Rosario La vuelta al mundo

I N TERCEDIN G FOR THE S UFFER ING CHURCH
Beverly J. Pegues
Authentic Publishing
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The Persecuted Church Prayer Devotional
ISBN-13: 978-1-932805-90-7
ISBN-10: 1-932805-90-1
Copyright © 2006 by Beverly J. Pegues
10 09 08 07 / 6 5 4 3 2 1
Published in 2007 by Authentic
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in
writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or
reviews.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New
Living Translation, copyright © 1966. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®.
NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of
Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD
BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The
Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright ©
1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954,
1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked RSV are from the The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version 1952
(RSV), the authorized revision of the American Standard Version of 1901, Copyright © 1946,
1952, 1973 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of
Christ in the United States of America.
Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version.
All historical data contained in this devotional was derived from the CIA Factbook (www.cia.
gov) and the Library of Congress Country studies (www.loc.gov).
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available
Cover design: Paul Lewis
Interior design: Angela Lewis
Editorial team: Patton Dodd, Dana Bromley, Megan Kassebaum
Printed in the United States of America
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
vii
Dedication
viii
Foreword
ix
Introduction
xiii
5 Gaza Strip 62
and West Bank
8 Guinea 65
Afghanistan 1
Albania Algeria Azerbaijan 11 Guinea-Bissau 68
Bahrain 14 India 71
Bangladesh 17 Indonesia 75
Benin 20 Iran 79
Bhutan 23 Iraq 83
Brunei 26 Israel 87
Burkina Faso 29 Japan 91
Cambodia 31 Jordan 94
Chad 34 Kazakhstan 98
China 37 Kuwait 101
Djibouti 40 Kyrgyzstan 104
East Timor 44 Laos 107
Egypt 47 Lebanon 111
Eritrea 51 Libya 114
Ethiopia 55 Malaysia 118
The Gambia 59 The Maldives 122
Mali 125 Sri Lanka 174
Mauritania 128 Sudan 177
Mongolia 131 Syria 180
Morocco 134 Taiwan 184
Myanmar (Burma) 137 Tajikistan 187
Nepal 140 Thailand 190
Niger 143 Tibet 193
Nigeria (North) 146 Tunisia 196
North Korea 150 Turkey 200
Oman 154 Turkmenistan 204
Pakistan 157 United Arab Emirates 207
Qatar 160 Uzbekistan 210
Saudi Arabia 163 Vietnam 213
Senegal 167 Western Sahara 217
Somalia 170 Yemen 220
Afterword 223
Advocacy List 225
Advocacy Letter 229
Persecution Ranking 231
Colonized Nations Chart 233
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A work of this magnitude can only result from a team effort of dedi-
cated partners.
Special thanks go to the United Kingdom Coalition (UKC), who pro-
vided the majority of the research as well as verification for many of the
stories. Thank you to Tina Lambert from Christian Solidarity Worldwide
(CSW). Tina led the UKC and the CSW team, all capable advocates who
work with the Persecuted Church. Other members of the UKC include
Jonathan Andrews with Middle East Concern; Alan Hall with Open
Doors International; Richard Wells with 3P Ministries; Wilfred Wong
with Jubilee Campaign; and Patrick Sookhdeo with Barnabas Fund.
I want to thank my research assistant and good friend Cristine George
for all of her hard work coordinating and verifying information. I’m also
thankful for the noteworthy contributions from Sharon Manning, Joseph
Joshua Torrez, Joann Blomdahl, Brandon Shupp, Rachel Chen, Esther
Kim, and Dr. Rebecca Faulkner.
Thank you, Patton Dodd, for your expertise and for orchestrating
me through writing this devotional. God has given you an awesome gift
of communication.
Thanks to other individuals who have made valuable contributions
but who wish to remain anonymous for security reasons. Thanks to the
faithful who pray, resource, and advocate for the Persecuted Church in
the 10/40 Window.
Thanks to my wonderful daughter, LaTonya Pegues, who always
cheers me on to go beyond my limits.
vii
DEDICATION
This devotional is dedicated to those being maimed, tortured,
abused, or persecuted this very moment because they have chosen to fol-
low Jesus Christ. It is also dedicated to those who refused to deny Christ
as their Savior and Lord and had the privilege of being martyred for this
great cause. Thank God—you are honored to be among the assembly of
the Great Cloud of Witnesses.
viii
FOREWORD
Since 1949, Christians in China have constantly experienced deep
persecution. Its severity is no less than that experienced by the early
Christians in Rome. The amazing thing is that during their times of trial,
suffering Christians experience not only the persecution but also the
presence of Christ Himself.
Sister Le Chang told me, “When I was handcuffed, I became filled
with the Holy Spirit and was flooded with tears of thanksgiving. Oh Lord,
You love me so much that You have allowed me to experience this and
share with all of the other saints who have suffered for Your Kingdom.”
One Sister’s father who was in the Red Army was arrested for
preaching the Gospel. He said, “When I was put into the police car, my
heart was filled with honor because it was the Lord who let me get into
the police car that day, and someday in Heaven the Lord will allow me to
sit on a throne next to Him.”
I saw the Lord’s servant XiMen Zhao proclaim the victory by say-
ing, “I would rather wear iron nails on the road to Heaven than ride a
saddled horse in Egypt, displaying my honor in the world. My side is
willing to be pierced with the same sword as the Lord.”
While I was in prison, a sister named YingCun taught me the Prison
Song: “The Lord gave up His life and His body for me. What do I give
up for the Lord? Only one heart is in love with the Lord.” This Prison
Song became her last words as she died in prison in 1995 as a martyr for
the Lord.
The prisoners bravely minister to one another with words from songs
like “Who has a heart for the Lord that is pure like Mary’s? Put aside all
worldly affections, and love only Jesus. More suffering brings us closer
to the Lord, and more willing to sacrifi ce everything for the Lord. May
the Lord give me the same grace, that I may satisfy the Lord’s heart.”
When Christian prisoners listen to songs that are full of faith, they give
the saints courage and strength to endure the hardships of prison life.
ix
Brother XiangChen Yuan, served the Church immediately after be-
ing released from prison after twenty-three years. He explained to me
that Christians are born twice—once from their parents and once again
from the Holy Spirit, but they only die once, not twice. Christians preach
the Gospel in order to save the people from falling into the second death;
the trap of the enemy.
The Chinese saying “Where there is the presence of God, there is
heaven” is true. The freedom we obtain through Christ transcends time
and space, the bars of the prison cell, and the yoke of slavery. The per-
secution brings a hidden blessing and becomes steps of growth in life’s
journey. It is a gateway to becoming closer to the Lord and to finally
being with the Lord.
Why does the Lord still ask us to pray for these suffering saints?
It is because we are a family in the body of Christ. The Bible tells us
when one part of the body is hurt, the other part of the body also hurts
(1 Corinthians 12:26).
Why does the Lord want us to pray for those who persecute us?
Because He wants us to demonstrate the power of love and the authority
we have through forgiveness in Christ, and also to prepare the way in
prayer for them to come to the saving knowledge of Christ. Praying for
their persecutors gives the one being persecuted a deep peace and rever-
ence for the Lord.
All of these things I have shared are the things that we have seen
with our eyes, touched with our hands, and have experienced during our
time of serving the Lord in prison.
The Lord is faithful! He listens to our prayers and answers them.
Through prayer He empowers the persecuted Christians in jail with faith,
filling them with His strength so that they may overcome this adver-
sity. Through the prayers of the Saints of God, the Lord has released
Christians such as Brother Yun from prison. Through prayer, enemies
become friends; Saul becomes Paul. Through prayer, Brother ShenLiang
Gong—a Christian with a death sentence—waits to live.
x
Sister Beverly is a modern-day saint who has a deep love for God
and sincerely loves His people. She cares about our Brothers and Sisters
who are suffering and are being persecuted in the 10/40 Window. Her
merciful, tearful prayers for the suffering church have deeply touched
the hearts of myself and my wife, Ruth.
This book shows us how to intercede for persecuted saints and the
lost in the 10/40 Window countries who are suffering simply because
they are followers of Christ. Let us have the heart of the Lord by praying
for our Brothers and Sisters as well as their persecutors who will spend
eternity in hell without Christ if they are not reached. Raise the intensity
of prayer to an unprecedented level and become a true Warrior in Prayer
for Christ.
In the body of Christ,
P ASTOR P ETER X U
member of the Back to Jerusalem movement
and pastor to Brother Yun of The Heavenly Man
xi
INTRODUCTION
PERSECUTED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN:
WHY WE NEED TO PRAY FOR CHRISTIANS
IN THE 10/40 WINDOW
More Christians were martyred in the twentieth century than all
previous centuries combined. All over the world, men and women who
heard about Jesus Christ and chose to follow Him were slaughtered for
their choice.
This onslaught has continued unabated into our new century. The
cries of our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ may never reach our
physical ears, but we are not ignorant of their cries. We must reach out to
our brothers and sisters—they need and are pleading for our help.
How will history record our response to the plight of the persecuted?
Will we be remembered for making a difference in their lives? Or will
future generations look at us as silent, uncaring, and unresponsive?
With this book, I’m hoping we can make a massive difference.
Beginning with prayer, we will see God redeem the plight of persecuted
Christians and use their lives for his glory.
Each chapter of The Persecuted Church Prayer Devotional has a
story to tell about the persecuted Christians who live in the area of the
world known as the 10/40 Window. The 10/40 Window is located 10
degrees south to 40 degrees north of the equator. It spans the globe from
North Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, India, China, and Southeast
Asia to the Far East. According to the 2007 Open Door Watch List, forty-
three of the top fifty persecuted nations in the world are located in the
10/40 Window.
xiii
As you read this devotional each day, you will encounter a con-
temporary story—sometimes hopeful, sometimes tragic, and sometimes
shocking—about our brothers and sisters living in tyranny in the 10/40
Window. Each chapter is devoted to one country. After an introductory
story, you will read a brief history of the area and its church, and you
will see a list of specific ways to pray with Scripture for the Persecuted
Church in that region.
I hope that as you hear these stories and learn about these people you
will see them as your immediate family—truly, your brothers and sisters
in Christ. You’ll find that reading these accounts is not unlike reading
biblical accounts of ancient tales of faith. Here’s a taste of the types of
stories you’ll find in these pages . . .
• •
xiv
Sutarsi was living in Duma, Indonesia, when all hell broke out
in her land in June 2000. She thought she was having a bad
dream—the nerve-racking sound of gunfire, people around
her crying out to God, and that horrible smell of burning flesh
seemed unreal—it couldn’t be happening in her land! But
it was real. When a jihadist confronted Sutarsi to renounce
Christ or die, she refused. The jihadist put the gun in her
mouth and blew off the side of Sutarsi’s face. Even still, this
courageous woman of God refused to deny Jesus Christ as her
Lord and Savior.*
Pastor Peter and Sister Ruth Xu were paving the way for
the underground churches to spring up in the most remote
villages, towns, and cities in China. Then the day came when
Pastor Peter was arrested by the authorities—for the fifth time.
The Chinese government suspended him in mid air with his
arms tied behind his back for five hours, beating him until
he was unconscious; yet, Pastor Peter did not deny Christ.
Likewise, Sister Ruth was arrested and put in jail—just as she
had been two times previously. Sister Ruth was in solitary
confinement for eight months and served an additional two
years of hard labor. During this time, she was fed barely
enough to be kept alive. Incredibly, Sister Ruth says that her
faith in Christ was strengthened during this time—visitations
with Jesus made the harsh treatment bearable.
• Parts of India ruled by the Hindu extremist Bharatiya Janata
Party have implemented a systematic campaign of persecution.
Although India is a secular government and constitutionally
allows for freedom of religion, corrupt and lawless
government officials encourage radical Hindus to severely
persecute and murder Christians.
• In Eritrea, over one hundred Christian children attending
a church service were taken to jail by the Eritrean police.
These little ones began to sing in loud voices, proclaiming
their allegiance to Christ. They sang, “I am not afraid of
persecution, hardships and even death. Nothing can separate
me from the love of Jesus Christ. He died on the cross, and He
gave me new life.” After refusing to stop singing about Christ,
they were beaten by police.**
The Christians in this region live in danger, but they face that danger
with fortitude and even peace. When Sutarsi was confronted with death,
she was willing to lay down her life for Christ. But God spared her life so
she could be a living witness. I was with this precious saint when some-
one asked her how she could still believe in God with her face marred
so badly. She smiled and explained that she could be a living witness
for Jesus and said, “I would not have been able to meet you if this had
not happened to me.” What love! What strong faith! What a testimony.
Sutarsi is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen.
WHY THE 10/40 WINDOW NEEDS US
Why is there so much persecution in this region of the world? Part of
the reason is that the 10/40 Window is the seat of every radical religion
that is opposed to Christianity. Forty-four of these nations have been
xv
colonized by western countries who had a strong Christian heritage but
invaded these regions,*** stole their precious land and natural resources,
impoverished and marginalized the indigenous people, raped their
women and became the wealthy and affluent while most of the people
were disrespected and lived lives of servitude. But also, persecution
persists because the church has neglected to do the work of the gospel
in this region of the world. Tragically, the global church spends only
five pennies out of every $100 (U.S.) on missions in the most spiritually
impoverished area of the world.
One man who went on a “prayer journey” to the 10/40 Window in
the 1990s reported about one interaction he had with a national in the
region. When he asked this man if he knew Jesus, the national replied,
“Sir, I have never heard of that name.”
It’s time for Jesus’ name to be known far and wide in the 10/40
Window, and it’s time for the ones who already know his name to have
freedom to worship him. Day in and day out, Christians in the 10/40
Window are victims of torture. Their girls and women are raped and are
victims of government-orchestrated starvation. Christian families in the
10/40 Window suffer ungodly acts of violence because they have taken
hold of the charge to suffer for the gospel (2 Timothy 1 and 2).
God, forgive us for what our forefathers have done in these lands to
your dearly beloved people. Could these horrific things be happening to
Christians in the 10/40 Window because of the atrocities committed by
those who claimed the Name of Christ?
The church in the 10/40 Window needs our prayers for those who
have been stripped of their dignity, for those who are forced into poverty
and are marginalized because they believe in Jesus Christ our Lord. The
Word of God admonishes us to “[r]emember those in prison as if you
were their fellow prisoners, and those who mistreated as if you your-
selves were suffering” (Hebrews 13:3). It is time we decide if we will
be the ones who will take up the mantle of nobility and speak for those
who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 31:9). We have a kingdom
xvi
mandate to partner with God to ensure that people of God have life and
have life more abundantly (John 10:10 KJV).
I believe that you have been called to three roles. You are an
Ambassador of Prayer, repent for the sins of our forefathers and intercede
for persecuted Christians. You are a Kingdom Ambassador, advocating
publicly for your brethren, and informing other Christians. And you are
a Financial Ambassador, providing resources and finances for this noble
cause. I pray that you will embrace each of these roles as you use this
devotional.
The need is urgent. Your partnership is vital. You can help end the
suffering of men, women, and children who are being persecuted in Jesus’
name. Remember Isaiah 43:1–3: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I
have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the
waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they
will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be
burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
The Lord our God be with you as you pray for the Persecuted
Church.
* As reported in the London Times, Sunday, August 13, 2000.
** Testimony submitted by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, February 23, 2005.
*** See the Colonized Nations Chart at the end of the book.
xvii
AFGHANISTAN
Persecution Ranking: 10 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 31,056,997
CHRISTIANS: <1%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER: President Hamid Karzai
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
In the broad daylight of a bustling Afghan market, Mullah Assad
Ullah had his throat slit and his body dragged through the street. “We
have enough evidence and local accounts to prove that he was involved
in the conversion of Muslims to Christianity,” a Taliban spokesman
told Reuters.* The spokesman added that foreign aid workers—thirty of
whom had been killed over eighteen months—would continue to suffer
the same fate. “We warn them that they face the same destiny if they
continue to seduce people.”
Since June 2004, five Afghan converts have been killed in separate
incidents along the eastern Afghanistan border. All five men were stabbed
or beaten to death by Taliban fanatics who accused them of abandoning
Islam and “spreading Christianity.” Such violence is reportedly the tip of
the iceberg in a country that has in recent years seen a corrupt Islamic rul-
ing party vanquished but has not yet undergone a complete revolution.
The Afghanistan-based Taliban, you will recall, was involved in
the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the
United States. In the aftermath of United States retaliation, Afghanistan
has undergone great upheaval, with many positive changes underway.
1
But anti-Christian sentiments still abound and may be stronger than ever
in some regions of the country. Radical Muslims are using that sentiment
to fuel violence against anyone who dares to profess the name of Jesus
Christ.
AFGHANISTAN PAST AND PRESENT
Modern Afghanistan history is largely a story of Western involve-
ment in the region. In 1979, after a series of revolutions and a protracted
struggle for ownership of the region, a Soviet-controlled government
was installed in Kabul. In response, an Islamic jihad (holy war) was
called and seven mujaheddin (people who engage in jihad) factions
emerged. After nearly a decade of bloodshed and hundreds of millions of
dollars wasted, the Russians pulled out in late 1989. More than a million
Afghans lay dead, and 6.2 million people, over half the world’s refugee
population, had fled the country. Afghanistan was reduced to rubble.
The Soviet withdrawal weakened the government of President
Najibullah. In April 1992, he was ousted; a week later, fighting erupted
between rival mujaheddin factions in Kabul. But the two bitter rivals
were forced into an alliance in May 1996 by the military successes of
a group of Islamic fighters called the Taliban (talib means “religious
student” or “seeker of knowledge”). The Taliban became infamous
worldwide, first for their ruthless and inhumane rule of the country and
second for their role in the terrorist attacks against the United States on
September 11, 2001.
Following the attacks, the United States and its allies began mili-
tary operations against Afghanistan. They attempted to find terrorist
mastermind Osama bin Laden and quash the Al-Qaeda terrorist network,
closely allied to the Taliban. After the war, a process was established for
political reconstruction.
Afghanistan has adopted a new constitution, and in October
2004, Hamid Karzai became the first democratically elected leader of
Afghanistan. While this progress is an answer to the prayers of the saints
worldwide, the new constitution falls short of truly providing freedom of
2
religion for anyone but Muslims. Islam is the religion of the state, and all
laws are required to conform to the tenets of Islamic law. Furthermore,
government protection and control are primarily limited to urban areas.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
With over 48,000 mosques and no Christian buildings to speak
of, Afghanistan remains one of the least-reached nations in the world.
Afghanistan’s provisional constitution is a problem for Christians who
are called to make disciples of all nations, since Islamic law provides
for the killing of all Muslims who convert to Christianity. Fighting still
rages in the north, and although the recent elections are seen as a success
from both within and outside the country, the current administration will
be years in reforming remote areas and the tribal belts of Afghanistan.
In addition, Taliban forces reject the government as illegitimate and
continue to persecute Christians and Westerners. Even when President
Karzai’s government controls all of the land, there is no guarantee of
religious freedom, let alone protection.
Clearly, Christians who wish to practice their faith openly do so
at their own peril. Recent history has not painted a kind picture of the
West, and Western economic and political policies are seen as coexistent
with Christianity. For these reasons, anti-Christian sentiment is acute and
deeply entrenched in Afghan culture.
HOW TO PRAY FOR AFGHANISTAN
O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?
You are the God of miracles and wonders! You demonstrate your
awesome power among the nations. You have redeemed your people
by your strength . . .(Psalm 77:13–15a)
•
Pray for godly men and women to obtain positions of
influence in the country. (Daniel 2:48)
3
• The Afghani drug trade is estimated to be among the worst in
the world. Pray that it will cease. (Mark 4:6)
• Pray that the Taliban will not be able to regroup, recruit, or
have the capacity to be disruptive. Pray that their leadership
experiences conversion to Christianity. (1 Timothy 2:1–4)
• Pray that the Islamic extremism evident in the last quarter
century will be channeled into love and passion for Jesus
Christ. (Acts 26:18)
• Pray that the demonic forces that are using the terrorists like
puppets will be toppled and that the people of Afghanistan will
be set free to worship the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
• Pray for authentic religious freedom to come to Afghanistan.
The constitution recognizes the United Nations Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, which provides for freedom of
religion and freedom to change religion, but the constitution
also recognizes Sharia Law, which does not provide for
religious freedom. These two items are in conflict, and the
daily reality for Afghans is that at this time they do not have
religions freedom. (Exodus 9:13–17 and Romans 10:14–21)
• The people of Afghanistan are weary of the armed conflict.
Pray for the peace of Christ to rule over Afghanistan.
(Leviticus 26:3–13 and Psalm 120:6–7)
• Pray for the thousands of new underground believers, many
not even known by their own families. Pray for safety,
protection, courage, and wisdom. Pray that they may be
effectively discipled. (Matthew 13:18–23 and 2 Thessalonians
1:3–12)
* Reuters, “Taliban Say They Cut Throat of Afghan Christian,” July 2, 2004.
4
ALBANIA
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 3,581,655
CHRISTIANS: 30%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER: President Alfred Moisiu
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Evangelical Christians in Albania do not often face severe persecu-
tion, but Albanians of Muslim and Greek Orthodox faith see evangelicals
as pesky and disruptive. This prejudice is due in part to the residue of
communism, which linked religion with ethnicity rather than belief. One
missionary in the country says that when he asked an Albanian about
Jesus, the man replied, “I love Jesus. I am a Muslim.” Prodded to clarify,
the man replied that his father’s family was Christian, and his mother’s
was Muslim. For him, there was no further consideration of the meaning
of faith.
ALBANIA PAST AND PRESENT
While Albania does not rank in the Open Doors persecution list,
its history is rife with religious violence. During the xenophobic rule of
Enver Hoxha from World War II until his death in 1985, Albania wit-
nessed some of the harshest religious persecution in the world. In 1967,
Hoxha conducted a violent and exhaustive campaign to eradicate religion
from Albania, during which over two thousand religious buildings were
5
closed or converted to government use. One story has Christians being
placed in oil barrels and set adrift in the shallow waters of the Adriatic
Sea, while family members were forced to fire rifles at the barrels until
they sank.
Thankfully, the current leadership in Albania is nothing like Hoxha.
Still, although Albania is now a republic, the government has not yet
returned all the properties confiscated during the communist regime to
its citizens and religious organizations. Some religious buildings were
returned, but the government often failed to return the adjacent land, and
it does not have the resources necessary to compensate churches for the
extensive damage the properties suffered.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
For millennia (dating back to the apostle Paul), Albania has been an
impoverished country. It continues to rank among the poorest and least
technologically advanced countries in western Europe.
Albania’s constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the
government respects that right. There is no official religion, and all faith
traditions are constitutionally equal. Intermarriage among members of
different religions is common. Religious communities take pride in their
practice of tolerance and understanding. However, the predominant reli-
gious communities—Muslim, Albanian Orthodox, and Catholic—enjoy
a greater degree of official recognition and social status based on their
historical standing in the country.
Albanian Christians are in need of social legitimacy and of educa-
tional resources for new converts. Congregations often have difficulty
obtaining the necessary government permits to build or occupy space
for their churches, and they need greater advocacy for their social and
individual needs.
6
HOW TO PRAY FOR ALBANIA
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures
forever—do not abandon the works of your hands.
(Psalm 138:8 NIV)
• Pray for the Albanian Evangelical Alliance, which links all
evangelical churches and agencies. (Ephesians 4:1–3)
• Pray for the success of the combined mission groups in the
Albanian Encouragement Project. (Joshua 1:8)
• Pray for displaced Albanians (almost half live outside their
home country), that they may hear the gospel and have the
option to attend life-giving churches in their communities.
(Acts 2:8–11)
• Pray that Christians will be used by God to bring Albania out
of poverty. (Genesis 41:57)
• When the Praying Through the Window initiative began in
1993, there were only fifty know Christians in Albania. Praise
God that fourteen years later there are more than 6,000 with
129 churches in Albania! Thank God for this exponential
growth. (1 Chronicles 16: 8, 35)
7
ALGERIA
Persecution Ranking: 31 st
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 32,930,091
CHRISTIANS: <1%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: no
In 1997, the BBC reported that on the first night of Ramadan, Islamic
extremists killed four hundred people in the isolated villages of Relizane.
The dead lay throughout the region in a gruesome scene—their throats
slit open and, in some cases, their bodies decapitated. The opening days
of Ramadan would continue to be horrific, with one hundred more people
killed during the first weekend.
Such scenes were part of an influx of Islamic extremism during
the 1990s. While the violence of those years has dissipated, Christians
still face persecution. Many believers say that the frontline of persecu-
tion in Algeria is in the educational system. At a recent conference, one
Algerian believer told the story of an Algerian boy coming home from
school in tears. As his mother ran to comfort him, the boy cried, “When
are we going to be killed?” Horrified, the mother soon learned that the
schoolteacher had taught the class that it was permissible for Muslims to
kill Christians.*
Though news reports of anti-Christian violence are thankfully fewer
today, Christians live with fear that the violence of the 1990s could re-
turn at any moment.
8
ALGERIA PAST AND PRESENT
Algeria has a long and storied past, including stints under the foot
of the Carthaginian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Empires. From that
extended rule by these empires a group developed, now known as the
Berber people, whose ancestry is a mix of indigenous North Africans and
other people groups.
Colonized by France for over a century, Algerians longed for inde-
pendence. In the 1950s and early 1960s, Algeria fought a long, bloody
civil war aimed at freedom from French control. Their independence was
won on July 5, 1962.
For the next several decades, Algeria was a mainly secular, socialist
state. In the 1990s, Algeria survived an insurgency that resulted in over
100,000 deaths. The country’s current president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika,
took power in a 1999 military coup and was reelected in April 2004 with
over 80 percent of the vote.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
When Algeria became known as a hotbed for Islamic extremists in
the 1990s, most foreign missionaries left. Unfortunately, even though
violence has decreased, Muslim fundamentalist groups remain, and
many more missionaries are needed.
While the constitution declares (Sunni) Islam to be the state reli-
gion, there are provisions that limit religious discrimination. But the state
school system nurtures students in the Muslim faith, and Christian par-
ents are concerned about the effect of Islamic teaching on their children.
International law asserts the right of parental approval for the religious
education given to their children, so the church can hope and pray for
change in this area.
In the 1970s, the Église Protestante d’Algerie (EPA, the Protestant
Church of Algeria) was established with government recognition. Like
the National Association of Evangelicals in the United States, the EPA
9
is an association, not a denomination, enabling individual churches to
miraculously retain their own character. Today, the government accepts
the registration of Christian fellowships.
Christians are subject to adverse discrimination when applying for
jobs, especially in areas with high unemployment. Christians are per-
mitted to work in the public sector but face discrimination in job pro-
motion, a problem that worsens as an employee ages. Unemployment
of Christians severely affects the operation of local churches. Because
giving is limited, churches have trouble renting places of worship and
employing pastors. Christian micro-enterprises have alleviated these
concerns to some degree.
HOW TO PRAY FOR ALGERIA
The LORD holds out his hand over the sea. He shakes the kingdoms
of the earth. (Isaiah 23:11, author’s paraphrase)
• Pray for the discipleship of new Christian believers. Pray also
for the continuing development of theological education and
leadership training. (2 Timothy 2:2)
• One Algerian church leader asked for prayer for maturity
of fellow national Christian leaders. Pray that they will
intentionally model servant leadership. (Titus 2:7–8)
• Pray for the success of Christian micro-enterprises to improve
the economic health of the church in Algeria. (Joshua 1:8)
• Pray that Islamic extremists do not target Christians, and pray
that the church will not live in fear. (Philippians 4:6–7)
• Pray that the church continues to grow and that the Lord uses
it powerfully to impact North Africa. (Acts 2:47)
* Testimony acquired from Middle East Concern/3P Ministries, May 25, 2005.
10
AZERBAIJAN
Persecution Ranking: 22 nd
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 7,961,619
CHRISTIANS: 4–5%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Shia Islam
POLITICAL LEADER: President Ilham Aliyev
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
To be a Christian in Azerbaijan is to risk arrest at every turn.
In January 2002, authorities detained two ethnic Azeri worshippers
during a private prayer meeting. They were sentenced to fifteen days in
jail on charges of hooliganism.
In February 2002, police in the small town of Sumgait arrested and
convicted three members of a Baptist church for distributing Bibles. Two
were sentenced to short prison terms, and one was severely beaten.
In April 2002, the ethnic Azeri Baptist church in Baku lost a court
case regarding government registration. The church appealed but lost the
case in a fifteen-minute hearing. Reportedly, the judges involved did not
let the church lawyers present a case.
Also that spring, on the busy streets of Baku, police arrested Nina
Koptseva, a Russian citizen and member of the evangelical Greater
Grace Church. She and two other believers were charged with propagat-
ing Christianity and deported to Russia.
11
AZERBAIJAN PAST AND PRESENT
The three republics of Transcaucasia—Armenia, Azerbaijan, and
Georgia—joined the Soviet Union in the early 1920s. All regained their
independence at the dissolution of the U.S.S.R. in 1991, but economic
weakness and political turmoil jeopardized that independence almost im-
mediately. Within three years, Russia had regained substantial influence
in the region by arbitrating disputes and inserting peacekeeping troops.
Within the Republic of Azerbaijan live only 5.8 million of the
world’s estimated 19 million Azerbaijanis, with most of the balance liv-
ing in Iran. Islam is the prevalent religion in the country.
Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve a conflict
with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely
Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost 16 percent of its territory, and
its shrinking landholdings must support some 571,000 persons displaced
as a result of the conflict. Economic, legal, and political corruption is
ever present throughout the region, and the promise of widespread wealth
from undeveloped petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
The Azeri church is seeing great gains. In a 1994 Open Door re-
search report, the estimated number of Azeri believers was between 250
and 500. In December 1997, estimates amounted to 6,000, and in mid-
2003 the indigenous Azeri church consisted of about 15,000 believers.
Still, churches that are not registered face dangers, and being regis-
tered is no small task. The Baptist congregation in Aliabad has been at-
tempting registration for many years, but the local notary has refused to
complete the task. On June 21, 2001, President Ilham Aliyev ordered the
reorganization of Azerbaijan’s Committee of Religious Affairs. A new
State Committee for Relations with Religious Organizations was com-
missioned to “monitor the activities of religious organizations and mis-
12
sionaries, and ensure that those activities do not violate state laws.”* All
religious communities of various worldviews are obligated to reregister,
and obtaining registration is a near-impossible task for the Christian mi-
nority. Thus, most Protestant churches are officially illegal, making them
vulnerable to harassment and persecution.
HOW TO PRAY FOR AZERBAIJAN
Everyone will see this miracle and understand that it is the LORD,
the Holy One of Israel, who did it.
(Isaiah 41:20, author’s paraphrase)
• Pray that God will remove the obstacles churches face when
trying to register. (Revelation 3:7–8)
• Pray that believers will be allowed to worship, according to
their rights under the constitution, without interference by the
secret police. (John 4:22–24)
• Pray for an end to censorship of religious literature.
(2 Timothy 2:9)
• Pray that the voices of Protestant Christians will be
represented in religious delegations that are set up by the
government. (Acts 6:10)
* International Religious Freedom Report, 2004. Available from http://www.state.gov.
13
BAHRAIN
Persecution Ranking: 50 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 698,585
CHRISTIANS: 9%
DOMINANT RELIGION:
Shia Islam (Sunni Ruler)
POLITICAL LEADER:
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
On the island of Bahrain lives a Christian saint named Samira. You
have never heard of her, but Samira’s life is a source of deep inspira-
tion. Her story—a common one in the 10/40 Window—her strength, and
perseverance are exemplary for all of us.
While she was a student, Samira was once given a copy of the
New Testament. She read it regularly for a year before deciding to fol-
low Christ. Thankfully, Samira came into contact with some expatriate
Christians who encouraged her to grow in her newfound faith. She loved
her new life, appreciated all she was learning, and eagerly sought God’s
will for her life.
But her roommate discovered Samira’s New Testament, and Samira
became a marked woman. Her family pressured her to return to Islam
and prevented her from meeting with her Christian friends. On one oc-
casion, Samira’s family threatened to give the local authorities a list of
the expatriate Christians Samira knew. If they had done so, all of them
would have been deported.
14
Samira remains steadfast in her faith to this day. She is harassed
and isolated, but such is the way of life for Christians from a Muslim
background in Bahrain—they can either deny God, or, like Samira, live
in the face of daily pressure.
BAHRAIN PAST AND PRESENT
Bahrain is a small island nation situated off the coast of Saudi Arabia
in the Persian Gulf. It has the highest population density of all Persian
Gulf states. The Bahrainis are 35 percent Sunni and 65 percent Shia,
but Sunnis hold economic and political power. The 1990s saw repeated
incidents of political violence, including a series of bombings in 1996.
Bahrain became a constitutional monarchy in 2002 when Amir
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa came to the throne after his father’s death. In
the same year, a forty-member elected parliament, the Shura Council,
was formed. The monarchy retains pervasive control, including appoint-
ing the cabinet, and the monarch’s family rule extends to nearly all key
political and military posts.
In recent years, Bahrain has developed an awareness that women
need to be given more rights politically, economically, and domestically.
