PRAYER DIARY | January/February 2020 - Open Doors
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PRAYER DIARY | January/February 2020 “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.” MARK 8:35 (NLT)
became a Christian aged 12 JANUARY after discovering her parents’ secret Bible. Pray for wisdom for Christian parents who North Korea cannot tell their children about Jesus for fear that they will Wednesday 1 January accidentally betray their faith North Korea’s leader, Kim to the authorities. Jong-un, will celebrate the new year with an official Sunday 5 January visit to Kumsusan Palace Jinsoo* is a secret believer of the Sun, the mausoleum who was discovered during a for former leaders. Citizens house search. When the police of Pyongyang will gather found a Bible in his house, at Kim Il Sung Square to Jinsoo said quite boldly, “I ‘strongly boast the people’s want to freely worship Jesus.” revolutionary spirit of Juche Since this incident, nobody ideology’. Pray that the in the village has seen him. idolisation of North Korea’s Ask the Lord to honour his human leaders will come to an courage, strengthen him in end and the glory of Jesus will his faith and deliver him from be revealed. every evil attack. Thursday 2 January Monday 6 January North Korea has been number Chinese surveillance of North one on the World Watch List Korean refugees has become since 2002, making it the most more and more strict. Ask dangerous place in the world the Lord to guide Open Doors to be a Christian. Pray that field workers reaching out to 2020 will be a year of spiritual refugees in China and pray breakthrough and pray that for more opportunities to God’s people may be free to introduce them to the good worship Him without fear. news of Jesus Christ. Friday 3 January Tuesday 7 January Open Doors estimates that Ask God to protect the safe there are between 50,000 and houses in China run with 70,000 Christians imprisoned support from Open Doors, in North Korea’s labour where refugees can read and camps. Ask God to sustain and study God’s Word. Pray that strengthen these believers, the training believers receive and pray that, despite the will equip them to build a persecution they face, Jesus’ strong church that can bring name will be lifted high in the the gospel to North Korea. prisons of North Korea. Wednesday 8 January Saturday 4 January Give thanks that Open Doors is “My father prayed for more able to keep 60,000 Christians than five years before God alive inside North Korea with gave him the opportunity to food and medicine, thanks to share the gospel with me,” your gifts and prayers. Ask says Kim Sang-Hwa*, who the Lord to protect the secret 2
networks delivering this Please pray that Qin will be support and pray that we can released this year, so he can reach more believers in 2020. return to his wife and meet his son for the first time. China Monday 13 January In September we asked you Thursday 9 January to pray for Dilnaz*, a sister At this time of great from a Muslim background uncertainty in China, pray that whose husband was abducted 2020 will be the beginning of by police in 2017. Praise God a new cycle of revivals that that Dilnaz’s husband has sweep the nation, driven by been released and is back the true hope and salvation home with his family! Ask God found only in Jesus. to heal and restore him, and please keep praying for the Friday 10 January family as they are still being Pray for the release of ethnic monitored by the authorities. minority groups still in prison camps, for persecuted Tuesday 14 January brothers and sisters from In October we shared the Muslim and Buddhist good news of the release backgrounds, and for China’s of Ammar*, a believer from house churches which are a Muslim background who increasingly forced to meet in was imprisoned in a re- secret. Pray for new wisdom, education camp in western boldness and vision for China. Despite the serious China’s believers in 2020. consequences he will face if discovered, Ammar has begun Saturday 11 January to share the gospel again. “I Pray for guidance, energy and must tell my Muslim brothers protection for Open Doors now because, in their pain, workers in China as they they are desperate to find serve our persecuted family. the truth and to know God’s Ask God to lead them to the love,” he says. Pray for his believers who most need protection. support and encouragement, and pray that the training and Wednesday 15 January – UK resources they provide will and Ireland have a big impact. The 2020 World Watch List is being launched in Parliament Sunday 12 January today. Pray that MPs new and Brother Qin*, a believer from old, from across the parties, a Buddhist background, was will attend the event, engage arrested six years ago for with the issue of religious preaching the gospel to his freedom, and be moved to use own people. At the time, the influence God has given his wife was pregnant with them to bring change for their first child. Open Doors those who are persecuted for workers who visit his wife to their faith. encourage her were told Qin won’t be released until 2020. *Name changed for security reasons 3
