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Praying for the Persecuted Church barnabasaid.org
Praying for the Persecuted Church 2020-2021 This booklet is provided to inspire and focus your prayers for our Lord’s suffering people. Most pages are dedicated to a particular country where Christians experience discrimination, harassment or violence for His sake, giving background information and suggestions for prayer. Some pages focus on a particular group of persecuted believers, and the final page encourages us to rejoice in the glorious hope that we have in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, a hope that can sustain us all in our trials for Him. Some Christians like to observe the traditional season of Lent to prepare themselves for Good Friday and Easter Day. The booklet has been structured for use during this time, with a page for every day from Ash Wednesday, February 26, to Easter Day, April 12. A reading plan for this period can be found on the inside back cover. Published by Barnabas Aid 1934 Old Gallows Road Suite 350 Vienna, VA 22182, USA © Barnabas Aid 2020 Registered charity number 1092935 Company registered in England number 04029536 Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are taken from the New International Version®. Unless otherwise stated, images are © Barnabas Aid Inc. Front cover: Christian young people in Bangladesh praying at a Barnabas supported leadership training seminar Creative Commons image sources: Page 47: Ibrahem Qasim, “Destroyed house in the south of Sanaa 12-6-2015-4” 13, June, 2015, via Wikimedia, Creative Commons License
At
the heart of the “My God, my God, why have you
Christian faith forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
are the death and Members of our persecuted family
resurrection of our around the world know what it is like
Savior. The purpose of to be arrested on false charges, to be
Jesus Christ’s life was to offer Himself beaten, chased from their homes,
as a perfect, once and for all, sacrifice locked in poverty by discrimination,
for the sins of His people. rejected by their communities, and
Jesus Christ, literally, became sin to suffer violence and even death for
for us and suffered unimaginably on owning the Name of Jesus Christ.
Calvary’s cross, so that we could be The reality of Christian experience
forgiven. Because He lived a perfect is born of pain and suffering. When
life His righteousness is credited to all seems lost, we are given hope and
us, and we can rejoice as believers strength to carry on, our eyes fixed
knowing we are righteous in God’s on Christ – the Author and Perfecter
sight and our eternal destiny is of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). This
secure (2 Corinthians 5:21). experience refines our character in
He drank every last dreg of the Christ and tests our faith.
cup of suffering that His Father But suffering in this life is
offered to Him. Submitting to His not the end. Jesus died and rose
Father’s will, as beads of sweat fell again gloriously. The reality of His
like drops of blood from His body, He resurrection gives to believers the
said, “Father, if you are willing, take certain hope of eternal life with Him.
this cup from me; yet not my will, but With this Praying for the
yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) Persecuted Church booklet, we can
In a short space of time, Jesus make a devotional voyage from agony
experienced acclaim as He entered to hope, from suffering to salvation
Jerusalem, the agony of Gethsemane, and, ultimately, from death to life.
betrayal, wrongful arrest, false As we meditate on Jesus’ journey,
imprisonment, beating and we can walk with our persecuted
torture, an unjust trial, and death brothers and sisters, in their anguish
sentence, rejection by the crowds, and hope, knowing the Lord our
abandonment by His disciples, and, God in our midst is a mighty one who
above all else, the terrible moment will save; he will rejoice over us with
when, as He bears all our sins, it gladness; he will quiet us by his love;
seemed even the Father has turned he will exult over us with loud singing
away and He cries out in anguish, (Zephaniah 3:17).
27
5 26
9
31
10
Contents
4 Afghanistan 16 Eritrea
5 Algeria 17 India
6 Azerbaijan 18 Indonesia
7 Bangladesh 19 Iran
8 Victims of Violence 20 Iraq
9 Burkina Faso 21 Kazakhstan
10 Cameroon 22 Refugees
11 Central African Republic 23 Kenya
12 Chad 24 Kyrgyzstan
13 China 25 Laos
14 Egypt 26 Libya
15 Children 27 Morocco
21
45 24
6 44 32
42 41
40 13
20 19 4
30
33
14
35 7
17 28
25
12 16
39 47 34
46
37
11 38
23
18
49
28 Myanmar
29 Pastors and Evangelists 40 Syria
30 Nepal 41 Tajikistan
31 Nigeria 42 Turkey
32 North Korea 43 Converts
33 Pakistan 44 Turkmenistan
34 Philippines 45 Uzbekistan
35 Saudi Arabia 46 Vietnam
36 Women 47 Yemen
37 Somalia 48 Martyrs
38 Sri Lanka 49 Zimbabwe
39 Sudan 50 A Living Hope
Afghanistan
A
fghan Christians are either mentally unfit. This meant that,
converts from Islam or the according to sharia he could not be
children of converts; they face held responsible for apostasy. In
severe penalties if their faith 2011, another convert to Christianity,
becomes known. Afghanistan is one of was arrested but released after nine
a few countries where the law imposes months because authorities said he
upon converts from Islam the death had agreed to return to Islam.
penalty for apostasy, in accordance Public opinion is vehemently anti-
with sharia, although no one has been Christian. There have been calls in
executed in recent times. The converts the national parliament for the death
also potentially face murder at the penalty for apostates to be enforced.
hands of relatives, members of the Although evidence of Afghanistan’s
community, militants or the Taliban pre-Islamic Christian heritage has
which controls part of the country. largely been eradicated, a district of
In recent years, radical Islamism has Herat is still called Injil (“Gospel”).
become more influential, particularly Afghan soldiers destroyed the last
through the Deobandi movement. church building in 1973, which had
Only the Lord knows the exact served foreign Christians.
number of Afghan believers living in
Afghanistan, but it is thought to be
around 1,000. However, there could be
many more secret believers. Many have
fled to countries like Turkey and India.
Taliban-controlled areas ruthlessly
enforce sharia and openly target
Christians. The militant group Hezb-
i-Islami (Islamic Party) has also
attacked and killed Christians.
Afghanistan’s constitution
enshrines Islam as the state religion,
permitting no law contrary to Islam.