Recently, the First Lady, Her Majesty Shaikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al
Khalifa, called for a national strategy for the advancement of women.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Though Bahrain is restrictive regarding religious practice, the gov-
ernment is more tolerant than other Gulf States. Roughly 9 percent of
the population is Christian; most of these believers are descendents of
Christian families in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria who were living in
Bahrain when the state was founded. They are predominantly Catholic,
and they enjoy freedom to worship.
Over forty expatriate fellowships of various languages meet in
Bahrain. There are three Arabic-speaking Christian fellowships from
15
Egypt, Jordan, and elsewhere. Bahraini Christians are served by several
Christian bookshops, one of which is located on a street called Isa Al-
Kabeer—literally, Jesus is Great.
However, as Samira’s story shows, pressure to be or remain Muslim
is great in Bahrain. Even as the government becomes more flexible, it
is dangerous to change to another religion. Bahraini Christians who go
very far from the Christian community are not welcome, and of course,
Muslims who wish to convert to Christianity face intense scrutiny. As
the tide of radical Islam grows and expresses itself with violence against
Christian believers, a Muslim nation such as Bahrain remains an area of
concern.
HOW TO PRAY FOR BAHRAIN
And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I
will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin
and give you a new, obedient heart. And I will put my Spirit in you
so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command.
(Ezekiel 36:25)
• • Pray for greater acceptance of religious choice and a reduction
in family pressure against converts. (Genesis 32:11)
• Pray that expatriate Christian workers will be a blessing to the
church in Bahrain and become more significant laborers for
the gospel. (Acts 8:4)
• Pray for continued initiatives to improve the rights of women.
(Job 42:15)
• Pray that tensions between Sunnis, Shias, and Christians will
be reduced. (Proverbs 16:7)
•
16
Pray for Samira and others who are persecuted for their faith.
Pray that Christians throughout the land will seek to be
salt and light in a divided society looking for reform.
(Matthew 5:13–14)
BANGLADESH
Persecution Ranking: 44 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 147,365,352
CHRISTIANS: <1%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Let me introduce you to three Bengali men: “M,” Hridoy Roy, and
Dr. Abdul Gani. M is a convert from Islam to Christianity who has expe-
rienced great pressure to return to his former faith. Accused of plotting
a jihad against his former Muslim brothers, M was stopped from draw-
ing water from the village well and temporarily placed under a de facto
house arrest. Eventually, his home was destroyed, and he was dragged to
the marketplace and forced to wear a necklace of old shoes (a symbol of
public humiliation).
Just after midnight in April of 2004, Hridoy Roy was returning home
after showing a film version of the life of Jesus. Roy was a Bangladeshi
evangelist who showed the JESUS film regularly. As he approached his
house, he was attacked and stabbed seven times. He died instantly, be-
coming one of the first martyrs in modern Bangladesh.
Dr. Abdul Gani, along with his wife and two daughters, was a con-
vert to Christianity. He was a medical doctor as well as president of the
Jamalpur District Baptist Fellowship and a member of the Bangladesh
Baptist Fellowship. On September 18, 2004, Dr. Gani was beheaded
17
by four young men on motorcycles in a style consistent with extremist
Muslim violence.*
M, Hridoy Roy, and Dr. Abdul Gani are just some examples of
the dangers faced by today’s Bengali Christians. As their government
leans toward radical Islam, believers in Bangladesh are in urgent need
of prayer.
BANGLADESH PAST AND PRESENT
Over the centuries, Bangladesh has been considered a politically re-
mote place. Like many countries in the region, as its rulers went, so went
Bangladesh. The Mauryan Empire (320–180 B.C.) brought Buddhism to
the country, the Harsha Empire (A.D. 606–647) made Hinduism promi-
nent, and the Ottoman Empire brought Islam from 1202 until today.
In 1757, the British East India Company arrived and with it be-
gan British colonization. When Pakistan became an independent state,
Bangladesh was initially considered the country’s east wing, but in 1971
Bangladesh gained its independence. Seven years after independence
from Pakistan, missionaries flooded to Bangladesh and worked for non-
government organizations (NGOs). But the Bangladeshi government
required the NGOs to register, and in time more severe limitations were
placed on the organizations. This led to a serious decrease in the number
of missionaries to the country.
Bangladesh is one of the poorest and most overpopulated countries
in the world. Unfortunately for the Bengali people, the government’s in-
frastructure and proficiency are incredibly weak. A third of the country’s
territory suffers severe annual flooding.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Initially, after its independence from Pakistan in 1971, Bangladesh’s
constitution strongly supported religious freedom. However, in response
to persistent Islamist pressure, the government has gradually modified
18
the constitution. In 1977, the words “Bismillah-Ar-Rahman-Ar-Rahim”
(in the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful) were inserted at the
very top of the constitution. In 1988, an article was added asserting that
the state religion of the republic was Islam.
Today, the Bangladeshi concept of nationalism is inseparable from
Islam. Non-Muslims are increasingly seen as being not truly Bangladeshi.
There are still anti-discrimination measures in the constitution, but in
practice, these measures do not provide sufficient legal protection for
Christians and other minority faiths.
The fundamental Muslims are growing stronger in Bangladesh. They
attack Christians directly, sometimes killing them. Some fear that blasphe-
my legislation is forthcoming. Under such a law, the Christian population
would become more vulnerable to discrimination and severe persecution.
HOW TO PRAY FOR BANGLADESH
Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine
retribution he will come to save you.” (Isaiah 35:4 NIV)
• Pray for unity among the ethnically and denominationally
disparate members of the church in Bangladesh.
(Ephesians 4:25)
• Pray that God will meet the basic needs of poor Bangladeshis.
(Psalm 23:1)
• Pray for funds and facilities to train Christian leaders.
(2 Corinthians 9:8)
• Pray for the protection of Bangladesh’s advanced but
increasingly threatened democracy. (Jeremiah 29:7)
• Pray for the government and infrastructure of Bangladesh, that
it would be able to care for its citizens. (Genesis 45:17–18)
* Report received February 2001, from Faith Bible Training Centre, Bangladesh.
19
BENIN
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 7,862,944
CHRISTIANS: 30%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Tribal
POLITICAL LEADER: President Yayi Boni
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Benin is the birthplace of voodoo. To this day, it is a known hot-
bed of witchcraft. Missionaries report that politicians from neighboring
West African countries travel to the area seeking witch doctors’ powers.
Indeed, people from every walk of life, not only from Africa but from all
over the world, journey to Benin to obtain spiritual powers. One Christian
ministry operates six schools of missions throughout the country, and its
workers suffer continuously from spiritual attacks.
Today, as you read this book and pray, you can help them fight back.
BENIN PAST AND PRESENT
In the seventeenth century, a group known as “the Fon” established
a bloody and aggressive empire over Benin, Nigeria, and Togo. The Fon
sacrificed humans to voodoo gods and established a large slave trade
operation, selling off members of other African tribes in return for
European artillery. For well over a century, roughly ten thousand slaves
a year were shipped to the Americas, Brazil, the Caribbean, and Haiti.
Southern Benin became known as “the Slave Coast.”
20
In the 1800s, the French gained control of the coast and made it
part of French West Africa. Named the “Latin Quarter of West Africa,”
the region became famous over the next century for its educated elite.
After World War II, the region modernized rapidly, forming trade unions
and political parties. With little difficulty, it gained independence from
France in 1960, but over the next four decades the nation endured mul-
tiple coups, factions, and governmental shakeups.
In 1975, Lt. Col. Mathieu Kérékou named the nation Benin—three
years after he seized control of the country. Kérékou ruled with a Marxist
philosophy until 1990, at which point he renounced Marxism and called
a conference to rewrite the constitution. Free elections were held the
following year. Kérékou was defeated, but was elected president again
in 1996—not long after becoming a Christian. An economic crisis in
the mid-1990s was overcome due to increased growth, stability, and a
general sense of optimism.
Due to his age, President Kérékou was ineligible to run in Benin’s
recent elections. A new president, Yayi Boni, was elected on April 6,
2006. Boni, who was born into a Muslim family, is also a converted
evangelical Christian, just as his predecessor.
The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the govern-
ment generally respects this right in practice. There is no state-sponsored
religion.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Voodoo was once declared Benin’s official state religion. While
there is little, if any, reported persecution of Christians, it is important
to note the spiritual climate of the region and its roots in animism and
voodoo. The government is working to reduce tension between Muslims,
Christians, and those who practice tribal religions.
More than half of all Christians in Benin are Roman Catholics;
Protestant groups consist of Baptists, Methodists, Assemblies of God,
21
and Pentecostals. Christians are more prevalent in the south of the coun-
try, particularly in Cotonou, the economic capital. It is not unusual for
members of the same family to practice Christianity, Islam, or traditional
indigenous religions—or a combination of these faiths. Due to this di-
versity, religious tolerance is widespread at all levels of society and in-
terfaith dialogue occurs regularly. However, this blending also poses a
danger in diluting or distorting the basics of Christian faith.
HOW TO PRAY FOR BENIN
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your
minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you
by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His
sight, without blemish and free from accusation.
(Colossians 1:21–22 NIV)
• • Pray for resources to overcome the lack of discipleship and
leadership training and that the church will grow to maturity.
(1 Chronicles 29:2)
• Pray also that the church will reach out to Muslims and those
practicing tribal religions. (Joshua 10:6)
•
22
Pray that the President, government officials, and citizens of
Benin will seek God for strategies to meet the needs of the
nation. (2 Kings 19:14–15)
Pray that the strongholds of occult practices, including
voodoo, fetishism, and animism will be destroyed and that the
Holy Spirit will bring transformation. (Deuteronomy 18:9–11)
BHUTAN
Persecution Ranking: 7 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 2,279,723
CHRISTIANS: <1%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Buddhism
POLITICAL LEADER: King Jigme Khesar
Namgyel Wangchuck
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: n/a
On Palm Sunday of 2001, Bhutanese authorities entered churches
to register the names of believers. Several pastors were detained, inter-
rogated, and threatened with imprisonment. Soon after, other churches
were closed, and some received government forms telling them to com-
ply with “rules and regulations governing the practice of religion.”
That same year, a pastor named “Yakub” was arrested and beaten
for leading people to Christ. During his fifteen days in jail, he shared
his faith with other prisoners, some of whom surrendered their lives to
Christ. Yakub was told to renounce his religion or face exile.*
These events marked an increase in the official persecution of
Christians in Bhutan, the world’s only Tibetan Buddhist kingdom. Today,
penalties for practicing the Christian faith include withholding all gov-
ernment benefits, education for children, and medical care. Christians in
the business world also face denial of promotion and training opportuni-
ties, suspension or termination of employment, cancellation of business
licenses, and denial of police clearance for traveling abroad. For repeat
offenses, Christians can be exiled.
23
To be a Christian in Bhutan is to be marked. We must pray for the
persecution to cease.
BHUTAN PAST AND PRESENT
Bhutan is known locally as “Druk Yul,” meaning, “Land of the
Thunder Dragon.” Bhutan is not officially a closed country, but it carries
an aura of isolation—it has only been open to foreigners since the 1970s.
Bhutan remains strongly tied to its traditions. Television was not intro-
duced until 1999, and the Bhutanese economy consists largely of subsi-
dized agriculture. King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wanchuck, a member of
the monarchy that has ruled since 1907, took the throne after his father
abdicated in December 2006. His father pursued a policy of limited mod-
ernization. Infrastructure, including roads, water, and communications
systems, is being built and maintained, but the process is difficult due to
mountainous terrain and a lack of national resources.
Bhutan seems to have a governmental paranoia regarding interna-
tional affairs, which partly explains the country’s astonishing continuity
of tradition. Their national autonomy has been aided by strategic rela-
tionships, first with the British Empire in the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries and later with India. These connections have provided eco-
nomic aid and international guidance, but the country has maintained
complete domestic control.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Bhutan’s Christians mostly live in the south toward the border with
India, and persecution is focused mainly in that region. Non-Buddhists
suffer political and social discrimination; conversions to a faith other
than Buddhism and Hinduism are illegal.
A Bhutanese Christian recently said that there is “very harsh perse-
cution. Christians are asked to abandon their religion or leave the coun-
24
try. They are not allowed to gather. In some places, they are beaten very
badly. Freedom of religion has been taken away.”*
All Christian witness was impossible in Bhutan until 1965. For the
next twenty-five years, Indians and other expatriates were able to spread
the gospel. Over the course of the 1990s, this freedom gradually dimin-
ished, partially as a result of the rapid spread of the Christian faith among
Nepali immigrants.
Bhutan has no current constitution, and therefore no legal protection
from discrimination.
HOW TO PRAY FOR BHUTAN
All the nations you made will come before you, Lord; they will
praise your holy name. (Psalm 86:9)
• Pray for pastors who have been detained. (Hebrews 13:3)
• Pray for the church to continue to expand and flourish despite
persecution. (Acts 8:4)
• Pray that God will grant leaders the favor and wisdom of
biblical heroes like Joseph, Nehemiah, and Daniel in their
country. (Daniel 7:22)
• Pray for the approximately 100,000 Nepali exiles who are
living in refugee camps. Pray that they will be reached with
the gospel. (Psalm 113:7–8)
• Pray that religious freedom will be incorporated into the
development of a new constitution and that individual liberty
will become a core principle in Bhutan. (Leviticus 25:10)
• Pray that the whole Bible would be translated into the
Dzongkha language and that it will be widely distributed and
read. (Acts 13:48–49)
* Christian Solidarity Worldwide, May 12, 2005.
25
BRUNEI
Persecution Ranking: 23 rd
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 379,444
CHRISTIANS: 10%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER: Sultan and P.M.
Hassanal Bolkiah
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Around the turn of the new year in 2001, seven members of an
evangelical church were traveling in Brunei on a prayer initiative. Local
authorities became wise to the believers’ activities and detained them
on charges of subverting the state. After examinations and interviews,
the officials decided there was nothing subversive taking place and even
encouraged the Christians to continue praying.
But, oddly, three of the original seven were kept without charge or
trial for a total of nine months. They were released only after a concerted
international campaign involving Amnesty International. Of the three,
two were Muslim converts to Christianity and had been placed under
great pressure to return to Islam. Reportedly, one was kept in a darkened
cell for part of his time in jail.*
BRUNEI PAST AND PRESENT
Brunei is oil-rich, tax free, and heavily subsidized by its government.
Its population has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.
All this is surprising when one considers that the country only achieved
26
independence in 1984 and that the same family has ruled Brunei for over
six centuries.
Even though officially a constitutional sultanate, the government
pivots upon the sultan, and he has absolute power. There are no elec-
tions. In order to affirm the legitimacy of the hereditary monarchy,
since 1991 the government has been reasserting a traditional ideology
that dates back to the fifteenth century. This ideology, known as “Malay
Islamic Monarchy,” makes the monarchy inseparable from the Islamic
identity of the people of Brunei. The government seems to believe that
it is strengthened in proportion to the strength of the nation’s adherence
to Islam.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
When Brunei gained independence in 1984, it forced many Christian
ministers—including all Catholic priests and nuns—to leave the country.
The church does have indigenous leadership, but more mature leaders
are greatly needed. The current number of Christians in Brunei is less
than fifty thousand.
Limitations on Christian activity are increasing. Evangelism is not
permitted among Muslims, and no foreigners who identify themselves
as Christian workers are permitted even to visit the country. Bibles and
other Christian literature are not allowed. Christmas has been banned.
Schools can give religious instruction only in Islam, and this policy ex-
tends to the six Christian schools. A pilot program for the compulsory
study of Arabic in primary schools has been introduced.
The government uses various legislative measures to restrict the ex-
pansion of all religions other than Islam. With two recent exceptions, the
state refuses permission to expand, repair, or build churches. The use of
private homes as places of worship is forbidden, and all religious groups
must be registered. Security officials keep regular but clandestine checks
on all activities of the church.
27
The government’s avowed intention is to create a pure Islamic state.
Sharia regulations are increasingly enforced. In April 2004, forty-six
Muslims were arrested for not attending Friday prayers.
A profoundly anti-Christian stance was revealed in a May 2005 re-
port carried on the Brunei government’s website. Citizens were warned
that people who befriend the homeless and jobless could be “propagan-
dists” trying to trick them into apostasy. No doubt, these unnamed pro-
pagandists are Christians. The warning continues: “Behind the mask of
kindness, the hostile elements carry out their propagation, handing out
documents, books, cassettes, and other religious orientated material.”
HOW TO PRAY FOR BRUNEI
“But if it were I, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause
before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles
that cannot be counted.” (Job 5:8–9 NIV)
• Pray that God gives believers “God ideas” on how to
evangelize in a hostile environment. (Proverbs 8:12–14)
• Pray that the Lord gives believers creative ways to
fellowship together and encourage one another in the Lord.
(Hebrews 10:25)
• Pray for protection for believers working in ministry in
Brunei. (2 Thessalonians 3:2–3)
• Pray that the government will allow its people the
freedom of religion that is guaranteed in their constitution.
(Daniel 3:29–30)
• Pray for the government leaders in Brunei—that they would
lose faith in Islam and would seek to do more than protect
their own self-interest. If they don’t relent, pray that they
would be removed from power. (Daniel 6:26–27)
* Testimony submitted by Barnabas Fund, May 16, 2005.
28
BURKINA FASO
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 13,902,972
CHRISTIANS: 10%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Blaise Compaoré
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Thankfully, there is relatively zero anti-Christian activity in Burkina
Faso. Animists, Muslims, Catholics, and Protestants typically live in a
peaceful community. It may happen that some evangelical converts suf-
fer persecution from parents or villagers, but the law protects those who
choose to convert. When we pray for Burkina Faso, we mostly need to
pray that God will send laborers for the harvest and to help bring them to
maturity in their Christian walk.
BURKINA FASO PAST AND PRESENT
Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) gained independence from
France in 1960 but saw considerable strife in the ensuing decades.
During the 1970s and 1980s, the country experienced several military
coups. Multiparty elections were not held until the 1990s.
The country’s dense population strains the region’s meager natural
resources. Burkinabe farm workers seek employment in neighboring
countries, often to no avail.
29
Following the murder of journalist Norbert Zongo in 1998, the
country entered a time of great political turmoil. When the government
was near collapse in 2001, President Blaise Compaoré called for a day
of forgiveness. On March 30, 2001, he asked the country for forgiveness
on behalf of all former presidents for all the political crimes that had
sent many to the grave. Every year since then, March 30 is a day of
ecumenical prayer, and it appears that encouraging the country to pray
has brought peace.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Since there is little, if any, actual persecution, the church operates
freely and well. The relative ease with which Christians and members
of other religions interact is a blessing, but also a difficulty. Burkinabe,
like many Westerners, tend to have a bit of a grab-bag approach to faith,
taking this from one faith and that from another. While this keeps peace
between faiths, it also dilutes the truth of the gospel.
HOW TO PRAY FOR BURKINA FASO
When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and
their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the Lord, will answer
them. I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them. (Isaiah 41:17)
• • Pray that God gives Burkinabe Christians a heart for their
country and creative ways to evangelize. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
•
30
Pray that the government continues to protect citizens’ right to
choose their own religion. (Proverbs 21:1)
Pray that the church preaches the fullness of the Word of God
and that Christians will become mature in their faith.
(1 Peter 1:23)
CAMBODIA
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 13,881,427
CHRISTIANS: 1–2%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Buddhism
POLITICAL LEADER:
Prime Minister Hun Sen
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
During a Sunday service on July 13, 2003, a mob of roughly one
hundred Buddhists ransacked the Christian church in Kok Pring, injuring
several believers, destroying the cross at the altar, breaking windows,
and throwing Bibles into puddles of water.*
Cambodia is not included in Open Doors’ World Watch List rank-
ings, but Buddhist nationalism is on the rise in the country. In November
2002, the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA) recom-
mended that all references to God be removed from school textbooks. In
February 2003, Cambodia’s ministry of cults and religious affairs issued
a directive to ban all Christian proselytizing. These are frightening signs,
and the country is in need of immediate prayer.
CAMBODIA PAST AND PRESENT
Cambodia is home to one of the twentieth century’s most notorious
genocidal leaders, the communist Pol Pot. He and his associates in the
Khmer Rouge regime formed a united front that gained the goodwill of
Cambodia’s peasants in the 1970s. But the forty-four months of Khmer
31
Rouge power was a period of unmitigated suffering for Cambodians.
Hundreds of thousands of people starved, died from disease, and mil-
lions were executed. Anyone considered a threat to the ruling party was
a special target for this harsh, unremitting regime of forced labor.
In 1977, Pol Pot launched a bloody purge murdering all know
intellects and anyone who would challenge his regime. He undertook
programs to create what he considered an idealized agrarian communist
society, destroying social institutions such as banking and religion and
emptying whole cities of inhabitants. Many seen as obstructing his ideas
were tortured and killed. Some estimates say that between 1.5 and 2
million people were murdered, including thousands of Vietnamese living
within Cambodia.
In December 1978, Vietnamese forces invaded the country and
eventually established the People’s Republic of Kampuchea (PRK). Pol
Pot died before he could be prosecuted for his atrocities.
Today, Cambodia is the poorest country in Southeast Asia. The sex
industry is prosperous. Approximately 50,000 children are prostitutes
(one third of the child population). HIV is spreading rapidly. In 1999,
180,000 people were infected with the disease. By some estimates, 3,500
children are born with HIV each year.** Cambodia also has the highest
rate of child abandonment in Southeast Asia.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
When the Khmer Rouge regime was overthrown, some surviving
Christians started an underground church (the Vietnamese government
did not yet allow religious freedom). In 1990, Christianity was once
again permitted. During the 1990s, churches were planted in every prov-
ince in Cambodia. Still, Christians report that the government continues
to put pressure on believers, and the rise in Buddhist nationalism is a
growing concern.
32
Churches sponsor social work, sometimes in cooperation with gov-
ernment programs for health care, banks, education, flood control, and
irrigation. Because there is so much need, Christian organizations have
an opportunity to address concerns for students, street children, the sex
trade, tribal peoples in remote areas, and the need to educate nationals on
the growing AIDS problem.
HOW TO PRAY FOR CAMBODIA
Violence will disappear from your land; the desolation and
destruction of war will end. Salvation will surround you like city
walls, and praise will be on the lips of all who enter there.
(Isaiah 60:18)
• Pray for the growth and spiritual maturity of the Cambodian
church. Pray that the gospel will spread throughout the
country. (2 Peter 3:18)
• Pray that God will raise up Christian intellectuals and skilled
workers. (Proverbs 22:29)
• Pray against the rise of Buddhist nationalism and that
Christians will be able to freely practice their religion as
guaranteed in the constitution. (Psalm 97:7)
• Pray for the protection of Christians in Cambodia.
(Psalm 5:11)
• Pray for the spiritually, emotionally, and physically
impoverished. (Proverbs 29:7)
* Testimony submitted by Jubilee Campaign, May 12, 2005.
** Operation World, 21st Century Edition, Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk,
page 138.
33
CHAD
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 9,944,201
CHRISTIANS: 35%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sufi Islam
POLITICAL LEADER: P.M. Pascal Yoadimnadji
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Chad’s religious makeup is largely Muslim, Christian, and animist.
These religious communities generally coexist without problems, though
there are reports of tension between Christians and Muslims in reaction
to Christian efforts to share the gospel. Churches have experienced some
vandalism in recent years. In 2003, a building constructed by the Church
of Christian Assemblies in the predominantly Muslim town of Abéché
was burned. And in the past, Islamic converts to Christianity have faced
isolation and physical abuse.*
CHAD PAST AND PRESENT
Chad has long struggled against poverty. The country’s southern
region is the only portion with a climate suitable for the large-scale
production of cotton and foods. Also, because of instabilities fostered
by the French occupation through 1960, Chad’s economy was unstable
for much of the last century. Blown about by the winds of international
markets, it depended heavily on imports for industrial and consumer
34
goods. By the end of the 1980s, warfare, drought, and famine com-
bined to keep the economy depressed, and international development
organizations maintained that Chad was one of the poorest nations in
the world.
Partly because France focused on the more profitable southern
region, Chad suffered a great rift between the south and the northern
and central regions. This rift became a small civil war marked by insur-
rections, factions, and various coups d’état. By the early 1990s, the
government had suppressed or otherwise pacified most political and
military groups.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Chad is officially a secular state, and the constitution provides for
religious freedom. But a disproportionately large number of senior gov-
ernment officials are Muslims, and some public policies favor Islam. For
example, the government sponsors annual hajj trips to Mecca for certain
government officials. Islamic mosques appear to have an easier time
obtaining official permission for their activities. Non-Islamic religious
leaders claim that Islamic officials and organizations receive greater
tax exemptions and unofficial financial support from the government.
Islamic leaders receive preferential treatment from the Government.
They are given public land for the purpose of building mosques, while
other religious denominations must purchase land at market rates.**
Early Christian missionary efforts led to the successful planting of
several denominations in southern Chad. Roman Catholics constitute the
largest Christian group in the country; most Protestants are affiliated with
various evangelical Christian groups. The country has been dominated
by internal strife between the Muslim north and the Christian and ani-
mist south. Poor roads and transportation facilities, poverty, tribal wars,
and upheavals have hindered the spread of the gospel.
35
HOW TO PRAY FOR CHAD
You have shaken our land and split it open. Seal the cracks before it
completely collapses. (Psalm 60:2)
• Pray for an impartial, truly representative government.
(Daniel 4:17)
• Pray for Bible translation in conjunction with literacy projects,
as many Christians are illiterate. (Psalms 119:103–105)
• Pray for a permanent witness to be established among
unreached peoples and for the growing number of Chadian
missionaries. (Isaiah 49:22–23)
• Pray against the tribalism, syncretism, and the petty legalisms
that cripple many congregations. (2 Chronicles 34:33)
• Pray that God will bring a powerful revival to Chad and
that this country will be transformed by the power of God.
(Isaiah 44:3–4)
* International Religious Freedom Report, 2004. Available from http://www.state.gov.
** International Religious Freedom Report, 2006.
36
CHINA
Persecution Ranking: 12 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 1,313,973,713
CHRISTIANS: 3–4%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Non-religious
POLITICAL LEADER: President Hu Jintao
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Crackdowns against Christians in China have increased in recent
years. My office is familiar with the trials of one house church leader, Xu
Shuangfu—a minister who has been arrested more than twenty times and
served more than two decades in prison for Christian activities.
Most recently as of this writing, Shuangfu was arrested in April 2004
and falsely charged with kidnapping, rape, and murder. These charges
were not only a mere pretext but were also an attempt to discredit his
ministry. He was taken into custody along with one of his ministry part-
ners, Gu Xianggao, who was beaten to death the next day. Authorities
claimed Xianggao died of a heart attack.*
The Chinese police frequently use torture against detained
Christians, and they get away with it because of a lack of independent
investigations. One young Christian woman, Jiang Zongxiu, was beaten
to death in police custody in June 2004 after being arrested for handing
out Bibles. The police claimed that she died of a sudden illness, but her
body was covered with bruises and bloodstains.
37
CHINA PAST AND PRESENT
Until the last two hundred years, China was a world leader in the
arts and sciences. But civil unrest, famine, and military travails in the
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries led China off course. After the
Second World War, an autocratic socialist system was established under
Mao Zedong; the new system gave the country sovereignty but at the
cost of controlling and ruining the lives of millions of its citizens.
In recent decades, China has shown increased openness to market
economics, and the country’s people are seeing steady improvements in
freedom and opportunity.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Christianity has a long history in China, although it has largely been
confined to immigrant groups until recently. In the eyes of the Chinese
Communist Party (CCP), Christianity is tainted due to its associations
with Western imperialism. The CCP is atheistic, and its policies toward
religion are modeled on Stalinism, which feels strongly that religious
expression will (and should) die out in a socialist society.
In 1958, most Protestant churches were closed under the govern-
ment-controlled Three Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM). Remaining
churches had to register and submit to government control. The Roman
Catholic Church was attacked for its loyalty to Rome, and a new orga-
nization called the Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA) began to ordain
bishops without papal permission. Loyal Catholics went underground,
and bishops loyal to Rome were imprisoned.
Scars from that era remain: some Christians joined the TSPM or
CPA under duress; some openly renounced their faith. Others refused
all compromise and were imprisoned. Today, divisions remain between
TSPM/CPA registered churches and house churches or underground
congregations.
38
The infamous Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 precipitated
an increased repression of all religious activity. In February 1991, the
CCP called for the elimination of all illegal religious groups. In spite
of these efforts to forestall Christian activity, it is widely known that
the underground church in China is in the midst of massive revival and
growth. Even the government of China estimates that there are nearly
one hundred million Christians in the land, though many Chinese leaders
feel this number is very conservative.
HOW TO PRAY FOR CHINA
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says
the LORD Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6 NIV)
• Pray for an end to the escalating crackdowns against Chinese
Christians. (2 Thessalonians 1:3–4)
• Pray for an end to the torture and killing of Chinese Christians
in detention. (Acts 7:52, 54–60)
• Pray that the international community will investigate the
murders and inhumane treatment of Christians detained
on trumped up charges by the Chinese government.
(Psalm 27:12–13)
• Pray for the unconditional release from prison of all those in
situations similar to Xu Shuangfu. (Acts 12:5–11)
• Pray for Chinese missionary families who leave their children
in orphanages while the parents evangelize and advance the
kingdom of God at great personal sacrifice and risk. (Psalm
10:17–18)
• Pray that restrictions against Bibles and Christian materials
will be removed. In the meantime, pray that ongoing
smuggling of Christian materials will go undetected and will
be effective. (John 8:59)
* Testimony submitted by Jubilee Campaign, May 12, 2005.
39
DJIBOUTI
Persecution Ranking: 28 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 486,530
CHRISTIANS: 6%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Ismail Omar Guelleh
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
For many of us, coming together for prayer is just part of our weekly
schedule. But for Christians in Djibouti, a prayer meeting is a dangerous
prospect. Consider the following account from a Christian in Djibouti:
One evening, our leader the evangelist led a prayer meeting in
his home. About twenty Muslims forcibly entered the room and
attacked the Christians with sticks and stones. The evangelist
was stabbed in the leg with a knife. After beating him, they
escaped, leaving him for dead.
On another occasion, we had prayers in our service room. The
Djibouti State Police surrounded the room and entered without
permission. They searched through the room and took docu-
ments, books, and some church materials. The men and women
who attended the prayer group were arrested. At the station, a
member of the police force beat one of the brothers with a metal
bar. He was seriously wounded and almost died.
As Paul and Silas had done in prison, the detained prayer group
sang and rejoiced in the Lord. Witnessing this, some of the other
40
prisoners joined them. Six of them accepted Jesus there in jail.
The group was released after three days.
It is not only we who face persecution but also the Muslim
converts. The community was incited against the converts and
eventually they were excommunicated. They even lost their
jobs. Now they have no food and shelter.*
Without question, this community needs prayer.
DJIBOUTI PAST AND PRESENT
From ancient times, the nation now known as Djibouti was home to
grazing lands utilized by various nomadic tribes. The two major tribes
which endure today, are the Afars and the Issas. During the early nine-
teenth century, the area was sold to the French for 52,000 francs (U.S.
$6,283). Later, French Somaliland was established, of which Djibouti
became the capital in 1892.
France controlled Djibouti as a protectorate until 1977, at which
point Djibouti gained independence. But from the 1950s forward, indig-
enous unrest took root and nationals began to rail against foreign control
of their country. The three decades preceding independence were marked
by riots, referendums, and general dissatisfaction with French colonial-
ism. The years since have provided little stability as the burgeoning
Djiboutian government faces the challenges of providing for its entire
people while tribal factions continue to concern the government.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Djibouti is a republic. Islam is the state religion, and the president
is required to take a religious oath at inauguration. Islamic law, based on
the Koran, is used only for family matters such as marriage, divorce, and
inheritance.
French Catholics and Ethiopian Orthodox Christians have been part
of Djibouti society for almost a century. Those born as Catholics face
41
no discrimination from Muslim relatives. But in recent years, people in
Catholic, Protestant, and Ethiopian Orthodox churches have noted an
increase in hostility toward non-Muslims.
Approximately sixty percent of the Djiboutian population is ethni-
cally Somali. In the ethnic Somali community, an individual’s life is
influenced by clan membership more than religion. Djiboutian ethnic
Somalis who are Christians are often buried according to Islamic tradi-
tions by relatives who do not recognize their non-Muslim faith.
The constitution, while declaring Islam to be the state religion, pro-
vides for freedom of religion. However, evangelism is actively discour-
aged, and the government requires that religious groups register with
the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A small
number of foreign missionary groups operate in the country and are li-
censed to operate schools.
HOW TO PRAY FOR DJIBOUTI
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD.
“They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future
and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
• • Pray for the few Somali and Afar Christian believers who
often feel isolated and suffer pressure from relatives to return
to Islam. Many are illiterate and unemployed. Pray for literacy
programs so that people can read God’s Word. (Nehemiah 8:3)
•
42
Pray for the conversion of Djibouti leaders and prominent
Muslims to Christianity. Pray that these leaders will mature
in their new faith and that their conversions would be a
significant Christian witness to the population. (Acts 17:12)
Pray for Bible translation and distribution. Pray for the
JESUS film as well as the creation of other powerful films,
radio broadcasts, and other large-scale outreach projects.
