Lord

will continue to give this congregation the grace

to respond to their persecutors in a Christ-like

manner, and that the youths will be won over bythis witness to the Gospel.

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Wednesday 5 Pray for a congregation in

Mardan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan,

whose church compound was destroyed by

Muslim rioters on 21 September. The attack was

sparked by anger over the controversial lmInnocence of Muslims. A church building, a

Christian school and library, and the homes of

two pastors and the head teacher, were looted

and torched by hundreds of rioters armed with

clubs and sticks. The local church leader said that

the attack, which lasted more than three hours,

seemed to be pre-planned as the assailants

arrived with petrol. The authorities made only

minimal efforts to stop the violence. Pray forprotection for Christians in Muslim-majority

contexts, whose property and lives are so

vulnerable at times of tension with the West.

Thursday 6 Imprisoned Christian human rights

lawyer Gao Zhisheng continues to suffer gross

injustice at the hands of the Chinese authorities.

In the latest instance, two human rights lawyers

engaged by Gaos brother travelled in Augustto the remote part of the country where he is

being held, only to be turned away by the prison

authorities. The local Prison Administration

Bureau also rejected their request to see Gao,

despite offering no valid reason for the decision.

Gaos family have not been allowed to see or

even speak to him since March and are veryconcerned for his safety and well-being. He was

moved to the prison in December 2011 after years

in police custody. Pray that he will be allowed

to contact his family and lawyers, and that the

authorities will soon relent and release him

(Hebrews 13:3).

Friday 7 We will keep the faith If we

perish, we perish. At a meeting of Nigerianchurch leaders in September a senior leader

from Maiduguri reported that 100 bombs have

exploded there, some of them at schools.

Another leader, from Tabara state, described

how 25 churches in the Jalingo area have been

destroyed, a bomb detonated in another, and

church members unable to nd employment

because they have Christian names. Two

congregations in Bauchi state have been

completely wiped out. Pray for the Church in

Nigeria as it faces such intense persecution from

militant Islamists, and for the leaders as they

seek to guide their congregations through these

troubled times.

Saturday 8 Give thanks to the Lord that

Islamic leaders in Nigeria have urged an end tothe violent campaign of the militant Islamist group

Boko Haram, who have carried out many acts of

violence against Christians in an effort to establish

an Islamist state in the North of the country.

One leader said that a ceasere was urgently

expected for the sake of humanity and

peaceful co-existence among Nigerians. Praise

God for the bravery of these leaders in speaking

out, when others who have done so have beentargeted by Boko Haram. Pray that their inuence

will help to bring the groups campaign to an end

DECEMBER 5 - 8



very soon, and that Muslims in Nigeria will allow

Christians to live out their faith in peace.

Sunday 9Many Christians in Nigeria

live under the constant threat ofterrorist outrages. On 6 August, 20

Christians were killed in an attack

on Deeper Life Church in Otite, Kogi

state. Gunmen stormed an evening

service, blocked off the exits and

opened re on those trapped inside.

Fifteen people died at the scene

and a further ve in hospital. On

the same evening, evangelist AliSamari was shot dead in Maiduguri,

Borno state. Although no-one

claimed responsibility for either of

these attacks, ghters from Boko

Haram had previously warned Ali to

leave his home. Pray that the Lord

will comfort those who mourn our

murdered brothers and sisters in

Christ, and that their killers will be

brought to justice.

Monday 10 By refusing to designate Boko

Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation, the

United States is sending a very clear message

that the murder of innocent Christians and

Muslims who reject Islamism are accepted

losses. Archbishop Nicholas Dikeriehi Okoh,Primate of the Church of Nigeria, gave this

message during an ofcial visit to the United

States, which was sponsored by Barnabas

Fund. The US State Department has refused

to designate Boko Haram a foreign terrorist

organisation, believing that its violence is due to

competition for economic resources, despite the

groups professed religious motives. Pray that

the church leaders visit will lead to the US takingstronger action against Boko Haram, and that its

violence may swiftly be brought to an end.

Tuesday 11 Pray for Pastor Audu Gadzama

and his family, who came under attack by Muslim

gunmen in Nigeria on 10 August. The attackers

entered his church and shot the pastors 24-year-

old son Thomas in the leg. They red at himas well but missed before going to the familys

home. The gunmen forced Pastor Audus wife

and two other children to lie on the ground while

they torched the house and church. The family

managed to escape and hid in the bushes as the

gunmen red shots and shouted Allahu Akbar

(god is great). Pray that the Lord will heal all the

physical and psychological wounds caused by

this attack and protect this family from any furtherharm.