For any crimes that are not covered in Abdul Rahman
Afghan legislation, the authorities will
turn to sharia for guidance as to how Pray that God will shield
to handle them. Afghanistan’s believers and that
In 2006, Abdul Rahman, a they will have access to and
Christian convert, was charged with be encouraged by Christian radio and
apostasy and sentenced to death. internet ministries. Ask the Lord to
Following an international outcry, provide for Christian refugees.
the Afghan authorities declared him
4
Algeria
A
lgeria is 99% Muslim with a forcibly evicted from the Full Gospel
small but growing Christian Church in Tizi Ouzou city, pastored
population, mainly converts by the EPA’s president, leaving 1,000
from Islam and their Christians without a place to meet.
children, estimated at up to 90,000. Officials shut the 500-congregation
Many Algerian converts are Berbers, Source of Life Church in Makouda,
indigenous to North Africa, but are pastored by the EPA’s secretary, and
a minority in this Arab-majority closed the 100-member Light Church,
country. A long and bloody civil war in Tizi Ouzou.
against Islamists, that began in the Algeria experienced political
1990s, lasted almost a decade. A upheaval in 2019 when 82-year-
new constitution introduced in 2016 old President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
declared Islam the state religion but resigned in April, after 20 years in
added that “freedom of creed and office, raising concerns of a power-
opinion is inviolable”. Conversion grab by Al Qaeda. After a series of
from Islam is not a criminal offence, postponed elections, Bouteflika’s
but those who evangelize Muslims risk successor, Abdelmadjid Tebboune,
a five-year jail sentence. Freedom of the former acting head of state, was
worship is protected constitutionally, elected in December 2019.
but other laws restrict its practice for
non-Muslims.
According to the 2006 ordinance,
the National Commission for Non-
Muslim Worship is in charge of
granting permits for approving
churches but, so far, no permits have
been issued, despite repeated requests
by Christian leaders. This leaves the
churches legally vulnerable to closure.
At least eleven churches have been An official seal on a door of one of at least
shut by the authorities since the 11 churches closed in Algeria since early
beginning of 2018. 2018 [Image credit: Middle East Concern]
Three closures were enforced on
one day alone in October 2019, shortly Lift up Christians in Algeria and
after the Algerian Protestant Church ask that they remain strong,
Association (EPA) took the rare decision despite setbacks. Pray that
to hold a demonstration in protest the authorities will reopen sealed
outside provincial government offices in churches and start the process of
Bejaia. During the ensuing police action granting permits for church buildings.
to seal the buildings, worshippers were
5
Azerbaijan
An
officially secular state, booklets into school as gifts. This
Azerbaijan is 96% led to the discovery by police that
Muslim (mainly Shia). the boy’s parents had held a New
The small Christian Year’s Eve event for twelve children
population (3%) includes a few and given them a party gift of a
thousand converts from Islam. The book about the birth of Jesus. The
former community of Armenian couple were charged with possessing
Christians has been largely forced out religious literature that did not bear
by violence, and those who remain are a government “control mark” and
secret believers. holding a children’s religious meeting
Azerbaijan’s constitution declares in violation of the law. They were each
freedom of religion and prohibits fined 1,500 manats ($880), which
discrimination on religious grounds. is more than three months’ average
In reality, religious activity within wages for salaried work in Azerbaijan.
the country is tightly controlled by its
2009 Freedom of Religion Act.
The legislation requires religious
groups to register, and each one
must provide signatures of 50
members. However, the authorities
seem to have enforced a policy of
banning all registrations in the last
five to seven years. According to
figures from the State Committee for
Work with Religious Associations
(SCWRA), there are only 14 legally
functioning churches in a country A church in Azerbaijan celebrating, in
of ten million people. The law 2018, the anniversary of its registration.
also requires that all printed and The church’s application to register
published religious literature be to make its activities legal had been
assessed and labelled by SCWRA rejected six times before success
before it can be sold or distributed.
Local police forces harass, raid, Give thanks for the Christian
detain and fine religious communities community in Azerbaijan that
for alleged failures to comply with the is standing firm despite the
legislation, although the number of obstacles placed in its path. Pray that
raids decreased in 2019. the authorities will see Christians as a
One raid was carried out after a force for good in the country and relax
head teacher called the police when the restrictions against their worship.
a six-year-old boy took Christian
6
Bangladesh
T
he People’s Republic of time of writing, there are a few
Bangladesh was formed in hundred Rohingya Christians living
1971, when mainly Bengali among three-quarters of a million
nationalist East Pakistan Rohingya Muslims who fled genocide
seceded from West Pakistan after a in Myanmar to refugee camps
bloody civil war. in Bangladesh. These Christians
Bangladesh, a poor country suffered extreme persecution in their
prone to flooding and cyclones, is a homeland because of their ethnicity,
secular state that has operated under and are now also being attacked
a parliamentary democracy since because of their faith by extremist
military rule ended in 1990. Islam is Muslim Rohingya in the camps.
the state religion, but the constitution Illegal land-grabs are common.
allows minorities to practice and In 2016, around 5,500 tribal Santal
share their faith. Christians were made homeless
There has been a Christian overnight when local Muslims and
presence since the sixteenth century armed police evicted them from their
when Portuguese trading posts were land and set alight the wooden shacks
established in Satgon and Chittagong. they lived in. Three Christians were
The 1% Christian minority enjoys killed and many were injured.
greater religious freedom than in
many Muslim-majority countries but,
along with the 9% Hindus, is subject
to discrimination from the 90%
Muslim majority.
Attempts to Islamize the country
have been thwarted, but the struggle
continues between Islamic and secular
factions. In 2018, the government was
criticized for going against the spirit Dijen was shot in the chest when armed
of the constitution, which prohibits police and local Muslims violently evicted
discrimination against any particular the Santal Christians in 2016. Barnabas has
religion, when it launched a $1 billion built secure new brick and mortar homes for
mosque-building program. him and 99 other homeless Santal families
Violence against Christians is
increasing, particularly in rural areas.
Some of those active in evangelism have Ask the Lord to protect
been murdered. Converts from Islam Bangladeshi Christians,
especially face hostility. especially converts, and encourage
From 2014, attacks by Islamist them to continue to share the Gospel.
extremists have intensified. At the
7
Victims of Violence
“So do not fear, for I am with you; oppressive towards Christians. Eritrea
do not be dismayed, for I am your and Iran have laws that suppress
God. I will strengthen you and freedom of religion for Christians,
help you ...” resulting in police raids, arrests, torture,
(Isaiah 41:10) and sometimes martyrdom.