(Isaiah 55:10–11)
•
Pray for God-given ideas and proper resources so Christians
will start and maintain successful businesses and provide
needed services in Djibouti. (Psalm 90:17)
* This account is revised from http://www.arab.net/djibouti/.
43
EAST TIMOR
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 1,062,777
CHRISTIANS: 93%
(Catholic 90%, Protestant 3%)
DOMINANT RELIGION: Christianity
(Catholicism)
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Just because a country is not ranked as a heavily persecuted nation
does not mean that people there do not face extreme danger. Ask Juliana
dos Santos, a Christian in East Timor.
Barely a week after an overwhelming vote for independence from
Indonesia triggered waves of violence, sixteen-year-old Juliana and her
younger brother were hunted by the Laksaur militia. Searching for a
place of safety, the two were caught up with the crowds and poured into
a church building. The militia followed the crowd in, separated the men
from the women, and systematically executed every male.
Juliana could only watch helplessly as her thirteen-year-old brother
was killed in front of her young eyes.
Life worsened for Juliana. After being paraded through the street as
a war trophy with the other women, Juliana was abducted and repeatedly
raped. One of the militia leaders took her to be his wife—by some ac-
counts, his ninth. In the fall of 2004, she gave birth to a son. Authorities
have been reluctant to act, and though these crimes are known, many
of them have had their names removed from the wanted list by the
Indonesian War Crimes Tribunal.*
44
EAST TIMOR PAST AND PRESENT
Timor seems to have forever been an island in contention. The
Portuguese began to trade with the island in the early sixteenth century,
colonizing it some decades later. Skirmishes with the Dutch in the region
resulted in an 1859 treaty, with Portugal conceding the western portion
of the island. Imperial Japan occupied East Timor from 1942 to 1945, but
Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World
War II.
East Timor declared independence from Portugal on November 28,
1975, but was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. It
was incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of East Timor.
The next two decades saw an unsuccessful campaign of assimila-
tion, during which thousands of people lost their lives. On August 30,
1999, an overwhelming majority of the people of East Timor voted for
independence from Indonesia. Not long after, militia groups that were
fostered by the Indonesian military began to war against the Timorese.
Killing 1,400 Timorese and turning 300,000 more into refugees, these
anti-independence militants destroyed the country’s infrastructure. The
violence did not end until late September of 1999, when peacekeeping
troops from Australia silenced the campaign. Eight months later, East
Timor was recognized as an independent state.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
The current constitution provides freedom of conscience, religion,
and worship. It stipulates that no one shall be persecuted or discriminated
against on the basis of his or her religious convictions. The government
generally respects and protects these rights.
According to Protestant leaders, individuals converting from
Catholicism to Protestantism are often subject to harassment by family
members and neighbors. In some cases, Protestant clergy and missionar-
ies have been threatened or assaulted. Village leaders have refused to
45
allow missionaries to evangelize in their villages, and in at least one
case, a Protestant group was unable to build a chapel because of stiff
opposition from neighbors and local officials. Most Protestant leaders
report that Catholic church officials and government authorities have
been helpful in resolving disputes and conflicts when they occur.
HOW TO PRAY FOR EAST TIMOR
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine
or nakedness or danger or sword? (Romans 8:35 NIV)
• Pray for political stability after several decades of civil war.
(Psalm 46:9–10)
• Pray for government measures that further national unity,
despite old ethnic and political divisions. (2 Chronicles 30:12)
• The JESUS film has been translated into a number of local
languages. Pray for people to have a chance to see and respond
to the film. (1 Corinthians 14:10)
• Pray for interdenominational unity and for good relations
among the various religious communities. (Ephesians 4:3)
• Pray for Catholics who are persecuted for converting to
Protestantism. (2 Chronicles 15:2)
* Report by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) Hong Kong/Australia, “The Girl
Who Saw Too Much,” August 1, 2001. http://www.cswusa.com East Timor Reports.
46
EGYPT
Persecution Ranking: 18 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 78,887,007
CHRISTIANS: 6–12%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Mariam and her husband, Yousef Samuel Makari, were arrested
in Alexandria on October 20, 2003. After being transferred 125 miles
to Cairo, they were interrogated and physically abused. Over the next
three days, twenty more people were arrested and beaten accused of il-
legally changing their identity cards to reflect a conversion from Islam
to Christianity.
One detainee, Isam Abdul Fathr, was suffering from diabetes and at
least one other medical condition. Unable to endure the beatings, he died
while being transferred to a hospital. Of the others, sixteen were released
on bail on November 13, and four others died nine days later. Mariam
died on December 2.*
In Egypt, one’s religious registration is denoted on an identity card.
The Egyptian constitution allows freedom of religion, and there are no
laws that make conversion from Islam a crime. However, the govern-
ment uses these affiliations to determine the legal process for individuals.
Those who convert to Islam from another religion can get their identity
cards changed within twenty-four hours. But those who convert from
47
Islam to another religion cannot change their identity cards, and some
are tempted to change them illegally.
The cases against those arrested have never been brought to court.
Following intense international concern for the situation, the charges
have been quietly dropped and the bail money forfeited. However, the
underlying problem remains—in effect, identity cards determine one’s
status under the law.
EGYPT PAST AND PRESENT
Egypt is the most populous Arab nation. Located on the Sinai
Peninsula in northern Africa, it is home to the Suez Canal and the Nile
River, one of the longest rivers in the world.
Egypt is among the more westernized Arab states, but some describe
Egypt as a pseudo-democracy—opposition parties are allowed to exist
and to contest elections but not to win. The ruling National Democratic
Party (NDP) operates as if Egypt were a one-party state. The party is
considering reform and now projects a modern image—NDP adopted
the slogan “New Thought” for its annual conference in 2004.
Egypt is home to several indigenous human rights groups, including
the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), which is chaired by
former United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali. This
government-funded council seeks to provide a high profile platform for
the work of several independent human rights groups, though critics ac-
cuse it of being a publicity stunt by the government.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Egypt has a large established church. Roughly 8 to 10 percent of
the rapidly growing population is Christian. Many belong to the Coptic
Orthodox Church, which traces its history back to the apostle Mark. Other
groups include the Greek and Syrian Orthodox, Armenian, Chaldean,
Greek, Melkite, Roman, and Syrian Catholic, Armenian Apostolic,
48
Maronite, and seventeen Protestant denominations. In addition, Egypt
has many active parachurch organizations.
The bad news? Even as Egypt’s population is growing, the number
of Christians in Egypt is decreasing. This decline is explained in part
by the lower birth rate and higher emigration rate among Christians. In
addition, each year several thousand nominal Christians convert to Islam
because of adverse job conditions (it can be easier to find work for a
Muslim) or in order to marry a Muslim woman. In Egypt, as in many
Arab countries, the law forbids a Muslim woman from marrying a non-
Muslim man.
Egypt’s Christians suffer in other ways as well. In some parts of the
country, churches have trouble obtaining building permits. State harass-
ment of some believers occurs regularly, as does persecution of those
working in concert with Christians or Christian organizations. In 2004,
at least eight expatriate Christian couples were removed from Egypt.
The social pressure against any religious conversion is intense, es-
pecially outside the two most populous cities of Cairo and Alexandria.
Egyptian law requires that anyone wishing to leave a faith have an inter-
view with a minister in his or her current faith, which raises the question
of how free religious choice really is in Egypt.
HOW TO PRAY FOR EGYPT
We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down
the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.
(2 Corinthians 10:4)
• Pray that the identity card system will be changed to alleviate
religious discrimination. (Revelations 17:14)
• Pray for an end to professional discrimination against
Christians in the workplace. (Jeremiah 22:13)
• Pray for wisdom and courage for those testifying about Christ.
(Acts 14:3)
49
• Pray that national human rights groups will be effective in
improving conditions for all Egyptians. (Psalm 82:3–4)
• Pray that the church in Egypt will learn how to work in
harmony with the body of believers throughout Egypt.
(1 Corinthians 1:10)
* Testimony submitted by Middle East Concern/3P Ministries, May 12, 2005.
50
ERITREA
Persecution Ranking: 13 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 4,786,994
CHRISTIANS: 47–48%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Isaias Afworki
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: Yes,
but the constitution has not been
implemented.
It was New Year’s Eve, and members of a charismatic church had
assembled to celebrate in the home of their pastor. In most countries,
gathering together to bring in the New Year would not be deemed a
dangerous or subversive activity. But in Eritrea, any Christian gathering
attracts the attention of the police.
Police raided the pastor’s house and arrested sixty church members.
The group was initially taken to one of the capital’s police stations. The
following day, thirty-six women in the group were transferred to the
notorious Mai-Serwa military camp. The pastor’s wife was released on
January 4, 2005, and two weeks later, twenty others were released after
signing pledges to not take part in such meetings again. This pastor and
thirty-three others remained in detention at Mai-Serwa.
This was not the first time the pastor and his church faced persecu-
tion. He has been arrested three times. In March 2003, he and his family
(including his five children) were arrested and accused of trying to start
a new religion. Prior to that, he and several dozen members were ar-
rested and beaten after they were found holding prayer meetings in their
homes.*
51
In the city of Asmara, 131 Christian children attending Bible classes
were taken by Eritrean police. The children began to sing in a loud voice:
“I am not afraid of persecution, hardships and even death. Nobody can
separate me from the love of Jesus Christ. He died on the cross for me
and gave me new life.” Refusing to stop singing, they were beaten in the
police station. Three and a half hours later, 101 children were released,
and the remaining captives were set free some time later.**
ERITREA PAST AND PRESENT
Eritrea is Africa’s youngest nation, having achieved independence in
May 1993. The initial high hopes for the nation quickly disappeared—
Eritrea has the dubious distinction of being the second-worst persecutor of
Christians on the African continent. Also, Eritrea is one of the few coun-
tries in the world without privately owned newspapers or media outlets.
It has been designated a “country of particular concern” by the U.S. State
Department because of its severe violations of religious freedom.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
With regard to religious liberty, the government of Isaias Afworki,
soon after coming to power, closed Christian newspapers and publica-
tions in 1994. The government later closed the private press for “endan-
gering national security.” The first known instances of direct discrimina-
tion against Christians occurred in 1999 when believers from specific
Protestant denominations were forbidden from practicing their religion
in the armed forces.
On May 22, 2002, the government extended its ban on Christian
activities by ordering the closure of every Christian church apart from
those belonging to the Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, and
the Evangelical Church of Eritrea (affiliated with the World Lutheran
Federation). This effectively rendered the country’s other churches il-
legal. The government initially stated that churches could apply for
official registration, but the terms of registration were restrictive. This
52
directly contradicts Eritrea’s own constitution, which allows freedom of
conscience, religion, movement, assembly, organization, and expression
of opinion.
In contrast to neighboring countries such as Sudan and Egypt, where
persecution of Christians is motivated by religious agendas, Eritrea’s
government appears concerned primarily with the rapid growth of some
of the more charismatic churches and their popularity among the youth
of Eritrea. The government also appears concerned by the international
denominational links of several churches. They have accused these
churches of having links with Al Qaeda or of being agents of the CIA.
Whatever the causes, there are currently well over 1,700 religious pris-
oners held in Eritrea’s prisons, police stations, and military camps. More
than 280,000 Eritreans have been forced to flee the country that they
fought so long and hard to liberate.
Moreover, having been initially “frozen” out of his duties as head of
the Eritrean Orthodox Church in August 2005, Patriarch Abune Antonios
was put under house arrest in January 2006 and forced out of office. It
is believed that his dismissal and arrest are a result of his increasingly
critical views of government intervention in church matters.
Despite international condemnation, Eritrea has so far been unwill-
ing to reverse its policies. The government issues flat denials of any
instances of religious persecution. The future for Eritrea’s Christians
appears to be filled with suffering and danger.
HOW TO PRAY FOR ERITREA
Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me!
(Psalm 35:1 RSV)
•
Praise God for emboldening those Christian children
when they were arrested. Pray that they will grow in their
knowledge, understanding, love, and relationship with the
Lord. (Psalm 8:2)
53
• Pray that the international community puts pressure on
the Eritrean government to cease religious persecution.
(Nehemiah 2:20)
• Pray for Eritrea’s church leaders—that they be given wisdom
in responding to the current wave of persecution. (Daniel 2:14)
• Pray that Eritrea’s leaders have a change of heart and allow
Christians to live in freedom. (1 Timothy 2:1–4)
• Pray for the release of Christian prisoners. (Acts 12:5–7)
• pray that Eritrean Christians fervently cry out to the Lord and
give Him no rest until He delivers them. (Psalms 34:15–16)
* Testimony submitted by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, January 2005.
** Testimony submitted by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, February 23, 2005.
54
ETHIOPIA
Persecution Ranking: 37 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 73,053,286
CHRISTIANS: 65–70%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Christianity
POLITICAL LEADER:
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
The body of a child from a Christian family is buried in a local
cemetery only to be dug up and dumped in town. Evangelicals walking
to church are beaten, and gospel workers require police protection while
evangelizing. Other believers have their property taken and their houses
destroyed. In all these cases and more, local administrative officials do
little to stop the tide of persecution.*
Such is the way of life for Christians in many regions of Ethiopia.
Evangelicals claim they cannot bury their dead in the cemeteries given
them by the government because Muslims and Eastern Orthodox adher-
ents will not allow it. Others report incidents of violence that make it
impossible to practice their faith in peace and safety.
Ethiopian Christians are growing in number, but as they do, their
presence represents a threat to many of their neighbors.
ETHIOPIA PAST AND PRESENT
Unlike its African neighbors, Ethiopia was largely free from colonial
rule. A military regime established a socialist state in the early 1970s but
55
was toppled in 1991 by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic
Front. The country adopted a constitution in 1994 and held multiparty
elections in 1995.
Ethiopia’s Christian heritage is unrivaled. The Bible references the
region many times, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church dates its founda-
tion to A.D. 332. The Orthodox Church was the state church from 1270
until a revolution in 1974. But during communist rule, many church build-
ings were destroyed and congregations scattered, and some Christians
were martyred. This persecution, as is often the case, had the unintended
effect of refining and purifying the faith of Ethiopian believers.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is the dominant religion in the
northern regions of Tigray and Amhara. Islam is most prevalent in the
Somali and Afar regions, as well as in all the major parts of Oromia.
Evangelical and Pentecostal Protestantism are the fastest growing faiths,
partly due to increased distribution and use of the Bible. A large number
of foreign missionary groups, both Catholic and Protestant, operate in
the country. The Evangelical Church Fellowship estimates that there
may be as many as 11.5 million Protestants living in Ethiopia, and that
there are now twenty-two denominations in existence.
However, Islamic fundamentalism is also on the rise in Ethiopia,
which some attribute to funds coming from wealthy Gulf States.
Intrareligious tension exists among Muslims, dividing traditionalists
from strict fundamentalists. But the fundamentalist segments may be
winning out.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
The constitution provides freedom of religion and calls for the
separation of church and state. However, local authorities have occa-
sionally infringed on the rights of religious groups. For instance, the
government has interpreted the constitutional provision for separation
56
of religion and state to mean that religious instruction is not permitted
in public or private schools. Schools owned and operated by Catholic,
Orthodox, evangelical, and Muslim groups are not allowed to teach
religion as a course of study. The government apparently seeks to deal
evenhandedly with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the increas-
ingly active and growing Muslim population, but instances of religious
persecution do occur.
The government requires that all religious groups register with the
Ministry of Justice to gain legal standing and to renew their registration
every three years. However, the Orthodox Church has never registered,
and the Supreme Islamic Council has not re-registered for eight years.
Protests from evangelical and other religious groups over these excep-
tions have not been acknowledged, suggesting that the present leadership
does not treat all religions equally.
Religious groups are given the free use of government land for
churches, schools, hospitals, and cemeteries but must apply to regional
and local governments for land allocation. Minority religious groups
have complained of discrimination in the allocation of government
land for religious sites. One Mennonite church in recent years had its
Sunday school building forcibly claimed and turned into a government
building.
Within the capital city of Addis Ababa, this issue of space for
churches is a major concern for Protestant groups. The Orthodox
Church has built at least twenty churches within the past two years, but
the government has not given permission for other religious groups
to construct new edifices. Evangelical leaders have complained that
regulations on the importation of Bibles are too strict, and that cus-
toms duties on Bibles and other religious articles are excessive. Some
minor conflicts exist between Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and
evangelical Protestants, and between Ethiopian Orthodox Christians
and Muslims.
57
HOW TO PRAY FOR ETHIOPIA
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does
not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16 NIV)
• Pray for unity among the various church groups—that
they will work together to increase the kingdom of God.
(Ephesians 2:14–16)
• Pray for peace in the region; pray against the repression,
war, and deep poverty that has characterized this nation.
(Isaiah 61:1–3)
• Syncretism and the occult are widespread among the millions
of nominal followers of the Orthodox religion. Pray for a
deep work of the Holy Spirit to bring this ancient church to its
biblical heritage. (2 Corinthians 6:14–16)
• Pray for the continued revival and growth of strong
evangelical networks. (2 Thessalonians 3:1)
• Pray for breakthroughs in reaching the Muslim community.
Pray that the nation will not become a Muslim state.
(Acts 26:18)
* International Religious Freedom Report, 2005. Available from http://www.state.gov.
58
THE GAMBIA
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 1,641,564
CHRISTIANS: 9%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
From the top of the tree, a young man scans the mud flats. He spies
what he is looking for—four men dressed in long, flowing robes and
matching trousers, walking down the path. He smiles when he notices
the foursome carrying their prayer mats, as every good Muslim does in
The Gambia. The Koranic teacher scrambles down from the tree and
sprints to the men. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” he says.
“I climbed a tree over there to find you. You need to come back to my
village and talk with me.”
The young teacher begins asking questions about the Koran. One of
the older men holds up his hands and says, “We are not Muslim. We are
followers of the prophet Jesus, and we have come to pray for your village.”
The two International Mission Board representatives, Neil Simmons and
Todd Luke, explain that they and their friends are walking the length of the
entire country and praying for the people they meet along the way.
The teacher stares in disbelief at the two bearded men who speak his
Mandinka language. In this part of the world, Christians are not known as
people of prayer, let alone people who would inconvenience themselves
by walking nearly four hundred miles in temperatures reaching over one
59
hundred degrees. After recovering from the initial shock of the news, the
young teacher asks the men to come and pray for his village, noting that
before now no one had ever come to pray for them.*
God is building his kingdom in The Gambia, and we can pray for
builders like these to get the job done.
THE GAMBIA PAST AND PRESENT
Even though it is a young country, becoming independent in 1965,
the banks of the River Gambia, now know as the country The Gambia,
has been inhabited for many centuries. It formed the short-lived federation
of Senegambia with Senegal which existed between 1982 and 1989. In
1991, the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A mili-
tary coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity.
But two years later, the country ratified a constitution and held presidential
elections, followed by parliamentary balloting. Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh, the
leader of the coup, has been elected president in all subsequent elections.
The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the govern-
ment respects this right. Religious groups do not need to register, and
the government permits religious instruction in schools. Biblical and
Koranic studies are provided in both public and private schools through-
out the country without government restriction or interference.
Islam has steadily grown in influence, but Christian missionaries
operating in the country have considerable opportunity to share their
faith. In several interviews, Catholic and Anglican bishops have praised
the government and people of the country for the protection and accom-
modation of the Christian minority.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Sunni Muslims constitute 90 percent of the population of The
Gambia. A small percentage of Muslims, most immigrants from South
Asia, do not ascribe to any traditional Islamic school of thought.
60
The Christian community is predominantly Roman Catholic; there
are also several Protestant denominations including Anglican, Methodist,
Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, and various small evangelical denomi-
nations. There are small groups of followers of both the Baha’i faith and
Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Intermarriage between Muslims and Christians is common. Although
most of the population professes to be Muslim, the country is steeped in
animism and folk religion.
HOW TO PRAY FOR THE GAMBIA
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and
do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
(Galatians 5:1 NIV)
• Pray that nominal Christians experience revival and a new zeal
to reach out to the Muslim majority. (Romans 12:11–12)
• Pray for discipleship, leadership, evangelism, and prayer
training among the small but growing evangelical community.
(Luke 10:1–2)
• Pray for continuing religious freedom to preach the gospel.
(Luke 4:18)
• Pray for Christian ministries, including prison evangelism,
the JESUS film effort, and radio and television broadcasts.
(Acts 19:20)
* “Gambia Prayer Walk: Baptists Hit the Road in Walk across African Nation,” by Sue
Sprenkle, SBC International Mission Board. http://www.baptiststandard.com/2001/10_
22/pages/gambia.html.
61
GAZA STRIP AND WEST BANK
FACT SHEET
West Bank
POPULATION: 3,889,249
CHRISTIANS: 1–2%
Gaza Strip
Israel
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER: President of the
Palestinian Authority Mahmud Abbas
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
My husband and I took a prayer journey to the Gaza Strip in 1996.
I remember kneeling and praying for these precious Palestinians who
were living in refugee-camp conditions by the seashore—what a paradox
to see extreme poverty on this beautiful seaside! As we wept and prayed
to the Lord, people came from the camp and invited us into their home.
Together with other believers there, we prayed specifically that the
Bible Society would be given permission to build a bookstore. The very
spot where we prayed is where the bookstore was constructed. It was
closed for a time after a recent bombing.
Christians in the area are coming under increased pressure since the
terrorist organization Hamas became the majority party of the Palestinian
Legislative Council in January 2006. The people in this region need our
prayers more than ever before.
GAZA AND WEST BANK PAST AND PRESENT
The 1990s saw an upsurge of hope across Palestinian society. One
expression of this was the rapid growth of a media industry, with three
62
daily newspapers and as many as twenty TV stations. Several Christian
media ministries were created.
However, setbacks were—and are—common. A land dispute be-
tween Israel and Palestine keeps the region in constant turmoil. The
Al-Aqsa intifada, an ongoing Palestinian protest against Israeli occupa-
tion, was renewed in the fall of 2000 following a visit by Ariel Sharon
to the Temple Mount. Between Palestinian terrorist activity and Israeli
military operations, the land’s infrastructure is in disarray. Travel restric-
tions, including roadblocks and checkpoints, make it very difficult for
residents to live and work effectively. Many Palestinian Christians have
emigrated.
Politically, Gaza and West Bank were dominated by the late Yasser
Arafat. His death in November 2004 was followed by the election of
Mahmud Abbas as president of the Palestinian Authority. The election
ushered in an expectation of better things, including a fresh start in
Israeli/Palestinian relations. But political progress between Israel and
the Palestinian Authority has been notoriously slow and violent. The
Palestinian Authority continues to be unable to prevent armed groups
from operating independently of official security forces. The govern-
ment’s majority party, Hamas, has as its stated goal the destruction of
Israel.
The population of Gaza is about 1.4 million and that of the West
Bank is 2.4 million, excluding Jewish settlers and the Israeli troops who
protect them. The population is almost exclusively ethnically Palestinian,
and the overwhelming majority are Sunni Muslims.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Nowhere in the Middle East is the decline in the percentage of
Christians more apparent than the region of Palestine. There has been
a church in the West Bank and Gaza since shortly after the day of
Pentecost. Throughout history, it has known times of peace and struggle,
persecution and stability. Today, it is hard pressed. In 1967, 12 percent
63
of the Palestinian residents were Christians. Now, that figure is less than
2 percent.
As elsewhere in the Middle East, many believers suffer intense fam-
ily pressure to renounce their faith in Christ. On occasion, Christians get
caught in the middle of Palestinian and Israeli violence. In Bethlehem,
Palestinian armed groups forcibly took control of a Christian home,
evicting the resident family. Then, these armed troops used the home as a
base for firing at nearby Jewish settlements. The Israeli army responded
by demolishing the house, leaving the Christian family homeless.
HOW TO PRAY FOR GAZA AND WEST BANK
Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in. (Psalm 24:7 NIV)
• • Pray for the effectiveness and expansion of Christian
ministries throughout the region. (Isaiah 55:11)
• Pray that the demonic forces that keep these precious people in
captivity will be demolished so the people will be free to know
and love Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4)
• Pray that the written Word of God would be available
to all who seek to draw close in their walk with Christ.
(Nehemiah 8:8)
•
64
Pray that the change of Palestinian leadership leads to
enduring and effective dialogue toward resolving the Israeli/
Palestinian conflict. (1 Timothy 2:1–4)
Pray that the newly elected parliament controlled by Hamas
will be concerned for its citizens, including Arab Christians.
(Jeremiah 23:4)
GUINEA
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 9,690,222
CHRISTIANS: 8%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Lansana Conte
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Our contacts do not report any imprisonment, harassment, or other
specific and overt persecution of Christians in Guinea. Indeed, one be-
liever we spoke with gave us this report of showing the JESUS film to a
group of villagers:
“The people listened intently as they watched in amazement
the miracles Jesus did. As the story moved to the suffering and
crucifixion of Jesus, they sat in utter silence. After it was over,
the chief not only invited missionaries to return and show the
film again, but also said that other villages needed to see it and
agreed to help arrange those showings.”*
There are wonderful Christian ministries working in the region to
spread the gospel and strengthen the existing church, so let’s join our
faith with theirs by praying for their country today.
GUINEA PAST AND PRESENT
Guinea was a French colony until independence in 1958. After a
short and disastrous stint of Marxism under President Sekou Toure, a
65
military coup in 1984 swept General Lansana Conte to power. The coun-
try did not hold elections until 1993, when Conte was elected to the
presidency. He has since been reelected twice and leads the country as
of this writing.
Guinea has been the site of unrest between Sierra Leone and Liberia,
which has compromised the country’s stability.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Islam is demographically, socially, and culturally the dominant reli-
gion in Guinea. Several Christian denominations are active, and there are
also small numbers of people who adhere to the Baha’i faith, Hinduism,
and Buddhism. All religious groups newly operating in the country are
required to register with the Ministry of Territorial Administration; any
unregistered religious groups are subject to government expulsion—a
penalty with limited opportunity for legal appeal.
Although religious liberty allows Christian witness and foreign mis-
sionary groups are active in the country, Guinea is regarded as one of the
least evangelized nations in Africa.
HOW TO PRAY FOR GUINEA
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the
gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear
about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one
spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without
being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign
to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and
that by God. (Philippians 1:27–28 NIV)
•
66
Pray for continued religious freedom. (Acts 2:47)
• Pray that the global church awakens to its responsibility
to reach Guinea with the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.
(Matthew 28:19)
• Pray that the Guinea church will mature in her faith and will
respond to the God-given opportunities to reach the nation.
(Ezra 20:41)
• Pray for new Christian believers who find it difficult to be
delivered from the societal and spiritual bonds of Islam. Pray
they will be trained in the Word of God and stand firm in their
newfound faith. (2 Corinthians 3:14–18)
• Pray that Christians will evangelize the refugee population
from surrounding countries that have no effective Christian
witness. (Luke 16:16–17)
* Testimony submitted by Open Doors, May 13, 2005.
67
GUINEA-BISSAU
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 1,442,029
CHRISTIANS: 5%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Tribal
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Joao Bernardo Vieira
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Thankfully, our contacts in Guinea-Bissau report that they have no
knowledge of overt persecution. We thank God for the religious freedom
and opportunities to spread the gospel. As with other countries in this
region, prayer is needed for the church to take root and transform the
hearts and lives of people in the nation.
GUINEA-BISSAU PAST AND PRESENT
Guinea-Bissau obtained independence from Portugal in 1974, but
it was the beginning of much upheaval: military coups, mutinies, and
authoritarian dictators were the norm for more than two decades. A one-
party revolutionary government led by Joao Bernardo Vieira ruled until
1994, when multi-party elections took place. In 1998, a military uprising
led to the election of a new government.
In February 2000, a transitional government turned over power to
Kumba Yala after he was elected president. Three years later, Yala was
ousted by the military in a bloodless coup, and a businessman named
Henrique Rosa was sworn in. In August 2005, former President Joao
68
Bernardo Vieira was re-elected in the second round of presidential poll-
ing. Since formally assuming office, Vieira has pledged to pursue eco-
nomic development and national reconciliation.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Under Portuguese rule, the Catholic Church was dominant and
evangelicals experienced much discrimination. Since independence,
the measure of freedom for Christian activities has increased despite
some low-level persecution of converts. Christians belong to a number
of groups, including the Roman Catholic Church and various Protestant
denominations, but there is significant syncretism between Islam and
Catholicism and African traditional religions.
During the recent civil war (1998–1999), evangelical Christians
played an important role in distributing food and seeking to bring rec-
onciliation between the warring factions. The church is therefore viewed
with respect by the government.
The constitution provides freedom of religion. Missionaries from
numerous Christian denominations operate in the country without restric-
tion, but the government does require religious groups to be licensed.
HOW TO PRAY FOR GUINEA-BISSAU
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as
a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
(Matthew 24:14 NKJV)
• Pray for pastors in the interior of the country who
carry responsibility for up to ten congregations.
(1 Thessalonians 5:12–13)
• Pray that believers will mature in the knowledge of the Word
of God. (2 Peter 1:3–8)
69
• • Pray for continued translation work, radio broadcasting, and
JESUS film showings by mission agencies in this largely oral
society. (Matthew 28:19–20)
•
70
Pray that churches respond to the open opportunities to
share the gospel in their country and will be trail blazers in
taking the gospel to neighboring 10/40 Window countries.
(2 Timothy 2:2)
Pray for creative outreaches that the Lord will use to advance
the kingdom of God. (Psalm 49:3–4)
INDIA
Persecution Ranking: 29 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 1,095,351,995
CHRISTIANS: 2–3%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Hinduism
POLITICAL LEADER:
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Consider this time line of violence against Christians in India:
One week in 1998, Hindu extremists burned and vandalized eleven
churches in the Indian state of Gujarat. The military began systematic
assaults on villages attacking churches and prayer houses. Christian men
and women were beaten in fifty-eight attacks throughout the state.
On January 12, 1999, two church buildings, a Catholic prayer hall in
Dhuda and a chapel in Lahan Chriya, were set ablaze.
Also in 1999, in the District of Orissa Graham Staines, a Christian
missionary from Australia known for his work with lepers was burned
alive in his car together with his two young sons.
In May 2000, a bomb explosion injured at least thirty people during
a Christian meeting in Machlipatnam.
In July 2000, a Jesuit priest was attacked and killed while riding
home on his motorcycle in South Bihar.
In December 2000, a Catholic priest was attacked and killed in
Manipur. Earlier, in Kurpania Bihar, a nun was raped and a convent
71
looted, which was not the first time an Ethiopian convent had reported
sexual violence.
On the evening of August 26, 2001, Christians holding a service in
the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh were attacked when Hindu militants
stormed the church and destroyed significant amounts of property.
In 2002 and 2003, several states tried to pass anti-conversion laws
stating that Hindus could not convert to Christianity.
On April 7, 2006, a group of Christians from an Assemblies of God
church gathered in a home to fellowship and celebrate Lent. Radical
Hindus crashed the celebration, beat seven Christians, and forcefully
took them to the police station. Later, approximately forty church mem-
bers went to the police station to check on the Christians only to be met
by a mob. They were badly beaten by the mob while policemen stood by,
doing nothing to protect these innocent Christians.
Believers in India have little or no recourse to stop the tide of vio-
lence. We must pray for God’s divine intervention.
INDIA PAST AND PRESENT
The Indus Valley civilization is one of the oldest and richest in the
world. It dates back at least five thousand years and is credited with
creating many things, from the decimal system to cotton clothing. It is
believed that Aryan tribes from the northwest came into this area around
1500 B.C., and their merger with the Dravidian inhabitants created clas-
sical Indian culture. Arab, Turkish, and European invasions followed in
subsequent centuries. By the nineteenth century, Britain had assumed
political control of virtually all Indian lands, but nonviolent resistance
to British colonialism led by Mohandas Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru
brought independence in 1947.
After independence, the subcontinent was divided into the secular
state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. Despite impres-
sive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing
problems, such as a dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive over-
72
population, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic
and religious strife.
Christians associate India with the apostle St. Thomas, who is
thought to have brought the gospel to India, and with Mother Teresa, the
Nobel Prize-winning nun who devoted her life to working with the poor
in Calcutta. But Christians should also be aware of the persecution and
suffering of Christian believers in India. More than 82 percent of India’s
population is Hindu. Approximately 12.5 percent is Muslim, and only 2
to 3 percent is Christian. India is still employing a centuries-old “caste
system” by which the rights and standard of living of its citizens are
immutably determined at birth. India’s Christians, as well as its Muslims
and Sikhs, have historically rejected the concept of caste, but many are
converts from low-caste Hindu families and suffer severe social and
economic hardships.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies came to power
in India in 1998, they launched an extremist form of Hindu nationalism
designed to purge the country of religious minorities. The BJP succeeded
in portraying Christianity as a suspect foreign religion, passing legisla-
tion to effectively limit the rights and activities of Christians in some
Indian states, and rewriting the nation’s history books to mischaracterize
religious minorities.
In fact, under the BJP, government officials tried to make be-
ing Indian synonymous with being Hindu. The BJP advocated the
“Indianization” of Islam and Christianity and said that Catholics “should
sever their links with the Pope.” Upper-caste Hindu groups like the BJP
fear that Christians may try to convert large numbers of lower-caste
Hindus. Since such conversions would replace the caste system with the
understanding that all are created equal in the sight of God, the BJP is
motivated to oppress Christian work in the country.
