PRAY FOR UZBEKISTAN

 

Uzbekistan - #16

Leader: President Islam Karimov Government: Authoritarian (republic)

Main Religion: Islam Population: 28 million (208,500 Christians)

 

Dear Dave,

Lena, Ayoub and Latife faced intense persecution when the police had found Christian materials in Ayoub’s father’s house. Police arrested him and Ayoub’s brother, and then took Lena to the police station, where they were all questioned. They were also looking for Ayoub to arrest him as well.

Preparations for court cases were made: the first one being under administrative law, the second one would be more serious and under the criminal law. The tension and stress seriously affected Lena’s health.

Ayoub recently sent Open Doors a note saying:

"First of all, I would like to express our gratefulness to all those who prayed for us during this time of severe persecution. I would like to share the good news with you: God heard our prayers!

During the first court case we faced we were fined for our activities and had to pay 5 minimum monthly salaries, which amounts to approximately US $160. We worried about the second court case as this was going to be under the criminal law and would be far more severe and difficult for us.

We were totally amazed by God’s intervention when we heard that the second court case had been cancelled. God had softened the hearts of the people who were in charge of our case and for some reason or other they decided to close the case. A serious illness of one of the officers’ relatives had occurred and significantly delayed the proceedings. That is probably why the decision was taken to cancel the court case.

We believe that God was in control of each day. What happened was a real miracle to us! We have never heard about a case like ours where the investigators just asked for a traditional meal of ‘plov’ to be served and closed the case. God greatly encouraged our family and we felt your prayer support."

Ready for this week's challenge?

Punjabi of Canada

Punjabi of Canada The Punjabi people are from the Punjabi region, straddling the border between India and Pakistan. This region has been host to some of the oldest civilizations in the world, including the Indus Valley civilization. There are a number of Punjabi emigrant communities scattered around the world. They are traditionally Hindu, Muslim, or Sikh. Ministry Obstacles The Punjabi religious background presents an obstacle to the Gospel, but can also become a springboard for the Gospel. Outreach Ideas This people group is very accessible to the Gospel message, being located in Canada. Canadian believers can carry the message of salvation in Christ to these people. Pray for the followers of Christ There are Christian believers among the Punjabi of Canada. Pray they will live lives that honor the Lord, being united in love around truth. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Punjabi will increasingly hunger for forgiveness of their sins, found only through the finished work of Christ. Scripture Focus "But indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord." Numbers 14:21		People Name: Punjabi Country: Canada 10/40 Window: No Population: 874,000 World Population: 2,472,000 Language: Panjabi, Eastern Primary Religion: Other / Small Bible: Complete Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.2

Trying to Save Saeed

Trying to Save Saeed

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
BOISE, IDAHO (ANS) -- Saeed Abedini is in a battle for his life.