Give thanks for ANSWERED PRAYER Trinity (6) and her mother with a letter from a supporter Thank you so much for for Christians and the world. your continued prayers for Jesus bless you.” the children and families affected by the Samarinda Seven-year-old Alvaro is back church bombings in at school! “He is very happy Indonesia in 2016. Alvaro, and excited to start school,” Trinity and Anita are said his mother, Novita. “He continuing to heal from the had already prepared awful burn injuries and everything weeks before the trauma they suffered during school started, like his school the bomb attack on their uniform, and polishing his church. shoes.” Trinity, now six years When asked if he is treated old, and her family are differently by schoolteachers currently in China, where or friends, Alvaro shared, “No, she is undergoing advanced they are kind to me and don’t treatment to fix her fingers, mock my appearance.” elbows and knees. Trinity’s mother sent a text expressing Alvaro has to participate in her gratitude for all of the the morning briefing before encouragement they have lessons start, outside the received during this time: classroom and under the sun, “Thank you Open Doors, may just like other students. Pray you always be a blessing for him – when the scars on 4
his head and face are exposed PRAY to sunlight, it creates a burning sensation and pain. • For joy, strength and patience for Alvaro, Trinity, Alvaro will continue to need Anita and their families as treatment in later years – for they continue on the long now, it’s been postponed, as journey to healing doctors advised against giving him anaesthetic to prevent • For recovery, both possible after-effects on his physically and mentally, body in the future. School for the parents as well as for Trinity is still a long way the children – that even in off – her treatment is taking their darkest hours, they priority. will continue to hope in God’s promises Alvaro’s father recently sent Open Doors a video of Alvaro • For courage and singing with him a song called protection for Indonesia’s ‘Kau terbaik bagiku’ which Christians, as Islamic means ‘You are the best to extremist groups become me’. Here are the lyrics: more influential in pushing for an Islamic nation. I have forgotten what’s behind me, I give myself to you, oh Jesus, And I ran to my purpose, You give me a new day, The old has passed. Your plan, oh God, Is beautiful to me beyond my understanding. Your words are yes and amen, You are the best for me. > You can watch the video at www.opendoorsuk.org/ indonesia above Your prayers and support have kept Alvaro (7) and his parents going 5
Afghanistan to be Muslim. Imams in mosques and madrassas Thursday 16 January state publicly that there is The Islamic Republic of no room for Christians or Afghanistan does not allow churches in Somalia. Pray that conversion from Islam. It is the Lord will continue to build seen as apostasy and brings His church here amid these shame on the family and hostilities. community. Pray for change to take place within the country Tuesday 21 January and for openness to religions The Christian community is outside of Islam. small and under constant attack. Open Doors estimates Friday 17 January the number of Christians The small number of Christian in the country to be in the converts must remain in hundreds. Ask the Lord to hiding. Increasing levels send out more workers into of violence have created a the harvest field and pray that general sense of insecurity they will be wise in finding and there are no signs ministry opportunities that of improvement for the express God’s love. foreseeable future. Please pray for stability and peace in Wednesday 22 January Afghanistan. The militant Islamic group al- Shabaab targets and kills any Saturday 18 January Somalis suspected of being Christian converts from Islam Christian. Foreign jihadists face strong pressure from are also present in the country their family, friends, and and have control over most neighbours to recant their rural areas. Pray that their Christian faith. Depending influence will be diminished. on the family, they may even fear for their lives. Living Thursday 23 January openly as a Christian is not Pray that vibrant fellowships possible. Pray for courage will be formed despite the and protection over Afghan dangers. Pray for mature and believers. godly role-models among Somali believers and for Sunday 19 January growing unity among the Christian parents often hide different fellowships. their faith from their children for fear of discovery. Pray that they will find safe ways to Libya share the gospel with them. Friday 24 January An armed conflict which Somalia began in April 2019 over control of the capital Tripoli Monday 20 January has killed several civilians and The Somali people are more caused tens of thousands of than 99 per cent Muslim and Libyans to flee their homes. society expects all Somalis Pray that the violence in the 6