Wednesday 12 Pray for around 160 residents

and staff of a Christian-run village for leprosy

patients in Gia Kai province, Vietnam, who were

terrorised by abuse and threats during a raid

by police. Christian symbols were removed or

destroyed, and picture of Ho Chi Minh, who

established Communism in Vietnam, was placed

in the chapel. Residents were also ordered to

remove the church bell and knock down the bell

tower. The Church is at the forefront of caring

for the 18,000 people with leprosy in Vietnam,

but despite this work, the Communist authorities

remain extremely suspicious of Christians. Pray

that the Lord will comfort those traumatised by

the raid, and for greater security for the Church inVietnam.

Thursday 13 Mainly Christian ethnic groups

in Burma (Myanmar), such as the Chin, Kachin

and Karen, continue to be persecuted despite the

countrys recent political reforms. Government

attacks on the Chin people include intimidation

and harassment, sexual violence, forced labour

and closure of churches. A military offensivein Kachin territory has also led to widespread

violence, and many Christians have ed their

DECEMBER 9 - 13


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homes. Pray that this ruthless campaign of

persecution will be brought to an end, and that

the Lord will uphold His people in Burma with His

righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

Friday 14 If you dont want to be Buddhist, we

can arrest you, we can put you in prison, we can

do anything we want to you. You are just like a toy

in our hands. This threat was made to a Christian

pupil at a government school in Burma. Pray for

children from the mainly Christian Chin minority,

who often encounter threats and discrimination at

Buddhist monastery schools or free government

schools for minorities. They may be coerced toconvert to Buddhism or be forced to shave their

heads or wear monastic robes; they may also be

beaten for refusing to recite Buddhist scriptures.

This year, however, the parents of 59 Christian

children from very poor communities were

delighted that their children were able to attend

a regular government school because Barnabas

Fund paid their school fees. Give thanks that

these children will no longer suffer ill-treatment or

pressure to convert, and pray that they will be salt

and light amongst their peers at their new schools

(Matthew 5:13-14).

Saturday 15 Praise God that election results

in Libya did not show the expected signicant

gains for Islamist parties, in the rst election since

the revolution, on 16 July. The National Forces

Alliance (NFA), a comparatively secular andliberal coalition of parties headed by ex-interim

Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril, won 39 of the 80

seats reserved for political parties. The NFA says

that while Islamic sharia law should be the main

source of legislation, all religions and sects should

be respected. But there are serious concerns

that results for the remaining seats, reserved for

independent candidates, will see Islamists gain

the ascendancy after all. Pray that Libya willnot succumb to Islamist rule like its neighbours,

Tunisia and Egypt, and for protection for the very

small number of Christian converts from Islam in

the country.

Sunday 16 The prospects for

Christians in Tunisia have become

even bleaker after the ruling Islamist

party introduced a bill on 1 August

that would outlaw insulting Islam. The

bill would make insults, profanity,

derision, and representation of Allah

and Muhammad punishable by up

to two years in prison. Although

the legislation claims also to

protect churches and synagogues,

Christians and other minoritieswill be at greatest risk from its use

or misuse. Although Tunisia does

not have a blasphemy law, some

people have been punished for

acts judged offensive to Islam. Pray

that opposition to the bill will lead

to its being withdrawn, and that

the governments attempts further

to Islamise the country will befrustrated.

DECEMBER 14 - 16



Monday 17 The Hindu extremist said that

he would plant a bomb at our church if we did

not help his group. But when I asked what type

of help he wanted he hung up. This threatening

phone call was received by Robin Rai, theminister of a church in Lalitpur, Nepal. The church

was the target of a bombing in 2009 by the Nepal

Defence Army (NDA), which killed three people

and injured more than a dozen. Other church

leaders have also received threats, and the NDA,

which wants to reinstate Nepals Hindu monarchy,

have circulated leaets ordering Christians and

Muslims to leave the country. Pray that the threat

against this church will not be carried out, and thatthe Church in Nepal will stand rm in the face of

this intimidation (Ephesians 6:13).

Tuesday 18 After the rst two sips, it was

very tough for me to breathe, said Rita James,

one of eleven Christian student nurses who were

the victims of a suspected poisoning in Pakistan.

Three of the women required intensive care

treatment. The students fell ill after drinking tea

during a study session at the hostel of the Karachi

Civil Hospital on 29 July. It is thought that poison

may have been added to the tea while it was left

unattended. The nurses may have been targeted

for breaking Ramadan fasting rules, which forbid

eating and drinking during daylight hours,

although this incident occurred after nightfall. Pray

that the women will be healed of any remainingillness or discomfort, and that those responsible

for their suffering will be held accountable.

