Looking Out, Looking Up
SRI LANKA
Evangelical Christians here are trying to get government recognition to ensure they receive the same rights as other religious communities. The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka is a member of the World Evangelical Alliance and wants to be recognised as the representative body of evangelicals there. Gaining official support will allow the church to play its role in reconciliation efforts as the country tries to heal rifts following the 26-year Sri Lankan civil war that ended in 2009.
PRAY - Pray that the government will grant the evangelical alliance official recognition. Pray for an end to laws, policies and arbitrary instructions to forcibly close churches by local authorities. Pray that the Sri Lankan government will take steps to ensure freedom of all religions and the freedom to choose one's religion. Pray that the church will fulfill her role as a peacemaker in national reconciliation efforts.
NIGERIA
In July, fifty members of a church in Maseh village, in the Plateau State, were burned to death in their pastor's house where they had gone to seek shelter from an attack. This follows the 8 July murder of Dr Dantong Gyang Dalyop, a Christian senator for the Plateau State and a medical doctor. Known as a bridgebuilder between different religious groups and tribes, he was killed while attending the funeral of more than 100 Christians killed the day before in a rampage by gunmen. These incidents underscore the sustained campaigned against Christians in Nigeria by militants.
PRAY - for an end to the cycle of religious violence. Pray for more Nigerians to stand as peacemakers and bridge builders. Pray for peace and healing for those who have lost loved ones, property and businesses in the violence. Pray against the spirit of violence and ask God to open the spiritual eyes of the perpetrators to cease from their bloodletting. Ask for His mercy upon the land. - CP, OD
FIJI
Like Malaysia, Fiji is also seeking revival and transformation. Native Fijians, the majority of whom are Christians, held the national Fiji Prayer Convention recently from 2 to 6 July with a focus on preparing the next generation to lead. Fiji has experienced revival in its business and tourism in the last few years after Christians started praying for forgiveness and reconciliation with ethnic Indians, the second largest group. Since Fiji's independence 1970, the two groups have battled each other in coups and civil unrest to wrest political control. Christian leaders have called for reconciliation and unity between churches, among Fijians and among tribal chiefs. The Transform Fiji initiative to see every village in Fiji transformed by 2020 was launched at the recent prayer convention.
PRAY - As Malaysians, we can identify with Fiji's difficulties of being a multiethnic nation where economic and political stakes are high. Pray for genuine love, unity and transformative revival for Fiji's Christians that they will be a blessing to their land and all its citizens. Pray for increased hunger among the other communities that they will desire to know the Lord. - TW
IRAQ
US troops withdrew from Iraq in December 2011, but sectarian violence has risen as have attacks by Al-Qaeda which is seeking to strengthen its position after the US departure. July 2012 was touted by the press as Iraq's "bloodiest month" in which 325 Iraqis were killed. Of this, more than 100 people will killed in a single day from coordinated bombings and gun attacks across the country. Christians are caught in the crossfire between Shiite and Sunni Muslims and are also believed to be the target of Al-Qaeda attacks. An exodus of Christians from Iraq is taking place and those who remain are asking prayer for three 'P's - protection, provision and perseverance.
PRAY - Ask God to help Iraq's remaining Christians to persevere under divine protection and provision. Pray for the Christians who have left and are now refugees to find shelter and sustenance. Pray for divine intervention in the violence and against the relentless acts of terrorism. Ask God for mercy because He desires all nations to turn to Him. - OD.
MYANMAR
The country may be on the path to reform and it managed to hold successful by-elections in April in which the pro-democracy opposition won in nearly all the seats it contested. But reforms have not addressed racism between Muslim Rohingyas and local Buddhists in the border areas, and there is little freedom of religion for Christians to start churches. Christians must obtain a letter of recommendation from the village chief for the purpose of securing a church permit, which may take one year to process. This is still not a "permanent permit" which must be obtained first, at the district level and then the central government. Permit fees are often too exorbitant for most grassroots believers.
PRAY - Pray for protection and perseverance as Burmese Christians meet in unofficial churches. Pray for favour in their permit applications. Ask God to bless the lives and ministry of grassroots pastors, who lack resources and training. Pray that they will receive training. Pray for an end to the Buddhist-Muslim violence. Pray that God will direct Myanmar's journey to reform. - OD |