Barnabas’ Victims of Violence
On
April 21, 2019, Easter Fund helps to rebuild shattered lives
Sunday, suicide by providing food, medical care, legal
bombers attacked three assistance and places of refuge. When
worship services and Christians need to make a fresh start,
three hotels where Christians who help with small-business start-up
had completed all-night vigils were costs or vocational training makes
having Easter breakfast together. this possible. The Fund also cares for
Over 200 people were killed and at the families of prisoners and helps
least 500 were injured. Christians who have suffered state-
The threat of violence from sponsored injustice.
extremists, hostile local communities
and the authorities is a daily reality for
persecuted Christians in many contexts,
especially where national identity
is closely identified with a majority
religion other than Christianity.
West African Islamist groups such as
Boko Haram in Nigeria and Cameroon, Barnabas Aid has provided emergency
and Al Shabaab in Somalia and Kenya, funding, and help to rebuild damaged and
have killed hundreds of Christians and destroyed homes, for Christian survivors of
displaced thousands in 2019 alone. Boko Haram violence in Cameroon
Islamist groups continue to be active
in Syria and Iraq. Islamist attacks also Lift up Christians living under the
occur in Pakistan, Tanzania, Bangladesh constant threat of violence or
and Indonesia, among others. Christian injustice simply because of their
gatherings in Sri Lanka can be violently faith. Ask God to shield all who take refuge
disrupted by militant Buddhists, and in Him (2 Samuel 22:31). Intercede for
Hindu extremists in India frequently Christians recovering from violent attacks,
carry out acts of anti-Christian violence. that the Lord will bless them in their new
Christians suffer repression and hostility beginnings and keep them safe. Praise
in many Central Asian countries. North God for those who endure injustice and
Korea remains the most dangerous imprisonment, and ask Him to strengthen
country to be a Christian. China’s them and their families.
communist government is increasingly
8Burkina Faso
B
urkina Faso is majority- church leader, related how extremists
Muslim and around 30% broke into the service, shouting “Allahu
Christian. The rise of Akbar” before massacring all but one
extremist Islam, from 2015, male in the congregation.
has caused devastation, displaced Landlocked, Burkina Faso,
thousands and destroyed agriculture. previously known as Upper Volta, was
This, together with recurring drought part of the French colonial empire in
and famine, has plunged the country the Sahel region of Africa. It became
into a humanitarian crisis. independent in August 1960 and was
Christians, who include many re-named Burkina Faso in 1984.
converts from Islam, suffer severe The politically unstable country
persecution. A spate of vicious has experienced a number of military
militant attacks targeting Christians coups. With a mainly subsistence
began in April 2019, and claimed at economy, Burkina Faso is one of the
least 162 Christian lives by December. poorest countries in Africa, despite
A church leader lamented, “Living or its gold reserves. Two-fifths of the
dying is of very little importance now. population are younger than 15 and life
The most important thing is keeping expectancy is low.
faith in the Lord.”
The attacks began in the northern
town of Silgadji on April 28, 2019,
when a pastor, his son and four
members of his congregation were shot
in cold blood for refusing to convert
to Islam. From April to June, at least
another 56 Christians were slain.
In late September 2019, five
separate attacks claimed 41 Christian Christian women and children who survived
lives and caused thousands to flee to an extremist attack on a church that killed
Koungoussi, Bam Province, as jihadists 14 of the 15 males in the congregation
warned, “Flee, convert or die”.
In October 2019, extremists
slaughtered 36 Christians in Bam, Pray for the protection of Christians
Sanmatenga and Soum Provinces, in facing Boko Haram attacks. Ask
the north of the country. that the extremists will turn from violence
In an attack on a church in and come to know the Prince of Peace.
Komondjari Province in the south-east Pray Christians’ faith will remain steadfast,
on December 1, five boys and nine the needs of the displaced will be met and
Christian men were shot dead during the bereaved will know God’s comfort.
Sunday morning worship. A distraught
9Cameroon
C
ameroon, formed of an murderously target men because they
amalgam of former French are usually the main breadwinners
and British colonies, has and protectors in communities.
a Christian population of The UN estimates that more than
around 70% with Muslims comprising 170,000 Cameroonians, mainly
20%. Despite political tensions Christians, have been forced to flee
between the northern Francophone their homes. Others “hide out” in the
region and the smaller Anglophone hills, or travel to a town, for safety at
region in the south-west, Cameroon night rather than stay in their beds.
has enjoyed relative stability since Throughout the rainy season in
gaining independence in 1960. 2019, communities were unable
Conflict between religious groups is to farm because of relentless Boko
rare. However, in the Far North, where Haram violence. A local pastor told
the Muslim population is dominant, Barnabas, “The lack of a harvest will
rural Christian communities are cause long-term hardship for our
routinely subjected to Boko Haram Christian brothers and sisters.”
violence. Attacks by the Nigerian
Islamist group have increased in recent
years, with gangs of up to 300 militants
laying waste to Christian villages,
devastating crops and killing livestock.
Eyewitness accounts of attacks
describe heavily armed militants
encircling Christian villages, shouting
throughout the night as they kill, loot
and burn. A local pastor said, “These
attacks lead to great fear, psychosis, Boy returns to a burnt-out home in a
trauma and panic.” Christian village attacked by Boko Haram
In the last two months of 2019, at in Far North Cameroon
least ten Christians were murdered in
a wave of Boko Haram attacks in the
Far North. Seven were killed in Mayo Ask the Lord to strengthen
Sava district. In Tourou, a 12-year- Cameroonian Christians suffering
old Christian schoolboy was hacked severe persecution. Pray that their
to death when he resisted militants’ attackers will turn from violence. Ask
attempt to abduct him as a “child that displaced families will be safe
soldier”. In Moskota, church-founding in the towns they have fled to and
Pastor David Mokoni and a hearing- the bereaved, especially widows and
impaired boy were killed in an attack orphans, will be comforted.
on their church. Boko Haram tend to
10Central African
Republic
C
hristian communities in the force which, under their leader
Central African Republic Michel Djotodia, overthrew the CAR
(CAR) continue to be the target government and held power from 2013–
of violent attacks, despite a 2014. The regime committed many
ceasefire between the government and abuses including pillage, execution-style
14 rival rebel groups that was signed in murders, rape and torture.