country will not descend into Wednesday 29 January out-and-out civil war. Pray for converts from Muslim backgrounds who suffer Saturday 25 January the brunt of persecution in With the country in a state Pakistan. Radical Islamist of anarchy, militant Islamist groups see them as apostates, groups are able to attack and their family, friends Christians with impunity. Ask and neighbours see their God to change the hearts of conversion as shaming the the militants and to protect community. and encourage Christians in Libya. Thursday 30 January An estimated 700 girls and Sunday 26 January women are abducted each Open Doors estimates that year. They are often raped and there are only around 150 forcibly married to Muslim Libyan Christians. In this strict men in the community. This Islamic country, conversion usually results in forced from Islam to Christianity is conversions. Please pray not accepted, so converts for protection for Christian from Islam are usually secret women and girls in Pakistan. believers. Pray that these believers will find ways to Friday 31 January meet together so they can Pray for Open Doors grow in their faith. local church partners strengthening Christians with Monday 27 January biblical training, literacy and Give thanks that the number livelihood projects, trauma of Libyan believers from therapy and emergency aid. Muslim backgrounds is slowly Pray for protection for those growing. Pray that Christian travelling to rural areas TV programmes and websites to reach isolated Christian will help to disciple isolated communities with practical believers, and reach more support and the hope of the Libyans with the truth of the gospel. gospel. Pakistan Tuesday 28 January Pakistan is an Islamic Republic and the more recent process of Islamisation goes back as far as the 1980s. The country suffers from a plethora of radical Islamic groups. Please pray for the new Pakistani government to pass laws that will protect the Christians in the country. 7
Surrendering to God’s peace Open Doors partners are supporting Momina’s children with schooling Your prayers and gifts are a told him, ‘You are responsible lifeline to believers living in for my children.’” the most dangerous countries in which to be a Christian. For However, peace kept eluding Somali believer and single her – eventually, she stopped mum Momina*, they provided praying altogether. “I stopped vital support when she and praying for three days,” she her children were cut off from says. “Then I had a beautiful her family for choosing to dream. I saw a very bright follow Jesus. shining light and heard the words, ‘You are my daughter.’ Until Momina met Jesus, she I asked, ‘Who are you?’ and never had inner peace. As a the voice answered, ‘I am mother to six children, her life your Father, the Saviour of the was busy, but comfortable. world.’” She is one of many Somali people living in another “Thank you country in the Horn of Africa, and, as jobs are scarce in for feeding my those countries, her husband worked abroad, sending her family” the money she needed to take care of the family. Momina decided to seek out others who might tell her the But she found it stressful to meaning of her dream. “There raise the children and worried was a Christian man I knew. constantly about them. “I read I went to him and asked him the Quran daily and prayed to give me a Bible. I started regularly, like any good reading about Jesus, and then Muslim. I asked Allah to take went to church.” care of the children, and even 8
Her family soon found out almost broken, and when I felt she had become a Christian, I had no one… I am pleased and the consequences were that I surrendered my life into disastrous. Her extended [God’s] hands. My happiness family insulted and threatened before and after being in her, and her husband informed Christ is completely different. all their relatives that Momina My soul has found rest. May had changed her religion God bless those who pray for and, as a result, she and the people like me.” children were dead to him. He instructed everyone to stop > You can watch sending money to her. Momina Momina tell her story at had no one to turn to. www.opendoorsuk.org/ prayernews But the Lord did not leave her. He led her to a church which PRAY partners with Open Doors, where she and her children • Thank God for his received support for both their provision for Momina. physical and spiritual needs. Pray that she will find a way to earn a stable “As the Bible says, whoever income feeds the hungry is blessed. Thank you for feeding my • For wisdom as she raises family. God bless those who her children and pray that feel for us, those who have they will come to know received Jesus before us and Jesus now stand by our side to help us; thank you for those who • For Open Doors’ secret feel as we feel and who care networks providing vital for us. support for isolated and vulnerable believers in “Your support reached me the Horn of Africa. when I was almost gone, *Name changed for security reasons Momina teaches her children to pray 9