Saeed Abedini and his family

According to an article by Katy Moeller for the Idaho Statesman, the 32-year-old has languished in Iran's notorious Evin Prison for more than 200 days. He was convicted of "threatening the national security of Iran" for his involvement in Christian home churches from 2000 to 2005.His parents are allowed to visit him weekly, and they say he's enduring beatings and other torture. He has suffered internal bleeding and needs medical treatment, according to the American Center for Law and Justice.
Tiffany N. Barrans, international legal director for the nonprofit advocacy center, said it has petitioned to have the Red Cross come in as a third party to treat him.
"That has not been granted by the Iranian authorities," the Idaho Statesman reported Barrans said.
Saeed, a Boise resident with his wife and two children since 2006, was in Iran doing humanitarian work when he was imprisoned in September. In January, he was sentenced to eight years in prison.
The Idaho Statesman said Saeed has told authorities that if he is freed, he will leave Iran and never return, Barrans said. That didn't help his case.
As hopeless as the situation appears, Barrans said there's reason to be optimistic about his release. A decision on Saeed's appeal is pending.
"It gives the Iranian government an out, to save face," the Idaho Statesman reported Barrans said of the possibility that his sentence will be overturned. "They want to look like a country that is following the rule of law."
It's important to get Saeed released before Iran's elections in June.
"During and around those elections, the Iranian government is not going to want to release anyone who is seen as oppositional," the Idaho Statesman reported Barrans said.
Barrans said the key to Saeed's safe release is pressure from other countries - particularly those that have ties to Iran, including Qatar, Italy, Argentina and Brazil.
The Idaho Statesman said the American Center for Law and Justice is seeking support from those nations, and the group hopes the U.S. State D epartment is doing the same behind the scenes.
One positive new development, Barrans said, is that human rights groups within Iran haven taken up Saeed's cause.
"If there is enough stir in Iran - in their media and social media - it may cause unrest," Barrans said. "They may decide it's not worth the unrest during their elections, if this one man's case could disrupt that peace."
Keeping the Pressure On
The Idaho Statesman said more than half a million people have signed an online petition calling for Saeed's release.
Friends at his church in Boise are doing what they can to help.
"We have a constant flow of letters going to Iran, so they know he's not forgotten," said Rhett Allen, assistant director of children's ministry at Boise's Calvary Chapel.
Some of those letters have been written by children from the church, he said. The church is selling neon yellow "Save Saeed" T-shirts for $20 at its bookstore.
"We're exercising every resource that w e have," the Idaho Statesman reported Allen said. "We serve a good God, and we know he can do miracles."
Saeed's wife, Naghmeh, is doing a lot of public speaking, hoping to keep her husband's plight in the public eye.
The Idaho Statesman said a regular on Fox News, she tries to limit travel outside the state to just once a month so that she's not away from the couple's two children, ages 6 and 5.
Naghmeh said most of the money raised on her family's behalf has gone to others who need it more. She said she's sent it to a group of Christian families - associated with her husband - who fled from Iran to Turkey.
"I feel responsible for them," she said.
Raised in Idaho, Married in Iran
Naghmeh (Panahi) Abedini, 36, was born in Iran but grew up in the Treasure Valley.
The Idaho Statesman said her family fled during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Today, her father runs a user-interface manufacturing company called PKG User Interface Solutions in Meridian.& nbsp;
Naghmeh graduated from Centennial High School in 1995, and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Puget Sound. She had her sights set on medical school.
Through Calvary Chapel, the Idaho Statesman said, she did some missionary work in her 20s, including a trip to India, and felt God calling her to do the same in her native Iran.
Her parents were stunned at her decision.
"They felt I was going backward. 'We brought you here so you could flourish as a woman and be a doctor,'" she recalled.
The Idaho Statesman said she comes from a well-educated, high-achieving family. Her twin brother earned a doctorate in quantum physics from the University of Chicago.
Naghmeh went to Iran in late 2001 and met Saeed at a Christian gathering in 2002. They had a Christian wedding in Iran in 2004.
The Idaho Statesman said persecution of Christians intensified after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected president, and they decided in 2005 that it was time to move to Idaho. Naghmeh was pregnant with th eir first child.
The couple live at Naghmeh's parents' house in West Boise. An ordained pastor, Saeed participated in Christian ministry in Iran via Skype.
In 2009, the Idaho Statesman said, Saeed and his family visited Iran. He was detained at the airport on their way home. He was interrogated every day for two months about his activities with the home churches.
The Idaho Statesman said Iranian officials warned him to stop his involvement with the home churches. However, they said he could do nonreligious humanitarian work and continue to travel back and forth between Iran and the U.S., Naghmeh said.
From 2009 to 2012, Naghmeh said, Saeed complied with the Iranian government's demands. Last summer, he was in Iran to build an orphanage on family land in the city of Rasht near the Caspian Sea.
"It was a big surprise when he was arrested," the Idaho statesman reported Naghmeh said.
Wife Warned Not to Go to Iran
Until he was imprisoned, Saeed was able to talk to his wife and children via Skype and telephone.
The Idaho Statesman reported Naghmeh said her first instinct was to go to Iran to be there for her husband. Officials warned her in-laws against that.
"They said, 'If she sets foot in this airport, she's going straight to prison,'" the Idaho Statesman reported Naghmeh said.
That's because she's a Muslim who converted to Christianity and was involved in Christian house churches in Iran with her husband years ago, she said.

Druze of Syria

Druze of Syria "Druze" is a word derived from el-Drzi, the name of one of the early propagandists of the Druze religion. The religion of the Druze began in the 9th century AD, as a sect of Islam. Druze hold the Qur'an to be sacred, but look upon it as an outer shell, holding an "inner, esoteric meaning". They can be found in Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, and follow a lifestyle of isolation. Ministry Obstacles The Druze see Jesus as a major prophet, but not the Son of God. Also, their life of isolation makes them resistant to outside influences. Outreach Ideas Christian Arabs may have special rapport with the Druze. Perhaps the Lord will grant a burden for the Druze to some Middle Eastern Christian Arabs, and also to Messianic Jews in Israel. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the few believers among the Druze, that the Lord may strengthen them out of his glorious riches so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith. Pray these believers will fellowship together, and grow as the body of Christ. Pray for the entire people group Pray each individual in the Druze community will soon become persuaded that Jesus is truly the Son of God, and will place their faith in his finished work on the cross. Pray for multiplying disciples among the Druze. Scripture Focus "All nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord, they will bring glory to your name." Psalm 86:9		People Name: Druze Country: Syria 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 482,000 World Population: 868,000 Language: Arabic, North Levantine Spoken Primary Religion: Other / Small Bible: Portions Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: No Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1

Join us in Prayer for Spiritual Awakening!