Rome in June 2017. Despite the 2017 ceasefire
Islamist armed groups such as agreement, and the continued
the Seleka and Fulani militias have presence of UN and other
attacked Christian communities peacekeeping forces, the country
and their leaders, and burned down remains susceptible to outbreaks of
churches. They have also destroyed violence. This is mostly between the
Christian homes, killed many, and Seleka and the “anti-balaka” militia
forced thousands to flee. Christians – who misleadingly call themselves
face regular threats of violence and Christians, despite their actions being
kidnapping from militant Muslim condemned by church leaders.
Fulani herdsmen.
In 2019, two pastors were shot dead
by Muslim militants while travelling
in their car on Christmas Day. In
November 2018, at least 40 Christians
were killed, a church burnt and 20,000
fled when extremists attacked a
Christian mission in Seleka stronghold,
Alindao. In May 2018, Christians
were forced to flee their neighborhood Christian communities continue to be
when armed Muslim groups rampaged targets in the violence that has wracked
through the capital burning homes and CAR since Seleka military forces held
killing at least 15, including the pastor, political power in 2013-2014
in an attack on a church.
The UN declared it “highly Pray that the parties to the
worrying” that attacks on Christians ceasefire will keep to their
have continued, despite the presence agreements and reject violence.
of the UN’s own peacekeeping Ask God to protect Christians and all
force (MINUSCA). innocent civilians, especially church
The CAR is a majority Christian leaders who are a particular target of the
country. Most of the 15% Muslim Islamist militants. Pray that Christians
population are in the north-eastern will be filled with peace as they respond
part of the country bordering Chad to their suffering in a Christ-like way.
and Sudan. The Seleka are a powerful
11Chad
C
had, a large landlocked This is payable to the victim, their
country in the heart of family or their community. Diya
the Sahel region of Africa, is unconstitutional in Chad, yet
is scarred by civil war widely followed, unregulated, and
and corruption. Jihadi activity has open to abuse. According to sharia,
increased regionally in recent years non-Muslims are granted less
and, in June 2019, the UN warned compensation than Muslims for the
that the Sahel countries were same injury.
entering a humanitarian crisis due Christians also face persecution
to surging extremist violence, forced from followers of traditional African
displacement, drought and famine. religions. Animists account for around
The Christian population (around one-fifth of the population. In 2018,
35%) in this Muslim-majority nation a “Yondo” initiation year, hundreds
faces increasing pressures from of young Christian men and boys
officials as well as violence from fled from their villages to avoid being
the Islamist group Boko Haram abducted to undergo brutal, and
and militant Fulani herdsmen. sometimes fatal, initiation rites.
Since 2009, Boko Haram has
violently attacked Christian farming
communities in the Lake Chad area.
The region has become the epicenter
of one of the world’s most complex
humanitarian disasters.
Societal divisions over land in the
south, where most Christians live, are
worsening and leading to outbreaks
of violence. Farms and churches have
been destroyed and herds stolen or
killed, causing many Christians to flee
for their lives. In March 2019, violent
conflicts erupted in the Tandjilé Christian women living in the Lake Chad
Region, with many deaths, villages area receiving food aid from Barnabas
torched and markets closed.
Constitutionally, Islam is Pray that the persecution of
prioritized and most government Christians will end and Boko
workers and military personnel are Haram’s plans to terrorize, kill
Muslim. Discrimination occurs in and destroy will fail. Ask God to protect
the context of diya (“blood money”) Christians from attacks and send His
i.e. compensation for injury or Holy Spirit to comfort the bereaved.
damage under sharia (Islamic law).
12China
T
he Chinese Communist Party House churches responded to the
(CCP) introduced stringent tightening of regulations by launching
new regulations in February in September 2018 a declaration
2020 giving it control over calling on the authorities to allow full
almost every aspect of religious religious freedom in China. Within
life. The measures state religious two months, it had been signed by at
organizations must submit to the least 500 pastors.
leadership of the CCP and spread its The Chinese government is
“socialist policies”. rolling out an artificial intelligence
Since 2018, there has been an (AI) surveillance system across
intensification of government action the country using advanced facial
against unofficial congregations, recognition to track the movements
known as “house churches”, and state- of its citizens. In Beijing and
regulated “three-self” churches in Shanghai, pilot schemes of “social
China, a country where Christians are scoring” watch for “dissent” from
thought to number at least 150 million prescribed communist doctrines
– a figure that is growing at a rate of in people’s visible behavior or
1.2 million a year. The intensity of online activities. The authorities
the persecution varies across the vast have already used technological
country, but many house churches have advances against minority Uighur
been shut, and members arrested and Muslims and Tibetan Buddhists, and
imprisoned. Authorities have removed Christians can expect the technology
crosses from churches and barred will be turned against them.
children from attending worship.
In 2018, the scrutiny of religious
literature and websites was
tightened, and online Bible sales
banned. At the same time, the
government announced a plan to
“sinicize” (make Chinese) Christianity A portrait of China’s President Xi Jinping
and interpret Scriptures according has replaced Biblical paintings in a church
to secular socialist views. In March in Jiangxi [Image: Bitter Winter]
2019, all churches in Luoyang county,
Henan province were ordered to
replace the Ten Commandments with Pray for courage and resilience
quotes of President Xi Jinping and, in for Christians in China that they
Jiangxi province, Biblical paintings may stand steadfast in their faith against
in some churches were replaced with the challenges facing them. Ask that the
portraits of the president. Lord is their rock and their refuge.
13Egypt
I
slamic State (IS) attacks slowed process to be expedited. In December
in Muslim-majority Egypt in 2019, the number of churches licensed
2019, compared to the previous stood at only 1,322, out of 3,730
two years when terrible IS churches that applied for approval.
atrocities included suicide bombings A number of churches were already
at two churches on Palm Sunday, 2017 licensed before the law was introduced.
that claimed at least 46 lives and the Despite the government’s softer
suicide bombing of a Cairo church stance, Christian communities regularly
service in December 2016 that killed 27 face pressure and hostility. Newly-
Christians, mostly women and girls. But registered churches are often targeted
terrorism is still a threat to Christian by Muslim mobs who still resent
targets. Despite a counterinsurgency Christian places of worship and use the
campaign by security forces, IS remains status change as a pretext for violence.
active in northern Sinai where terrorists Christianity is deeply embedded
have threatened to kill all Christians. in Egypt’s history, dating back to
In February 2019, Islamic terrorists the first century AD. Despite the
abducted a Christian passenger from later arrival of Islam and centuries
a bus travelling to the north Sinai city of persecution, Christians number
of El Arish – where IS murdered seven about 10% of the population.