73
Violent attacks against Christians dramatically increased after the
BJP’s ascension to power. Still little has been done to stop the violence
or to punish perpetrators. In scores of violent incidents that escalated in
the summer of 1998, priests and missionaries were murdered, nuns raped
and assaulted, churches bombed, and Christian converts and parishioners
intimidated and harassed.
With solid defeat of the BJP by the Congress party on May 22, 2004,
Christians had hoped that the freedom of religion set out in their consti-
tution would be a reality. To date, this freedom has not been realized by
India’s rapidly growing Christian community.
HOW TO PRAY FOR INDIA
Upright citizens bless a city and make it prosper,
but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.
(Proverbs 11:11)
• • Pray that Indian authorities act responsibly and fairly toward
the Indian Christian community. (1 Timothy 2:1–6)
• Pray for the solid defeat of anti-conversion laws.
(Psalm 140:8)
• Pray that the international community will voice deep concern
for Christian believers who have been imprisoned unjustly
and are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ.
(Proverbs 31:8–9)
•
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Pray for religious tolerance in India. Pray especially against
the work of Hindu and Muslim extremists who should be
labeled terrorists and handled by governmental authorities
accordingly. (Proverbs 11:21)
Pray for Christians who minister to the poor. (Galatians 2:10)
INDONESIA
Persecution Ranking: 41 st
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 245,452,739
CHRISTIANS: 16%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: Yes
While writing this book, I was dismayed to receive the report of three
Christian girls who were attacked while walking home from school in the
Indonesian province of Central Sulawesi. The girls, Theresia Morangke
(15), Alfita Poliwo (17), and Yarni Sambue (17), were walking through a
cocoa plantation after leaving their Christian school when six men with
machetes ambushed them and beheaded them as a “Ramadan trophy.” In
the last report I received, authorities had questioned some suspects, but
no one had been arrested for the atrocious crime.
Violence against Christians in Indonesia is virtually sanctioned,
and it has often occurred at the hands of the military. In October
1992, Indonesian soldiers shot Reverend Wenesobuk Nggwijangge. In
December 1994, a pastor was shot in the Freeport Mining area during
a Christmas church service. In 2003, two Christian pastors were shot
after being accused by Indonesian soldiers of membership in the West
Papuan armed resistance movement. The next year, over 15,000 West
Papuans from at least 147 villages fled to the mountains to escape violent
operations by the Indonesian military and their allied militias. Short of
food, fifteen of them died, mainly children. Also in 2004, the Indonesian
75
Special Forces killed a Christian pastor in Mulia. Later, Indonesian
troops in a helicopter fired on West Papuans who were gathering food in
a garden, killing two of them.
INDONESIA PAST AND PRESENT
Although Indonesia is extremely diverse ethnically, laying claim
to more than three hundred distinct ethnic groups, most Indonesians
are part of a larger Indo-Malaysian world encompassing present-day
Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, and other parts of insular and main-
land Asia. Composed of 17,500 islands, Indonesia is the world’s largest
archipelagic state.
When the Dutch came to Indonesia in the early seventeenth century,
they brought Christianity with them but kept it largely to themselves. But
throughout the 1800s, the evangelical movement in Europe mobilized
German and Dutch missionaries in Indonesia, and many ethnic groups
turned to Christ. In the end, Indonesia had the largest Christian com-
munity established in the midst of Islam.
But the churches had a weakness: they relied on foreign mission-
aries for finance, control, and organization. It took the rigors of World
War II to drive the church (as well as Indonesia itself) to independence.
Afterward, the Indonesian church trained its own pastors, developed its
own literature, and took a recognizable place in the nation’s affairs. After
the Japanese occupation (1942–1945), Indonesia attained its indepen-
dence, but it required four years of intermittent negotiations, recurring
hostilities, and UN mediation before the country was completely free
from foreign control.
Current issues facing the country include alleviating widespread
poverty; preventing terrorism; transitioning to popularly elected govern-
ments after four decades of authoritarianism; implementing reforms in
76
the banking sector; addressing charges of cronyism and corruption; hold-
ing the military and police accountable for human rights violations; and
resolving armed separatist movements in Aceh.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Churches in Indonesia face many problems in terms of government
registration. Local bylaws require approval from the surrounding com-
munity before a permit is granted to build a church or to hold church
services in an existing structure. Because officials rarely give permission
for a church building to be erected and don’t allow congregations to meet
in private venues, they deliberately prevent Christians from having any
opportunity to gather together to worship.
In a Muslim-majority area like West Java, as one might imagine,
permits for church construction are seldom granted. More than thirty
churches in West Java are still searching for approved worship facili-
ties after objections from Muslim neighbors forced them to shut down.
Two churches were forced to close after applying for permits to hold
Christmas services in private homes.
In 2004, local authorities ordered twelve churches in Rancaekek,
Bandung to close their doors. The order came after Muslim leaders
protested that the churches were meeting illegally. The congregations
had applied as early as 1993 for permits for church buildings but were
refused because officials claimed the land was reserved for a housing
development.
There are stories upon stories that involve discrimination, intimida-
tion, and violence against Christians in Indonesia. The need for prayer
and international attention is urgent.
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HOW TO PRAY FOR INDONESIA
I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from
darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they
may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are
sanctified by faith in me. (Acts 26:17–18 NIV)
• • Pray for a just and peaceful resolution to the conflict in West
Papua; pray that the people of that province will be free to
determine their own future. (Acts 17:26)
• Pray that those conducting terrorist attacks against Christians
in the Moluccas and Sulawesi will be captured and brought to
justice. (Psalm 35:1)
• Pray that terror of the Lord will fall on those who persecute
Christians and that the Angel of the Lord will protect
Christians. (2 Corinthians 5:11 NKJV)
• Pray that in West Java and throughout Indonesia churches will
obtain registration and be able to operate freely. (1 Kings 8:14)
• Pray that the Indonesian government and security forces will
act responsibly and fairly in protecting Indonesia's Christian
community. (1 Timothy 2:1–4)
•
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Pray that Islamic fundamentalism will weaken and that radical
Muslim organizations will be dismantled. (Acts 26:18)
Pray that the Lord will teach Christians how to fight in the
spiritual realm against the diabolical schemes of demonic
forces. (2 Corinthians 10:4–5)
IRAN
Persecution Ranking: 3 rd
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 68,688,433
CHRISTIANS: 0–2%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Shia Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: no
At the 2004 annual meeting of the Assemblies of God in Iran, police
entered the building and arrested all eighty-six participants. Seventy-six
were released later that day, and nine more were released in the three days
following. Only lay leader Hamid Pourmand remained in detention.
Why? Because Pourmand, a colonel in the Iranian army, was a con-
vert from Islam.
After five months in detention, mostly in solitary confinement,
Pourmand appeared in court. He was charged and convicted of deceiving
the Iranian army about his faith (though Pourmand had documents prov-
ing that his superiors knew about his conversion). He was sentenced to
three years in prison and dismissed from the army losing all benefits and
pension. His wife, Arlette, and two teenage sons, Immanuel and David,
were left with no recourse. At the end of the boys’ academic year, the
family was evicted from army housing.
In April 2005, Pourmand was formally charged in an Islamic court
with apostasy, which carries a death sentence. Pressed to recant his faith
in Christ, Pourmand refused. After two weeks of hearings, Pourmand
79
was transferred from Tehran to his hometown, where the trial was to
continue.
Then, in what has been regarded as an answer to both worldwide
prayer and increased media attention, Pourmand was acquitted. Two se-
nior government officials told the judge to drop the charges. Reportedly,
the judge told Pourmand, “I don’t know who you are, but apparently the
rest of the world does.”
At the time of this writing, Hamid remains in prison but has been
allowed to live.*
IRAN PAST AND PRESENT
Three terms are necessary to understand the history of Iran: Shah,
khan, and ayatohla. Shah is the Arabic term for “king.” For hundreds
of years, Shahs ruled Iran, which known as Persia until 1935. Khan is
the term for “warlord,” or military leader. Khans have been known to
overthrow a ruler and name themselves shah. Ayatollah literally means
“sign from God,” and denotes a learned Muslim cleric or leader. Iranians
live under the thumb of these rulers.
Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy
was overthrown and the shah was forced into exile. Conservative cleri-
cal forces established a theocratic system of government with political
authority vested in the ayatollah.
Iranian relations with the West have been strained since the Iranian
Revolution over two decades ago. Iran has been designated a state spon-
sor of terrorism for its activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the world
and remains subject to U.S. economic sanctions.
The majority of Christians in Iran are Armenians. Christian groups
include Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Pentecostal, and Presbyterian.
Traditional churches are typically free to conduct worship services in-
side their church buildings. These traditional Christians, who worship in
their own vernacular, continue to be a respected minority with little in-
terference from the Iranian authorities. However, the same is not true for
80
those who worship in the Farsi (or Persian) language nor for the growing
number of people born as Muslim who have chosen to follow Christ.
Iran has a population of almost 70 million. Ethnically, most citizens
are Persian, but there are also Arabs, Baluchs, Kurds, and Turkmen.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Pourmand’s case is the tip of a growing iceberg of persecution.
In 1989, Pastor Hussein Soodman was executed by hanging. In 1992,
Deacon Maher had a noose around his neck when he signaled to the
executors his willingness to deny his faith in Christ; he was released
after signing a paper to that effect. In December 1993, Pastor Mehdi
Dibaj was condemned to death but released three weeks later because of
strong international pressure; he was found murdered six months later,
a crime for which no one was prosecuted. In 1994, Revelations Haik
Hovsepian-Mehr was martyred. Pastor Mohammed Bajher Yusefi, affec-
tionately known by his flock as “Ravanbaksh” (literally, soul giver), of
the Assemblies of God was murdered on September 28, 1996.
Still, in recent years, the church in Iran has grown rapidly. Some sug-
gest that there have been more conversions in the past fifteen years than
in the previous fifteen hundred years. Many Christians believe that the
current hard-line Islamic political structure has alienated many Iranian
youth. This has created fertile soil for the gospel but is also prompting
the current wave of persecution of those who choose to follow Christ.
HOW TO PRAY FOR IRAN
But the Word of God cannot be chained. (2 Timothy 2:9)
•
Pray that Hamid Pourmand will be released and returned to
live with his family in safety and peace. Pray that God uses
him and those like him powerfully to advance the kingdom of
God. (Revelations 3:7)
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• Pray for the emergence of strong and mature Christian leaders
for all churches in Iran and that they will be used powerfully
of God to equip and mature the Church. (Ephesians 4:11–13)
• Pray that all who choose to follow Christ will know how to
live appropriately under the threat of persecution. Pray that
God will strengthen them. (Psalm 29:11)
• Pray that Christians will remain in the country and stand in
prayer for their country. (Jeremiah 42:10–11)
• Pray for a divine visitation of God to the people of this land.
(Psalm 85:9)
* Testimony submitted by Middle East Concern/3P Ministries, May 9, 2005.
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IRAQ
Persecution Ranking: 21 st
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 26,783,383
CHRISTIANS: 1–3%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Shia Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Jalal Talabani
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Perhaps the best way to learn about the daily threat of violence in
Iraq is to read your newspaper. Iraq has been a point of international
concern for decades, never more so than in recent years following the
removal of Saddam Hussein from power. Today, as a war against Islamic
terrorists struggles on throughout Iraq, the country’s people face vio-
lence on a daily basis.
The warfare is widespread, but some of it is focused on Christians.
On August 1, 2004, car bombs exploded outside one church in
Mosul and four churches in Baghdad during evening services. At least
eleven people were killed.
Weeks later, car bombs damaged five more churches in Baghdad
during the early hours of the morning.
On Tuesday, December 7, armed men entered two church buildings
in Mosul, forced everyone to leave, then placed and detonated explo-
sives. Both buildings were extensively damaged.
On Monday, December 20, similar attacks occurred on three church
properties in and around Mosul, including the Bishop’s house of the
83
Syrian-Orthodox Church at St. Mary Afram, the Syrian-Catholic church
in al-Bashara, and the Chaldean Bishop’s house.*
Since that horrific fall, Iraq has continued to see bloodshed. Christians
are hated or feared in many parts of the country, and the violence shows
no signs of waning.
IRAQ PAST AND PRESENT
Modern Iraq has been ruled by a series of military strongmen, the
latest of which was Saddam Hussein. Territorial disputes with Iran led
to an inconclusive and costly war during the 1980s. In August of 1990,
Iraq seized Kuwait but was expelled by United Nations coalition forces
during the Gulf War in early 1991.
Following Kuwait’s liberation, the UN Security Council required Iraq
to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to
allow UN verification inspections. Iraq did not comply with these resolu-
tions, and the United States invaded the country in March of 2003.
Today, Iraq is in major transition. The U.S.-led invasion of 2003
ended the Saddam Hussein regime, and on June 28, 2004, sovereignty
formally returned to an interim Iraqi government. Elections were held
on January 30, 2005, and a new government was installed that April.
Military forces from the United States and its allies remain in Iraq, help-
ing to restore a ruined infrastructure and facilitating the establishment of
a freely elected government. Simultaneously, military forces deal with a
robust insurgency. The 275-member Transitional National Assembly has
drafted a permanent constitution that has the potential to pave the way
for new national elections and a new era for Iraq.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Iraq is a diverse country. The population includes Arab Shi’ites,
Arab Sunnis, Kurdish Sunnis, Turkmen Muslims, and Armenian and
Assyrian Christians.
84
Iraq is home to a diverse traditional Christian community comprised
of Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant churches. Estimates of the sizes
of these communities vary considerably; the most commonly quoted
number is 400,000, or about 2 percent of the total population of nearly
27 million.
During 2004, the number of evangelical churches in Baghdad in-
creased from five to fifteen, though in the fall of that year several re-
moved Christian symbols from their buildings to reduce the chances of
attacks. Since Christians are a minority, they are seen as easy targets and
very unlikely to respond violently.
As a result of intimidation and attack, an estimated forty thousand
Christians have fled the country. Others have adopted Islamic dress
in order to blend in with the Muslim community. Some Christians in
Mosul have been subject to the Islamic practice of jizya, which is a tax
Christians pay for not serving in the army. In other words, fundamental
Muslims have demanded that Christians either fight in the insurgency or
make a financial contribution.
But amid the strife, violence, and fear, the church of Jesus Christ
is growing. In the Kurdish areas in the north, one emerging church has
been granted official recognition by local and regional authorities. Let’s
pray for more of the same.
HOW TO PRAY FOR IRAQ
When God saw what they did and how they turned from
their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon
them the destruction he had threatened. (Jonah 3:10 NIV)
• Praise God for the increase of the church in the midst of this
devastating war. Pray that the church multiplies exponentially.
(Acts 5:14)
• Pray for the Iraqi church to hear from the Lord regarding their
part in restoring Iraq. Pray that the church will be respected in
the land. (Acts 10:22)
85
• Pray that the new government of Iraq will be a true
representative government and will protect all minorities,
including Iraqi Christians. (Ezra 9:9)
• Pray for daily protection and strength for Christians as they
live with the threat of violence. (Hebrews 12:2–3)
• Pray that the diversity of the church will be a source
of creativity and strength, not division and weakness.
(1 Corinthians 12:4–7)
• Pray that the new Iraq will truly be a multi-racial and
multi-religious nation seeking the best for all of its citizens.
(1 Kings 5:12)
• Pray that the Iraqi Christians will discover the power of
praying the word of God and praying in unity.
(Deuteronomy 32:30a)
* This information was submitted by Middle East Concern/3P Ministries on May 12,
2005.
86
ISRAEL
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 6,352,117
CHRISTIANS: 1–2%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Judaism
POLITICAL LEADER:
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION:
n/a; provided by law
On a Thursday in early February 2005, Maghar, an Arab village in
the Galilee region of Israel, erupted in violence. For two days, the village
rioted. Eight people were injured, two with gunshot wounds. Seventy
homes and businesses were looted and burned. A church was damaged
by stones, and 155 cars were torched.
Maghar’s population consists of Christians and Druze. The riots
erupted after rumors spread that Christian youths had posted porno-
graphic pictures of Druze girls on the Internet. The rumors proved to
be false, and police arrested a 16-year-old Druze youth on suspicion of
starting the rumors. The status of his case is unknown.
If you follow the news, you know this is but one of hundreds of
stories about the ongoing threat of violence in Israel. Though not much
violence is directed at Christian believers, many of the people in Israel—
Arabs, Jews, and Christians alike—live under a specter of fear that a
bomb could explode in their midst at any time. Without a doubt, we need
to gather in prayer for all people living in this land.
87
ISRAEL PAST AND PRESENT
Israel has been the stage for some of the world’s most infamous reli-
gious conflicts. The major monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity,
and Islam, all claim Jerusalem as a holy place. Perhaps the world’s most
contested piece of real estate is the land occupied by the Dome of the
Rock in the Temple Mount area in Jerusalem, since all three faiths lay
claim to it for various reasons.
Though Islam is the historical latecomer to the fray, it has been a
forceful advocate for a Palestinian state in Israel. Some Muslims seek to
eradicate Christians and Jews from Israel. Thus, the country is home to
perhaps the single most important conflict in the volatile Middle Eastern
region and the razor-thin balance between peace and all-out war in the
Arab world is constantly threatened.
Following World War II, the British withdrew from Palestine. The
United Nations partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an ar-
rangement rejected by the Arabs. Though the Israelis defeated the Arabs
in a series of wars, the land has been in contention ever since. Since
2000, Palestinian-Israeli violence has been frequent and extreme. In
2002, U.S. President George W. Bush laid out a “road map” for resolv-
ing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that envisions a two-state solution.
However, progress toward a permanent agreement has been undermined
by ongoing violence.
Politically, Israel is a democracy with a directly elected parliament
using a proportional representation system. The government is a coali-
tion of several political and religious parties.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
The Christian church in Israel is diverse. There are fellowships wor-
shipping in Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, Amharic (the primary language
of Ethiopia), and English. Some use more than one language in their
services.
88
Israel allows freedom of religion, and generally this right is re-
spected. However, there have been attempts to introduce anti-missionary
legislation that would make it a criminal offense to induce a Jew to con-
vert to another religion. One such attempt in 2002 proposed a penalty of
one year in jail, or two years if the “target” were a minor. So far all such
attempts have failed to gain approval.
Traditional churches abound in Israel. While this Christian com-
munity features rich diversity, it has the unenviable task of maintaining
and functioning in a political, religious, and social context that has no
particular affinity for Christianity.
During 2004, a serious situation arose for Christian ministries be-
cause the government drastically changed their policy on renewal of A3
visas, which denote religious work. A pastor or priest must now have a
congregation of at least five hundred people in order to obtain a visa.
Religious visas are now for ordained people only, thereby excluding
professional and administrative staff and severely hampering the work
of many Christian organizations.
Because of this visa predicament, a series of meetings were held
between the United Christian Churches in Israel and the Ministry of the
Interior. The Catholic Church also lobbied hard in the United States and
elsewhere. These efforts resulted in promised improvements, including
more responsive handling of applications. Gradually, most difficulties
were resolved.
Some churches and Christian ministries are severely impacted by
the security barrier. One church is in a location on the other side of the
security barrier and is a distance away from most of its parish, making
attendance difficult. Another church had land confiscated.* One ministry
serving the disabled has seen its attendance drastically reduced because
many clients can no longer travel from their homes on one side of the
security barrier to the ministry’s premises on the other.
89
HOW TO PRAY FOR ISRAEL
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that
you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in
part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all
Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come from
Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is My
covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
(Romans 11:25–27 NIV)
• Pray for improvements in the relationships between traditional
churches and the Israeli government. (Ezra 6:14)
• Pray that Messianic Jewish believers will be accepted by
society and their government. (Acts 24:22–23)
• Pray for a full resolution of the visa situation and that
Christian ministries will be able to recruit and retain the staff
they require. (Luke 2:52)
• “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6). May
it become the city of peace that God intends it to be.
(Zechariah 1:16–17)
• Pray that multitudes of Israelis’ eyes will be opened to
understand that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God.
(Proverbs 3:5–6)
• Pray that “the full number of Gentiles” come into the saving
knowledge of Christ. (Romans 11:25)
* Testimony submitted by Middle East Concern/3P Ministries, May 9, 2005.
90
JAPAN
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 127,463,611
CHRISTIANS: <1%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Shintoism
POLITICAL LEADER:
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
The Japanese people have never been very receptive to the gospel.
However, Japan’s foremost homegrown missionary, Toyohiko Kagawa,
was instrumental in caring for the poor and needy during the early part of
the twentieth century. He chose Japan’s worst slums as his field of labor
and lived among those he sought to help. Today’s missionary workers in
Japan would do well to keep Kagawa’s legacy alive.
JAPAN PAST AND PRESENT
Although lacking in raw materials, Japan is a highly urbanized and
industrialized economic power supplying vast export markets. The coun-
try is extremely wealthy, ranking first among major industrial nations
in per capita gross national product. However, many of its people are
crowded into inadequate housing and lack such basic amenities as indoor
plumbing.
In the middle of the nineteenth century, Japan’s traditional political,
military, and economic systems were replaced by a new oligarchy of
strong regional leaders. Transportation and industry were modernized;
91
the military was reorganized and equipped with up-to-date weapons;
and, under the 1889 constitution, Japan took the first steps toward repre-
sentative government.
Japan was a regional power in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
controlling Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. But
when Japan attacked the United States during World War II, it triggered
U.S. entry into the conflict and was eventually defeated. The country has
sense recovered and regained its economic power. Japan has an emperor,
but it is known the world over as a nation of powerful businessmen.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
While Christians can practice their faith openly today, Japan has a
heritage of hostility toward the Christian faith. In 1614, Christianity was
outlawed in Japan. The penalty for following Christ was death. Thousands
of Japanese Christians were killed during this time. The Sengoku Period,
or warring-states period, was a long period of civil war, lasting from the
middle fifteenth to the early seventeenth century. From this era until the
end of World War II, the law banning Christianity remained in effect,
even though the constitution technically allowed freedom of religion.
Shinto is an indigenous religion of Japan and was the state religion
from the late nineteenth century to the end of World War II. After the
surrender of Japan in 1945, the country enacted freedom of religion and
stopped Christian persecution. Freedom of religion has been part of the
constitution of Japan ever since.
HOW TO PRAY FOR JAPAN
Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands,
to what their fingers have made. (Isaiah 2:8 NIV)
•
92
Pray that the leadership of Japan will make wise national
decisions and be receptive to the gospel. (Proverbs 21:1)
• Pray that Japanese young people find Christ amid a
cultural climate that places high value on worldly success.
(Philippians 3:7–8)
• Pray that God uses the strength of the Japanese family and
their sense of honor to be great examples of godly living in the
world. (Ephesians 6:2)
93
JORDAN
Persecution Ranking: 40th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 5,906,760
CHRISTIANS: 2–4%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER: King Abdallah II
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Women in Jordan live under intense scrutiny, social pressure, and
the constant threat of violence. Consider Siham Qandah, a Christian
who was widowed in 1994 when her husband died while serving in the
Jordanian army. Upon applying for her widow’s benefit, Siham was pre-
sented with a certificate alleging that her late husband had converted
to Islam three years earlier. The certificate was signed by two Muslim
witnesses but not by her husband. Under the law, as a Christian, Siham
was not entitled to inherit from a Muslim.
Because Siham’s two children were minors with a Muslim father,
they were now legally Muslim and could receive the inheritance if they
had a Muslim guardian. Siham approached one of her brothers who had
converted to Islam, and he was appointed guardian.
Three years later, Siham’s brother sought custody of the children
on the grounds that they were legally Muslims but being raised as
Christians—the family attended a local Baptist church. After several
years, the court ruled in the brother’s favor and ordered Siham to hand
the children over. The Jordanian Supreme Court affirmed the decision in
February 2002.
94
Thanks to prayer, the international media exposed the injustice of
the case, and Jordanian authorities refrained from enforcing the deci-
sion. Indeed, Jordan officials and a member of the Jordanian royal family
personally assured Siham that she would retain custody of her children.
But due to the lack of rights for women and Christians in Jordan, the
story does not end there. In January 2003, the brother asked the court to
imprison Siham until the children were handed over. The court agreed,
but thankfully an appeal kept her out of jail. Two months later, an inves-
tigation was launched into the brother’s handling of the children’s trust
funds. After two more years of court cases, decisions, and appeals, a
court disqualified the brother as the children’s guardian. The brother ap-
pealed directly to an appellate court judge, and his appeal was accepted.
At the time of this writing, a further series of hearings is expected.*
Together with other Jordanian Christians, we need to pray for a court
decision that allows Siham to bring up Rawan and Fadi as Christians.
Pray that God intervenes on behalf of Christians and that persecution
ceases against other Christians and women in Jordan.
JORDAN PAST AND PRESENT
After the Ottoman Empire collapsed during World War I, Britain
took control of Palestine and created the state of Transjordan. In 1948,
Israeli Arabs and Jews went to war with one another. While everyone was
distracted, Transjordan took over the West Bank and part of Jerusalem,
then renamed itself Jordan.
In 1953, King Hussein took the throne and Jordan entered a boom
period with a rise in tourism and plenty of aid flowing from the United
States. The Six-Day War of 1967 abruptly ended Jordan’s burgeoning
tourist industry when Israel retook the West Bank and half of Jerusalem.
In a mere six days, Jordan lost much of its economic engine and agricul-
tural land. Later, thousands of Palestinian refugees streamed into Jordan
from the West Bank.
In 1994, Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty, agreeing to drop
economic barriers and cooperate on security and water. In recent years,
95
Jordan has restored relations with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and begun
moving toward democracy. Unfortunately, the Islamic Action Front has
been the most successful party.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
The church in Jordan dates to the time of the apostles. Today’s
officially recognized denominations include the Armenian Orthodox,
Assyrian, Baptist, Episcopal, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Maronite,
Greek Catholic, and Roman Catholic. Some churches are registered as
societies rather than churches. This distinction is crucial—a recognized
church can conduct marriages and establish a court system to handle
family law matters such as inheritance, but a society cannot self-govern
in this way.
Christians in Jordan suffer discrimination in education and job
placement. Additionally, not long ago a Christian convert in Jordan was
formally convicted of apostasy from Islam.
Arab Christians conduct ministry among refugees. Iraqi Christians
in parts of Jordan are said to be active in social care, evangelism, and
discipleship. But some Iraqis who convert to Christianity face serious
threats from their families. Visiting expatriate Christians have faced
lengthy questioning at the Amman airport and, in at least one known
case, have been refused entry. Jordanian Christians working abroad have
also been questioned when returning to the country.
A March 2004 United Nations study found that 42 percent of
Jordanian women suffer violence in the home. Women who convert to
Christianity face serious risks should their family learn of their conver-
sion. Such stories are unlikely to emerge into the public spotlight due
to a social focus on familial “honor.” King Abdallah has attempted to
introduce tough sentences for men convicted of murdering female rela-
tives, a practice commonly known as “honor killing.” His efforts have
been resisted by parliament. In 2004, a man shot and killed his sister in
the street because he thought she was having an affair. He said that he
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shot her even though he knew he could be subject to life imprisonment.
Afterward, he simply sat down and waited for the police to arrive and
arrest him. In court, he claimed he was provoked and was sentenced to
only six months in jail.
HOW TO PRAY FOR JORDAN
Then you will know that I am the LORD. Those who trust in me will
never be put to shame. (Isaiah 49:23)
• Pray for efforts to address violence against women, including
honor killing. (Psalm 31:15)
• Pray for the unity of the churches in Jordan. Also pray that
Christians will mature as followers of Christ. (Hebrews 6:1–3)
• Pray that God gives them creative ways to evangelize their
country. (1 Corinthians 2:16)
• Pray for effective ministry among the Iraqi refugee
community. (Isaiah 11:11)
• Pray that the Lord uses the church in effecting transformation
in Jordan. (Colossians 2:2–3)
• Pray that radical Islam will not flourish. (Psalm 140:8)
• Pray for effective discipleship and opportunities for Christians
to share their faith. Pray that God shows extraordinary favor
to the Christian community and that non-Christians know that
the Lord is working on their behalf. (1 Corinthians 14:24–25)
* Testimony submitted by Middle East Concern/3P Ministries, May 12, 2005.
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KAZAKHSTAN
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 15,233,244
CHRISTIANS: 24–25%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Nursultan Nazarbayev
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Not long ago, teachers in a school north of Kazakhstan’s capital,
Astana, were said to be placing pressure on children not to attend prayer
meetings. The teachers reportedly told the kids that Christian prayer can
cause death.
Why would they say this? Some children at this school were
known to be attending meetings with their parents. In time, those chil-
dren were kept after school for “educational talks” and were told that
prayer would turn them into shahids (a term denoting suicide bombers)
and zombies.
The head of the regional Education Department confirmed that she
ordered “educational work” with children who attend prayer meetings
and that the Education Ministry endorses such policies. Believers in
Kazakhstan link these ongoing actions with current parliamentary moves
to restrict more seriously the religious freedom of all faiths.*
98
KAZAKHSTAN PAST AND PRESENT
Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. In the decades to
come, Soviet citizens cultivated the country’s northern region bringing
scores of Russian immigrants to the area. For a time, non-Kazakhs out-
numbered nationals. But after the breakup of the U.S.S.R., many non-
Kazakhs left the country.
Kazakhstan faces several pressing issues today, including the
development of a national identity, the expansion of markets, and the
strengthening of relations with neighboring countries and other foreign
powers. Such issues present new opportunities for Western and Christian
influences to have a positive influence in the region.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 ushered in a time of great
religious openness and activity in Kazakhstan. Following independence,
religious freedom was a reality, and churches in the nation quickly grew.
However, that freedom is eroding. In January 2002, the parliament
passed a new restrictive law on religion in the face of disputes from
human rights groups. If enacted in its present form, the law permits the
government to ban unregistered religious groups, and new registrations
will be extremely difficult—groups will need at least fifty members (in-
creased from ten), and meetings will be more closely controlled. It will
also be easier for the state to eliminate religious groups they regard as
undesirable.
As you have noted by now, these kinds of restrictions regarding
religious group registration are common among former Soviet Bloc
countries. The mind sets of leaders influenced by communism are not
easily changed, and throughout the region, rapid religious growth is seen
as a threat to national security. The attacks against the United States on
September 11, 2001, solidified worldwide fears about religion and have
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unfortunately resulted in a curtailing of religious freedom in places like
Kazakhstan.
HOW TO PRAY FOR KAZAKHSTAN
All of us have, like sheep, strayed away. We have left God’s paths to
follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.
(Isaiah 53:6)
• Pray that authorities cease harassment of unregistered church
groups. (2 Samuel 22:19)
• Pray that believers facing difficulty will have grace, wisdom,
and endurance. (1 Peter 5:10)
• Pray that the current curtailing of religious freedom in the
nation will be overcome as the church continues to pray and
grow. (Revelations 3:7–8)
• Pray that the Church will rise up in its spiritual authority and
be a part of bringing God’s desired transformation into their
land. (Matthew 28:18–20)
• Pray that believers will rise up in their spiritual authority and
thwart every diabolical scheme that the devil has planned for
their country. (2 Corinthians 10:4–5)
* 2005 Forum 18 News Service report. Available from www.forum18.org.
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KUWAIT
Persecution Ranking: 39 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 2,418,393
CHRISTIANS: 8% (mostly expatriates)
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADERS: Prime Minister Nasir
al-Muhammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Stories of hope rise even from the ashes of persecution. Why?
Because the gospel’s power trumps prejudice and hatred.
Not long ago, a Kuwaiti Muslim named Ahmed chose to follow
Christ. He shared his newfound faith with his wife and tried to convince
her to accept Christ. She remained committed to Islam and was deeply
ashamed of Ahmed’s faith. After some time, Ahmed’s wife approached
his father to inform him of Ahmed’s conversion. Furious, Ahmed’s father
threatened to throw him out of the family until Ahmed agreed to sit down
and talk with an imam from a neighboring country.
The imam came and spent twelve hours discussing faith and religion
with Ahmed. When they were finished, the imam approached Ahmed’s
father and, amazingly, completely vindicated the son. “He is more reli-
gious than I am,” the imam declared, and said Ahmed should be left to
believe as he chose.*
KUWAIT PAST AND PRESENT
Kuwait has long been plagued by feuds. Infighting is common due to
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religious differences that mark the major sects of Islam (Shia and Sunni)
as well as disputes over Muslim legal procedures.
Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on August 2, 1990.
Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a United Nations coali-
tion began a ground assault on February 23, 1991, that liberated Kuwait
in four days. Since then, Kuwait has spent more than $5 billion to repair
oil infrastructure damaged during the Iraqi occupation.
Politically, the emir rules the country; he appoints the prime minis-
ter and usually chooses the crown prince. Kuwait has an elected national
assembly, but the assembly has advisory powers only.
Because of its oil exports, Kuwait remains a prosperous country.
While there is no true tourism, in 2004 Kuwait altered its stringent
requirements on advanced visas for citizens of Australia, Canada, the
European Union, and the United States. This development indicates that
there may be greater openness to the rest of the world in the future.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Kuwait’s constitution grants freedom of religion but names Islam as
the official religion. Sharia law is the main source of legislation, and in
practice, restrictions on religious freedom are imposed.
