Prayer List for December 28, 2008-January 3, 2009

Sunday, please pray for the Christians of Mosul, Iraq. “In Mosul armed Islamic terrorists are now patrolling the streets, stopping each person and asking to see their ID cards. Then they check to see what religion is recorded on the card. If the card says the person is a Christian, they can be murdered on the spot with a bullet through the head. (Open Doors)

Monday, please pray for the Christians of Jos, Nigeria. “The murderous rioting sparked by Muslim attacks on Christians and their property on Nov. 28-29 left six pastors dead, at least 500 other people killed and 40 churches destroyed, according to church leaders. One man asked, "Why were churches and clergy attacked and killed? Why were politicians and political party offices not attacked, if it was a political conflict?" (International Christian Concern)

Tuesday, please pray for the Christians of China, especially Mao Minzi, Mao Minzi, a 55-year-old Chinese Christians has been sentenced to a year of re-education through labor for "organizing an illegal religious gathering" in China. He may be able to appeal the sentence with the aid of a Christian attorney from ChinaAid's Legal Defense Fund.” (International Christian Concern)

Wednesday, please pray for the Christians of Seram Island, Malaku, Indonesia. “A Christian teacher's comment that agitated one of his students evolved into several days of rioting. Dozens of homes, shops and places or worship have been damaged or destroyed. The teacher and the student are both being considered "suspects," and the teacher could be charged with up to five years in prison for his comment. (International Christian Concern)

Thursday, please pray for your nation for the year 2009.

Friday, please pray for the Hmong Christians of Vietnam. “A new wooden church built in September by Hmong Christians in Vietnam has been destroyed by local government officials. Hundreds of Christians who rushed to protect the building were forced back by police wielding electric cattle prods. Five people were injured, including one child and a pregnant woman who was stabbed in the stomach with a cattle prod. Villagers fear she may miscarry. (International Christian Concern)

Saturday, please pray for the Christians of Burma. “A new wooden church built in September by Hmong Christians in Vietnam has been destroyed by local government officials. Hundreds of Christians who rushed to protect the building were forced back by police wielding electric cattle prods. Five people were injured, including one child and a pregnant woman who was stabbed in the stomach with a cattle prod. Villagers fear she may miscarry. (Free Burma Rangers)

Prayer List for the Persecuted Church: December 21-27, 2008

Sunday, please pray for the churches of Kabacan, Philippines. “Police in Kabacan, a city in the Philippines, defused the third bomb targeted at a religious institution in three days on Saturday, (Nov,29). The bomb was the second attempt on the Iglesia ni Cristo Church, in addition to another grenade that was thrown at a Jehovah's Witnesses church days earlier. (International Christian Concern, Inquirer.net)

Monday, please pray for the Christians of Iraq. “Thousands of Iraqi Christians have found threats like this under their front doors or stoops, in stairwells or shoved through their courtyard gates: ‘Be informed that we will cut your heads and leave your dead bodies with no organs and no heads in your stores and houses. We know your houses and we know your family. We will kill you one after the other. Depart the Muslim areas.’" (International Christian Concern, Worldmag )

Tuesday, please pray for the Christians of Orissa, India. “The Orissa state government continues to participate in the anti-Christian pogrom by forcing Christians out of relief camps without ensuring their safety once they get back home.” (International Christian Concern, Christian Post)

Wednesday, please pray for the Christians of Orissa, India. “Christians in Orissa state are anticipating Christmas with fear as Hindu extremists have called for a state-wide bandh, or forced shut-down on all sectors of society. This “bandh” is planned for Christmas day and could provide Hindu extremists the pretext for attacking anyone publicly celebrating the birth of Christ. The state’s chief minister has said there should be no such shut-down but stopped short of prohibiting the Hindu extremists’ plan. The Hindu extremist umbrella organization Sangh Parivar has vowed to press ahead with the bandh, reported newspaper Outlook India on Nov. 20.” (Open Doors)

Thursday, please praise God for His wonderful gift, Christ Jesus.

Friday, please pray for 45-year-old Christian convert from Islam in Bangladesh, Laila Begum, and her family. She “said that on Nov. 1 several Muslim neighbors demanded that she pay them money. Begum told Compass Direct News that she had borrowed the equivalent of $30 last year from a Muslim neighbor and this year paid her back with interest. When she told the group of Muslim neighbors that she was not going to pay any more money and they began beating her. ‘“Suddenly they got equipped with sticks, iron rods, knives and machetes,” she said. The family informed local governing council members about the attack, but the council demanded $300 to settle the matter and also threatened them, she said. “The local council officials also told us that if we file any case in the police station, our houses will be burnt to ashes and we will be evicted from the locality.’” (Open Doors)

Saturday, please praise God that “Gospel for Asia missionary, N. Chauhan, has escaped from his kidnappers after being abducted from a marketplace in Madhya Pradesh, India and taken to a secluded house where he was beaten. He was able to escape the next day when his abductors allowed him free to relieve himself. He ran nine miles to the home of a fellow believer, losing his captors in the forest.” (International Christian Concern, ANS)