Christians in 2017. He has not been
seen since.
President al-Sisi, who has condemned
attacks on Christians in the past, has
continued to speak supportively about
the Egyptian Christian community.
On January 6, 2019, he attended the
inauguration of Egypt’s largest cathedral
and expressed his support for Christians,
“We are one and no one will ever drive a The number of churches granted licences
wedge between us.” Only one day earlier, in Egypt rose steadily throughout 2019
an Egyptian security officer was killed
while attempting to make safe a bomb Give thanks for President al-Sisi’s
placed near a church in Cairo. support of Christians and ask
Al-Sisi’s government has continued that Muslim communities will
to legalize churches and church- heed his call for tolerance. Pray that
affiliated buildings, following its the church licensing work will speed up
repeal of Ottoman-era restrictions allowing Christians to worship legally.
in September 2016. The licensing Ask God to protect Christians and all
process remains slow, despite calls Egyptiansfrom terrorist violence.
by successive prime ministers for the
14Children
“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children by their parents. Such restrictions
come to me, and do not hinder make it harder for children to grow up
them, for the kingdom of heaven in the Christian faith. In Pakistan and
belongs to such as these.’ ” Egypt, Christian girls may be abducted
(Matthew 19:14) and raped, compelled to convert to
Islam and forced into marriage with a
On
August 30, 2017, Muslim – often their abductor.
Sharoon Masih, a
Pakistani Christian
schoolboy, was beaten
to death by his Muslim classmates.
Such extreme violence is thankfully
rare, but for minority Christian
children in countries around the
world, school is a place where they
face hostility and probably pressure to
convert to the majority religion. This Akash is delighted he can now attend
comes not just from other children, but a Christian school. At his old school
also from teachers. Christian students he was very frightened and the Muslim
can also be marked down or failed in children would not even eat or drink with
exams. Many other Christian children him. Barnabas supports 124 Christian
come from families who are too poor schools in Pakistan, educating over 11,000
to afford to send them to school at all, Christian children
often because parents are trapped
in poverty due to anti-Christian Pray for the children of
discrimination, while those who are persecuted Christian families
refugees fleeing persecution, famine or around the world. Ask the Lord to
conflict simply have no school to go to. be their Protector and their Comforter in
War deprives children of more than the face of danger. Pray that children will
just their education. Many are robbed be enabled to break free from the cycle
of their childhoods too. Barnabas of poverty and illiteracy in a safe and
Aid has helped provide trauma nurturing learning environment. Pray
counselling for Syrian Christian that the Lord will lead and guide the path
children, distressed by the horrors of persecuted children to grow up to be
they have seen and experienced in the strong in their faith.
years of war and persecution.
In China and Tajikistan, authorities
have banned children from attending Please contact your local Barnabas
church or Sunday school; the laws Aid office for details on how to
apply even if children are accompanied sponsor a Christian child.
15Eritrea
E
ritrea remains one of the worst 21 health centers run by a registered
countries in the world for church denomination and ordered the
Christian persecution. At the closure of seven Christian schools.
time of writing, hundreds of Hundreds of Christians have fled
Christians are detained in the north- Eritrea. Latest figures put the number
east African country’s notorious jails. of Christian families sheltering in
Imprisoned Christians are tortured, camps in Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda
starved and forced into hard labor. at 2,750, while some 30,000 are in
Conditions are worse for pastors and Israel. An Eritrean Christian said,
theological students who are singled “The country is becoming worse and
out for beatings or have their jail terms worse. Many people have left … many
extended as a warning to others. are thinking of leaving. Our families
Many Christians are held are in deep suffering.”
indefinitely, sometimes without
trial, not knowing when they will
be released. Among them is Twen,
a Christian arrested in 2005 at the
age of 22 at a New Year’s night vigil
with Christian friends. She has been
beaten and tortured in jail, even taking
punishment for a sick fellow-prisoner.
Twen was offered her freedom, if she
recanted her faith. But she refused.
A new series of arbitrary arrests Sophia fled Eritrea and now lives in
took place in 2019, with 332 Christians Australia. She vividly recalls the terror she
rounded up. Of these, 141 – including felt as an eight-year-old when she and her
104 women and 14 children – were friends at Bible class were rounded up by
detained at a house church meeting in police. After their release, Sophia’s family
the capital, Asmara, in May. In a raid lived in constant fear
on June 23, pregnant women were
among 70 Christians arrested at an
unregistered church in Keren city. Ask the Lord to strengthen
Only three Christian denominations Christians in Eritrea so they know
– Orthodox, Roman Catholic and that neither hardship nor persecution
Lutheran – as well as Sunni Islam can separate them from the love of
(half the population are Muslim) are Jesus Christ. Pray that the hearts of the
legally permitted by Eritrea’s Marxist authorities will soften to allow believers
government, but official status does not to worship freely. Ask that Christians who
guarantee freedom from intimidation. have fled will find safe havens.
During 2019, authorities shut down
16India
T
he secular nation of up to five years for forced conversions,
India has an 80% Hindu and up to seven for the conversion of
majority and a 4% Christian women, minors and Dalits. Anyone
minority. Hinduism is converting must now state a month in
strongly connected to Indian advance that they are freely doing so.
identity and extreme Hindu In November 2019, the Supreme
nationalism under the Bharatiya Court bailed the remaining five
Janata Party (BJP) is growing. of seven Christians wrongfully
Persecution has worsened since convicted of killing a nationalist
Narendra Modi became Prime Minister leader in 2008. The killing sparked
in 2014. Religious extremists and horrific anti-Christian violence in
militant groups target Christians and Orissa (formerly Odisha) state taking
intensifying violence has occurred in 90 lives, injuring thousands, leaving
several of the more stable states where 56,000 homeless and destroying
persecution was less prevalent in the nearly 300 church buildings.
past. The police response to anti- It is becoming increasing difficult
Christian violence is often dismissive. for Christian organizations to receive
In December 2019, there were financial donations. Christian
violent protests when Modi proposed and Muslim Dalits suffer more
a Citizenship Amendment Bill, which discrimination than Indian-origin
excludes Muslim immigrants from Dalits and are excluded from the Dalit
nearby Muslim-majority countries education and employment quotas.
from gaining Indian citizenship, but
allows it for non-Muslim minorities
from those countries. Christians
feared that it could provoke “hate
crimes” against them by Muslims.