Approximately two-thirds of Kuwaiti nationals are Sunni Muslims;
the rest are Shi’ite, except for a very small number of Christians. The
Christians are descendents of believers from Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria
who moved to Kuwait prior to the establishment of the modern nation.
Roughly 1.7 million of Kuwait’s 2.7 million residents are expatriate
migrant workers. Many are Christians who are unskilled laborers and
live and work in poor conditions.
Only four Christian groups—Roman Catholic, Coptic Orthodox,
Anglican, and National Evangelical—are allowed to operate compounds
officially designated as churches. In addition, the Melkite Church
is allowed to rent a large house for worship services. The National
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Evangelical Church has fifty-four congregations worshiping in twenty
different languages, including Nepalese and Chinese. Friday is the main
worship day—services start at 7:00 A.M. and continue until midnight!
The government restricts the number of ordained and lay staff that
recognized Christian groups can have in the country. Their allotted
compounds are not adequate for their needs, and requests for permission
to buy additional land and enlarge facilities are ignored. The resulting
limitations on space can lead to tensions among different congregations
over the use of meeting rooms.
HOW TO PRAY FOR KUWAIT
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my
rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that
saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the
one who saves me from violence. (2 Samuel 22:2–4)
• Pray against the harassment of those who follow Christ, even
harassment from within their own families. (Matthew 10:35–37)
• Pray for unity and patience among different congregations
using overstretched facilities. (Isaiah 54:2–3)
• Pray for the authorities to grant visas for more expatriate
pastors and lay church staff. (2 Chronicles 6:32–34)
• Pray that approval will be granted for extensions of Christian
compounds. (Isaiah 54:2)
• Pray for effective leadership and teaching for all language
groups. (Revelations 10:11)
• Pray that Christians will recognize the spiritual authority that
God has given them to drive out evil in their land.
(Matthew 10:1)
* Testimony submitted by Middle East Concern/3P Ministries, May 12, 2005.
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KYRGYZSTAN
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 5,213,898
CHRISTIANS: 7–8%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Kurmanbek Bakiyev
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
In June 2003, three churches belonging to the Pentecostal Church of
Jesus Christ reported having trouble with local authorities. Congregations
in Karakol and Osh were ordered to close because neither was registered
with the government. Both had attempted to register in the past but were
denied for supposedly not completing the paperwork properly. Another
church was told it failed to meet building standards; authorities threat-
ened to turn off the electricity and water.
If all this sounds fishy, it is. Vasili Kuzin, the pastor of one of the
churches, maintains that these actions are part of a campaign against the
Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ, which has been experiencing notable
growth throughout Kyrgyzstan.*
KYRGYZSTAN PAST AND PRESENT
Kyrgyzstan gained independence after the Soviet Union broke apart
in 1991. Like other countries in the region, it is learning to expand de-
mocracy and private enterprise. Unfortunately, also like its neighbors, it
is experiencing corruption and could be a home for terrorist groups. In
104
2005, citizens called for the ouster of President Askar Akayev and soon
voted in the former Prime Minister, Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
While the constitution of Kyrgyzstan guarantees religious freedom,
converting to Christianity is discouraged and can cause upheaval in
some communities. Our office has read reports of people being beaten
and turned out of their villages after converting from Islam. In 2001, a
crowd of several hundred people in the Jalal-Abad region tried to set up a
kangaroo court to judge some Muslims who had adopted Christianity.**
A member church of the Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ denomi-
nation recently faced a tax demand of more than $100,000 (U.S.), even
though religious groups are tax-exempt. Authorities threatened to seize
the church building if the tax was not paid.
As a last resort, the church’s members wrote an open letter to then-
President Askar Akayev vowing to seek asylum if the government’s
pressure was not lifted. The letter showed that the government’s ac-
tion violated Kyrgyzstan’s constitution and the nation’s religious laws.
Pressure abated. As mentioned earlier, President Akayev soon fled the
country in response to widespread protests against his office.
HOW TO PRAY FOR KYRGYZSTAN
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
(John 8:32)
• Pray that churches will be respected under the rule of law and
no longer subject to harassment. (Proverbs 16:7)
• Pray for church leaders to effectively disciple young believers
in the rapidly growing church. (2 Timothy 2:22)
105
• Pray for peace between Christians and other religious groups
throughout the region. (Acts 2:47)
• Pray that Christians will be refreshed and strengthened during
times of trials. (Philippians 1:7)
• Pray that the Church cries out for God to bring transformation
in their country. (John 8:32)
* 2003 Forum 18 News Service. Available from www.forum18.org
** 2005 Forum 18 News Service. Available from www.forum18.org.
106
LAOS
Persecution Ranking: 9 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 6,368,481
CHRISTIANS: 2%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Buddhism
POLITICAL LEADER:
Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Laos’ national motto is “Peace, Independence, Democracy, Unity,
and Socialism.” The reality of this statement for Laos’ estimated 100,000
Christians is something very different.
On February 19, 2004, Christians living in the Donthapad village
in southern Laos were told by a government official, “If you [will] not
give up your Christian faith, leave the village; if you do not, you will be
punished by death.”
A ministry partner of ours received the following plea for help
from one of the villagers: “The officials’ purpose is to totally eradicate
Christianity. They are threatening to destroy our homes and to burn our
homes. We are not able to travel anywhere. We are kept in . . . confine-
ment. They keep watch on us.”*
During this time, a Christian named Mr. Bounsouk became a target
for attack and was nearly run over by an official on a motorbike. He
had his land confiscated along with his pigs, which were his livelihood.
He was also fined, as were other believers, for continuing to hold the
107
Christian faith. They were told that if they did not pay the fine quickly the
village chief would take over their properties and burn their homes.**
Clearly, Christians in Laos have no peace, independence, or democ-
racy, nor are they valued by the government. Our brothers and sisters in
Laos need our strategic support in prayer and deed. They need a helping
hand, and they need it today.
LAOS PAST AND PRESENT
An ancient country believed to be one of the first multiethnic societ-
ies, Laos was under the control of Siam (Thailand) from the late eigh-
teenth century until the late nineteenth century. In 1975, the communists
took control of the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy. In
the coming decades, ties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with
a gradual return to private enterprise, the liberalization of foreign invest-
ment laws, and, in 1997, admission into the Association of South East
Asian Countries.
The constitution, which was ratified in 1991, guarantees the “right
and freedom to believe or not believe in religions.” It also states that the
government will “respect and protect all lawful activities of Buddhists
and other religious followers.” In 2002, the Prime Minister’s office issued
Decree 92, which established guidelines for religious activities. While it
stated that the government “respects and protects legitimate activities of
believers,” it also noted that these practices must be in line with the law
and government regulations, effectively allowing the government to im-
pose whatever restrictions it sees fit. The government has subsequently
labeled Christianity the number one enemy of the state and declared its
intent to eliminate the Christian faith’s threat to national unity.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
As one might imagine, the birth of the church in Laos has been slow
and difficult. People of the ethnic lowland Lao had no interest in the
108
gospel when a Presbyterian missionary preached there in 1885. But an
ethnic group called the Khmu, who were slaves of the Lao, responded,
and the Khmu church now numbers around twenty thousand. The Hmong
ethnic group, which fought with the Americans in the Vietnam War, has
also responded in significant numbers to the gospel. Unfortunately, this
has fueled the perception that Christianity is a Western religion foreign
to Lao national identity.
Since 1998, Christians have faced a particularly harsh wave of
persecution. Village by village, campaigns have been launched to force
Christians to renounce their faith. Some have been pressured to sign
forms promising to stop “praying, singing, reading the Bible, praying
for the sick, praying before meals and changing to Christian names.”
Other Christians have been forced to take part in blood-drinking animist
rituals. Numerous believers have been arrested and imprisoned for short
periods and coerced to renounce their faith.
HOW TO PRAY FOR LAOS
And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God,
and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of
the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before
you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”
(Revelations 15:3–4)
• Pray for the church in Laos to be strong and bold in facing
persecution. (Revelations 2:9–10)
• Pray that the international community turns neither a blind eye
to this travesty nor a deaf ear to the cries of Laos’ Christians.
Pray that international efforts will be effective in securing
protection for Laos’ Christians. (Isaiah 42:6–7)
• Pray for wisdom for church leaders in both pastoring churches
and fulfilling the Great Commission. (1 Peter 5:2)
109
• Pray that Christianity will not simply be seen as a foreign or
Western religion but that the Laotians will be open to hearing
the Gospel message and will receive Christ as their personal
Savior and Lord. (Romans 1:19–20). (Romans 1:19–20)
• Pray that believers will be inspired to write worship music in
their own language and dialects. (Psalm 98:1)
• Pray that believers will be strong in the Lord and in the power
of His might flowing through them. (Colossians 1:27)
* Testimony submitted by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, March 10, 2004.
** Testimony submitted by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, May 23, 2005.
110
LEBANON
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 3,874,050
CHRISTIANS: 23–30%
DOMINANT RELIGIONS:
Sunni & Shia Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
Prime Minister Fuad Siniora
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Jamil al-Refaei converted to Christianity in 1997 and was soon
forced to leave his home country of Jordan. He went to the religiously
free country of Lebanon to attend Bible College in Beirut and serve in
Christian organizations.
Six years later, Jamil was living in the city of Tripoli in northern
Lebanon. He lived next door to a Dutch missionary family and their three
children. One night in early May, the missionary’s wife heard someone
walking in their garden. She alerted her husband, who looked out the
window to see a man squatting down with a flaring object in his hands.
The husband called for Jamil, who ran over and helped locate the bomb
and smother its fuse.
The husband walked toward the front of the house to see if he could
find signs of the intruder. Moments later, the bomb exploded, damag-
ing the kitchen and shattering the windows of neighboring houses. As
the husband phoned the police, he remembered that Jamil had remained
behind and was certainly killed by the blast.
And then he realized who planted the bomb. Earlier that day, a man
visited the family claiming to be interested in Christ.*
111
Lebanon is open to the gospel, but it is not without the threat of
persecution. Jamil’s death marked the second attack against missionaries
in just six months.
LEBANON PAST AND PRESENT
Before a civil war ravished the country in 1975, Lebanon enjoyed
a flourishing economy. Tourism, commerce, and other service sectors
were all booming. Beirut’s banks held large amounts of foreign capital.
Lebanon’s wealth, however, was inequitably distributed, much of it con-
centrated in the hands of a small (predominantly Christian) elite. In the
opinion of some observers, this mal-distribution of wealth contributed
significantly to the outbreak of civil strife and the subsequent devastation
of the economy.
In the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, the country’s economy
suffered because of ongoing political and cultural conflict in the region.
The government, although not bankrupt, was unable to collect sufficient
revenue to maintain services. Rampant inflation spawned a large-scale
black market, industry was declining, and the once-thriving tourism sector
was dead. Banks were still functioning but at greatly diminished levels.
Agricultural production, although reduced, continued in areas unaffected
by the violence; in some cases, food crops were replaced by hashish and
opium. Reconstruction efforts were thwarted by constant civil and politi-
cal unrest.
Today, Lebanon is striving to return to political and economic health.
And in spite of tragic stories like Jamil’s death, the region enjoys relative
religious calm. Lebanon is religiously open, so we can pray for the good
news of Christ to take firm root in the country.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Lebanon has a diverse mix of peoples. There are eighteen officially
recognized religious groups. The ethnic and religious balance of the
112
population is a sensitive issue, and no official census has been conducted
since 1931. The Christian community is estimated at between 23 percent
and 30 percent of the population.
In March 2003, the Lebanese government changed the rules concern-
ing visas for religious workers and students of religion. These changes
had a profound effect on expatriate Christians. More than twenty were
forced to leave the country. Others were able to stay but had to move to
areas where most of the population is Christian.
The Bible colleges located in greater Beirut were also affected by
shifts in policy. Traditionally, these colleges have trained Christians from
Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, and elsewhere. The changed visa requirement
necessitated finding new ways to offer training; some Bible colleges
have begun using distance-learning methods. There is also an extensive
Christian secondary school network across Lebanon, which is widely
respected. These schools have enjoyed success in obtaining visas for the
expatriate staff they require.
HOW TO PRAY FOR LEBANON
In a very short time, will not Lebanon be turned into a fertile field
and the fertile field seem like a forest? (Isaiah 29:17 NIV)
• Pray that Christian schools continue to maintain their
reputation of excellence and use the favor they have for the
glory of God. (Daniel 1:17)
• Pray that the Lord will protect those who follow Christ from
persecution and hostility. (Psalm 140:1–2)
• Pray that the Lord will give expatriate Christians favor with
the Lebanese government and that they will have their visas
renewed. (Isaiah 57:10)
• Pray that God will visit Lebanon with dreams and visions to
give a revelation of Jesus Christ and pray that they will follow
Him. (Genesis 28:12)
113
•
Pray that the Lord will place the wealth of Lebanon in the
hands of those who will use it to rebuild the country and
advance the kingdom of God. (Isaiah 45:3)
* Testimony submitted by Middle East Concern/3P Ministries, May 13, 2005.
114
LIBYA
Persecution Ranking: 26 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 5,900,754
CHRISTIANS: 2–3% (expatriates)
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER: Colonel Muammar Abu
Minyar al-Qadhafi
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION:
N/A, provided by law
When Fouad visited a country neighboring his home in Libya, he
had no idea the visit would change his life. During his trip, he attended a
church, heard the gospel, and decided to follow Christ. After his friends
and family members learned of Fouad’s newfound faith, he was reported
to the Libyan authorities. Fearing for his life, he applied to the United
Nations for refugee status. For two years, while his application was un-
der review, Fouad could not return home.
But authorities in Libya were intent on tracking him down. The Libyan
embassy made inquiries regarding his whereabouts, and the local imam
was asked to name Fouad during prayers each Friday. Discreet Christian
prayer networks were set up to pray for Fouad, and thankfully, his location
was never known. In 2004, Fouad was granted permission to emigrate to
the West, where he has begun a new life. One day, Fouad plans to return to
the hostile region to share Christ with his fellow Arabs.
LIBYA PAST AND PRESENT
During the early centuries of Christianity, the church was very strong
115
in Libya. Like many places in this part of the world, however, Libya
sustained large losses to its Christian population following the arrival
of Islam in the seventh and eighth centuries. Today, there are very few
indigenous Christians, but two major cities have Catholic, Orthodox, and
Protestant expatriate churches, including Arab pastors leading worship
services for several thousand Arab Christians.
In the last two generations, Libyans have seen their country gain
national independence, discover petroleum riches, and undergo a revolu-
tion that brought to power one of the world’s most controversial leaders,
Muammar al-Qadhafi. Since 1969, Qadhafi has attempted to create a dis-
tinct Libyan state with new political structures and a determined effort at
diversified economic development.
For many years, Libya was isolated by international sanctions fol-
lowing its involvement in major international terrorist incidents, includ-
ing the bombing of two airliners. Recently Libya has tried to improve
its international image by paying compensation to the airline victims’
families. Libya has renounced weapons of mass destruction and opened
itself to international inspectors. It is trying to attract international busi-
ness in order to spur economic growth and create jobs for its rapidly
growing population.
The population is overwhelmingly moderate Sunni Islam, and mili-
tant Islam is not tolerated.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Libya’s government maintains an extensive internal security ap-
paratus that includes police and military units, multiple intelligence
services, and local “purification” committees. The law imposes a limit
of one church per denomination per city, but this restriction has not been
enforced. In the two northern regions, churches can be legally registered
and the pastors can obtain religious visas. In the southern region, pastors
must have a non-religious job in order to obtain a work permit.
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For the most part, expatriate pastors are tolerated by government
officials. However, some pastors from the developing world have been
mistreated in the past. There is a minister from West Africa who has
been detained more than once, and the police have informed him that his
activities are being watched very closely.*
HOW TO PRAY FOR LIBYA
BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye
will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the
earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
(Revelations 1:7 NASB)
• Pray for acceptance for those who choose Christ so that they
will not be forced to leave like Fouad. (Acts 2:47)
• Pray for expatriate Christians within the country and
particularly for those leading churches. (Acts 14:23)
• Pray for more expatriate Christians, both Arab and non-Arab,
to enter the country through business, trade, and education.
(Revelations 3:8)
• Pray that Libya’s marketing campaign to attract international
business and trade with the global community will lead
to greater acceptance and better treatment of Christians.
(Proverbs 18:15–16)
• Pray for Libyans considering giving their lives to Christ—that
they will have the courage to do so. (Joshua 1:9)
• Pray for Libyan Christians to be used by God to preach the
gospel to their countrymen. (Acts 11:20–21)
• Pray that Colonel Al-Qadhafi gives his life to Christ and that
he will be used by God to lead others to Christ.
(1 Timothy 2:1–4)
* Testimony submitted by Middle East Concern/3P Ministries, May 13, 2005.
117
MALAYSIA
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 24,385,858
CHRISTIANS: 9%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
Prime Minister Abdullah bin Ahmad
Badawi
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Although there is severe persecution of Christians in countries
surrounding Malaysia, believers there mostly live in peace in the
midst of their Muslim countrymen. This unusual freedom can make
Christians oblivious to the strong Islamic agenda being carried out
around them. But I believe that God has cocooned them in a super-
natural way and has placed them in this strategic place for a time such
as this.
One Malay woman was a Muslim and student of the Koran since
primary school. She later became qualified as an Islamic religious teach-
er. After some time, she married a Catholic man. Her husband began to
attend a Christian church. Later, both of them yearned for God in their
lives and decided to follow Christ.
A year after she and her husband became Christians, the Lord blessed
them with a baby. After they registered the birth certificate, they received
a visit late one night from the Jajbatan Agama (Religious Department)
questioning why the woman had converted to Christianity.
118
That night, the woman shared from the Koran how Isa (Jesus) would
return to the earth as Judge, deciding the eternal destinies of all human-
kind. She reminded the religious department visitors that Muhammad
was only a messenger who will be judged and is at the mercy of God. She
explained to them that her salvation was her responsibility and convinced
them she was responsible for her life when she stands before God. After
hearing her explanation about her conversion from Islam to Christianity,
the representatives left her house.
Religious freedom exists in Malaysia, but it is in limbo.
MALAYSIA PAST AND PRESENT
The region that is now Malaysia was home to British colonies
during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Formed as a fed-
eration in 1948, the area achieved independence in 1957. Malaysia
was formed six years later when joined with Singapore, Sabah, and
Sarawak.
Malaysia has been familiar with Christianity for some time because
of Portuguese and British missionaries and, more recently, an influx of
Pentecostal missions. But West Malaysians, who are largely Chinese and
Indian, regard Christianity with suspicion.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Christianity is seen as a foreign religion. Since World War II, the
Malaysian church has sought to foster a greater sense of Malaysian
Christian identity by reducing the influence of non-Malaysian leaders
and creating the Council of Churches of Malaysia and the National
Evangelical Christian Fellowship.
Once it gained independence, Malaysia adopted a constitution that
called Islam the nation’s official religion but stated that other religions
may be “practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the federation.”
119
However, the constitution also allows each state to restrict religious doc-
trine among persons professing the religion of Islam.
In recent years, this confusion over the freedom of non-Islamic
religions has been reflected in the differing policies of the federal and
state governments. And the Islamic Religious Department is strict
toward any Malays who seek to convert or have converted from Islam
to another religion.
Prime Minister Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi, who is in favor of a
moderate and progressive Islam, has emphasized that religious freedom
is enshrined in the constitution. Islam Hadhari, the form of the faith that
the Prime Minister practices, may seem moderate and economically pro-
gressive, but it is still not tolerant toward conversions among Malays.
In summary, whatever form of Islam is practiced, there is no religious
freedom for Muslims in Malaysia.
HOW TO PRAY FOR MALAYSIA
This is what I told them: “Obey me, and I will be your God, and
you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!”
(Jeremiah 7:23)
• • Pray for continued safety of Christians. Pray that the influence
of violent Islamist groups operating in neighboring countries
will not spread to Malaysia. (2 Timothy 2:24–26)
• Pray that Christians will be used to bring transformation to
Malaysia and surrounding countries. (Romans 16:25–26)
•
120
Pray for Malaysia’s government officials, especially Prime
Minister Badawi, to have the courage to resist Islamization
and uphold the constitutional rights of all citizens.
(2 Chronicles 32:7)
Pray that there will be a suitable Malay Bible translated and
that other Christian literature will be translated into Malay.
Pray that Christians will be students of the Word and mature in
their walk with God. (2 Timothy 2:15)
•
Pray that the younger Malay generation will seek God beyond
Islam. Pray that they will have a power encounter with the
One True God. (Deuteronomy 4:29)
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THE MALDIVES
Persecution Ranking: 5 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 359,008
CHRISTIANS: <1%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: no
For the thousands of tourists who visit each year, the Maldives con-
jures up images of a tropical paradise—white sandy beaches and crystal
clear blue waters. The reality for Christians living on these islands is
very different.
On June 18, 1998, the Maldivian government authorized its National
Security Service to conduct unannounced searches of foreign workers’
homes. They confiscated passports, Christian books, private correspon-
dence, photos, computers, and other personal possessions. Within a
week and a half, at least nineteen foreign Christians from six Western
nations were expelled for life from the Maldives. There were no official
charges, their possessions were not returned, and diplomatic inquiries
by embassies were ignored. During the same operation, as many as fifty
Maldivian Christians were arrested and subjected to interrogation and
imprisonment.*
The Maldives might be a tropical paradise for its beachcombing
visitors, but for Christians it’s a repressive and threatening regime.
122
MALDIVES PAST AND PRESENT
Maldives is an isolated nation and is among the smallest and poorest
countries in the world. Historically, Maldives has had strategic importance
because of its location on the major marine routes of the Indian Ocean.
Maldivians consider the introduction of Islam in A.D. 1153 to be the
cornerstone of their country’s history. Legend has it that Islam came to the
islands with the visit of an Islamic scholar, Abu Al Barakat. At that time,
the islanders lived in fear of a sea demon. To appease the demon, every
month a young virgin was sacrificed. Barakat, seeing this practice, offered
himself to be sacrificed. On the night of the ritual, he was taken to the
temple. When morning came, to the amazement of the islanders, instead
of finding a dead body they found Barakat sitting and reciting the Koran.
The king was so impressed at this apparent demonstration of power over
the sea demon that he ordered all his subjects to follow Islam.
Whether this story is legendary or not, the reality is that today the
Maldives is nearly 100 percent Islamic.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
The 1997 constitution designates Islam as the official state religion.
The law forbids the practice of any other religion. The president, min-
isters, judges, chiefs, and even ordinary voters must be Muslim. Sharia
is observed and moderates personal law, such as divorce, adultery, and
inheritance. The constitution allows an accused person to defend himself
only in accordance with Sharia law.
Of course, allegiance to Islam is strongly tied to national identity.
President Gayoom has claimed that the Maldives has sustained its sover-
eignty by adhering to Islamic principles. He has warned the people that if
other religions were allowed the country would lose its independence.
Given all this, being a Christian in the Maldives is clearly difficult.
Underground believers do exist, but some estimates put the figure as low
as three hundred believers! No Christian mission work has ever been
123
established, and no Christian literature is permitted. The government
also limits the amount of time tourists can visit inhabited islands in order
to prevent any challenge to Islamic values and beliefs. The Maldives
remain one of the least evangelized countries on earth.
HOW TO PRAY FOR THE MALDIVES
But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise
with healing in his wings. (Malachi 4:2)
• Pray for the few Christians living in the Maldives. Pray
that they will know God’s encouragement and favor.
(Genesis 39:21)
• Pray that those God has appointed to take the gospel to the
Maldives will be obedient. Pray for creative strategies and
protection over them. (Acts 16:9–10)
• Pray that tourists and the tourist industry, which brings in an
estimated one-third of the GDP, puts pressure on the Maldives
to allow freedom of religion. (Psalm 102:15)
• Pray for the international community to pressure the Maldives
to allow greater religious freedom. (Genesis 31:9–12)
• Much of the population is under fifteen-years-old—pray
for innovative ways to reach youth with the gospel.
(Matthew 19:14)
• Pray that the Lord will show His eagerness to defend the
Christians living in the Maldives. (Isaiah 26:11)
• Pray that President Gayoom and other leaders who oppose
Christianity will have “a Road to Damascus” experience and
will be used powerfully by God to spread the Gospel in their
nation. (Acts 9:1-19)
* Testimony submitted by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, May 19, 2005.
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MALI
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 11,716,829
CHRISTIANS: 1%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Muslim
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Amadou Toumani Toure
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
The town of Djenne in Mali is built around the burial plot of a fifteen-
year-old girl named Tapama. In accordance with animist beliefs, the teen-
ager was sacrificed to obtain a blessing for prosperity and protection.
Malians believe that part of what Tapama protects the town from
is the presence of Christians. One church leader says that the evangelist
they sent to Djenne was not even allowed to stay overnight. “We will
never have a Christian in the town of Djenne,” he was told.*
Unwilling to give up, the evangelist found a place to live in a small
settlement about twenty-five kilometers away. Before long, the evange-
list converted a man named Felix Dembele, an inhabitant of Djenne.
Dembele tried to replant himself in Djenne in order to spread the news
of Christ, but when the local chiefs discovered his faith, they warned
Dembele that they had put a curse on him.
Soon after, Dembele crashed his motorbike. He was treated in a
hospital in another town, then returned. Next, he contracted hepatitis
and was taken to a large hospital in another town. He recovered again,
125
returned, and assembled together all the chiefs, authorities, imams, and
local dignitaries to show them that their curses had been in vain.
The meeting was a revelation to the whole village. “They came to
see this miracle—this man who had defied the strongest of their curses,”
the pastor explained. “It was the first time someone had overcome the
effect of these curses.” Dembele told the gathering that he intended to
stay and to preach about Jesus Christ and that he had no ill will toward
them for their spiritual work against him.
Forgiveness? Generosity of spirit? Familiar tenets of the gospel to
you and me, but to the people of Djenne, it was truly good, even surpris-
ing news.
MALI PAST AND PRESENT
The Mali Federation was formed when the Sudanese Republic and
Senegal became independent of France in 1960. Ruled by a dictatorship
for three decades, a coup helped bring democratic shifts in government
in 1991. President Alpha Konare won Mali’s first democratic presiden-
tial election in 1992 and was reelected in 1997. In keeping with Mali’s
two-term constitutional limit, Konare stepped down in 2002 and was
succeeded by Amadou Toure.
Today, Mali is a world of extremes—old ways and new ways, rich
ways and poor ways. Jet planes touch down not far from carts led by
donkeys. Brand new BMWs race past pedestrians who cannot afford
public transportation. Mali has modern medicine, but the high costs—a
month’s wages or more for much of the population—make it unavailable
for most. Still developing and finding its way, Mali is experiencing the
birth pangs of political and economic growth.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Mali’s constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the govern-
ment seems to respect this right in practice. Registration is required of
126
all public associations, including religious associations, but failure to
register is not penalized in practice. The registration process is routine
and not burdensome. Muslims and non-Muslims may evangelize freely.
Since religious groups are not geographically concentrated or confined,
there is a sort of natural pluralism, and those of various faiths generally
enjoy good relationships with one another.
Of course, the story of what happened in Djenne illustrates that there
are exceptions to this general good news and that some places within
Mali are still very much in need of prayer.
HOW TO PRAY FOR MALI
Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
the whole earth as your possession. (Psalm 2:8)
• Pray for the development agencies actively involved in relief
work. (Isaiah 58:7)
• Pray for prejudice against the gospel to be erased.
(Exodus 3:21)
• Pray for converts from Islam—that they may grow in their
faith, be discipled, and reach their communities for Christ.
(2 Timothy 2:2)
• Pray for the effectiveness of Christian broadcasts, Bible
correspondence courses, the JESUS film, and other
evangelistic tools used by Christian mission agencies to be
effective. (1 Thessalonians 1:5–8)
* Worthy News Report. Available from http://www.worthynews.com/news-features/
mali-persecution.html.
127
MAURITANIA
Persecution Ranking: 32 nd
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 3,177,388
CHRISTIANS: <1%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: no
Christians in Mauritania face many levels of persecution, including
a total disruption of their family and professional lives.
I heard of one Mauritanian man named Fouad who became seriously
ill and needed an operation. He was visited in the hospital by Hany, a lo-
cal teacher and Christian. Hany prayed with Fouad before the operation,
and in the days to come, Fouad became convinced that God helped him
recover. He decided to follow Christ.
When Fouad’s wife found out about her husband’s conversion, she
demanded a divorce. Fouad and Hany prayed, and through the ministry
of a Christian expatriate, Fouad’s wife also turned to Christ.
Soon, Fouad’s employer discovered Fouad’s new faith—mostly be-
cause Fouad would no longer take bribes in the course of his work. The
boss wasn’t happy about Fouad’s lifestyle shift. After an intense struggle,
he was able to keep his job. But not long after, Hany, like many Christians
in this region of the world, was fired from his teaching position.
128
MAURITANIA PAST AND PRESENT
Mauritania occupies the land where North Africa meets Sub-Saharan
Africa, creating a very racially mixed society. The population of about
three million includes Africans, Arabs, and Berbers.
Mauritania, like its neighbors Algeria and Morocco, gained its in-
dependence from French colonization in 1960. Since then, the budding
nation has endured decades of inconsistent leadership. Military coups,
international disputes and internal strife over political alliances have
marked the last half-century of Mauritania’s history.
Traditionally, Mauritanians are nomadic, but a recent climate change
has prompted rapid urbanization, resulting in unsafe squatter camps
around the capital, Nouakchott.
The political situation is likewise delicate. Mauritania, like Egypt,
Jordan, and Qatar, has official diplomatic links with Israel, which results
in much controversy. President Maaouiya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya came
to power in a bloodless coup in 1984 and won re-election three times.
He ruled callously and sought economic links with France, the United
States, and other Western countries. Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall
and his Military Council for Justice and Democracy deposed President
Taya in a coup on August 3, 2005.
Oil was discovered offshore in 2001. Plans to fully exploit this re-
source were approved in June 2005. Local reaction is mixed, with some
welcoming the expected increase in government income while others are
concerned about a rise in corruption or violence.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
The small Christian contingent in the country consists primarily of
the Catholic Church and expatriate churches in and around the capital.
Discipleship has to be accomplished via distance learning programs, and
almost all converts face strong social pressure to revert back to Islam.
129
Also, because divorce is prevalent, new believers are vulnerable to being
evicted from their homes and disowned by their families.
Constitutionally, Mauritania is Islamic, and the population of
slightly over three million is overwhelmingly Sunni Islam. It is unlawful
to publish any material that contradicts or threatens Islamic principles.
This is used to prevent the proselytizing of Muslims by non-Muslims
and to restrict the printing, distribution, and importation of non-Muslim
religious materials. Private ownership of Bibles and other Christian ma-
terials is not illegal.
HOW TO PRAY FOR MAURITANIA
Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through
the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the
wasteland for our God!” (Isaiah 40:3)
• • Pray that God will provide for believers who have lost their
jobs because of their faith in Christ . (Matthew 19:29)
• Pray that pastors receive the proper leadership and theological
training so they can properly disciple their congregations.
(2 Timothy 2:1–2)
• Pray that oil proves to be a blessing, not a curse, and that the
benefits extend nationally. (Genesis 50:20)
•
130
Pray for Christian believers who have been expelled from their
families. (Mark 10:29–30)
Pray that believers will continue to honor the Lord our God in
the midst of persecution. (Isaiah 26:13)
MONGOLIA
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 2,832,224
CHRISTIANS: <1%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Buddhism
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Nambaryn Enkhbayar
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: Yes
Christian groups in Mongolia are proliferating so fast that they
now outnumber official Buddhist organizations. But to Mongolia’s con-
servative Buddhist elite, such rapid growth is deeply troubling. Some
Christian groups accuse the government of orchestrating a campaign to
prevent them from gaining new converts. It is a charge that Mongolia’s
Buddhist Prime Minister Enkbayar denies, though he does acknowledge
concern about the arrival of these new foreign religious groups in his
once Buddhist country.
MONGOLIA PAST AND PRESENT
Modern Mongolia comprises about half of the vast Inner Asian re-
gion but is only a fraction of the great Mongol Empire that once stretched
over nearly all of Asia. Until the twentieth century, most of the people
who inhabited Mongolia were nomads, and even in the late twentieth
century a substantial proportion of the rural population was essentially
nomadic.
131
The question facing the country now is whether Buddhists will at-
tempt to stem the rising tide of new Christian converts. There is hope that
Christianity will continue to flourish: in a survey of religious freedom taken
in December 2003, Mongolia was found to have an unusually high degree
of religious freedom. Happily, Mongolia has only one paid official dealing
with religious issues rather than an extensive government bureaucracy.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Many young Mongolians are looking away from Buddhism for
spiritual inspiration. On the other side of Ulan Bator, for instance, there
is a makeshift church hall that is often packed with young Mongolian
worshippers who are passionate about Christ.
Protestant representatives report few obstructions to their social min-
istry in state institutions such as prisons, children’s homes, or hospitals.
While customs officers sometimes detain Christian literature written in
the Mongolian language, we are not aware of any outright confiscation.
This is not to say that violations of religious freedom never occur in
Mongolia. Protestants have reported several incidents in which unregis-
tered churches were threatened or fined as well as a widespread tendency
by state authorities to demand random “fines” or “donations” from church-
es. Protestant pastors also complain that religious organizations must pay
20 percent tax, while commercial companies pay only 10 percent.