Wednesday 19A 20-year-old Christian

student in Pakistan was severely beaten by

Islamists who kidnapped him on 29 August. His

abductors, a radical Islamic group, were trying to

convert him to Islam. The young Christian man

was tied up with chains, physically assaulted andthreatened with death; it is thought that his captors

may also have given him mind-altering drugs.

He was eventually found by police and returned

to his family but has been seriously affected

psychologically by this traumatic ordeal. Pray that

the Lord will heal his bodily wounds, and that He

will turn His face towards the young man and givehim peace (Numbers 6:25) as he recovers from

this intense trauma.

Thursday 20 The growing but vulnerable

Church in Sri Lanka came under increasing

pressure in August, with attacks on church leaders

and harassment of church members blighting

two districts. On 9 August a senior pastor and

his wife in Deniyaya district were set upon by amob of 40 men. The pastor suffered injuries to his

body and legs and his wife was thrown from their

motorbike. Their assailants later threatened two

other church workers in the same district. In the

previous week, the house of a pastor in Horana

Kaluthara district was attacked. The attackers

smashed all the windows during the night, leaving

the pastors three oldest children traumatised.

Pray that the Lord would comfort those injured

and psychologically scarred by these attacks, and

that violence against Christians in Sri Lanka would

soon abate.

Friday 21 Pray for Pema Sherpa, a house

church pastor from Gelephu in Bhutan, who was

beaten about the head and chest by a government

ofcial on 31 July. Pema had been summonedalong with three other church leaders by the

ofcial, who warned them not to conduct worship

services in their homes. After the other leaders

had left, the ofcial drew a patang, a traditional

Bhutanese sword, and threatened Pemas life.

Pray that the Lord will heal Pema and bind up

his wounds (Psalm 147:3). State-sponsored

persecution such as this is common in the strongly

Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan. Pray that the Lordwill strengthen His Church in Bhutan and protect

Christians there from harassment by the state.

DECEMBER 17 - 21


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Saturday 22 Armed gangs of jihadists have

begun to sow terror. Christians are often portrayed

as friends of the regime This propaganda gives

terrorist groups, inltrators among the rebels, a

pretext to attack us. A Christian leader expressedthe plight of many of Syrias Christians after

Jaramana, a mainly Christian and Druze suburb

of Damascus, came under attack on 28 August.

A car bomb targeted a funeral procession, killing

at least 12 people, including ve children, and

injuring around 50. Because Christians have

been generally well treated by the government of

President Assad, they are widely perceived by the

opposition to support him. Pray that the Lord willbe with those who are injured or mourning in their

distress, and that He will protect His Church in

Syria from further attacks.

Sunday 23Barnabas is helping to

support the thousands of Christians

in Syria and other countries who

have been displaced by violence

during the civil war. Many have ed

to Jordan, Lebanon and Greece,while others have migrated within

Syria. Working through church

partners on the ground, Barnabas is

helping to provide the food, clothing

and medicine that our brothers and

sisters desperately need. Pray that

this support will reach them quickly,and that the Lord will sustain them in

their ordeal.

Monday 24 In another dreadful episode for

the beleaguered Christians of Syria, the mainly

Christian town of Rableh was blockaded for two

weeks in August by anti-government forces.

Snipers prevented anyone from leaving, and

they shot dead three men who attempted to doso. Bridges were blown up and roads rendered

impassable, so that food and medical supplies ran

short; the electricity supply was also disrupted.

The opposition ghters were eventually driven

out by the Syrian army. Pray for the Christians

in Rableh as they recover from their ordeal and

consider whether to stay or leave. Ask the Lord

to watch over them wherever they go (Genesis

28:15).

Tuesday 25 As we give thanks today for the

birth of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), pray

for the millions of Christians around the world

who live under the shadow of disadvantage,

discrimination and persecution. Pray that as

they celebrate His coming they may experience

the peace of God that passes all understanding(Philippians 4:7), and that they may take heart

from the knowledge that He has overcome the

world (John 16:33). Pray that He will guard them

from their enemies as they gather in His name

this Christmas, and that in the coming year the

pressures on them may be relieved.

Wednesday 26 Concerns that Christians

were being forcibly converted to Islam in the GazaStrip sparked protests in July that highlighted the

dire plight of the tiny Christian population there.

DECEMBER 22 - 26



Dozens of Christians staged a demonstration

on 16 July, claiming that Islamists are using

any means to convert Christians, including fear,

blackmail and the use of chemical substances.