Since 1978, Freedom of Religion
laws were introduced in several states.
Despite their name, these are in effect
anti-conversion laws banning the Indian Christians with a well supplied by
use of force, fraud or allurement in Barnabas Aid
conversion. Their vague terms make
Christians actively sharing their faith Ask God to protect
vulnerable to false accusation. Modi’s Indian Christians against
government supports the laws being discrimination and violence.
rolled out nationally. Pray that rising Hindu extremism will
In August 2019, Himachal Pradesh be quelled and that political leaders
state approved a stricter new Freedom will pursue peace rather than division.
of Religion Bill with jail sentences of
17Indonesia
I
ndonesia, home to the world’s break with classical Islamic teaching
largest Muslim population, took by abolishing the legal category of
steps in 2019 to combat the “infidel” (kafir) for non-Muslims.
rise in recent years of hardline The threat from Islamist
Islamic ideology. In many parts of the extremism, pressure from authorities
sprawling south-east Asian archipelago and hostility from the Muslim
Christians, comprising more than 15% community varies greatly in intensity
of the population, face discrimination across the country. In May 2018,
and violence. Only a generation ago, a family of Islamic State suicide
Muslims and Christians lived peaceably bombers targeted morning worship
as equals in accordance with the state- at three churches in Surabaya, on the
promoted philosophy “Pancasila”. island of Java, killing 13 people.
In November 2019, authorities Pastors report that churches are
launched a website for members of increasingly being closed. In August
the public to report posts by civil 2019, police forcibly shut a church
servants containing elements of “hate, building in Sumatra and even stopped
misleading information, intolerance or the congregation from continuing to
anti-Indonesian sentiment”. A survey worship in a tent.
revealed that 19% of civil servants, 18%
of private employees and 3% of military
personnel favor establishing an Islamic
state i.e. ruled by sharia (Islamic law).
The Ministry of Religious Affairs
also announced in 2019 that it
would replace 167 school textbooks
considered to contain radical or
intolerant material in order to “make
students more tolerant”. The entrance to one of three churches
In June 2019, Basuki Tjahaja targeted by Islamic bombers on the island
Purnama (previously called “Ahok”), of Java in May 2018
the Christian former governor of
Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, was
released early from a two-year jail term Give thanks that the Indonesian
for blasphemy. authorities and the NU have
Another groundbreaking taken action to combat the advance
development in 2019 was the decision of Islamic extremism. Pray that this
of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) – the will encourage the Muslim majority
Indonesian political party and to live in harmony with their Christian
claiming to be the world’s largest neighbors, treating them equally.
moderate Muslim movement – to
18Iran
O
ne of the Iranian president’s their house churches, the main target
senior legal advisers of harassment and persecution.
questioned the decision by Muslim-background Christians
the authorities to forcibly are often charged with “acting against
remove a cross from the top of a national security” and given long
100-year-old Assyrian church in prison sentences. The government
Tabriz in May 2019. He pointed seems to have a strategy of getting
out that the constitution officially new converts to leave the country
recognizes Christianity (as well as voluntarily, by arresting them and
Islam, Judaism and Zoroastrianism) releasing them again soon afterwards,
and states that religious minorities are sometimes even openly suggesting
free to perform religious ceremonies. that the converts leave. Because so
In July 2019, the authorities restored many do leave, it means that most
the cross although the church keys leaders of convert groups have little
were not returned immediately. theological and Biblical education.
Iran, a majority Shia Muslim
country and Islamic Republic since
1979, is led by Islamic cleric, Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei, as Supreme Leader,
who appoints key judicial and military
posts. Hassan Rouhani was re-elected
president in 2017. Though described
as a “moderate”, persecution of
Christians has increased since he
came to power in 2013. There are at
least 350,000 Muslim-background The Assyrian Evangelical Church in
Christians inside Iran and huge Tabriz, left, after the authorities tore
numbers in the Iranian diaspora. down its cross, and with its cross
Historic Assyrian and Armenian restored, right
Christian minorities, whose languages
are not understood by the majority
Muslim population including most Ask that young leaders of
Muslim youth, are permitted to convert groups will be equipped
worship in their own language. by the Lord to disciple and nurture even
Although, it seems that historical newer converts toward a firm grounding
evidence of Iran’s Christian past is in their faith. Pray for courage and
being gradually destroyed through the protection for imprisoned Christians
destruction of Christian cemeteries. and give thanks for those who continue
All Farsi-speaking churches have been to turn to Christ despite persecution.
closed, with converts from Islam, and
19Iraq
It
was not just Daesh [Islamic created an ongoing “culture of hate”
“ State, IS] who destroyed amongst Muslims towards Christians.
our homes, it was also our It is estimated that around 75% of
neighbors, the ones we Iraq’s Christian population (around 1.5
considered our friends … How can we million believers in 1990) have left the
possibly live somewhere we don’t feel country due to anti-Christian hostility
welcome or safe?” said an 80-year- and violence which began after the
old Christian, living in a Christian 1990-91 Gulf War and intensified after
displaced people’s camp in Erbil, the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime
northern Iraq (Kurdistan). in 2003. Such violence included
The conquest of Mosul and the murders, kidnappings and attacks
Plains of Nineveh (the historic on church buildings and Christian-
center of Iraqi Christianity) by IS owned businesses.
in 2014 caused huge numbers to
flee. Christians who remain face an
uncertain future, in a country led by
a fragmented Shia government, not
supported by many minority Sunnis.