HOW TO PRAY FOR MONGOLIA
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon
you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me
everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
•
132
Pray that the young church is properly trained in the Word of
God. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
• Pray that there will be a sufficient number of translated Bibles
and other Christian training materials. (Acts 13:49 KJV)
• Pray that the Lord continues to protect the Mongolian church
and that they will be used by God to reach surrounding
nations. (Jonah 2:8)
• Praise god for multiplying the church in Mongolia. (Acts 2:47
and 9:31 KJV)
133
MOROCCO
Persecution Ranking: 33 rd
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 33,241,259
CHRISTIANS: <1%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER: King Mohamed VI
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Some years ago, a Moroccan Jewish man named Rachid Cohen con-
verted to Christianity. One day, he was arrested on the pretext of being
an “unauthorized guide.” Once in jail, Cohen was tortured for ten hours
each day—burned with cigarettes and given electric shock.*
Such tales of persecution are on the wane in this modernizing coun-
try. One of our contacts there says that despite the high Open Doors
rating, the country is moving forward in the areas of economics, interna-
tional relations, and human rights and that Christians in his community
are hopeful for the future.
MOROCCO PAST AND PRESENT
Morocco was occupied by Spain in 1860, ushering in a half-century
of trade rivalry among European powers and a withering of Moroccan
sovereignty. In 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country,
but by 1956 Morocco was independent.
Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s,
but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved.
134
Gradual political reforms in the 1990s have resulted in the establishment
of a bicameral legislature in 1997. Parliamentary elections were held for
the second time in September 2002, and municipal elections were held
in September 2003.
Though the church in Morocco was virtually nonexistent for cen-
turies, today a new Moroccan church is emerging. The Consultative
Council of Moroccan Churches was formed in 2001 and had twenty-two
fellowships within four years.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Moroccan Christians suffered greatly in the second half of the
twentieth century. Today, the persecution is less overt and is reportedly
in decline. Those who become Christians, however, may face profes-
sional and familial discrimination and may find themselves needing to
relocate.
Public schools educate in the Muslim faith, which is contrary to
international standards stating that parents can choose the religious
education of their children. Moroccan parents deal with this reasonably
well by educating their children at home, but the social pressure against
Christianity can be acute.
HOW TO PRAY FOR MOROCCO
Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures
declare, “Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.”
(John 7:38)
• Pray for the church as it continues to establish itself within
Moroccan society. (1 Timothy 3:15)
• Pray for discipleship training for emerging leaders so they
will be mature in the Lord with strong biblical foundation.
(1 Timothy 4:6)
135
• Pray for Christian parents as they work with their
children being educated in the Islamic-based state system.
(Deuteronomy 6:6–9)
• Pray that God pours out His Spirit on Morocco. (Joel 2:28)
• Pray that the Lord of the Harvest will send workers into
Morocco’s ripe harvest fields. (Matthew 9:38)
• Pray that God will give them ideas on how to reach their
nation for Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)
• Pray that small Christian communities work in unity and are
Kingdom-minded as they work to bring in a harvest for the
Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:10)
* Robin Wright, In the Name of God: The Khomeini Decade (New York: Simon &
Schuster, 1989), p. 81.
136
MYANMAR (BURMA)
Persecution Ranking: 19 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 47,382,633
CHRISTIANS: 4%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Buddhism
POLITICAL LEADER:
Senior General Than Shwe
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION:
Constitution suspended since 1988
Many of the stories you’ve read so far have involved intense physi-
cal persecution and sometimes death. But persecution comes in many
forms in the 10/40 Window. In Burma, being a Christian might not mean
receiving physical stripes, but it can mean having your life put perma-
nently on hold.
As a major in the Burma Army, Thawng Za Lian was faced with a
choice: pay homage to the generals visiting his district or be withheld
from ever rising further in the ranks. Time and time again Lian refused
to bow to his superiors, and time and time again he was passed up for
promotions.
General Tin Oo, a senior leader in the regime, tried to convince Lian
to reconsider. He encouraged Lian to convert to Buddhism at least on
paper so that he could receive a pay raise and progress through the ranks.
Lian refused, unwilling to live a lie.
When Thawng Za Lian realized nothing was going to change, he
resigned from the army and later left the country with his family. Most
Burmese people have neither the resources to flee nor necessarily a de-
137
sire to do so. A million or more are characterized as Internally Displaced
Persons. Most Burmese Christians would prefer to have the freedom to
practice their faith in their own land, even if their country would prefer
them to leave.
MYANMAR (BURMA) PAST AND PRESENT
After years of British rule, Burma became a separate, self-governing
colony in 1937. Eleven years later, it gained total independence from
the Commonwealth. The government was controlled by General Ne Win
between 1962 and 1988, at which point the constitution was suspended.
Since then, a military junta has led the country.
Since 1999, Burma has been labeled as a severe violator of religious
freedom by the U.S. State Department. The international community is
especially concerned about religious groups, including Christians and
Muslims, who are denied places of worship.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
In the country’s western part, Christian communities that erect
crosses on local hillsides have found them torn down. In one village in
March 2004, a state-sponsored militia ordered Christians to construct a
Buddhist pagoda, forbade them to build a cross, and used a loudspeaker
to blare out Buddhist propaganda during Christian worship services.
Although religious and ethnic persecution is bound up together, a
distinctively religious element is very clear. Among the Chin people,
Christians are prohibited from holding senior positions in the civil
service or army, while Buddhists can advance freely. The state has re-
portedly offered bribes to the Chin people to convert to Buddhism, and
several Christian children have been taken into monasteries and forced
to become novice monks.
A United Nations resolution in March 2004 expressed grave
disquiet over religious discrimination and urged the government to
138
address its atrocious human rights record. These violations include
the widespread, systematic use of rape, forced labor, forced reloca-
tion of villages, forced conscription of child soldiers, use of human
minesweepers, torture, extra judicial killings, and the destruction of
villages, crops, and livestock.
HOW TO PRAY FOR MYANMAR (BURMA)
Though you were once despised and hated, with no one traveling
through you, I will make you beautiful forever, a joy to all
generations. Powerful kings and mighty nations will satisfy your
every need, as though you were a child nursing at the breast of a
queen. You will know at last that I, the LORD, am your Savior and
Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel. (Isaiah 60:15–16)
• Pray for strength for the Christians of Burma to stand firm
in their faith under great pressure to convert to Buddhism.
(1 Corinthians 16:13)
• Pray for the persecuted ethnic minorities—for the alleviation
of their suffering and for an end to the violence carried out by
the Burmese army. (Psalm 119:114)
• Pray for the million or more people living as Internally
Displaced Persons. Pray they find refuge and a lasting solution
to their problems. Pray that they will be reached with the
gospel. (Psalm 9:9)
• Pray that the Lord will show Christians especially how to pray
to topple demonic forces that are intent on destroying them.
(Joel 2:11)
• Pray that the Lord will surround Burmese Christians with His
shield of protection and send angels to minister to them as
heirs of salvation. (Hebrews 1:14)
139
NEPAL
Persecution Ranking: 48 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 28,287,147
CHRISTIANS: 1–2%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Hinduism
POLITICAL LEADER:
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
In February 2003, three Nepali Christians were stopped by police on
their way to visit a Christian family. The police checked their bags. Upon
finding Bibles and other Christian literature, the police placed the three
under arrest, charging them with carrying Christian literature, preaching
Christianity, and attempting to convert others. They were detained for
fifteen days, tried, and sent to jail.
Note the various risks Christians face here—these Christians were
not even evangelizing. They were going to visit fellow believers, but
because they carried the normal materials Christians might carry at any
time, they were deemed a threat to the way of life in Nepal.
NEPAL PAST AND PRESENT
Nepal has existed as a kingdom for more than fifteen hundred years.
The country is known for its majestic Himalayas. It has nine of the four-
teen peaks in the world over eight thousand meters, including Mount
Everest and Annapurna I, and eight of the world’s ten tallest peaks.
140
Nepali politics have been tumultuous in recent years. From 1990
until April 2006, it was established as a constitutional monarchy. In
2006, King Gyanendra abdicated his power to the Parliament and Prime
Minister Koirala. The King retains the ceremonial throne but has no real
political power. A savage war between Maoist revolutionaries and the
Nepali army has killed twelve thousand people. In sum, Nepal is a dan-
gerous and fearful country in which to live.
Nepal’s population is diverse. The country is home to more than
a dozen ethnic groups, and ethnic identity constrains the selection of a
spouse, friends, and career. Social status in Nepal is measured by eco-
nomic standing. Women occupy a secondary position, particularly in busi-
ness and civil service jobs, although the constitution guarantees equality
between men and women. While education is free for children, literacy
rates for boys outnumber girls by a ratio of three to one.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
The first Christians to enter Nepal were Catholic Capuchin mission-
aries in the eighteenth century. By 1760, they were expelled, marking
the start of a long period of isolation from Christianity. In 1950, there
were thought to be only thirty Christians in the whole of Nepal, most of
whom had found faith in India. Since then, the Christian community has
experienced massive growth. Estimates of the number of Christians in
Nepal vary from 250,000 to 400,000.
Prior to 1990, Christians faced widespread and vicious persecution.
Since then, anti-Christian activity has been sporadic and localized, often
originating with Hindu fundamentalists. Christians, as explained earlier,
have been arrested for carrying Bibles and evangelistic tracts. Other
Christians involved with education have been charged with indoctrinat-
ing children.
Hinduism is often seen as the majority religion of Nepal, but the faith
practiced by most Nepalese is a synthesis of Hinduism and Buddhism.
A caste system makes true democratization very difficult. It is the hope
141
of Nepalese Christians that the gospel will shed light on the equality and
sanctity of all men and women as God’s creation.
HOW TO PRAY FOR NEPAL
Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all
that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all
ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20–21 KJV)
• • Pray for unity among church leaders and Nepali church
members. (John 17:20–21)
• Pray that God will give Christians in Nepal ideas to bless and
transform their nation. (Proverbs 21:5, 13)
• Pray that King Gyanendra and Prime Minister Girija Prasad
Koirala will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and
that the Lord will use them to bless Nepal. (1 Timothy 2:1–4)
•
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Pray for effective discipleship for Nepal’s growing Christian
population. (2 Timothy 2:1–2; 2 Timothy 1:13)
Pray that anti-Christian legislation will be rescinded and
that God will use the Esthers and Daniels in Nepal to effect
change. (Esther 9:1–2; Daniel 7:25)
NIGER
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 12,525,094
CHRISTIANS: <1%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Mamadou Tandja
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: Yes
At a fashion show in Niger in 2000, several female models were
indecently clothed according to Muslim standards. In response, a group
of Muslims set a church property on fire and destroyed a vehicle belong-
ing to a Christian mission.*
Of course, there was no direct link between the fashion show and the
Christian mission. But for many radical Muslims, all things Western are
inherently Christian, so they feel justified to randomly attack Christians
in retaliation for any Western offense.
Niger is a secular country that permits freedom of religion, but many
pastors are concerned that the days of freedom are numbered. “We are
often stopped from distributing Bibles or evangelizing in public,” said
Lazare Mundola, pastor of an Assemblies of God church. “At the same
time, a mosque will start blurting out anti-Christian preaching and anti-
biblical arguments in such a way that no one in the neighborhood can
avoid listening. I feel that we have a limited time to reach people with
the gospel message.”
143
NIGER PAST AND PRESENT
Until 1898, Niger was a province governed by sultans. The French
colonized the region for sixty-two years, but Niger eventually gained
independence—in a manner of speaking. Colonel Ali Saibou helmed a
single-party, military ruling system until the 1990s, when he was forced
to finally allow elections and transition the country to a democracy. Even
then, Niger was marked by political infighting and coups until 1999,
when democratic rule was firmly established.
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, with minimal
government services and insufficient funds. Its largely agrarian and sub-
sistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts.
Since Christianity was the religion of the French, Niger retains
Christian believers from the educated, elite, and colonial families as well
as African Christians from neighboring coastal countries. The number of
professing Christians has actually declined since independence, largely
because many were French expatriates who have now left the country.
Evangelicals have steadily grown but are still a small minority, and Islam
is strong, well funded, and zealous.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
The government does not impose religious speech restrictions as
long as there is no intent to disrespect public order. Political parties can-
not be founded on religious ideology, and government executives are
allowed to take an oath on a holy book of their choosing. Still, some
senior-level government employees are required to take religious oaths,
and religious organizations must register with the Interior Ministry.
Though Niger is more open to the gospel than many other Muslim
countries, intolerance and harassment remain a threat. Islamic funda-
mentalists are pushing for the imposition of Sharia law and seemingly
random persecution can occur at any time.
144
HOW TO PRAY FOR NIGER
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in
him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard
about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone
tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being
sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of
messengers who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14–15)
• Pray that the government will allow Christian witness to
continue without hindrance. (Daniel 3:29)
• Pray for discipleship and leadership training among church
leaders. (Acts 2:42)
• Pray for isolated believers, many of whom are illiterate and
lack access to good Bible teaching. (1 John 2:27)
• Pray for creative ways to train them in the way of God and
that they will grow in their Christian faith. (Ephesians 4:13)
• Pray that Bible translation and distribution and JESUS film
showings bear good fruit and there is proper follow up with
new believers. (Mark 4:20)
• Pray for creative resources to help believers grow in their
faith. (Psalm 40:3)
• Pray for God to give Christian believers strategic ideas to
bring transformation and revival to their land. (Acts 2:1–4)
* Testimony submitted by United Bible Societies, June 2002.
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NIGERIA (NORTH)
Persecution Ranking: 27 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 131,859,731
CHRISTIANS: 40%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Olusegun Obasanjo
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: Yes
Christian nurses might be the most unthreatening group of people
you could ever imagine. Dressed in white, trained to serve and save lives,
Christian nurses represent humility, patience, and tenderness.
But not in Nigeria. There, Christian nurses are perceived as a threat,
a scandal, and a group whose activities must be stopped.
As ludicrous as it sounds, in the summer of 2004 the Fellowship
of Christian Nurses (FCN) in central Nigeria was banned from holding
simple worship services during breaks at their hospital. Muslim militants
who learned of these services dispatched a letter to the Federal Medical
Center in Keffi, Nasarawa, reading in part, “[O]ur thirst for your heads/
blood is mounting daily if you continue with your worship services in
the hospital unabated.” The hospital authorities received a copy of the
letter, and rather than moving to protect the nurses, they suspended all
Christian activities at the hospital. Later, the hospital suspended the FCN
indefinitely.
This frightening incident is one of the least of the terrors facing
Christians in Nigeria.
146
NIGERIA PAST AND PRESENT
Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa with 50 percent
Muslims, 40 percent Christians, and 10 percent indigenous ethnic be-
lievers. Tensions between religious communities in northern and central
Nigeria have been on the rise since 1999, when northern states cam-
paigned for the implementation of Sharia law in defiance of the country’s
secular constitution. As of this writing, twelve states have instituted the
Sharia penal code, effectively creating a state religion. Over 50,000 peo-
ple, mostly Christians and other non-Muslims, have died in the resulting
religious violence.*
Like many modern African states, Nigeria was forged in the fires
of European imperialism. The modern history of Nigeria dates from
the completion of the British conquest in 1903 and the combination of
northern and southern Nigeria into one colony in 1914. Reaching further
back, Nigerian history evolves from three crucial issues: the spread of
Islam (which began over one thousand years ago), the slave trade, and
the colonial era, all of which cast a long shadow over the country today.
In the four decades since Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the
country has experienced a number of military coups d’état, a brutal civil
war, corrupt civilian governments, and economic collapse. Following
nearly sixteen years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in
1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government followed. Still,
the current president faces the daunting task of instituting democracy
and rebuilding a petroleum-based economy whose revenues have been
squandered through corruption and mismanagement.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Christians in Nigeria’s Sharia states experience varying degrees of
repression, harassment, and violence. Christians have been murdered
and had their homes, churches, and businesses destroyed. Further, they
are not allowed to provide religious education for their children in ei-
147
ther primary or secondary schools; they are frequently denied access to
burial grounds; they are denied any access to media to spread their faith
(Muslims are free to use the airwaves); and they are discriminated against
in matters of employment. Since Hausa Muslims constitute the majority
of the population in the north, in most northern states the government
does not recognize the existence of indigenous Christians. Because con-
verts from Islam face a possible penalty of death for apostasy, Christians
there have to be sent to safer locations in the south.
Significant religious violence has occurred in various parts of the
country. In February 2004, forty-eight people in a church in Yelwa were
murdered, and two hundred Muslims were killed in retaliation. Violence
subsided to some extent during a brief period of a declared state of emer-
gency; however, tensions are rising once more. The homes of several
Christians have been attacked, and there are reports of foreign jihad
fighters in the Wase area.
Christians in the northeastern state of Borno are suffering continu-
ing attacks by the Sunna Wal Jamma group. This group is also known
as the Taliban and is led by a man named Mohammed Yusuf, who calls
himself “Mullah Omar” in homage to the Afghan Taliban leader. Since
late 2003, the group has mounted a series of sporadic, deadly attacks on
communities in this region.
HOW TO PRAY FOR NIGERIA
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and
to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
(Luke 10:19 NIV)
• •
148
Pray that the strategy of using jihad soldiers from other towns,
cities, and nations to violate Christians and non-Muslims will
cease and desist. (Nehemiah 6:16)
Pray that Christians in southern and eastern Nigeria will
recognize the suffering of their brothers and sisters elsewhere
in the country and take action to help them. (Joshua 1:14)
• Pray for the Lord to give Christians in Nigeria creative ideas
so they can take care of their families and give alms to the
poor, widows, and orphans. (Exodus 35:35)
• Pray for Nigerians living abroad, that they would be aware of
what is happening in their native country and that they will
actively support peace and help develop the region’s economy.
(Nehemiah 4:14)
• Pray for effective security to be provided by the army and
police so that neither Christians nor Muslims have to take the
law into their own hands. (Proverbs 10:9)
• Pray for churches and ministries that have had their Christian
workers martyred in the north for the cause of Christ will
continue to press toward the high calling on their lives to
spread the Gospel. (Philippians 3:14)
• Pray that the precious people of Nigeria will fulfill her destiny
to impact the continent of Africa and the nations in the 10/40
Window with the gospel. (Jeremiah 29:11)
* The Committee on Rehabilitation and Reconciliation of Internally Displaced People.
149
NORTH KOREA
Persecution Ranking: 1 st
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 23,113,019
CHRISTIANS: 1–2%
DOMINANT RELIGION:
Idolatry of Kim Il Sung
POLITICAL LEADER: Kim Jong Il
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
In late 2005, the New York Post reported that a North Korean woman
found with a Bible was executed by firing squad, and five other Christian
leaders were steamrolled before a crowd. These accounts were just two
of dozens from a long report released by the United States Commission
on International Religious Freedom.
The report could not have come at a more urgent time. In North
Korea, more than anywhere else on the face of the planet, Christians are
under siege.
Given space, I could fill this book with first-person accounts of
Christians who have suffered extreme brutality in North Korea. Instead,
consider the testimony of Kim Tae Jin, a forty-nine-year-old Christian
who was found carrying a Bible and sent to a North Korean political
prison camp. Jin endured what is known as “motionless sitting torture,”
a grueling process where the prisoner is beaten with an iron rod if he
moves even slightly. He was also deprived of food, forced into hard la-
bor, and made to sit on wet quicklime, which boils the skin.
150
“In order to survive in a political prison camp in North Korea,” Jin
says, “you must forget that you are a human being.” Jin ate snakes, frogs,
and rats and stole food from a dog, all in the name of living another
day.*
Now free and studying theology at Chongshin University in South
Korea, Jin lives not only with the memory of his suffering but also with
the knowledge that thousands of Christians just like him are living under
the thumb of a tyrannical North Korean government.
People like Jin need our prayers. The entire country of North Korea
needs our prayers.
NORTH KOREA PAST AND PRESENT
An independent kingdom for most of the past millennium, Korea
was occupied by Japan in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. Five
years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula.
After World War II, Korea was split in two, and the northern half
came under Soviet-sponsored communist domination. North Korea tried
to conquer its southern neighbor in the Korean War, and when it failed,
its leader, President Kim Il Sung, adopted a policy of diplomatic and eco-
nomic “self-reliance”—independent of the U.S.S.R. but was still gripped
in the vice of communist ideology.
Kim’s son, the current ruler Kim Jong Il, assumed full power after
his father’s death in 1994. After decades of economic mismanagement
and resource misallocation, the country has relied heavily on internation-
al aid to feed its population, even though it spends lavishly to maintain
its army of about 1 million.
North Korea’s long-range missile development and research into nu-
clear, chemical, and biological weapons are of major concern. In January
2003, it declared its withdrawal from the international Non-Proliferation
Treaty. Later that year, the officials of Pyongyang announced it had com-
pleted the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel rods (to extract weapons-
grade plutonium) and was developing a “nuclear deterrent.” For much
151
of the last three years, North Korea has participated in talks with China,
Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the United States to resolve the stale-
mate over its nuclear programs, but it remains a country of grave and
urgent concern.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Kim Il Sung has declared, “Christianity must be annihilated be-
cause it has become the tool of the imperialists led by the U.S. to para-
lyze the independent consciousness of the people.” Whole families of
Christians have been sentenced to death and their relatives permanently
blacklisted.
North Korea, also known as the Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea (DPRK), is one of the few remaining communist states in the
world today. It is also perhaps the most isolated country in the world.
After the division of Korea into North and South in 1945, Kim Il Sung
became president and juche (self-reliance) became the state’s ideologi-
cal foundation, which called for DPRK-centric thought in politics, eco-
nomics, and military affairs. Juche took on a religious element, making
Kim Il Sung a godlike figure. One state document in 1974 announced,
“Any attempt to slander our Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung must
be treated as a national emergency. We must launch an uncompromising
struggle against such attempts.” Even now, over a decade after his death,
he is referred to as the “Eternal President.”
The government under Kim Jong Il has ruthlessly suppressed any
dissent. There are no independent media outlets and the borders are heav-
ily patrolled, so it is difficult to piece together a completely clear picture
of life in North Korea. However, the evidence from defectors points to
systematic and horrific human rights abuses—including executions and
torture. The United Nations has called DPRK’s prison camps “the hidden
gulag” because of their reputation for being forced labor camps where
prisoners are starved, beaten, and often killed.
152
HOW TO PRAY FOR NORTH KOREA
Hide me from the plots of this evil mob, from this gang of
wrongdoers. (Psalm 64:2)
• Pray that the enforced idolatry imposed throughout North
Korea will cease (Exodus 20:1–7) and that there will be
religious freedom for all people. (John 4:22–23)
• Pray for God to uphold both secret believers and those who
are undergoing horrendous torture. (Daniel 3:25)
• Pray that change will take place in the leadership of the nation.
Pray that a leader will arise who fears God and loves his
fellow countrymen, women, and children. (Daniel 4:17)
• Pray that those who leave the country to escape starvation will
find the true Bread of Life. (John 6:35)
• Pray for protection, success, and wisdom for all those seeking
to bring the gospel to North Korea. (Joshua 1:5–7)
• Pray that Christians globally will speak out on behalf of the
oppressed people in North Korea by getting their nations
actively involved in putting pressure on Kim Jon Il to improve
the conditions of Christians as well as other North Koreans
who are poorly treated. (Proverbs 31:8–9)
153
OMAN
Persecution Ranking: 36 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 3,102,229
CHRISTIANS: 2–3% (expatriates)
DOMINANT RELIGION:
Ibadhi and Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
Sultan Qaboos bin Sa’id Al Sa’id
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
A few years ago, an Omani Muslim named Wahid turned to Christ.
When his conversion became known, he was arrested, beaten, and re-
leased. Later, he met a former university friend who was a member of
the ruling family. Wahid told his friend what happened, and the friend
took him to see every police officer involved in mistreating him, forcing
each to apologize.
But the authorities had more subtle ways to persecute Wahid. The
following year, he started a series of new jobs, only to be fired from each
one after his employer had closed-door meetings with local authorities.
On one occasion, he called a friend on his mobile phone and mentioned
he was going to an ATM machine to withdraw some money; he was
promptly mugged and robbed. There was no criminal investigation,
though his phone was clearly tapped.
As of this writing, Wahid has a job, but his two bosses are in dis-
agreement about his future. One values his work, but the other wants to
dismiss Wahid because of his faith in Christ.*
154
Wahid needs prayer. He, like thousands of people in Oman, live for
Christ without knowing what the future holds for them.
OMAN PAST AND PRESENT
As with its Persian Gulf neighbors, Oman was a colony of Great
Britain that struggled toward independence in the mid-twentieth cen-
tury. But the religious and social background of Oman is unique. One
key social distinction is that because of historic trading ties with East
Africa, many citizens of Oman speak Swahili, not Arabic. The sultan
has encouraged many East Africans to immigrate to their roots in Oman,
bringing trade, investment, and some social diversification with them.
Politically, Oman is a monarchy, ruled by Sultan Qaboos bin Sa’id
Al Sa’id. He has been in power since 1970, when he ousted his father.
The sultan appoints the cabinet, which includes women, and is advised
by two councils.
Religiously, Oman is the only country in the world where the domi-
nant religion is Ibadhi Islam, which is distinct from the better-known
forms of Sunni and Shia Islam. Ibadhi emerged as a revival movement
early in Islamic history, and it emphasizes a puritanical, rural lifestyle
based on the belief that simply being a Muslim is insufficient to get to
heaven. Ibadhis focus on the practice of the faith rather than just the
content of their beliefs.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Oman law does provide for religious freedom. The government toler-
ates informal worship in homes by followers of recognized religions. It also
monitors mosques and other religious bodies to ensure that only tolerant
messages are given and that imams and other religious leaders do not pro-
mote hatred. However, restrictions apply in practice, including a prohibition
on witnessing to Muslims. Non-Islamic religious materials cannot be pub-
155
lished in the country, but they can be imported. Religious organizations must
be registered with the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.
Historically, there was a Christian presence in the region of Oman,
but it declined with the spread of Islam in the seventh and eighth centuries.
Today, there is a small expatriate Christian community with traditional
churches, and they are free to worship in designated places. There are
two Christian compounds in Muscat, each comprising a Catholic and
a Protestant church. Land has been made available in other cities for
Christian and other non-Islamic worship. There is an umbrella organiza-
tion for Protestant congregations called the Protestant Churches in Oman.
In Oman, as in many Islamic nations, those who choose to follow
Christ are often excluded from their families. Thus, new Christian be-
lievers are very dependent upon the body of Christ to provide fellowship
and discipleship.
HOW TO PRAY FOR OMAN
Exalt the LORD our God! Bow low before his feet, for he is holy!
(Psalm 99:5)
• Pray for indigenous Christians to have the freedom to worship.
(John 4:23–24)
• Pray for greater societal acceptance of those who choose to
follow Jesus. (Exodus 12:36; Acts 2:47)
• Pray that those excluded from families because of following
Jesus will find nourishing relationships with other Christian
believers. (Acts 4:32)
• Pray that the many expatriate Christians in Oman will be
wise in their witness and that they will strategically share the
Gospel with other foreigners in the land. (Matthew 10:16)
* Testimony submitted by Middle East Concern/3P Ministries, May 12, 2005.
156
PAKISTAN
Persecution Ranking: 17 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 165,803,560
CHRISTIANS: 2–3%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Pervez Musharraf
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Questioning the validity of any religious figurehead from Jesus to
Buddha to Mohammed ought to be a basic human right. How else can
we learn to discern truth?
But in Pakistan, questioning the Muslim prophet Mohammed is not
just frowned upon, it’s dangerous.
Consider Augustine Ashiq “Kingri” Masih, a 26-year-old man who
was convicted and sentenced to death on June 29, 2003. His crime?
While talking with some acquaintances about religion, Masih admitted
that he believed in Jesus, not Mohammed. He was jailed in May of 2000,
assessed a fine of fifty thousand rupees (U.S. $822), the equivalent of
two years salary, and sentenced to capital punishment. He is one of two
Pakistani Christians on death row for blasphemy.*
Masih’s story is one of many tales of persecution of believers in
Pakistan today. Attacks against Christians—including brutal murders of
women and children—have only increased since the United States-led
war in Afghanistan, which was used to justify a Muslim uprising against
Christian believers.
157
PAKISTAN PAST AND PRESENT
You would never know it from official Pakistan history recorded in
government-sponsored textbooks, but the region boasts of a rich mul-
ticultural past. Before the advent of Islam in the seventh century, the
area was home to the Indus Valley civilization that is said to be one
of the world’s richest, most complex societies. Along with its regional
neighbors, the country sat under the thumb of the British for many years
but quickly developed into a settled Muslim state in the late twentieth
century.
In 1947, the region was split into India and the Muslim states of East
and West Pakistan. The countries have fought two wars over the disputed
Kashmir territory, and a third war in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan be-
coming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear
weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998 and is consid-
ered a threat to world peace because of its developing arsenal.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
There are three areas of major concern for Christians in Pakistan
today: blasphemy laws; the practice of bonded labor; and the rise of
Sharia law.
Blasphemy laws were introduced in the 1980s. Every Christian sen-
tenced to death under them has eventually been acquitted, demonstrating
the ease with which false charges can be brought under this legislation.
But any attempt to reverse the blasphemy laws encounters robust opposi-
tion from Islamic fundamentalists. Even if released, Christians who are
accused of blasphemy must go into hiding or flee abroad due to the fear
of reprisal from Muslim fanatics.
Many Christians are subject to the practice of bonded labor. While
Christians make up less than 3 percent of the population of Pakistan, the
Bonded Laborer Union has stated that 60 to 70 percent of the country’s
bonded laborers are Christians. Many are indebted to their employer
158
and cannot change jobs until the debt is paid in full. These workers are
trapped in a cycle of debt because they cannot receive education and are
withheld from other opportunities to improve their lives.
Finally, there is great concern regarding the approval of the Sharia
Act by the provincial government of the North West Frontier Province
(NWFP) of Pakistan. Under the act, Sharia becomes the supreme law
in the province, and the Koran becomes the source of guidance for all
future legislation and reforms. This is a dangerous development, since
religious minorities will likely face increased difficulty to live in peace
and safety.
HOW TO PRAY FOR PAKISTAN
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to
all who believe. (Romans 3:22 NIV)
• Pray for an end to the violent attacks against Pakistan's
Christians and for the government to protect all its citizens.
(Psalm 3:1–4)
• Pray for the repeal of Pakistan's blasphemy laws and that the
abuse of these laws will end immediately. (Lamentations 3:37)
• Pray for an end to the practice of bonded labor in Pakistan and
that all bonded laborers will be freed. (Isaiah 42:7)
• Pray against the Islamization of Pakistan. (Revelations 3:7)
• Pray that the international Christian community will be a voice
for our suffering brothers and sisters in Pakistan. Pray that
churches will begin major writing campaigns demanding that
Christians be treated fairly. (Hebrews 13:3)
• Pray that the fear of the Lord will come upon President
Musharraf for horrific crimes against Christians in his country.
(Proverbs 21:1–3)
* Testimony submitted by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, July 2004.
159
QATAR
Persecution Ranking: 25 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 885,359
CHRISTIANS: 10–11% (expatriates)
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
Amir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
After living and working in Qatar for more than two decades,
Stanislas Chellappa was suddenly arrested in December of 2002. He was
released two weeks later only to be deported to India the next month.
Chellappa, his wife, Ester, and their twelve-year-old son suffered the
arrest, release, and deportation without ever being given an explanation.
The authorities just acted as they pleased, answering to no one.
Chellappa was not alone. In the course of a few months, four expa-
triate pastors from Egypt, India, and the Philippines were deported from
Qatar without warning or explanation.*
Of course, no one is in the dark about the basic reason for these
pastors’ troubles: they are Christian ministers, and in Qatar that is reason
enough to want them gone.
QATAR PAST AND PRESENT
Though the region of Qatar had a Christian presence in the early
centuries A.D., it ended with the coming of Islam. Today, there is no na-
tional church in Qatar, but expatriate churches were granted legal status
160
during 2003. Difficulties remain for these ministries, not the least being
that churches must have a membership of one thousand before their reg-
istration is accepted. Consequently, they register as societies or clubs.
Almost all of Qatar’s 150,000 citizens are followers of Wahhabi
Sunni Islam. There are also 600,000 migrant workers living in Qatar,
most of whom are also Sunni, though there are also Shia Muslims,
Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and Baha’is.
Qatar is seeking to become a modern state, fully engaged with global
commerce. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have one of the
highest per capita incomes in the world. The country is a key ally of the
United States and hosts the regional military command center.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
In 2002, the state donated land for the construction of a Christian
complex. The plan was to build four churches: one Anglican; one
Catholic; one Orthodox; and one for use by the Indian community. Initial
progress was slow, and many Christians were unhappy with the com-
plex’s location near an airport runway. In 2004, the government changed
the location and authorized the use of four separate sites.**
Some fear that the government has an ulterior motive in granting
land for church complexes. When the complexes are operational, the
value of the property decreases, with all Christian activity and meetings
confined to those buildings and local home groups and prayer meetings
made illegal.
HOW TO PRAY FOR QATAR
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered
hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold
everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.