of the women’s Bible study FEBRUARY groups. Ask the Lord to bring more new members to the meetings, and pray that the North Korea wounds of their hearts will be healed through the loving Saturday 1 February fellowship they receive. North Korean winters are particularly harsh, with Wednesday 5 February average temperatures well Pray for a believer named below minus ten degrees Joo-hee* who was caught Celsius. The food situation and detained by the Chinese this year is also more severe government. Please pray that than ever as harvests have she will be released safely, been poor. Pray for North and that she will know God’s Korean believers to survive protection and providence the harsh winter and ask the through this incident. Lord to protect Open Doors secret workers smuggling Thursday 6 February food and medicine into the Pray for Open Doors’ secret country. workers, who take enormous risks to serve the church in Sunday 2 February North Korea. Pray for their Deep in China’s forests, Open physical and spiritual health, Doors holds secret women’s for safety as they travel long Bible study groups for North distances, that they would Korean refugees. The groups not be subjected to serious ID meet occasionally to study checks, and that they would and memorise the Bible know the presence of Jesus together. Pray that these strengthening and refreshing believers can meet in safety them every day. and learn from God’s Word so they can become mature Friday 7 February disciples of Jesus. Open Doors supports the broadcasting of Christian Monday 3 February radio programmes into North Pray for Sister Yu-mi*, a Korea to help believers to member of one of these learn from the Bible and groups who was recently become true disciples of baptised. According to her Jesus. Pray that those who leader, she had waited for listen to the programmes will the baptism for months and be protected as they listen studied all the materials with so they can share what they passion, and on the day of her learn with other Christians in baptism, she cried throughout their secret meetings. the event. Pray that she will grow in the grace and Saturday 8 February knowledge of Jesus. Underground church leaders have a vision to see a strong, Tuesday 4 February Spirit-inspired, missional Pray for wisdom and church in North Korea. One protection for the leaders day they want to unite with 10
their brothers and sisters in South Korea and China to bring the gospel to the darkest places in Asia. Pray with them that the Lord will Amelia (right) and Mimi (left) make this vision a reality. reading the story of Noah Wednesday 12 February – Persecuted Brunei Youth are the future leaders Children of the country and the government is focused on Sunday 9 February – Syria youth development in the Christian children in smaller coming year. Pray for the towns are often one of the few church to see how important Christians in their schools. it is to disciple and mentor Normally religious classes young believers, so that should be for Muslims as well they will be God’s channel of as Christians but, without blessing for the nation. Christian teachers, only Islam and Islamic culture is taught. Thursday 13 February – East Pray for Lian (8) who is forced Africa to attend Islamic class. Pray Winnie* (12) has to dress that this situation will change like a Muslim because it is for him and other Christians. dangerous to be a Christian in the area where her family Monday 10 February – live. It makes her feel bad. Myanmar Pray for the Lord’s comfort Pray for children’s camps and protection, and pray that being organised in many church leaders will have places to share the gospel wisdom to know how to help with children and help them Winnie and others like her grow to know God’s Word. Ask who are confronted by the God to bless these camps and danger of targeted attacks. work through them to reach many with His love. Friday 14 February – East Africa Tuesday 11 February – Kelly* (14) feels immense Myanmar pressure to become a Muslim. Praise God that 1,000 She doesn’t have the inner- children’s Bibles have been strength to tell her friends distributed nationwide. Pray she can’t go with them to for children like Amelia* (8), the mosque and fears that, who was very grateful to if they found out about her receive one of the Bibles and faith, they may attack her. She now reads it every day when attends church and Sunday she comes home from school school. Ask the Lord to give with her friend Mimi*. Pray Christians in her church the that these Bibles will help wisdom to help Kelly navigate more children like Amelia and these difficulties. Mimi to learn stories from the Bible and grow in faith. *name changed for security reasons 11
