Kwait: Pray for undergreound church
Kuwait was part of the ‘Arab Spring’ of 2011. Thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister. Unlike demonstrations in Egypt and Tunisia, this unrest slowly subsided with most of the government still intact. Sharing the Gospel is not permitted but expatriate Christians continue to witness with discretion. This has resulted in a growing underground Church. We can praise God for expatriate testimonies, satellite Christian television and internet ministries which are successfully proclaiming the Good News in a Muslim nation that forbids this activity. There is potential for a great harvest of souls in Kuwait. We are asked to pray for Christians to be protected as they tell friends, families, and neighbours about Jesus Christ.
Pray: that the Lord would open doors for Christians fearlessly to share the Gospel. (Ro.10:14; Eph.6:19)
Egypt: Church destroyed
In mid-September Middle East Concern requested prayer for a situation concerning the renovation of a church building in Aswan province. Regretfully on 30th September, the church was destroyed by an estimated mob of 1,000 local Muslims who also damaged other property belonging to Christians. The security and fire services failed to intervene. The church was being renovated with all necessary building permits in place. In August there were confrontations between local Muslim and Christian residents. Church leaders agreed to forgo the construction of a spire and external cross in order to maintain communal harmony. But further threats demanded the domes be removed from the roof structure. Further meetings failed to agree a way forward.
Pray: for the situation to be defused and for Christians to know the presence and peace of Jesus. (Ps.3:3)
USA: Protest movement spreads
In September Adbuster magazine in Canada put out a call for supporters to occupy Wall Street and drew hundreds of protesters with 2,000 attending a march the following Saturday. This protest movement has been developing through Twitter, Facebook and shared Googledocs, enabling protesters to stand against corporate greed, unemployment and the political corruption that they say Wall Street represents. They have taken to the streets in Boston, Los Angeles, St Louis and Kansas City. The core group, Occupy Wall Street (OWS), claims people will take part in demonstrations in as many as 147 US cities this month, while the website www.occupytogether.org lists 47 US states as being involved. Around the world other protests are also planned. The speed of the leaderless movement's growth has taken many by surprise. Occupytogether.org, one of several sites associated with the protest, has had to be rebuilt to accommodate the traffic.
Pray: for a peaceful outcome to this movement's activities and that the media attention would not inspire violence.
More: reet-protest-movement-spreads?newsfeed=truehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/04/wall-st
Iran: Death threats and death sentence
Eleven Iranian Christians who fled Iran in the wake of a government campaign against evangelical Christianity received death threats via email from a group called ‘the unknown soldiers of the Hidden Imam’ (the Messiah-figure in Shia Twelver theology). Christian Solidarity Worldwide says the e-mail calls on the believers to either repent or face extra-judicial execution. The ‘unknown soldiers’ are alleged to have links with Iranian security services. The emails warned that although they managed to flee Iran they are not hidden from the ‘cute eyes of the unknown soldiers’ - who claim they have been advancing to the heart of the ‘Zionist regime’ over a number of years. Meanwhile, the written verdict of the most recent trial of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is still being awaited. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the fate of the pastor may now lie in the hands of the local religious leader, Ayatollah Ghorbani.
Pray: for God's continued protection over Iranian Christians and for the global media support of Pastor Youcef to secure his release. (Ps.16:1)