The Christian community has been increasinglymarginalised and harassed since the Islamist

group Hamas came to power; their daily lives are

extremely difcult, and the Christian population

has shrunk rapidly. Pray that the Lord will protect

His people in the Gaza Strip from violence and

forced conversion.

Thursday 27 Praise the Lord for a welcome

show of respect for Christianity in Iraqi Kurdistan.A school textbook that was judged offensive to

Christians was withdrawn from the education

system in September. The textbook covered

aspects of Christianity and Judaism and included

disparaging statements about Jesus Christ.

The autonomous region of Kurdistan has also

welcomed tens of thousands of Christian refugees

from elsewhere in Iraq and offered them much-

needed help. But sadly their position is now

more precarious, owing to growing insecurity and

economic hardship. Pray that Christians in Iraqi

Kurdistan will continue to nd it a safe haven

where they can practise their faith without insults

and harassment.

Friday 28 Pray for the congregation of Holy

Trinity Pentecostal Church in eastern Moscow,whose church building was abruptly torn down

by the authorities in the middle of the night

of 6 September. The shock demolition was

described as a Soviet approach by Mikhail

Odinstov, an aide to Russias Ombudsperson for

Human Rights. The church has a long history of

harassment by the authorities. The pastor may

also face prosecution after holding a service amid

the wreckage following the demolition. Pray thathe and the congregation will nd strength and

peace in the Lord at this time, and that Christians

in Russia will be able to meet without fear of

harassment.

Saturday 29 Pray for Christians in Turkey

as they face continuing restrictions on theirfreedom to practise their faith. The government

had suggested that the new constitution that is

now being prepared would give better protection

to the small Christian minority in the country. But

now the ruling party is trying to have compulsory

Islamic religious education retained in the draft,

despite a ruling from the European Court of

Human Rights that this outs Turkeys human

rights obligations. It is also refusing to agree thatthe state should be impartial between religious

groups. As discussion of the new constitution

continues, pray that it will establish genuine

freedom of religion for Christians and other non-

Muslims in Turkey, and also their full equality with

Muslims.

Sunday 30Church leaders in

Colombia are often caught in the

crossre of the long conict that

racks one of the most violent

countries in the world. An estimated

20-30 are killed every year, many

targeted by illegal armed groups

because of their refusal to support

the gangs activities. In a recent

incident, Henry Rodriguez (44) wasshot dead as he left his church in

Bogota on Sunday 16 September. He

was gunned down by two men on a

moped in what appears to have been

a targeted killing by professional hit

men. Pastor Rodriguez left a wife and

three children. Pray for them in their

shock and grief, and for protection

for pastors throughout Colombia.Pray too for an end to the destructive

cycle of violence.

DECEMBER 27 - 30


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Barnabas Fund is a Company registered in England Number 4029536. Registered Charity Number 1092935Cover: This Pakistani Christian woman has received support from Barnabas Fund following the oods of 2010-11

Barnabas Fund 2012

www.barnabasfund.org

New Zealand

PO Box 27 6018, Manukau City,

Auckland, 2241

Telephone(09) 280 4385 or 0800 008 [email protected]

Jersey

Le Jardin, La Rue a Don, Grouville, Jersey

Channel Islands JE3 9GB

Telephone 700600

Fax 700601

Email [email protected]

USA

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McLean, VA 22101

Telephone (703) 288-1681 or

toll-free 1-866-936-2525

Fax (703) 288-1682


International Headquarters

The Old Rectory, River Street,

Pewsey, Wiltshire SN9 5DB, UK

Telephone 01672 564938Fax 01672 565030

From outside the UK

Telephone +44 1672 564938

Fax +44 1672 565030


UK

9 Priory Row,

Coventry CV1 5EX

Telephone 024 7623 1923Fax 024 7683 4718

From outside the UK

Telephone +44 24 7623 1923

Fax +44 24 7683 4718


Australia

PO Box 3527

Loganholme QLD 4129Telephone (07) 3806 1076

or 1300 365 799

Fax (07) 3806 4076


Monday 31 Many people in the non-Western

world think that the Western New Year is a

Christian festival, so it is often a time of increased

harassment and violence against Christian

minorities. For example, at New Year 2012 theNigerian Islamist group Boko Haram issued a

three-day deadline for Christians to leave the

North of the country, and the previous year 21

Christians perished in a suicide bomb attack on

a church in Alexandria, Egypt. Pray for protection

for our brothers and sisters at this time. Pray

especially for converts from Islam, who are

especially vulnerable, that in the coming year theymay be blessed by the Lord under whose wings

they have come for refuge (Ruth 2:12).

DECEMBER 31

Documents

Prayer Diary November/December 2012