13 30 APRIL 2020 To help you pray for the persecuted Church - Barnabas Fund
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Church
13 – 30
persecuted
pray for the
To help you
APRIL 2020
barnabasprayer
BARNABAS FUND - AID AGENCY FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
barnabasfund.org
BRINGING HOPE TO SUFFERING CHRISTIANS
April 2020 2
Thank you for praying for the persecuted From 13 to 30 April, prayer points then
Church. For March and April 2020 we are continue in this issue of Barnabas
providing suggested prayer points in two Prayer. Please use Barnabas Prayer in
different ways. conjunction with the Praying for the
Persecuted Church booklet. You can
From 1 March to 12 April (Easter Sunday) follow our recommendations on page 53
you can use the newly revised and of the booklet for dates from 1 March to
updated 2020 edition of the Praying for the 12 April (Easter Day), then switch to using
Persecuted Church booklet to guide you this Barnabas Prayer to guide you in your
in your prayers for persecuted Christians prayers for the suffering Church from 13
around the world. The booklet, enclosed April onwards.
with this issue of Barnabas Aid, gives
detailed information on 39 countries If you don’t have a Praying for the
where Christians are facing pressure and Persecuted Church booklet, or would like
persecution and prayer points highlighting additional copies, please get in touch
their needs. On Page 53 of the booklet, with your local Barnabas Fund office (see
a schedule is provided of how to use the back page for contact details) or visit our
booklet in your daily intercessions for website: barnabasfund.org/shop
countries where Christians are persecuted.
Thank you for your prayers for our early December, which left seven
persecuted brothers and sisters in Christians dead and 21 kidnapped.
Christ, which make such a difference to Remembering that the psalmist said,
them. We sometimes have to change or “My tears have been my food day and
omit their names for security reasons, night,” pray that our brothers and
and we have only limited space to share sisters in this part of Cameroon will
their stories. But the Lord knows the be wonderfully enabled to hope in
people and places we are praying about. God and praise Him as their Saviour
Please do not feel limited by the specific (Psalm 42:3,5).
prayer requests, but pray as you feel led.
On each Sunday we have provided a set TUESDAY 14 On 26 December 2019,
prayer; please feel free to use these in Islamic State in West Africa Province
their current form, to adapt them as you (ISWAP) posted video footage of its
prefer, or to use the information they militants beheading ten Christian
contain to frame your own prayers. men and shooting dead an eleventh.
The killings are believed to have
taken place on Christmas Day and
April the martyrs to have been abducted
from Borno State. ISWAP claimed the
MONDAY 13 “Helpless before the Christian deaths were to avenge the
terrorists, the people had only their killing of its leader and his spokesman
April 2020 3
eyes to cry.” These were the words in US military actions in Syria in
of a Barnabas contact, as he tried to October. Pray to Him who is able
explain the terrible distress and utter to do immeasurably more than all
destitution of Cameroonian Christians we ask or imagine for an end to the
who had fled for their lives, leaving violence against Christians in Nigeria
behind everything they owned, when (Ephesians 3:20).
Boko Haram militants attacked
Zangola village on 2 December 2019. WEDNESDAY 15 Nigerian pastor Lawan
This was just one of a spate of similar Andimi was a target of Boko Haram
attacks in Cameroon’s Far North in for years. A convert from Islam
It is believed that the martyrdom of these eleven Nigerian Christians occurred on Christmas
Day 2019
himself, he led many other Muslims FRIDAY 17 The small West African
to Christ, including his father-in-law country of The Gambia is 85-90%
who was a famous mallam (Quranic Muslim. In the last three years
scholar). Pastor Andimi survived the state has favoured Islam over
attempts on his life in 2015, 2016 Christianity in many ways, including
and 2017. Finally, he was seized by building 60 mosques but no churches,
Boko Haram on 2 January 2020. paying Islamic scholars but not
After demanding an impossibly Christian scholars, and preferential
large ransom, they killed him on 20 treatment of Islam on the public
January. In a video released by Boko TV station. Not a single Christian
Haram on 5 January he urged loved has been nominated to the National
ones to “thank God for everything” Assembly. In the last two decades,
and affirmed that we are all in the Christian schools have suffered
hands of God whatever happens to us. much interference, such as forcing
He recognised that it could be God’s them to have Quranic teachers and
will that he did not see his family again to introduce the wearing of the hijab.