Even though Mosul and the
surrounding towns were “liberated”
from Islamic State (IS), many
Christians remained wary of
returning because of the threat
of further persecution. A Muslim
resident of Mosul said, “If I was a
Christian, I wouldn’t go back.” His
home was occupied by victorious
Iraqi security forces and he recalled, Iraqi refugee family who were forced to
“neighbors told us to take the house flee from their homes
of a Christian who lived four doors
down.” Christians’ homes have been
occupied, destroyed and in some cases Ask the Lord to protect and
fraudulently sold, as has happened strengthen Iraqi Christians who
to Christian properties in Baghdad now feel unsafe in their homeland.
– many families who fled to other Pray that God will guide those who are
countries or became displaced within displaced as to where to settle down.
Iraq had nowhere to return to. Even Pray that their community and the Iraqi
government officials have admitted government will enable a Christian
that the brief IS occupation has heartland to be re-established in Iraq.
20Kazakhstan
K
azakhstan is undergoing a ignored Christians’ suggestions to
process of “soft Islamization”. revise them and approved all the
Radical Muslims have taken amendments in 2018, including a ban
control of most of the small on religious teaching unless within a
businesses, and Islamic money – registered organization – effectively
mainly from Turkey – is funding most making religious discussions in private
of the educational institutions. homes illegal.
Christians comprise about 25% Unregistered churches are raided
of the population of this vast Central by police who seize property and
Asian republic. Many Christians arrest Christians. Some are fined or
are from a Russian background, but imprisoned for “worshipping illegally”.
some are ethnic Kazakhs who have In February 2019, two unregistered
converted from Islam. Protestant churches in Taraz were raided by police
Christians, especially those from a on successive Sundays and heavy fines
Muslim background, are viewed with were imposed on church members.
great distrust.
Kazakhstan’s secular constitution
guarantees freedom of religion. From
independence in 1995 until 2010, the
situation for Christians, other than
former Muslims, was relatively easy.
However, a draconian Religion Law
passed in 2011, designed to prevent
extremism, has greatly increased Barnabas built a church-run residence
restrictions on religious freedom. The for Muslim-backgound Kazakh converts
law prohibits evangelizing and bans facing rejection by their communities and
religious organizations from receiving is helping them toward self-sufficiency by
foreign donations. supporting a wolfhound breeding business
The Religion Law also requires that
religious groups must have at least 50 Pray that the Church in
members locally, 500 regionally and Kazakhstan will be given
5,000 nationally in order to register – courage to continue to spread
an impossibility for smaller churches. the Gospel. Ask that those suffering
In 2017, a government committee persecution from the authorities will
reviewed issues including “destructive” remain steadfast. Pray that political
religious movements, the protection of leaders will be inclined to listen to
children and respecting individuals’ Christians’ requests and that the
religious beliefs; it then proposed a rollout of restrictions on religious
raft of 61 amendments imposing even freedoms will be reversed.
harsher restrictions. The government
21Refugees and Internally
Displaced People
“The eternal God is your
refuge, and underneath are
the everlasting arms.”
(Deuteronomy 33:27)
M
any Christians have to
flee from persecution or
anti-Christian violence,
sometimes escaping with
nothing but their lives.
Boko Haram attacks have caused
hundreds of thousands of Christians
take refuge in IDP (internally
displaced people) camps in Nigeria.
In Far North Cameroon, thousands of Distraught Gabriel, a Christian from Burkina
Christians are being displaced from Faso, was separated from his wife and
rural villages by ongoing, ruthless young children when they all fled from a
Boko Haram attack on their village. When
Boko Haram attacks. Many have fled
he eventually found them, a week later,
to save their lives, leaving behind their Barnabas was providing for their practical
livelihoods and all their possessions. needs. “You gave us clothes, shelter and
Hundreds of thousands of Syrian food,” said Gabriel, with tears in his eyes.
and Iraqi Christians have fled from “Christians we don’t know are sending us
genocidal violence at the hands of help. This is strengthening our faith and
Islamic State and other Islamist giving us the sense of the real body of
militant groups. They cannot return Christ. Wherever they are, may the Lord
home because of hostility from their bless them and rescue them in difficult
neighbors and they dare not live in times as they did for us .”
normal refugee or IDP camps for fear
of further persecution by Muslims
living in the camps. In Myanmar, Lift up in prayer all Christian
mainly Christian villages are often refugees and those displaced
attacked by the army and all the within their own country. Pray
inhabitants must flee or be killed. that God will be their refuge and a strong
Western governments and the tower (Psalm 61:3). Ask Him to watch
UN generally refuse to recognize the over all dispossessed Christians, that
particular suffering of Christians or to they will know His comfort and peace
grant them asylum on that basis. and be assured by Him of their heavenly
Barnabas’ Refugees Fund gives homeland, where the Lord has prepared
practical help to thousands of a city for them (Hebrews 11:16).
Christian IDPs and refugees.
22Kenya
T
he extremist Islamist group Al violent, radical Islamic group the
Shabaab have openly declared Muslim Youth Centre (MYC) is based
Kenyan Christians an enemy in Mombasa and active in the coastal
to be subjugated, converted or regions. The MYC, also known as al-
eradicated. When Christian-majority Hijra, has links to both Al Qaeda and
Kenya joined with Somalia in fighting Al Shabaab.
Al Shabaab in 2011, Al Shabaab In 2016, Kenya introduced strict
declared they would attack on Kenyan new regulations for religious societies,
soil. Islamic State (IS) encouraged this including the requirement for church
stating, “May Allah hasten the conquest leaders to have a theology certificate
of Kenya for the Soldiers of the Khilafah from a certified institution. Some
[Caliphate] in Somalia”. leaders raised concerns that the rules
In December 2019, Al Shabaab seemed to be aimed at restricting the
killed eight Christians and three Church in Kenya.
other non-Muslims in a bus attack.
Between 2014 and 2019, there have
been numerous bus attacks claiming
over 38 lives. Christian passengers are
typically singled out and shot if they
refuse to renounce their Christian
faith or recite the Islamic creed, which
Muslims consider conversion to Islam.
Al Shabaab attacks in north-east Kenya
have also targeted Christians in towns,
villages and at work.
