Middle East: Reconciliation
This weekend Musalaha Ministry of Reconciliation - who promote reconciliation among Palestinian and Israeli believers through the life and teachings of Jesus - are asking readers of Prayer Alert to pray for 40 Israeli and Palestinian young adult believers who are gathering in Cyprus to study one of the most controversial issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: historical narrative. Historical Narrative is often misunderstood, contradicted or denied. The young adults will pray, worship and study together and learn to enhance the body of the Messiah in the country. Please pray for their increased understanding among both the Israelis and Palestinians and that the two would be united in fellowship.
Pray: for unity between our precious brothers and sisters living amongst such animosity and division. (Ps.133)
More: http://www.musalaha.org/
Pakistan 2: Christians beaten and implicated in ‘fake’ police case
On Easter Sunday Christian families on their way to church were attacked by a gang of ‘radical local Muslim youths’ who hurled insults at them for being Christian and celebrating Easter. The men’s comments became ‘perverted’ towards the girls and women. A few Christian youths asked the men to stop mocking, then fighting broke out resulting in some Christians being critically injured and rushed to hospital. Ironically the Muslim men lodged a case with the police against ten of the Christian men and despite some of them being hospitalized with serious injuries they were arrested, charged, and jailed. Bail was granted on April 22nd. Well placed local sources requesting anonymity said, ‘rich, powerful and politically dominant radical Muslim men of the Faqira clan were hurling death threats and threats of dire consequences on the impoverished Christian families and the Christians were ‘still living under the shade of death of horror.’
Pray: for the Christian families to be strengthened emotionally and spiritually under the pain of unjust suffering. (1Pe.3:14)
Pakistan 1: Christians illegally arrested
Police detained three Christians on false charges of alcohol possession in Sialkot last week at the request of their Muslim employer. The men objected to their boss demanding they work on Sundays. The factory owner seemed to object to the crosses the Christians wore since they began work for him last year. He used to look at the cross with strange looks. Since February no one has been allowed to wear a cross at work. In March he began demanding that only the Christian employees come to work on Sundays. When two workers objected Factory owner Rana Ejaz promptly accused them of selling alcohol, which is forbidden to Muslims in Pakistan and illegal to sell without a permit. They were arrested, severely beaten and asked to give a false statement that they sold alcohol. The factory owner reportedly said, ‘I did all this on the advice of the SHO, Zulfiqar, so that I could terminate the Christian workers.’
Pray: that God would strengthen Pakistan’s Christians as they continue to demonstrate reason for the hope that they have in Jesus. (2Pe.1:2)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/pakistan/19189/
Iraq: Al Qaeda attacks
Monday was the deadliest day of the year in Iraq. Almost 100 Iraqis were killed in a series of attacks.The violence started with drive-by shootings and bombings at security check points in Baghdad. Then two car bombs exploded and while people gathered to help the victims, a suicide bomber attacked the crowd outside a textile factory. One witness said, ‘Terrified people were running in different directions. I saw dead people, people burned and crying, wounded people on the ground that was covered with pools of blood. Dozens of wounded people asking for help were lying on the ground.’ The government is accusing Al Qaeda and the violence fuels growing fear over the country's political uncertainty. It's been two months since elections there and still no new government in sight. Meanwhile, the U.S. will pull out half of its troops over the next four months.
Pray: for God to remove all indecision and enable his choice of government and leadership to be established. (Ex.18:21)
More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2010/May/Almost-100-Iraqis-Killed-in-Deadliest-Day-of-the-Year/