(in this life). Pray that his inspirational Government scholarships favour
message from captivity will encourage Muslim young people and neglect
other Nigerian Christians facing Christian young people. All this
violence and console his widow and the Christians “have borne without
seven children. much noise” but now are determined
April 2020 4
to speak out for their rights. As
THURSDAY 16 Thirteen Nigerian anti-Christian discrimination and
Christian young men died (nine marginalisation increase, pray that
of them the breadwinners of their our brothers and sisters will be shrewd
families) on 11 January when as snakes and innocent as doves
armed Fulanis attacked a Christian (Matthew 10:16).
community in Mangu Local
Government Area, Plateau State. SATURDAY 18 A Constitutional Review
Christians learned that the Fulanis Process has begun in The Gambia.
had earlier vowed to seize all the The first draft of the proposed new
cows of the Christians in the area, constitution has caused much concern
saying that no “infidel” (meaning amongst the country’s Christian
“Christian”) has the right to own minority (9%), for example omitting
cattle. Pray for those who mourn, to specify that it is a secular state.
especially for the young widows and This is of vital importance, given that
little children of the nine married a former president had declared the
men. Some of the remaining country to be an Islamic state and
Christians fled, while others have since then the issue of whether it is an
stayed but dare not go to their Islamic republic or a secular republic
farmland as militant Fulanis typically has gone to and fro, with various
do a follow-up attack. Either way, they official name changes. Christians are
have lost their means of livelihood. also very concerned that the draft
Please pray that the Lord will provide constitution considerably strengthens
for them. the position of sharia. Pray that theirvoice will be heeded and that the new State, Myanmar (Burma) by the United
constitution will be fair, not enshrining Wa State Army which controls the
in law the de facto discrimination that Wa Special Region, bordering China.
Christians already face. Local church leaders had pleaded
for prayer when the China-backed,
SUNDAY 19 O risen Christ, we ask for communist-influenced separatist group
Your resurrection power to be poured closed more than 100 churches in
out on Your faithful followers in North 2018, demolishing some. At least 200
Korea. We praise You for their courage Christian leaders and workers were
and perseverance in the hardest and detained for a while. A Bible school was
harshest of situations for Christian also shut down and 41 students forced
believers in the whole world. Help us into hard labour as military porters.
to learn from their example. Give us Pray that the few Christian properties
grace to cling to You and not to waver, still closed will be reopened.
no matter what we may have to endure
and suffer. May we cheerfully deny
ourselves, willingly take up whatever
kind of cross is given to us, and follow
You with faith, hope and love, to the
glory of Your Name. (Matthew 16:24)
April 2020 5
MONDAY 20 Authorities in five of
China’s provinces warned the unofficial
Protestant “housechurches” in
December not to hold public gatherings
to celebrate Christmas. This was
followed on 1 February 2020 by the
implementation of new “Administrative
Measures for Religious Groups”
which mean that every aspect of daily Rohingya Christian families fled their homes,
activities of religious groups must taking refuge at administrative offices in the
now be approved by the government. camp, when their community was violently
Article 17 demands that “religious attacked by Rohingya Muslim extremists
organizations must spread the
principles and policies of the Chinese WEDNESDAY 22 Late January saw a
Communist Party.” Pray that Christians huge upsurge of violence against the
in China will not lose heart and remain Rohingya Christians who live as a
steadfast in their faith under increasing tiny minority within a community
pressure from the authorities, knowing of about three-quarters of a million
they are being renewed day by day Rohingya Muslim refugees who fled
(2 Corinthians 4:16). ill-treatment in Myanmar and now
live in camps in Bangladesh. At least
TUESDAY 21 Praise God for answered eight Christians had to be hospitalised
prayer as more than 50 church and many of their homes and a church
buildings have been reopened in Shan building were damaged. “Oh Lord,please forgive our persecutors!” posted SATURDAY 25 When Egyptian President
the Rohingya church on Facebook, al-Sisi, a Muslim, attended a Christmas
and quoted Acts 7:54-60. Pray that the church service in Cairo, he said,
large moderate majority of Rohingya “If we love God, we must love each
Muslims will reject the violence of other.” Thank the Prince of Peace for
the small extremist group that is President al-Sisi’s unwavering support
responsible for the attacks. Ask that and affirmation of Egypt’s Christian
the Bangladeshi authorities will exert minority. Pray that his attitude will
themselves to protect these very become the norm amongst Egyptian
vulnerable Christians. Muslims. Praise God too for another 90
churches and church-affiliated buildings
THURSDAY 23 Tomorrow is the first being granted licences on 31 December.
day of the Islamic fasting month
of Ramadan. During this period,
Muslims are often more committed in
their religious practices, which they
believe will earn them more merit
if done in Ramadan than if done in
other months. For extremists this
can mean they are more active in
attacking non-Muslims, which they
April 2020 6
think is pleasing to Allah. Ask the
Lord to protect Christians and other
vulnerable minorities in Muslim-
majority countries over the next
30 days.