  

Join us in Prayer for Spiritual Awakening!

The OneCry Prayer Summit will be a live, participatory radio event on May 2, 2013, from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. Eastern. This two-hour event will focus on prayer for revival and spiritual awakening within the North American church, weaving Scripture, meditations, worship, and reflections throughout. Listen online, as well as engaging and participating through live chat and social media.

Hosted by Moody Radio in partnership with many other stations passionate about spiritual awakening, we're excited to bring you this live radio event on the evening of May 2nd.

Visit Pray! Network at: http://www.praynetwork.org/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

GPN 04-30-2013

GPN 04-30-2013

‘You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.’ (1 Timothy 4:7) Pray this week that God’s presence will be seen in our life. Marga Hooglugt – GPN Please pray for the healing of my mother (85). She has a lump in her breast and the doctor recommends surgery. Mrs. J.M. Please pray for a breakthrough of God for a new visa at the embassy for Mr. and Mrs. R. They want to work in an orphanage. Our family is being attacked by disease. My grandmother has cancer in her head. My mother has problems with her kidneys and pain in her abdomen. My brother has pain in his chest. And I am being attacked spiritually. Please pray that God will heal and deliver us. Mrs. D.d.R. Burma: Persecution is increasing in Burma as more people turn to Jesus Christ. Buddhists who convert to Christianity have difficulty keeping jobs and are often driven from their homes. Two families lost their jobs and homes after coming to faith in Christ last July. One family is living in a hut used for secret worship services, while the other is living in a hut where fish feed is stored. Pray that God will grant grace and strength to believers in Burma. Please pray for my health. I have headache due to tension, sadness and my sleep is disturbed by dreams. Mr. J.M.C. Maldives: Pray for weekly radio broadcasts that bring the gospel to this very closed archipelago nation. Radio programs are one of the best ways to reach Maldivians. Kazakhstan: Seven members of a small Baptist church in Ayagoz, East Kazakhstan Province, were fined recently for holding unregistered religious services. Police raided the group’s prayer service on April 4th, and all seven were fined the equivalent of nearly two months’ average wages. Two of those fined were grandmothers in their late 70s. Although appeals for dismissal of the fines were unsuccessful, media attention has helped the case of another Baptist, Vyacheslav Cherkasov. The court has overturned a previous decision to destroy Bibles that were confiscated from Cherkasov. Under Kazakhstan’s legal code, both ‘Leadership of an unregistered or banned social or religious organization’ and ‘missionary activity without registration’ are illegal. Please pray for a miracle, that my lost wallet, drivers licence and wedding ring will be found or dropped at the police station. Mr. P.M. Mrs. S.V. (78) asks our prayer for God's healing. She has abdominal pain and blood loss. Nepal: Pastor Chedar Nhote Lhomi was arrested and imprisoned after local people accused him of killing a cow. Before his arrest, the local people destroyed his family’s home and possessions. Pastor Lhomi, a husband and father of three young children, has also been accused of spreading the gospel and making Hindus eat beef. He is now facing a prison sentence of 12 years. Help us pray for achieve of Pastor Lhomi’s release from prison and for help for his family. He will not be allowed to receive Christian visitors while in prison. Pastor Lhomi has been working in ministry since 2003 and leads an established church that meets regularly. VOM Contact I am very glad that you always pray for me and for my disabled parents. I hope for more miracles. Pray for healing of my inflamed skin. Ms. R.H. Would you pray for and like to listen to uplifting Christian music? Tune in at MAASBACHRADIO.COM

Marga Hooglugt
Global Prayer Network

Gujar, Muslim of Pakistan

Gujar, Muslim of Pakistan The Gujur are located in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and several states in northeastern India. In addition, the Gujarat district of western India is named after the historic Gujur peoples. Ever since their conversion to Islam in the eleventh century, the Gujur have been bound by a life of poverty, illiteracy, and social oppression. In general, they are a simple, inoffensive people with a generous, hospitable nature. Ministry Obstacles To accept the Christian Gospel means to disturb established ways of living and relating within the community. Outreach Ideas Workers are needed to carry the Gospel message to this community, using means such as films, recordings and stories from Scripture. Pray for the followers of Christ There are few Christian believers among the Gujuri community, but pray for the beginnings of the church, followers of Jesus. Pray they will honor Jesus with their lives, and become mature disciples. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Gujuri community may be able to improve their standard of living, and have good schools available for their children. Scripture Focus "Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised." 1 Chronicles 16:24-25		People Name: Gujar, Muslim Country: Pakistan 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 4,263,000 World Population: 4,732,000 Language: Panjabi, Western Primary Religion: Islam Bible: New Testament Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1