(Matthew 13:44)
161
• Praise God for the legal recognition of the church. (Psalm 9:1)
• Pray that expatriate Christian leaders will be allowed to
remain in the country. (Proverbs 16:7)
• Pray for the construction of the Christian complexes, and
that Christian activities will not be confined to the churches.
(Psalm 127:1)
• Pray for leadership and unity of the expatriate Christian
churches. Pray that Christians will be Kingdom-minded and
Kingdom-focused on the lost. (Ephesians 4:3)
• Pray that the constitution’s provision of religious freedom will
protect all faiths. (John 4:22–24)
• Pray that God will flow through Christians with signs,
wonders, and miracles as they share their faith. (Acts 4:12–14)
* Testimony submitted by Middle East Concern/3P Ministries, May 12, 2005.
** International Religious Freedom Report, 2004.
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SAUDI ARABIA
Persecution Ranking: 2 nd
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 27,019,731
CHRISTIANS: 4–5% (expatriates)
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
King and P.M. Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz
Al Saud
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: no
Brian O’Connor was living in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia,
and working as a cargo agent for the national airline. On March 25, 2004,
he was arrested by the religious police outside his flat and taken to a
nearby mosque. There, he was badly beaten, then handed over to the
national police.
After six months of jail time, O’Connor appeared in court. He was
charged with selling alcohol, possessing pornographic videos, possess-
ing Bibles, and preaching Christianity. O’Connor denied any wrongdo-
ing. He argued that he started leading Bible studies in his home only after
reading in the local press that non-Muslims could practice their religion
in their homes.
On October 20, he was formally convicted of selling alcohol and
sentenced to ten months in prison and three hundred lashes. Thankfully,
he was deported to his home country of India on November 2, 2004, and
escaped the prospect of physical punishment.
163
During his time in prison, O’Connor shared his faith with fellow
detainees and prayed with several more. He even led someone to Christ
on the flight back to India!
Brian O’Connor prays that God uses his misfortunes as a testimony
to God’s faithfulness. Let’s join him in that prayer.
SAUDI ARABIA PAST AND PRESENT
Modern Saudi Arabian history might be said to begin in 1938 when
Chevron found vast quantities of oil there. By 1950, the kingdom’s
royalties were running at roughly $1,000,000 (U.S.) a week. By 1960,
80 percent of the government’s revenues came from oil. By the 1970s,
Saudi Arabia was a world power, but its relations with its neighbors were
strained. The massacre of four hundred Iranian pilgrims at the 1987 Hajj
resulted in Iran boycotting the pilgrimage for several years.
Some analysts believe that the days of easy oil money are but a
fond memory as the country’s population is growing rapidly (the average
Saudi woman bears six children) and is in need of public assistance. The
current ruler is faced with an impressive challenge because of a depleted
work ethic in young Saudis who are accustomed to government care.
The terrorist attacks in the United States in September 2001 were
something of a landmark event for Saudis, too. The House of Saud, as
the monarchy is known, was tainted because of Saudi nationals’ involve-
ment in the attacks; the nation has been roundly accused of supporting
terrorism. In 2003, the U.S. military pulled out of the country in order to
ease tensions in the kingdom.
People are discontent with the House of Saud from within the coun-
try as well. Islamic terrorist groups have become more active in response
to the nation’s ties with the United States. In 2003, suicide bombers re-
portedly linked to al-Qaeda killed thirty-five people in Riyadh. A reform
movement gathered momentum that same year, prompting the monarchy
to announce municipal elections. In 2004, numerous foreigners were
kidnapped and executed, and violence marred the Hajj pilgrimage—
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251 pilgrims were killed in a stampede. Tragically, another 345 people
were killed during the Hajj pilgrimage in 2006.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
On March 12, 2003, Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, the fa-
ther of Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar,
was quoted by the Saudi Press Authority as saying, “This country was
the launch pad for the prophecy and the message, and nothing can con-
tradict this, even if we lose our necks. Those who talked [about churches
in Saudi Arabia] are church people and they are unfortunately fanatics.
We are not against religions at all . . . but [in Saudi Arabia] there are no
churches—not in the past, the present, or the future. We say to Christians:
do whatever you want, you and your family, in your home, worship what
you want, but there has not been, or will not be, a church.”
Of course, there was a church in the region in the early centuries
before Islam. But obviously, sentiments like these are a problem for the
spread of the gospel in Saudi Arabia. Nowhere in the Saudi legal code
does it define what constitutes private practice of one’s religion, and
rules seem to be made up at whim. In addition to problems like Brian
O’Connor’s described earlier, expatriate house fellowships are raided by
the religious police, resulting in the confiscation of religious property
and sometimes the detention of ministry leaders.
The Mutawwa’in, or religious police, are distinct from the regular
police and frequently seem to be a law unto themselves. They are respon-
sible for almost all the abuse of Christians arrested in Saudi Arabia. In
some incidents, the regular police refuse to accept someone handed to
them by the Mutawwa’in, stating that there is no justification for detain-
ment and that he or she should be released immediately. Still, arbitrary
intolerance, raids on house fellowships, overzealous enforcement of
already strict dress codes, and prohibition on cross-gender social interac-
tion all make Saudi Arabia a country where Christians do not live easily
or freely.
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HOW TO PRAY FOR SAUDI ARABIA
You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you
were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from
every tribe and language and people and nation.
(Revelations 5:9 NIV)
• Pray for greater clarity concerning what is acceptable for
expatriate Christians. (Deuteronomy 29:4)
• Pray Psalm 91 protection over Muslims who have converted to
Christianity. Pray that they will find fellowship and that they
will grow in their relationship with the Lord.
• Pray for an end to the harassment of expatriate Christians.
(Exodus 3:21)
• Pray that the authorities will respond to calls for reform
coming from outside and inside Saudi Arabia. (Ezra 1:1)
• Pray that the Mutawwa’in, the “religious police,” will be
outlawed by the government. (Zephaniah 3:5)
• Pray that the fear of the Lord will come upon the religious
police and their evil schemes against Christians will be
thwarted. (Deuteronomy 11:25)
• Pray that the Gospel spreads like wildfire. (Zechariah 4:6)
* Testimony submitted by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, September 15, 2004.
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SENEGAL
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 11,987,121
CHRISTIANS: 5%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Abdoulaye Wade
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
The Barnabas Fund, a ministry devoted to the needs of the persecu-
tion church, reports that in late May of 2004 a group of young Muslim
men stormed a church in Dakar, Senegal. Armed with knives and stones
and led by a local politician, they stormed into the building and drove
everyone out.
The church knew this politician well—he had tried to reject their
formal request to hold services but was overruled by other officials. So,
on the grounds that the Christians were making too much noise, he and
a group of men took the law into their own hands. Since the Barnabas
report, the church building has not been returned to the congregation.*
Sadly, this incident is part of a trend of attacks against Christians
and their churches in Senegal, a country that has prided itself on its
religious tolerance. Muslim factions within the country would like to
make the country exclusively Islamic. In 2002, Christians and other non-
Muslims were put on alert when the president of the country announced
that “Senegal will be 100 percent Muslim in three years.”
167
SENEGAL PAST AND PRESENT
Senegal’s Muslim heritage reaches back several centuries. Islam
was established in the Senegal River Valley in the eleventh century;
currently 95 percent of the population is Muslim. Still, the country has
had a tradition of amicable coexistence between the Muslim majority
and religious minorities, including Christians and people of indigenous
faith. Interfaith marriage is relatively common; in some families, other
religious faiths are practiced alongside Islam.
Senegal gained independence from France in 1960 and was ruled by
the Socialist Party until President Abdoulaye Wade was elected in 2000.
Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of
Senegambia in 1982, but the integration of the two countries was never
carried out and the union was dissolved in 1989. A southern separatist
group has clashed sporadically with government forces since 1982, but
Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa. It also has
a long history of participating in international peacekeeping.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Although Senegal prides itself on internal religious tolerance,
evangelism is restricted and the government monitors foreign mission-
ary groups and religious organizations. Isolated incidents of interfaith
violence occur but draw widespread public criticism.
In 2004, a group of Muslim intellectuals and leaders drafted legis-
lation for the creation of the Sharia-based Islamic Family Law, which
would be applicable to all Muslims. The government and many figures in
civil society rejected the proposed draft as a threat to religious tolerance
and separation of religion and state.
When anonymous threats were made against members of the
Christian clergy in early 2004, the government quickly denounced the
threats and assured the protection of Christian leaders, thus reaffirming
its support for religious tolerance.
168
HOW TO PRAY FOR SENEGAL
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble
themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked
ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and
will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV)
• Pray for long-term church planters to help establish a mature
national church. (Philippians 1:6)
• Christian schools can have Muslim students in Senegal. Pray
that these schools will operate with excellence and that the
school leaders and families will ask questions about their faith.
(Titus 3:8)
• Pray for Christian workers to effectively disciple new
believers. (2 Timothy 2:2)
• Pray for religious tolerance even as radical Islam grows.
(Acts 17:22–31)
• Pray that the Lord will visit the entire nation in dreams and
visions. (Acts 2:17–18)
* As reported by Barnabus Fund.
169
SOMALIA
Persecution Ranking: 4 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 8,863,338
CHRISTIAN: <1%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: n/a
For years, Somalia has been a hotbed of intense anti-Christian
violence.
According to reports by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, during
the 1990s entire congregations were executed. Wives of church leaders
were abducted and forced to marry Muslim men. Pregnant women were
forced to have abortions. Somali Christians were dragged from buses
and executed on the streets. Non-Somali Christians were also harassed
and their humanitarian aid projects attacked with mortar bombs.
More recently, on April 23, 2004, thousands of Somalis took to
the streets of Mogadishu. They protested against the “Christianization
of Somalia” by setting ablaze gifts and aid parcels sent from Western
Europe. These actions were in response to a call to arms issued on the
previous day by Sheikh Nur Barud, vice chairman of an influential
Islamist group. On April 21, Barud told the Reuters news agency, “All
Somali Christians must be killed according to Islamic law. Such people
do not have a place in Somalia . . . and we will slaughter them.”*
170
Many of Somalia’s Christians belong to the Bantu tribe, an African
people who for generations have suffered severe discrimination from
other tribes in the Somali region. As a result, many Bantus have migrated
abroad. Christian believers and converts from the Somali ethnic group
make up another small percentage, and it is this vulnerable Christian
minority that is in particular need of international recognition and pro-
tection. Persecution against these Christians is so severe that churches
have been driven deeply underground.
SOMALIA PAST AND PRESENT
In 1960, Italian Somaliland and British Somaliland merged into a
single independent state, the Somali Republic. Although plagued by ter-
ritorial disputes and difficulty with Italian and British colonial legacies,
during its first nine years the Somali state remained a model of demo-
cratic governance in Africa.
But in 1969, Major General Mahammad Siad Barre seized power in
a bloodless coup. Over the next twenty-one years, Siad Barre established
a military dictatorship that divided and oppressed the people of Somalia.
When his regime came to an end in early 1991, anarchy broke out as
armed clan militias fought one another for political power.
From 1991 until now, Somalia has known regular turmoil, factional
fighting, and anarchy. New Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed
has formed a Transitional Federal Government; however, while the new
government is attempting to establish control, little is being done to
improve religious freedom. According to the Open Doors persecution
rankings, Somalia is the worst country for Christian persecution on the
African continent. It also ranks fourth on the World Watch List of the
fifty worst persecuting countries.
171
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
The few Christians in Somalia live in constant fear of discovery
and, in some instances, complete isolation. They are not able to meet
with other Christians or practice their faith without difficulty. One ethnic
Somali Christian leader in hiding said, “We live in constant fear. We
have very little rights, since people believe that there are no Christians
in Somalia. . . . We do not walk openly proclaiming our faith because we
can be assassinated anytime.”
On October 5, 2003, Sister Annalena Tonneli, a nun known as the
“Mother Teresa of Africa” who had worked in the Somali region for
thirty years, was murdered in Borama. Later that month, Richard and
Enid Eyeington, an elderly British couple working for SOS Children’s
Villages, were shot dead by several gunmen while watching television
in their home.
Incidents such as these against Christian missionaries could recur
at any time. Meanwhile, the assassination on October 7, 2005, of Dr.
Osman Sheik Ahmed, a prominent figure in Somalia’s higher education
sphere, is a further reminder of the dangers that Somali Christians face
on a daily basis. In a further worrying development, on October 31, 2005,
a Somali pastor was hospitalized with a serious gunshot wound to the
stomach after he and two other Christians were fired upon by unknown
assailants.
HOW TO PRAY FOR SOMALIA
All who fear the LORD will hate evil. That is why I hate pride,
arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech. (Proverbs 8:13)
•
172
Pray that members of the underground church have wisdom
to know how and where to meet. Pray that they find creative
ways to safely share their faith in a hostile environment.
(Psalm 112:6–8)
• Pray that Christians who have been forced to leave Somalia
will be granted refugee status, and that they will be recognized
as a persecuted community that needs a place of safety.
(Psalm 106:46)
• Pray for humanitarian aid to reach more than a million people
in need of food and assistance in northern and central parts of
Somalia. (Psalm 35:10)
• Pray that Christians globally will ask their governments to
look into the mistreatment of Somali Christians and that the
global church will find a way to meet their physical needs.
(1 John 3:17–18)
• Pray that a strong prayer network will be established for
Somalia. Also, pray that Christians will be willing for God to
use them to be the answer to their own prayers. (Isaiah 62:6)
• Pray that the Lord our God will fight on behalf of our brothers
and sisters against their enemies. (Deuteronomy 20:4)
• Pray that the international community will not tolerate the
outbreak of injustice and violence against Christians.
(Psalm 72:12)
• Pray that Christians speak forth the word of God to overcome
demonic schemes. (Isaiah 55:10–11)
* As reported by Christian Solidarity Worldwide. May 19, 2005.
173
SRI LANKA
Persecution Ranking: 30 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 20,222,240
CHRISTIANS: 8%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Buddhism
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Mahinda Rajapaksa
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
“I have forgiven you and forgotten it all. I have nothing against you.”
Pastor Nagarajah Solomon meant every word, and his claims shocked
his attacker. Earlier that night, Solomon tried to rescue two of his co-work-
ers from the village church as they were being beaten by Buddhist monks,
but both Solomon and a friend had been overcome by more than fifteen
attackers. The monks called two hundred people from the village together
and provoked them against the Christians, calling them “fundamentalists”
and calling for more brutal attacks.
Pastor Solomon and his friends spent that night in the police station
and upon being released were advised not to return to the village. Two
weeks later, the church doors were smashed, and later, Solomon received
threatening letters telling him to stop disturbing the peace.
Solomon and his congregation have continued to meet with police
approval, if not police protection. They vary their meeting time and ven-
ues. “We are very careful,” says Solomon. “I go into the village on my
motorbike so I am highly mobile. The situation is constant now, but we
are not out of trouble. They could organize another mob assault.”*
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SRI LANKA PAST AND PRESENT
The island of Sri Lanka was ceded to the British in 1796, became
a crown colony in 1802, and was united under British rule by 1815. All
three nations (Portugal, Netherlands, and the British Empire) brought
differing brands of Christianity with them and are a major factor in
the anti-Christian mentality in the nation today. Sri Lanka was granted
sovereignty rule from Britain through peaceful negotiations in 1948.
Since the mid-twentieth century, tensions between the Sinhalese ma-
jority and Tamil separatists have been pronounced, including an all-out
war in 1983. Tens of thousands have died in an ethno-religious conflict
that continues to fester. After two decades of fighting, the government
and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a Hindu separatist group, for-
malized a cease-fire in February 2002.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
The constitution of Sri Lanka protects freedom of thought, conscience,
and religion. However, a proposal to amend the constitution would make
Buddhism the state religion rather than the “foremost” religion and could
also make it illegal for Buddhists to convert to another religion.
Anti-Christian violence was at its worst at the end of 2003 and the
first few months of 2004 but decreased while the Anti-Conversion Bill was
before the Supreme Court. In May 2004, the Jathika Hela Urumaya party
(JHU) presented to the parliament a bill that would criminalize “unethi-
cal” conversions. Even though the Supreme Court ruled that parts of the
bill were unconstitutional, the JHU brought the bill to the floor again and
the proposed bill was sent to a special committee. At the writing of the
devotional, there was no further update on the status of the bill.**
The recent devastation caused by the tsunami in 2005 is a source
of both difficulty and opportunity for the church. Stories of relief ef-
forts have painted a fantastic picture of Christians, while other religious
groups have been known to turn a blind eye toward anyone outside
175
their tradition. Muslims have helped Muslims, Buddhists have helped
Buddhists, and Hindus have helped Hindus, but Christian workers have
served all people regardless of religion. Hopefully, these kinds of stories
will circulate and promote the love of Christ to all in the region.
HOW TO PRAY FOR SRI LANKA
Joyful indeed are those whose God is the LORD. (Psalm 144:15)
• Pray that communities will be able to rebuild after the
devastation of the tsunami and that Christians continue to be at
the forefront of serving the Sri Lankans. (Nehemiah 2:17–18)
• Pray that attacks on Christians and churches end.
(Psalm 33:14–22)
• Ask the Lord to intervene so that legislation to make
conversion from Buddhism illegal will not be passed.
(Daniel 7:25–26)
• Pray that the international community puts pressure on
the Sri Lankan government to ensure religious freedom.
(Matthew 21:26)
• Pray that God will impart wisdom to the President Rajapaksa
and his government to have the wisdom to rule justly and
represent all Sri Lankan citizens. (1 Chronicles 22:12)
• Pray that these renegade and hostile Buddhists are caught
and properly dealt with for their continued violence against
Christians. (Mark 4:22)
• Praise God for a Christian leader who escaped with his family
in the night because Buddhist extremists were directed to the
wrong house. (Psalm 91)
* As reported by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, May 5, 2005.
176
SUDAN
Persecution Ranking: 20 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 41,236,378
CHRISTIANS: 10%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Kabissa Akaya couldn’t stop weeping. She wrapped some clothing
tightly around her waist to try to stop the sobs from coming up.
After her husband was executed and her one-year-old son massacred
because they were Christians, she was brought away from her home to
north Sudan by a Muslim extremist using the Sharia law as excuse for
extreme brutality. Stabbed in her leg at one point for refusing to help with
directions, Kabissa tried to take her own life but was bound and dragged.
For the next four years, Kabissa was enslaved in a cattle compound.
Raped by one of the Arabs, Kabissa gave birth to a child she called
“Mam,” which means “suffering.”*
People like Kabissa live throughout Sudan, a land where suffering
has become a way of life for thousands of people, including many who
believe in Christ.
SUDAN PAST AND PRESENT
Since gaining independence from the British in 1956, Sudan has
enjoyed only eleven years of peace. Nineteen eighty-three marked the
177
beginning of over two decades of brutal civil war between northern and
southern Sudan, making it the longest running military conflict in Africa.
Two million people were killed and many others made refugees, but the
international response to stories like Kabissa’s has been poorly investi-
gated. These atrocities will continue unless the international community
is committed and gets involved in the process of bringing these crimes
against humanity to an end.
The causes of Sudan’s war are complex. In 1983 President Numeiry
imposed Sharia law by military decree, thereby revoking the autonomy
of the south, which was filled with animists and Christian believers.
Subsequent governments, primarily under General and current-President
Umar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir, continued to pursue an Islamist agenda
and to justify acts of extreme brutality.
In this environment of war, gross violations of human rights have
been commonplace for Christians and non-Christians. The tribes of
southern Sudan have experienced unimaginable horrors, including aerial
bombing, razing villages, abducting and raping women and children, slit-
ting open the bellies of pregnant women, slavery, and forced starvation.
A long-awaited peace agreement was signed by the government and
the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement on January 9, 2005. The
agreement effectively allowed the southern states six years of autonomy
before a referendum would be held on independence. The south would
share in oil revenue and have a separate flag, currency, and army. It was
also agreed that the south would be secular while the north would remain
an Islamic state.
Will the agreement be kept? Time will tell, and our prayers will help.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
As one conflict appears to be resolved, perhaps the world’s worst
humanitarian situation has emerged in Darfur (western Sudan). The
Sudanese regime is still apparently pursuing genocidal policies, this
178
time against the tribes of Darfur who espouse the Sufi brand of Islam.
According to recent estimates, at least 300,000 people have died in this
conflict. Most of the dead are civilians murdered during government at-
tacks on their homes.
The events in Darfur have spilled into other areas. The continued ex-
istence of government militia groups, rivalries between southern tribes,
and the overwhelming task of building a viable infrastructure in one of
the most deprived and devastated regions of the world all remain major
threats for the Sudanese people.
HOW TO PRAY FOR SUDAN
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with
the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 NIV)
• Pray that the peace agreement signed in January 2005 will be
honored. (Matthew 5:33)
• Pray for reconciliation among various tribal groups and
communities affected by the war. (Matthew 5:24)
• Pray that the new constitution of Sudan will include freedom
of religion. (John 4:22–24; Daniel 6:25–26)
• Pray that the emerging generation will be used by God to
bring Sudan into the fullness of His plans and purposes for the
nation. (Isaiah 14:24)
• Pray for the end of the practice of slavery and for the freedom
of those still held captive. (Isaiah 61:1)
• Pray that dignity will return to those who have been
horrifically treated. (Proverbs 3:2)
• Pray that the global church will cry out to the Lord on behalf
of this devastated nation. (Psalms 55:16–19)
• Pray that the fear of the Lord will come upon these wicked
men perpetuating these crimes (2 Chronicles 17:10)
* As reported by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, May 5, 2005.
179
SYRIA
Persecution Ranking: 45 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 18,881,361
CHRISTIANS: 5–10%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Bashar al-Asad
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
If you’ve been reading the Bible very long, you are already familiar
with a famous Syrian story. The apostle Paul’s conversion to Christianity
when Jesus Christ appeared to him in a cloud of light happened on the
road to Damascus, which is the capital of Syria.
Today, such miraculous stories are needed more than ever in a coun-
try that is becoming known more for tales of persecution than tales of
conversion.
In the fall of October 2004, Ibrahim Nasin Abdul-Ahad was walk-
ing to his father-in-law’s home when he was met by his father-in-law’s
neighbor, Raad Al Raadi, and two of Raad’s brothers. The three men
confronted and threatened Ibrahim, who fled into his father-in-law’s
home for safety.
The brothers continued to taunt Ibrahim from outside the house, at
one point attempting to break in. Fearful for his life, Ibrahim called his
brother to come help. When his brother arrived, the Al Raadis attacked
him. Running outside to help, Ibrahim was shot twice and fell to the
ground. At that point, Murad Al Raadi, an officer in the Syrian National
180
Guard, drew his handgun, walked over to Ibrahim’s lifeless body, and
shot him through the chin.
With his victim in a pool of blood, Murad Al Raadi began shriek-
ing and screaming while kicking the lifeless head and body of Irbahim,
swearing obscenities to all “Christian dogs who deserve this fate.” As a
small crowd of terrified neighbors looked on, Murad Al Raadi threatened
that he would kill any “Christian dogs” that tried to help the “worthless
infidel.” In utter disbelief, a man named Yelda Yacoub Youkhana ignored
the threats in order to see if there remained a chance to save Irbahim. As
Yelda bent down to comfort his neighbor, Murad shot him in the back.
From there, the story continues like many stories of persecution in
the region. For some time, the Abdul-Ahad family’s pleas for help from
the state and police went unheeded, and the Al Raadi brothers remained
free. No investigation was launched and no arrests made. At long last,
a committee of civic and religious leaders was established to address
the government’s abdication of its responsibility and to press for a trial
against the Al Raadi brothers.*
From conversion in the street to murder in the street, Syria is a coun-
try in desperate need of prayer.
SYRIA PAST AND PRESENT
The population of over 18 million Syrians includes more than 2
million Christians—a significant population but still a minority. Most
Christians live in Damascus and Aleppo, though there are small groups
elsewhere.
Syria is the only Arab country currently run by a Baath party (Iraq
was controlled by the Baaths before Saddam Hussein was removed from
power). As an indication of how oppressive this regime is, Syria operates
under the State Emergency Legislation. Suspects can be detained with-
out charge or trial. Trials can be conducted without due process. There is
no true freedom of expression, and correspondence is monitored.
181
One ongoing problem facing the government—and one reason for
the suppression of religious voices—is that the population of Syria is a
mix of several ethnic groups who have a hard time coexisting peacefully.
Most recently, tensions between the Kurds and the rest of the population
erupted into violence in March 2004, resulting in the deaths of fourteen
people.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
The established church in Syria is diverse. Major denominations
include the Armenian, Chaldean, Latin Rite, Maronite, Greek and Syrian
Catholics, Greek, Armenian and Syrian Orthodox, the Assyrian Church,
Christian and Missionary Alliance, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Nazarene.
The largest of these is the Greek Orthodox Church.
Syria is religiously tolerant to an extent, at least for traditional
churches. Repression from the government is more political than re-
ligious. There is actually no law against proselytizing. However, wit-
nessing is strongly discouraged, primarily for fear that it will cause
inter-ethnic tensions. Likewise, overt evangelism is seen as having a
political effect and is not permitted.
Churches are required to obtain approval for all meetings other than
advertised worship services. Home meetings are strongly discouraged
and might be attended by secret police.
Some church groups work well together. In Aleppo, St. Joseph’s
Church is jointly owned by Catholic and Orthodox congregations and
made available to all Christians in the city. But in many places there is
lack of unity.
Both Eastern and Western Easter (observed by Orthodox and
Protestant/Catholics, respectively) are recognized public holidays, lend-
ing official recognition to the central Christian holiday.
182
HOW TO PRAY FOR SYRIA
How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom
will last forever, his rule through all generations. (Daniel 4:3)
• Pray for greater Christian unity in more cities and towns
across Syria. (Ephesians 4:3)
• Pray that God will intervene in the human rights situation.
(Psalm 72:4 NKJV)
• Pray for traditional believers—that they will devoutly live
out their faith and bear testimony to their Lord and Savior.
(Isaiah 43:10–11)
• Pray for greater acceptance of those who choose to follow
Jesus Christ. (Psalm 106:3)
• Pray that President Bashar al-Assad comes to the saving
knowledge of Jesus Christ and that he will surrender his life to
Christ. (Psalm 76:11–12)
• Pray that the Lord contends with those who contend with
Christians, and that the Lord will fight against those who fight
against Christians. (Psalm 35:1)
* As reported by the Assyrian National News Agency, October 31, 2004.
183
TAIWAN
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 23,036,087
CHRISTIANS: 4%
DOMINANT RELIGION:
Chinese Religions (Buddhism/Taoism)
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Chen Shui-bian
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
In Taiwan, the seventh month of the lunar calendar is “Ghost Month.”
Some believe that on the first day of this month the gates of Hades are
opened and the spirits trapped inside are freed to roam.
This explains why people burn paper money and make offerings
in front of their homes and businesses. Trapped by a dark religious
paradigm, these people fear that if they do not perform such rituals, the
ghosts roaming the streets will bring harm to them and their families. For
the entire month, people live in trepidation of the spirits.*
Such complex spiritual and mental issues are massive barriers to
ministry to the Taiwanese. While persecution against Christians is rela-
tively minor, the Taiwanese people are constantly tormented by destruc-
tive ideas about how to relate to the spiritual realm.
184
TAIWAN PAST AND PRESENT
In 1895, China ceded Taiwan to Japan in a military defeat. Taiwan
reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Soon, 2 million national-
ists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the same constitu-
tion that existed in China.
The next five decades saw a gradual democratization of the country.
In 2000, Taiwan underwent a peaceful transfer of power from the nation-
alist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Still, the relationship between
China and Taiwan continues to be a dominant political issue, and the
question of eventual unification is ever present.
Taiwan is not recognized by China as a sovereign state. China allows
Taiwan a mostly autonomous existence, but if Taiwan were to formally
renounce China’s authority, the consequences could be severe.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Taiwan’s constitution calls for religious freedom, and its people
are able to worship and believe what they want. But as mentioned,
because of their interfaces with China, Taiwan has a long tradition of
ancestor worship. This is one of the main barriers to faith in Christ.
Other problems facing the Taiwanese are rampant gambling and a
rapid rise in materialism—both issues that call for an urgent gospel
witness.
Christian missions to Taiwan greatly increased during the middle of
the twentieth century. There was a long period of Christian harvest fol-
lowed by a long period of stagnation. Today, Christian leaders struggle
greatly with issues of discipleship—it is not uncommon for people to
embrace the gospel, then fall away from faith because of the allure of
materialism.
185
HOW TO PRAY FOR TAIWAN
Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather
than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.
Nothing you desire can compare with it. (Proverbs 8:10–11)
• Pray that the church will learn to address the problems of
ancestor worship, gambling, and rising trends of materialism
and that it will be instrumental in leading the country out of
those bondages. (2 Corinthians 5:11)
• The church in Taiwan is sometimes regarded as intellectual
and irrelevant to daily life. Pray for this stigma to be
overcome. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
• Pray for those in seminary and Bible school—that they
will receive excellent training in evangelism and teaching.
(2 Timothy 2:2)
• Pray for the relationship between China and Taiwan.
(Psalm 133:1)
• Pray that God gives the Taiwanese Christians a heart to reach
their country with the Gospel message. (Mark 13:10)
* Submitted by SEND International Christian World Missions.
186
TAJIKISTAN
Persecution Ranking: 34 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 7,320,815
CHRISTIANS: 1–2%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Emomali Rahmonov
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: Yes
Official appearances do not match reality in the country of
Tajikistan. Though a democratic republic, Tajikistan is stridently
Islamic, with more than 90 percent of its citizens in submission to
Allah. In areas where the Christian church is growing, anti-Christian
activity is rampant. In the southern region, all Christian believers have
been asked to leave and in some cases forced to flee. Public accounts
are hard to come by because of a cloak of silence, but we do know of
one account in a northern village where a Russian Baptist church pas-
tor was executed while praying in his church.*
Worst of all is the situation in eastern Tajikistan. There, we’re told
that the gospel has never been preached. In village after village, people
live their entire lives never hearing that there is a good God who loves
them, who has freely given them the free gift of salvation through His
Son Jesus Christ, and Who wants to redeem their lives.
As you learn about how to pray for Tajikistan, please remember
these people in the eastern part of the country: pray that they will have
an opportunity to hear about the good news of Jesus Christ. (Romans
10:14–15)
187
TAJIKISTAN PAST AND PRESENT
The people known as the Tajiks are the Persian speakers of Central
Asia. Their ancestors inhabited Central Asia, which includes present-day
Afghanistan and western China, at the dawn of history. Despite the lon-
gevity of its indigenous peoples, Tajikistan has existed as a state only
since the Soviet Union decreed its existence in 1925.
Nearly seventy years of Soviet rule brought Tajikistan both modern-
ization and repression. Through the end of the Soviet era, Tajikistan had
one of the lowest standards of living of all Soviet republics.
Tajikistan was finally free when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991,
but the first few years of independence were times of great hardship.
The economy was in shambles, and a bloody civil conflict erupted over
whether the country would perpetuate a system of Soviet-like monopoly
rule or establish a more democratic regime. The struggle peaked in out-
right war during the second half of 1992, and smaller-scale conflict con-
tinued into the mid-1990s. The victors preserved a repressive system of
rule, and the lingering effects of the conflict have contributed to horrific
living conditions to this day.
In the wake of the recent war in Afghanistan, the international
community has turned its attention to Tajikistan, which has brought
the kind of economic development assistance that could create jobs
and increase stability. Tajikistan is in the early stages of seeking World
Trade Organization membership and has joined NATO’s Partnership for
Peace.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
The virulent majority Muslim population, low education levels,
poor living conditions, and a relatively new government all pose ma-
jor challenges to the church. The majority of Tajikistan’s Muslims are
Sunni, and a smaller group is Shiite. Less than 10 percent of the remain-
188
ing population is comprised of Russian Orthodox faith, small Protestant
Christian groups, and a very small Jewish community.
As mentioned, Christian believers in Tajikistan say that the entire
eastern half of the country has little and perhaps no contact with the
gospel. They want to help spread the message of Christ but are deeply
concerned about the high stakes involved in preaching. As in many
Islamic areas, conversion to Christianity can mean anything from social
and professional exclusion to physical abuse and loss of life.
HOW TO PRAY FOR TAJIKISTAN
Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of
the world revere him. (Psalm 32:8 NIV)
• Pray for God to raise mature and anointed leaders for the
ministry with a desire to see their nation reached with the
glorious gospel. (Exodus 18:25)
• Pray that strong churches will be set up and have long-lasting
and positive effects in their communities. (Titus 2:6–8 NKJV)
• Pray for President Rahmonov—that he will govern wisely in
these times of trial and that he will have a love for all people
in Tajikistan. (1 Timothy 2:2)
• Pray that the President’s decisions will be inspired by the Holy
Spirit. (1 Timothy 2:1–3)
• Pray for the government to rapidly and effectively update
infrastructure and living conditions in Tajikistan. Pray
that God will use Christians to be actively involved in the
transformation of Tajikistan. (Daniel 1:17)
* As reported by F18 News Service, May 2004.