FRIDAY 24 Roar Fløttum is a Christian
street preacher in Norway. One day four
Muslim men asked him to come with
them to pray for an injured friend they
claimed to have. They pushed Roar
down a flight of stairs, beat his head, Barnabas helps support vulnerable Egyptian
took his bank cards and tried to force Christian women
him to recite Arabic words – probably
the Islamic creed – demanding at SUNDAY 26 O Lord Jesus, we praise
knifepoint that he “convert to Islam or and thank you for the growth of Your
die”. Roar is determined to continue his Church in Nepal. Please strengthen
evangelistic and healing ministry on the faith of our Nepalese brothers
the streets of Trondheim. Pray that the and sisters, so vulnerable to being
Lord will use him in a mighty way. Pray arrested and punished, just for
also that many of Norwegian’s Muslim speaking of their love for You. As
population (estimated at 5.7% in they face the current legal situation in
2016) will have a personal encounter Nepal, fill them with the wisdom from
with Christ. above that Your Word promises toall believers who ask. May the trials surveillance powers. Ask that the Holy
they face produce perseverance and Spirit will give Russian Christians the
maturity, especially for the many who right words to say in every situation
have only recently made the decision (Luke 12:11-12).
to follow You. (James 1:3-5)
WEDNESDAY 29 “Apart from God we are
MONDAY 27 The United Christian on our own,” wrote a church leader in
Forum (UCF), a nationwide Indian north-east Kenya to Barnabas Fund,
organisation, recorded 17 incidents of after more Christian schoolteachers
harassment affecting 69 Christians, in in Garissa county were attacked by Al
the first 19 days of 2020. The incidents Shabaab terrorists on 13 January. Caleb
occurred in nine Indian states, and were (28), Titus (29) and Samwel (29) died.
mostly mob threats and intimidation, Joshua (30) was wounded and Robert
but also included one physical assault, (53) escaped, climbed a tree, and was
one incident of damage to church not spotted by the gunmen. “We mourn
property, and the arrest of one pastor. in grief for our departed brothers …”
All were reported to the UCF Helpline, said the message, “We contemplate
meaning that there are likely to have what future may be ours. May God
been more anti-Christian incidents make us more aware of His presence
during this short period, some not being with us.” Pray that Christians in north-
reported to UCF. Remembering that our east Kenya may feel Christ’s peace
April 2020 7
heavenly Father sees and knows it all, that passes understanding, and know
pray for His protection of His people in themselves to be in His loving hands,
India, where the Church is growing fast, whether they live or die.
but so is persecution and oppression.
THURSDAY 30 Earlier in January, Al
TUESDAY 28 “Almost every Sunday a Shabaab, intending to kill Christian
police squad interrupts our services teachers, had accidentally shot dead
… Sometimes, local authorities dress four Muslim children who were
up like civilians and knock on our staying in teachers’ accommodation
door, asking to be let in so they can at their boarding school. On realising
‘pray’. If we don’t let them in, they film their mistake, the terrorists went in
us turning them away and then use to bandage other Muslim pupils they
the footage against us. And if we do had wounded. Pray that the Lord will
let them in, then they take pictures take from the terrorists’ hearts their
inside the church to identify ways that great hatred of Christians. Recalling
we are violating the ‘Yarovaya Law’. Isaiah 35, Kenyan Christians in the area
We have had to pay several fines for requested of Barnabas Fund: “Please
‘illegal missionary activity’.” This is the pray with us: Strengthen the weary
experience of a pastor of a Protestant hands: make firm the feeble knees.
congregation of about 50 people in Say to the anxious: Be strong, fear not,
Moscow. The Russian 2016 legislation your God is coming with judgment:
known as the “Yarovaya Law” gives coming with judgment to save you. The
harsh penalties for vague offences ransomed of the Lord shall return, and
and allows the authorities sweeping sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”UK New Zealand
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