The gospel cannot be chained Ruth and Musse, whose story was first told in Prayer News 265 Feb/March 2018 “This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” 2 TIMOTHY 2:8-10 In Eritrea, the government When friends and relatives views Christians as agents suggested that he should of the West and will arrest, leave his beloved Eritrea, he harass and kill them with refused. “We know we have impunity. Musse*, the pastor a mission and we must live of an unregistered church, for that mission,” he said, can testify to this. out of pastoral concern for his flock. But it came at a All in all, he spent six years in prison. But the government had been keeping him under “We know we increasing surveillance for over 13 years, keeping have a mission him in a constant state and we must live of vigilance – never able to stay too long in one for that mission” location. 12
cost, especially to his wife failing health. Nevertheless, Ruth* and their family, being it was a massive answer separated from him, as well to prayer for the entire as being constantly watched. family. Musse now remains under close and constant Incredibly, although surveillance, forced to report conditions were harsh in to his local police station prison, Musse says that it regularly to show that he has brought a new stability to not fled the country. Every his faith. “Until you adapt to time he goes there, he risks life in prison, you face some re-arrest. ‘difficulties’,” he says. “But, once I had adapted, I had “Please continue praying consistent prayer and Bible for us,” Ruth says. “Pray reading. that we will keep calm; we need prayers so that we live “In prison, one of my main without worry and keep calm.” purposes as a Christian was to evangelise. You continue Musse adds: “I would like to teaching. Of course, it is thank all of you very much. forbidden to do it openly, but While I was in trouble and we did it at night-time when faced challenges, you, as everybody was asleep. We my brothers and sisters, set even had Bible portions we aside your own things and could study in secret. prayed for me. I thank you very much. Most of all, I would like to praise and thank the Lord for inspiring you to “We saw many pray for me. He is the one that kept us in your hearts of conversions” prayer. May the Lord bless all of you who prayed for me while I was in chains.” “Sometimes there were very problematic people who used PRAY to inform on us. They would tell the guards, ‘Musse is • Give thanks that God’s preaching, teaching and doing Word is not chained! other Christian things.’ There Pray that the gospel will were people like that, yes. But continue to spread inside many are passing through Eritrea’s prisons different frustrations and depression. Those people • For complete physical loved what we taught and and spiritual restoration shared. Some of them even for Musse, Ruth and their tried to cover for us. We saw family many conversions. The gospel can’t be chained.” • For the Lord’s strength to persevere for Christians Musse’s eventual release still held in Eritrea’s came about because of his prisons. *names changed for security reasons 13
Persecuted Wednesday 19 February - East Africa Women Pray for Esther, whose husband, family and Saturday 15 February – community all rejected her Tunisia when she left Islam to follow Pray for a young widow Jesus. Open Doors has built with three small children. her a house and is providing Her late husband’s family her with spiritual care. “Thank are threatening to take her you for coming to my rescue,” children away after three she says. “Knowing that there young people in the family are people who love me and converted to Christianity. Pray are concerned about me is for protection over this young very humbling.” family and pray that these threats will not take their toll, as she has an important role in the church. Sunday 16 February - Nepal Monika* is being persecuted Esther in front of her home by her husband and his family. Her husband has threatened Thursday 20 February – to divorce her if she doesn’t Ethiopia renounce her faith. Ask God to Hellen’s* husband abandoned change her husband’s heart, her when she chose to follow and pray for comfort and Jesus, leaving her to bring strength for Monika and for up three children alone. With her son, whose mental health your support, Open Doors has been badly affected. has paid for the children’s schooling and helped Hellen Monday 17 February - India set up a tearoom. Ask God to Sushila* has suffered mental bless Hellen’s business and abuse and has been severely pray that her children will beaten up for her faith in grow to follow Jesus. Jesus. She has had to quit her theological studies because of strong opposition from people Hope for the in her village. Pray for her healing and restoration. Middle East Tuesday 18 February - Friday 21 February – Iraq Bhutan Weeks of unrest at the end Pray for women’s of 2019 left hundreds of empowerment training protestors dead and led to the programmes taking place resignation of Prime Minister early this year. Pray for Mahdi. Pray for a return to safety for those attending the peace and political stability, training and pray that they and ask God to raise up wise will use what they learn to be and righteous leaders to a blessing to their families, govern the Iraqi people. churches and communities. *names changed for security reasons 14