In 2017, Al Shabaab beheaded 13
Christians in two horrific attacks. In a
notorious attack in 2015, 148 Christian
students were massacred at Garissa Kenyan Christians are frequently targeted
University. Militant Muslims, assisted by Al Shabaab
by Al Shabaab, freed Muslim students
but singled out Christian students for Pray that violence against
bloody, execution-style slaughter. Kenyan Christians will end. Ask
Kenya is over 80% Christian and the Lord to protect Christians
around 12% Muslim. The coastal in Muslim-majority areas, especially
regions are predominantly Muslim students and travellers. Pray that
due to their Arab roots, but there is religious freedoms and equality
also a strong Muslim presence in the before the law will be maintained for
north-east of Kenya and Christians all Kenyans.
living there are vulnerable. The
23Kyrgyzstan
T
he population of Kyrgyzstan is employers regarding religious practice.
86% Muslim (mainly Sunnis). Emigration is affecting the economy
Kyrgyzstan was the most and the church, as church leaders leave
relaxed towards Christians the country in search of work.
out of all the Central Asian countries Traditionally school friendships
after independence in 1991. However, last a lifetime, but Christian children
it became overnight one of the strictest are encountering hostility and even
when it passed a new Religion Law in violence at school. Boys and girls
2009. There has also been a revival are beaten and stoned by others,
of Islamic practices since the country encouraged by the mullahs.
gained independence. In Kyrgyz culture there is great
Proposed amendments to tighten concern about what happens to the
up the already constricting 2009 body after death; converts fear being
Religion Law include banning the given Muslim funerals because there
sharing of beliefs in public and is only one cemetery for Christians in
censoring all religious literature. the whole country.
The law means Christians can
be fined for unregistered religious
activity, but simultaneously makes
it difficult for them to register.
Therefore, many Christians are acting
illegally whenever they gather for
worship. However, in the two years
to September 2019, 80 churches were
granted registration.
Christians converts from Islam
face harassment and persecution from
family and the community, especially
in rural areas. Eldos, a Christian Christian converts from Islam attend a
convert, fled Kyrgyzstan in 2018 after Barnabas supported training seminar
suffering terrible violence from local
Muslims, when he refused to return Pray for protection for Christian
to Islam. He was threatened and held converts in Kyrgyzstan. Ask that
captive for ten hours in a prosecutor’s Christian leaders will stand firm in
office in an attempt to force him to the face of persecution. Lift up the many
drop the charges against his attackers. Christians who cannot get work to support
Converts find it hard to get their families unless they deny Christ.
work because Islamists own many Ask that they remain faithful and that our
businesses. They employ only Muslims heavenly Father will provide for them.
and require staff to obey their
24Laos
L
aos’ approximately 150,000 Christians imprisoned for
Christians are targeted their faith, especially pastors and
both at a local level and by evangelists, are sometimes tortured.
the government. Locally, Congregations that are not able to
they are subjected to harassment complete the onerous registration
and violence, while the communist requirements can find it very hard to
government imposes tight meet, as local authorities have been
restrictions on religious activity. to known to ban house churches.
In 2016, the government Authorities have also confiscated Bibles
introduced new laws governing from Christians, even from those
religious practice. Under the new belonging to registered congregations.
legislation, religious organizations Laos is one of the poorest countries
continue to be required to register in south-east Asia. Around 80% of
with the government. Churches have the seven million population, which is
to get approval to conduct services mainly Buddhist, work in agriculture.
and to import printed or electronic
literature. The laws also require them
to refrain from disturbing the “social
order” or “national harmony.”
While Buddhists enjoy comparative
religious freedom in some parts of the
country, local officials are typically
highly suspicious of Christians, partly
because of a perceived connection
with the West.
On December 29, 2018, police
raided a Christmas church service in A Christian home in Laos. Christians in
the southern province of Savannakhet rural areas are particularly subject to
and arrested seven Christians, persecution by local authorities
including three church leaders,
who were charged with an “illegal Pray for believers in Laos that,
gathering” and detained them for five despite harassment, violence
days. The church was also vandalized. and the threat of imprisonment,
Some believers from the Hmong they will continue to share the Gospel
ethnic minority have been evicted of Christ, knowing that the LORD is
from their farmland and homes for on their side (Psalm 118:6). Pray that
refusing to renounce their faith. restrictions requiring churches to
Christians from ethnic minorities register will be lifted and that Christians
have also been denied access to will be able to freely access Scripture.
medical care and education.
25Libya
L
ibya’s interim constitution legitimacy. Parliament, based in
(2011) declares Islam the Tobruk, has refused to recognize
state religion and uses sharia the GNA and the powerful Libyan
as the principal source of National Army (LNA) only recognizes
legislation, but claims to guarantee the authority of the parliament. An
non-Muslims the freedom to practice estimated 2,000 militant Islamist
their religion and prohibits religious groups, including IS, have filled the
discrimination. The UN-backed power vacuum and built a strong
Government of National Accord’s presence in the country.
(GNA) policies contradict these claims. Late in 2019, Turkish and Syrian
The government seems to be either militias were deployed to support the
unwilling or powerless to investigate GNA. A ceasefire was agreed during
crimes against religious minorities. peace negotiations in Germany on
The Christian presence is mainly January 16, 2020. A few days later,
comprised of foreign migrant countries with an interest in Libya,
workers and refugees, but there are including Russia, France and Turkey,
also a small number of indigenous agreed to an arms embargo provided
Libyan converts. Islamists target the ceasefire holds.
Christians for killing, kidnap, forceful
conversion, and sale in what the
UN’s International Organization for
Migration (IOM) calls “modern-day
slave markets”. Most of the refugees
hail from West African countries or
from Eritrea, attempting to reach
Europe via Libya. The bodies of the 20 Egyptian Christians,
Violence against Christian martyred in 2015 by Islamic State in
detainees, including sexual assaults, Libya, were flown back to Cairo on May
is commonplace. In December 2018, 14, 2018. A Ghanaian Christian was also
a mass grave containing the bodies murdered with them
of 34 Ethiopian Christians martyred
in 2015 by Islamic State (IS) was Ask for the protection of
discovered. After being ousted from Christians in Libya, especially
the northern coastal city of Sirte in converts from Islam. Pray that
2016, IS moved into the deserts of the ceasefire will hold, bringing lasting
southern Libya. peace, justice and stability. Pray for
The country has been beset by an end to the modern-day slavery of
chaos and civil war since Colonel migrants and ask that they will not lose
Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in heart as they fix their eyes on God.
2011, with two major factions claiming
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