Saturday 22 February – Iraq exists there so that the church Pray for discipleship training can continue to be a refuge for run by Open Doors partners those who love Jesus. for new believers in Iraq. Most practise their Christian faith secretly, for fear of being India killed. Ask God to give them the courage and wisdom to Wednesday 26 February share their faith with others. Pray for the government of India and its leadership, Sunday 23 February – Syria as they plan to make Pray for the family of two amendments in Indian laws priests, Hovsep Petoyan and which will make professing his father Abraham, who were and practising the Christian shot dead by Islamic State in faith difficult. Pray that such Qamishli in November. Ask laws will not be allowed to God to comfort Hovsep’s wife, pass, and that the leaders of Caron, and her three children, India will seek freedom and Hovig, Anna and Cayana. Pray justice for all. that the Christians in Qamishli will not give in to fear. Thursday 27 February Pray for those who attack and Monday 24 February – Syria persecute the body of Christ Pray for Christians from across India. Please pray that the village of Tal Abyad who they would come to the saving were driven away from their knowledge of Jesus; that they homes by October’s attacks would know the truth and the in northern Syria. After they truth would set them free. fled, some houses were robbed and destroyed so Friday 28 February they can’t go back now. One Manav* and his brother were displaced family said: “We are badly beaten by extremists Armenians and they’ve always because of their faith in Christ. aimed to empty the village of Manav is in hospital and his Christians.” Pray for justice for treatment is ongoing. Pray Christians in that area so they for their continued healing can return to their homes and and comfort, and ask God to live in dignity and freedom. change the hearts of their attackers so that they turn to Tuesday 25 February – follow Jesus. Lebanon Lebanon has been a refuge Saturday 29 February for the poorest and most Please pray for Ranu*, a devastated refugees from widow, and her children, who neighbouring countries like are being socially boycotted Syria and Iraq over the years. by their community because But it is now going through they follow Jesus. Ask the its own times of turmoil Lord to comfort them and and trouble. Ask the Lord to provide for their needs, and restore political stability to pray that their community will Lebanon and to preserve the come to faith in Christ through relative religious freedom that their witness. 15
WORLD WATCH LIST #1 North Korea The power of Amen! “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” 2 CORINTHIANS 1:20 What do you imagine is met someone from heaven.” happening when you pray? The risks facing such workers North Korean Christian, necessitate prayer. “Our Timothy*, has firm views. prayers give them the visions and wisdom to see how they “Each time a Christian in our can avoid that risk. world says ‘Amen’, I think that has authority. When we “Each time you say ‘Amen’, say ‘Amen’, there is a certain, that authorises spiritual invisible, spiritual power in power, making step-by-step there - that makes a huge progress. And there has been change.” change happening in North Korea – it’s just that we don’t Coming from North Korea, see the physical event yet. Timothy has first-hand But change will happen. The experience of persecution - darkness always tries to and prayer. “This country is cover us, but the final victory not happy with Christians, not is always in the hands of God.” happy with the cross.” Our Father in heaven, Your Most North Koreans are also kingdom come in North Korea. extremely poor. “People Your will be done. Give your constantly fight for survival. children their daily bread and When Open Doors is in contact deliver them from evil, for with them and provides Your glory. Amen! physical support, it’s like receiving help from an angel. > You can hear Timothy When you’re in difficult talking about North Korea circumstances and someone at www.opendoorsuk.org/ comes to give you warm prayernews bread – you feel like you’ve *name changed for security reasons Open Doors, PO Box 6, Witney, FIND US ON: OX29 6WG www.opendoorsuk.org T 01993 460015 E inspire@opendoorsuk.org Open Doors UK & I is a registered Charity in England and Wales No. 1125684, Scotland No. SC043710, Republic of Ireland No. 20140984 © Open Doors 2020
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