189
THAILAND
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 64,631,595
CHRISTIANS: 1–2%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Buddhism
POLITICAL LEADER:
Prime Minister Surayut Chulanon
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Southern Thailand is seeing the growth of fundamentalist, militant
Islam. Of course, this bodes poorly for ongoing Christian outreach in the
region, not to mention the lives of Christians and non-Muslims already
in the region. In 2004, several Muslims died while in custody of Thai
security forces in southern Thailand, and the fundamentalist community
responded by beheading several non-Muslims in the area.*
Thankfully, Thailand is not ripe with violence. But like many of
the other non-ranked countries you’ve read about and prayed for in this
book, it could see an escalation of persecution in the years to come.
THAILAND PAST AND PRESENT
In the early decades of the twentieth century, Thailand underwent
drastic changes. Many Thai studied overseas, and a small Western-
educated elite with less traditional ideas emerged. In recent decades, the
constitution has changed several times in an effort to nurture democratic
reform.
190
Buddhism continues to be the state religion of Thailand, and
Buddhist ceremonies are typically an integral part of government and
public functions. The Thai king does support all religions; however, the
Buddhist religion is very much the way of life. For many Thai, their
nationality and religion are closely linked, and their attitude is that to be
Thai is to be Buddhist. Freedom of religion is currently guaranteed in
the constitution, which was modified in 1998 to loosen ties between the
government and Buddhism and to increase harmony between religious
communities.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Despite rapid growth of the Christian population in Thailand,
in the 1990s Christians still consisted of a meager percentage of the
population—less than 1 percent. Narin Sritandon, the first General
Secretary of the International Thai Mission, writes, “Thailand means
‘free land.’ It is also free for practicing any religion. The Thai govern-
ment typically acts kindly toward churches.” Indeed, the government
supports churches financially, but this means they are subject to taxa-
tion and regulation. Ministry to the poor is strained, and the govern-
ment effectively limits the number of foreign missionaries allowed into
Thailand.
Thai society generally accepts the church. There has been suffering
for individual Christians, but where Christians stand firm, they gradually
earn community and familial respect. Christian missions have consider-
able freedom for ministry despite restrictions on the number of visas for
missionaries.
Still, only in the 1980s did Protestants begin to see an increase in the
number of their members. And since much of the Christian growth has
been among the Thai-speaking Chinese in the cities, tribal peoples are
not always reached by Christian ministry.
Of Thailand’s estimated 2.5 million Muslims, 90 percent are Malay.
Nearly all of them live in Thailand’s five southernmost provinces, where
191
there has been political tension and guerilla activity by communists and
Muslim separatists. The upsurge in Islam in the south is affecting Thai
Malays and complicating Christian outreach, as many Muslim seekers
can be unresponsive due to fear of community backlash.
HOW TO PRAY FOR THAILAND
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the
LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14 NIV)
• Pray for Thai Christians who face tough social pressures due
to their faith. (Philippians 4:12–13)
• Pray for the effective spread of the gospel in Thailand,
especially in the southern Muslim region. Pray that new
believers will be properly discipled. (2 Thessalonians 3:1–5)
• Pray for church growth in outlying areas that have lesser-
known languages. (2 Corinthians 10:15–16)
• Pray for Christian resources to be developed in Thai and in the
different dialects spoken in the country. (Psalm 68:11 KJV)
* Testimony submitted by Jubilee Campaign.
192
TIBET
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 2,600,000
CHRISTIANS: <1%
China
Tibet
DOMINANT RELIGION: Buddhism
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Hu Jintao (under China rule)
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Tibet has no written laws against Christian worship. One might think
this means that Christians can meet together and perhaps even preach the
gospel.
But Tibet has an unwritten law that outlaws the practice of
Christianity. Christians who are known to gather for worship are almost
always arrested and sometimes imprisoned. Christians are living and
working in Tibet but only in utmost secret.
Tibet is not everywhere officially recognized as a country and has no
Open Doors Persecution ranking. But have no doubt—Tibetan believers
face extreme and constant danger, and they need our prayerful attention
today.
TIBET PAST AND PRESENT
Tibet is home to the Dalai Lama, the central figure in Buddhism.
The region has an extensive cultural history. It was a British protector-
ate through the first half of the twentieth century, but in 1949, Chinese
emperor Mao Zedong imposed his rule on the region. The next year, the
193
People’s Liberation Army of China entered Tibet and encountered little
resistance. China continues to control the region to this day.
Though Christianity apparently had a presence in Tibet as early as
the sixth century A.D., Buddhism is clearly central to the country’s his-
tory and identity. Indeed, Tibet is widely considered the very center of
Buddhism. The region is so steeped in Buddhism that missionary activity
has always been difficult—the gospel of grace is hard to plant in the
tough soil of Buddhism’s works-oriented spirituality.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
While freedom of religion is guaranteed in the words of the Chinese
constitution, there are many obstacles to faith in Christ in Tibet. Some in
the region believe that a Tibetan who wishes to convert to Christianity
exchanges the oppression of Buddhism for the oppression of commu-
nism. Those who do convert face harassment at the cultural and political
level, including outright persecution.
Though Christians can be found in Tibet, they are the smallest of mi-
norities. The church is estimated at little more than three hundred people
in this nation of 7.3 million.
HOW TO PRAY FOR TIBET
For that [Gospel] I am suffering affliction and even wearing chains
like a criminal. But the Word of God is not chained or imprisoned!
(2 Timothy 2:9 AMP)
• •
194
Pray that the government will continue to allow foreign
visitors and begin to allow foreign workers to reside in the
country. (2 Chronicles 6:32–33)
Pray that the first railroad into Tibet will be used by God to
spread the gospel. (Romans 15:16)
• Pray that the gospel of grace will bring balance to the works-
oriented culture of Buddhism. (John 1:17; Titus 2:11–14)
• Pray that Tibetans will enjoy true freedom of religion and be
able to practice the Christian faith without governmental or
cultural pressure. (John 4:23)
• Pray for an outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord to draw non-
believers to Christ and to refresh and strengthen believers.
(2 Thessalonians 3:1–5)
195
TUNISIA
Persecution Ranking: 46 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 10,175,014
CHRISTIANS: <1%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Zine El Abidine ben Ali
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Christians in some parts of the world might worry about being ques-
tioned about their faith at school or work. In Tunisia, Christians worry
about being questioned by the security police anywhere at any time.
One new believer was nearly overcome with fear when police sched-
uled an interview with him. “What sort of questions will they ask me?”
he wondered to his mentor. “Will they put me in prison? Will they hit
me?” His mentor helped him study Matthew 10:19–20, which says, “But
when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At
that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking,
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (NIV).
In truth, there are no reports of these interviews turning violent—
they are more of an imposition than a physical threat. Still, anxiety over
the interrogations has caused some believers to walk away from their
faith in Christ. Plus, the government generally does not permit Christian
groups to establish new churches, and proselytizing is viewed as an il-
legal act against public order.
196
TUNISIA PAST AND PRESENT
Following independence from France in 1956, President Habib
Bourguiba established a strict one-party system in Tunisia. He dominated
the country for thirty-one years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and
establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. In
recent years, Tunisia has taken a moderate, non-aligned stance toward
foreign relations, and it has sought to defuse pressure for a more open
political society.
An export-oriented market economy is developing, with major in-
dustries of manufacturing, textiles, agriculture, oil, and tourism. Though
Islam is the majority faith, Saturday and Sunday are weekend days—a
clear reflection of the country’s desire for good trade relations with
Western nations. The education system is well tooled, and women have
equal employment rights.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Since 1993 when the global prayer movement launched with Praying
Through the Window and a concerted global prayer effort focusing on
Tunisia, the local church has grown—from a handful of believers to a
dozen fellowships with more than three hundred followers of Christ.
The constitution states that Islam is the official state religion. The
government pays the salaries of the Grand Mutfi and the Grand Rabbi and
controls the operation of all mosques. The president must be a Muslim,
but he must also allow the free practice of other religions. The government
respects all places of worship that were present at independence in 1956.
While the government ostensibly supports religious freedom, po-
litical freedom is denied. Tunisia remains effectively a one-party state.
President Zine El Abidine ben Ali’s Constitutional Democratic Party has
total control of the presidency and legislature. Though the constitution
reserves 20 percent of parliamentary seats for opposition parties, the
president appoints the Prime Minister, the cabinet, and twenty-four re-
197
gional governors. Political dissent is not tolerated. The Tunisian church
is careful not to challenge the political order, either directly itself or
indirectly through expatriate Christians. Any such activity would likely
bring strong retribution.
As in many Islamic nations, people who choose to follow Jesus Christ
usually face strong pressure from family and friends. Consequently,
many move to the capital city of Tunis to seek fellowship. The Christian
presence elsewhere is small and scattered.
HOW TO PRAY FOR TUNISIA
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes
refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8 NIV)
• • Pray for an increase in the kind of political freedom that can
bring more religious freedom and establish local churches for
the growing number of Christians. (Jeremiah 29:7)
• Pray that viable groups of Christians will emerge in cities and
towns across Tunisia. (1 Thessalonians 1:8)
• Pray for the provision of suitable education opportunities for
national Christians. (2 Timothy 2:2)
• Pray for greater societal acceptance of Christianity and
believers, including those coming to the Lord from other
faiths. (Exodus 12:36)
• Pray that those helping to finance the church will encourage
churches to work together in unity. (Romans 15:5)
•
198
Pray for Tunisian Christians called to interviews with the
security police—that they will be wise and bold as they
respond to interrogation. (Acts 4:31)
Pray that there will not be any competition in the existing
churches and that the believers in the country will work in
harmony to advance the Kingdom of God. (Romans 14:16–18)
• The divorce rate among Christians is high in Tunisia. Pray
that couples will be trained to strengthen their marriages and
families. (Ephesians 5:33)
• Pray that sin will not be tolerated in the church, especially
among leaders. (1 Timothy 3:6–7)
• The leadership in the church is young. Pray that they will
receive the proper training to pastor, grow in their faith, and
disciple their congregation. (1 Timothy 4:11–13)
199
TURKEY
Persecution Ranking: 35 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 70,413,958
CHRISTIANS: <1%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
One day while Yakup Cindilli and a friend were handing out New
Testaments in his hometown of Orhangazi, they took a break in a café.
While inside, three men invited Yakup to step into the street to talk. As
they walked through the door, Yakup was seized, pulled into an isolated
spot, and beaten severely.
Yakup struggled back to his companion, who took him to the hos-
pital. Two days later, he lapsed into a coma. A blood clot had formed on
his brain, and he was in intensive care for several weeks. When he finally
awoke, he could not speak or recognize anyone.
Since that time in the fall of 2003, Yakup and his family have suf-
fered a series of frustrating setbacks, both in Yakup’s health and in the
prosecution of the men who beat him. All three men were arrested, but
one—reportedly the local head of a nationalist political party—was soon
released. Although Christian leaders wrote to the judge that similar attacks
had occurred among their members, the court determined that the dispute
was of a personal nature and not an instance of religious persecution.
Yakup’s health has improved, but at the time of this writing he did
200
not have full use of his right arm and could not speak clearly. But his
friends and family are thankful he survived, and he is a reminder of
Christ Jesus’ suffering for all of us.*
TURKEY PAST AND PRESENT
Turkey is a relatively new nation in a very old land. The term Turkey,
although sometimes signifying the Ottoman Empire, was not related to a
specific area until the republic was founded in 1923. The modern Turkish
state began with the creation of the Republic of Turkey in the years fol-
lowing World War I.
After a period of one-party rule, an experiment with multi-party
politics led to the 1950 election victory of the Democratic Party and
a peaceful transfer of power. Since then, Turkish political parties have
multiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods of instability.
Turkey joined the UN in 1945, and in 1952 it became a member of
NATO. In 1964, Turkey became an associate member of the European
Community. Turkey has undertaken many reforms to strengthen its democ-
racy and economy, and it is in membership talks with the European Union.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Today, there is an established church in Turkey. The largest sects are
the Armenian Orthodox Church and the Syrian Orthodox Church, who
have 55,000 and 12,000 members respectively.
The Eastern Orthodox Church includes fourteen denominations.
There are small numbers of Assyrian, Chaldean, Maronite, Latin Rite,
and Syrian Catholic Christians. There is also an emerging network of
evangelical Protestant fellowships made up of Turkish converts. Such
fellowships face two major problems. First, registering as a church is dif-
ficult, if not impossible. One fellowship succeeded in 2002, but the legal
route they used has subsequently been blocked by higher courts. Second,
there are frequent problems with renting property for worship meetings
201
because new Christian churches are treated differently from mosques.
But happily, in 2004 there was a change in zoning laws, and the term
mosque was replaced with place of worship. Difficulties remain, notably
that a place of worship is required to cover at least 2,500 square meters
(roughly half a soccer/football field), which is far larger than many fel-
lowships need or can afford.
HOW TO PRAY FOR TURKEY
But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each
other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to
me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come
and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.
(Revelations 2:4–5)
• • Pray that churches will multiply in unprecedented number and
that there will be numerous churches that qualify as a place of
worship. (Acts 17:26)
• Pray that believers will be wise and courageous in their
witness for Christ. (Acts 4:31)
• Pray for an end to discrimination against Christians over jobs.
(Genesis 39:4)
• Pray that key leaders will begin to inquire about Jesus Christ
and what they must do to be saved. (John 3:1–2)
• Pray for the protection of believers, in light of recent murders
of Christians, and pray that the Lord will deal with those who
attacked them. (Psalm 91)
•
202
Pray that churches will be granted the right to register
officially as churches. (Revelations 3:7–8)
Pray that believers will know and use their spiritual authority
according to the Word of God. (Matthew 28:18–19 and
Colossians 1:27)
•
Pray that when the enemy comes against Christians that the
Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against the enemy
by sending forth weapons from His arsenal in heaven. (Exodus
15:3, 6–7, and Isaiah 59:19)
* Testimony submitted by Middle East Concern/3P Ministries, May 13, 2005.
203
TURKMENISTAN
Persecution Ranking: 14 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 5,042,920
CHRISTIANS: <2–3%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER: (acting) President
Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
The government of Turkmenistan is employed in a continuing initia-
tive to wipe out religious minorities, including Christians. In 2001, the
Keston News Service reported that police and local officials of the city’s
Niyazov district raided a believers meeting at New Life Church.
The church, which meets in a private home, had not registered
with the government. Twenty-four people were detained overnight and
warned not to attend future meetings. Although Turkmenistan’s religious
law does not forbid unregistered religious activity, the government treats
all such activity as illegal.
Protestant communities like New Life face increasing pressure.
Churches have been raided and fined and their ministers detained or
expelled. At least three ministry leaders are currently in hiding. Many
groups have been prevented from reviving their ministry in the country,
and the Catholic Church is allowed to be active only on official Vatican
diplomatic territory.
204
TURKMENISTAN PAST AND PRESENT
Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became
a Soviet republic in 1924. It achieved independence upon the dissolu-
tion of the U.S.S.R. in 1991. Deceased President Saparmurat Niyazov
retained absolute control over the country and opposition was not toler-
ated. Extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a windfall
to this underdeveloped country if extraction and delivery projects were
to be expanded.
Turkmenistan has a history of trying to snuff out private religious
activity. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have
expressed concern about Shagildy Atakov, a Baptist prisoner. During
a recent visit to the prison, Atakov’s wife said she found him bruised,
hardly able to walk, and experiencing a loss of consciousness. Local
Baptists in Turkmenistan report that Atakov is being pressured to swear
an oath of loyalty to the current leadership and the state.*
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Turkmenistan’s religious policy is one of the most repressive of
all the former Soviet republics. Protestant Christian activity is illegal.
Only communities of the Sunni Muslim Board and the Russian Orthodox
Church have gained state recognition. Numerous arrests and attempts to
close places of worship have been reported. As of this writing, at least
one religious prisoner is believed to be near death due to ill treatment by
prison officials.
It is also reported that authorities in the capital city, Ashgabad,
sealed off the only remaining Baptist church. Authorities charge that the
church has no registration—but of course, all churches in Turkmenistan
lost state registration following the adoption of a new law.
In 2004, President Niyazov signed a decree that provided a legal
basis for the systematic harassment of religious minority groups. The
205
law criminalizes activities of unregistered religious organizations and
restricts religious education. Those who violate the law’s provisions
twice within one year face a fine of between ten and thirty times the av-
erage monthly wage, corrective labor up to one year, or prison. The U.S.
Commission on International Religious Freedom has said it is deeply
concerned about the repressive law, and although the regulations have
recently been softened somewhat, there are reports of continuing dif-
ficulty and harassment.
HOW TO PRAY FOR TURKMENISTAN
In this way, I will show my greatness and holiness, and I will
make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then
they will know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 38:23)
• Pray that God will soften the government’s current stance
against Christianity. (Esther 8:8)
• Pray for the protection and strength of Christians in hiding.
(Psalm 31:15)
• Pray that Christians will rise up in their spiritual authority and
disallow every diabolical sanction which comes against the
will of God for their lives. (Isaiah 40:10)
• Pray for wisdom for Turkmen Christians as they encounter
difficulty in the practice of their faith. (John 14:26)
• Pray for relaxed regulations against unregistered churches and
that registration will be permitted. (Ezra 7:28)
• Pray that the truth of the gospel will permeate the nation. Pray
that key leaders will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus
Christ. (Acts 17:12)
* As reported by F18 News Service, March 2001.
206
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Persecution Ranking: 38 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 2,602,713
CHRISTIANS: 9–10% (expatriates)
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER: President Khalifa bin
Zayed al-Nahayyan
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Four years ago, Revelations Fernando Alconga, a minister from the
Conservative Baptist Association of the Philippines, went out to distrib-
ute Christian tracts in the Al Bustan Center in Al Ausaia, Dubai. The next
evening, he was approached by two agents and arrested for “Abusing
Islam and Christian Missionary Activity.” After being detained for sev-
eral months, he was formerly convicted of the charges.
Several months later, Revelations Alconga was allowed to post bail.
As of this writing, he is still in the appeals process. He and his wife are
safe in the Philippines with their two sons. His ministry in the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) is stalled while he works to clear his name of any
wrongdoing.
Note the murkiness of the problem here—Revelations Alconga was
detained and kept away from his family without fair legal process, and
it is anyone’s guess as to how the situation will resolve. Believers in the
area live under the whim of authorities who would like to do anything
they can to limit the spread of the Christian faith.*
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES PAST AND PRESENT
The United Arab Emirates was formed in 1970 when six small
emirates—or territories ruled by a chief known as an “emir”—gained
independence from the United Kingdom. A seventh emirate joined soon
after. The UAE has a federal structure similar to the United States. Sheik
Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayyan, the ruler of the largest and richest emir-
ate, Abu Dhabi, is the leader of the federal state.
The UAE is comprised of 25 percent national citizens and 75 per-
cent expatriate or migrant workers. This mix creates an unusual society,
with a larger than expected number of single men in their twenties.
The UAE’s per capita GDP is on par with those of leading Western
European nations. Its generosity with oil revenues and its moderate for-
eign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in the affairs
of its broader geographical region.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
In the UAE, overt Christian outreach to indigenous citizens and
Sunni Muslims of any nationality is forbidden. Anyone caught sharing
the gospel is met with difficulty. Despite this, there are Christian hospi-
tals and other organizations operating in the country with a distinctive
Christian ethos and expatriate Christian staff.
In general, the UAE appears open to some change. It has embraced
globalization as a means of economic development—that is, it is in-
terested in expanding its economic base beyond oil revenues. But it is
a carefully monitored state, and the authorities quickly deal with any
behavior outside accepted norms.
208
HOW TO PRAY FOR UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
For God has not given us a spirit of fear,
but of power and love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV)
• Pray that Christian migrant workers will creatively and wisely
utilize the opportunities afforded to them for evangelism.
(Proverbs 3:5–6)
• Pray that there will be a powerful move of God among the
nationals. (Acts 2:11)
• Pray for good relationships among Christians of many
nationalities, cultures, and languages. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
• Pray that expatriate pastors and leaders will develop close and
trusting relationships with one another. (1 Thessalonians 4:9)
• Pray that this country will adhere to its constitution to
grant freedom of religion to everyone living in the country.
(Daniel 6:26)
* Testimony submitted by Compass Direct, May 2003.
209
UZBEKISTAN
Persecution Ranking: 11 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 27,307,134
CHRISTIANS: 1–2%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Islam Karimov
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
In the summer of 2004, Kural Bekjanov, a nineteen-year-old man
living in the capital of Uzbekistan, was arrested on charges of murder.
An elderly Korean woman who worked with Pentecostal churches had
been found strangled and beaten, and Bekjanov was the first suspect.
The accusations against him were dropped two days later, but during that
time, the police officers learned that Bekjanov was himself a Pentecostal
Christian.
For twelve days, the police brutally tortured the young man. They
inserted needles under his fingernails and broke his ribs, attempting
to force him to renounce faith in Christ. When his mother was finally
allowed to see him at the police station, Bekjanov could barely walk.
He had lost significant weight, and his fingers and legs were covered in
blood.*
Sadly, this story is part of a widespread crackdown occurring against
Protestant believers. Churches have been closed, and pastors have been
imprisoned. Uzbekistan is a country growing in intolerance against fol-
lowers of Christ.
210
UZBEKISTAN PAST AND PRESENT
The region now known as Uzbekistan lies along the old Silk Road.
The home of many remarkable scholars, including the founder of al-
gebra and one of the earliest scientific astronomers, it is an area with a
rich cultural history. Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late nineteenth
century, and it was swallowed up by the Soviet Union after the October
Revolution. The Soviets modernized the cities, partitioned the rural
areas into farming collectives, and educated the people. Independent
since 1991, Uzbekistan has hopes for an economic boom—it seeks to
gradually lessen its dependence on agriculture while developing min-
eral and petroleum reserves.
The church in the region was vibrant until the 1400s, existing along-
side Islam, Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism, but Islam became the pre-
dominant religion of the area. All religious expression was suppressed
under Soviet rule, but since the nation’s independence, the church is
experiencing growth.
Current concerns include terrorism by Islamic militants, economic
stagnation, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
In theory, religious freedom is guaranteed under Uzbekistan’s con-
stitution, but churches that attempt to lawfully register are denied and
often subject to harassment and arrest. Proselytizing is illegal. Christians
were rarely tried and convicted in the past, but the atmosphere appears
to be worsening. In some areas of the country, believers who have been
arrested have found drugs planted on themselves. They are then charged
under the drug laws, resulting in relatively long jail sentences.
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HOW TO PRAY FOR UZBEKISTAN
The LORD is King! Let the nations tremble! He sits on his throne
between the cherubim. Let the whole earth quake! The LORD sits in
majesty in Jerusalem, exalted above all the nations. Let them praise
your great and awesome name. Your name is holy!
(Psalm 99:1–3)
• Pray that believers will be bold in worship and witness.
(Acts 4:24–31)
• Pray for a change in policy that allows local churches to
legally register and freely practice their faith. (Exodus 8:1)
• Pray for unity, love, and sound doctrine among local church
leaders. (Ephesians 4:3–6)
• Pray that God calls more church leaders to Uzbekistan.
(Acts 16:9–10)
• Pray that agencies that work on behalf of the persecuted and
those suffering under human rights violations will speak up for
those who cannot speak for themselves. (Proverbs 31:8)
• Pray that the Lord will send Michael and the archangels to
overthrow demonic forces causing the persecution of the
Church. (Daniel 10:20–21)
* As reported by F18 News Service, June 28, 2005.
212
VIETNAM
Persecution Ranking: 8 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 84,402,966
CHRISTIANS: 9–12%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Buddhism
POLITICAL LEADER:
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
On March 2, 2004, five Mennonite Church members were arrested
in Vietnam. One of those arrested, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, reported his
testimony to Christian Solidarity Worldwide.* I’d like you to hear the
story in his own words:
“That very evening of our arrest, I was cruelly and savagely beaten
by police in plain clothes and police in uniform, as were brothers Thach,
Phuong, and Nghia. They immobilized our hands and used sharply
pointed shoes to kick us all over our bodies and also nightsticks to club
us repeatedly.
“At about 2:00 A.M., I was escorted to an official prison cell. The
moment I entered the cell, I was continually beaten, punched, and kicked
[by other prisoners who had been bribed to injure him]. During my first
days, I passed out several times from this treatment. For three months
running, I had to resign myself to this suffering.
“When I was completely exhausted, the police would take me out
for interrogation—which implies asking questions, [but] there were no
questions. Just documents already prepared for me to sign, but I refused
213
to agree with the terrible slander the government officials had prepared,
the goal of which was to eradicate the whole house church movement.”
Nhan goes on to describe how he and the other believers were beaten
for months and that their cries were heard reverberating throughout the
prison. “The prisoners in the cells talked with each other, wondering
what kind of crime [we] had committed to deserve such brutal treatment.
It must have been very bad! How would they know that we had been
arrested only because we carry the two words—‘Tin Lanh’ (meaning
“gospel” or “Christian”)? How painful, how bitter!”
Nhan now suffers from partial paralysis. He has been released from
the prison. The other men have recently been released as well, but other
trials of persecution continue.
VIETNAM PAST AND PRESENT
The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was com-
pleted by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam
declared independence after World War II, but France continued to rule
until its 1954 defeat by communist forces under Ho Chi Minh. Under
the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the communist
North and anti-communist South. United States economic and military
aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the
government, but U.S. armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-
fire agreement in 1973.
Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South, reunit-
ing the country under communist rule. Despite the return of peace, for
over two decades the country experienced little economic growth. Since
2001, Vietnamese authorities have enacted reforms needed to modernize
the economy and produce more competitive, export-driven industries.
This history notwithstanding, there has long been a Christian pres-
ence in the country. Christianity was first introduced to Vietnam by
Father Dac Lo, also known as Alexander de Rhodes, in the seventeenth
century. He mastered the language and culture; under his oversight,
many French missionaries arrived, and by 1680, the Catholic Church
214
numbered 800,000. Protestant missions began in 1911 with the arrival
of a Canadian missionary from the Christian and Missionary Alliance.
By 1929, the independent Evangelical Church of Vietnam had been es-
tablished. At the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, there were 150,000
Protestant Christians, many belonging to the underground churches that
are still growing today.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Despite progress at the legislative level, persecution continues.
Tribal Christians in the Central Highlands have been harshly treated with
police raids on church services, confiscation of Bibles and other Christian
materials, beatings, and even executions. In 2002 and 2003, hundreds of
congregations affiliated with the Evangelical Church of Vietnam were
forcibly disbanded. As of May 2005, there were only thirty-six officially
recognized churches.
Despite this persecution, the number of Christians has continued
to grow. Protestantism—particularly through the house church move-
ment—is the fastest growing religious group in the country.
HOW TO PRAY FOR VIETNAM
In that day the LORD will end the bondage of his people. He will
break the yoke of slavery and lift it from their shoulders.
(Isaiah 10:27)
• Pray for all those imprisoned in Vietnam, especially
pastors like Nguyen Thanh Nhan who are being brutalized.
(Hebrews 13:3)
• Pray that the Lord will fight against the evil forces that are
fighting against the Christians. (Psalm 35:1)
• Pray that Vietnam’s government will halt its persecution of
Christians. (Acts 12:1–7)
215
• Pray that Christian believers will have complete trust in God
and will not deny their faith. (Daniel 3:18)
• Pray that God will sustain believers with abundant grace
in all circumstances, especially when they feel weak.
(2 Corinthians 12:9)
• Pray that the international community puts pressure
on Vietnam’s leaders to respect human rights.
(Matthew 21:26; Proverbs 31:8)
• Pray that all those individuals and their families affected
by persecution will know the Lord’s comfort and healing
physically, emotionally, and spiritually. (Acts 7:55)
• Pray for a faithful and strategic prayer network to emerge to
be watchmen on the wall for Christians in Vietnam. (Isaiah
21:6–12 and Ezekiel 3:1)
* Testimony submitted by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, June 2, 2005.
216
WESTERN SAHARA
FACT SHEET
Western
Sahara
POPULATION: 273,008
CHRISTIANS: <1%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
Mauritania
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Mohamed Abdelaziz
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
Thankfully, none of our contacts in the Moroccan occupied area of
Western Sahara reported a recent instance of persecution. Neither has
there been persecution among the Sahrawis who are living in refugee
camps in Tindouff, Algeria. While Christianity is certainly stigmatized,
and while social and familial pressure against Christianity is significant,
Western Sahara is not known for overt or active intolerance.
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) embraces
Christianity and works with Christian groups who try to improve the
quality of life of the Sahrawis living in refugee camps. The SADR has
pledged to honor freedom of religion in their constitution once they re-
gain legal occupation of their homeland held by Morocco. Further, the
SADR has invited Christians to plant indigenous churches and has host-
ed prayer vigils. In 2002, a group of churches and ministries affiliated
with WINDOW INTERNATIONAL NETWORK held an Easter church service in
the desert of Tindouff. The event was personally organized by President
Abdelaziz himself.
Still, the region is in need of prayer because its status as a country
is so tentative. Christian believers are being strategically used by God to
217
be a blessing in a place that is still struggling for the global community
to recognize them as a sovereign nation.
WESTERN SAHARA PAST AND PRESENT
Western Sahara is a disputed and divided territory. In 1970, Spain
was the region’s colonial power. In the following years, an independence
movement called “Polisario” emerged, resulting in armed conflict. Spain
withdrew in 1976, and both Mauritania and Morocco claimed sover-
eignty of the region. Mauritania withdrew its claim in 1979 after the
Polisario defeated them, and the area was illegally invaded and annexed
by Morocco.
A United Nations-administered ceasefire was established in
September 1991, leaving the territory partly under Moroccan administra-
tion and partly under Polisario administration. The latter refers to itself
as the SADR and is led by President Mohamed Abdelaziz. The Sahrawi
are the pre-eminent indigenous people of Western Sahara.
Moroccans generally regard the whole of Western Sahara as part of
their country. They refer to it as Moroccan Sahara. However, Morocco’s
claim is not internationally recognized. The International Court of Justice
advised in 1975 that while some of the territory’s tribes had historical
ties to Morocco, these were insufficient to establish “any tie of territorial
sovereignty” between the territory and Morocco. The Polisario continues
to claim the whole of the territory as its homeland, and over seventy
other nations recognize the SADR government established by Polisario
as the legitimate government of Western Sahara. The United Nations
referendum on the country’s final status has been repeatedly postponed,
leaving the region further in limbo.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
While women living in occupied Western Sahara suffer the severe
treatment other women suffer under the grips of Islam, women in the
218
camps under SADR government enjoy remarkable status in society. As a
matter of fact, when the men were off to war against Morocco in the north
and Mauritania in the south, it was women who set up refugee camps and
launched social projects such as combating illiteracy. Therefore, women
enjoy respect and status in the SADR government.
There are no known cases of persecution of Christians by the SADR
administration. However, Christian believers are scattered throughout
the occupied territory and in the refugee camps, and it can be difficult for
them to fellowship together.
HOW TO PRAY FOR WESTERN SAHARA
Have compassion on me, LORD, for I am weak. Heal me, LORD, for
my body is in agony. I am sick at heart. How long, O LORD, until
you restore me? Return, O LORD, and rescue me. Save me because of
your unfailing love. (Psalms 6:2–4)
• Pray for a fair and quick resolution of the status of this
disputed territory, which is decades overdue. (Acts 17:26–27)
• Pray that God gives President Abdelaziz and government
leaders wisdom, divine strategy, and favor so the Sahrawi
can leave the refugee camps in Algeria and return to their
homeland in the Western Sahara. (Judges 11:13)
• Pray that the Lord will deal with those who have oppressed
the Sahrawis and bring Sahrawis back to their homeland.
(Zephaniah 3:19–20)
• Pray that the Sahrawis will put their hope in the Lord,
that they will not become discouraged and lose hope.
(Isaiah 35:3–4 and 40:31)
• Pray for the release of all Sahrawi prisoners of war in Morocco.
Pray that families will be reunited in both regions. (Isaiah 61:1)
• Pray for greater acceptance in society of Christian believers,
particularly Muslims who convert to Christianity in the camps
and in the occupied territory. (Acts 2:47)
219
YEMEN
Persecution Ranking: 6 th
FACT SHEET
POPULATION: 21,456,188
CHRISTIANS: <1%
DOMINANT RELIGION: Sunni Islam
POLITICAL LEADER:
President Ali Abdallah Salih
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CONSTITUTION: yes
On December 30, 2002, a thirty-year-old man named Abed Abdel
Razzak Kamel walked into the Jibla Hospital 105 miles south of the
capital of Yemen. Stepping into a meeting between three American staff,
Kamel produced a gun, shot, and killed each person.
A fourth person was supposed to be in that meeting, but he had taken
a wrong turn (on a route he had traveled many times) and had arrived
late. He later realized that God had used this wrong turn to save his life.
Those who died were physician Martha Myers, 57, of Alabama;
hospital administrator William Koehn, 60, of Texas; and purchasing
agent Kathleen Gariety, 53, from Wisconsin. They had been in mission-
ary medical work for 28, 25, and 11 years respectively.
Kamel was arrested, tried for murder, convicted, and sentenced to
death. At the time of this writing, he is in the final stages of his appeal of
the death sentence.
Kamel’s motive? His wife, who had been a patient at the hospital,
had praised the facility’s great care. Kamel believed the hospital staff
had attempted to convert his wife, and he acted according to his religious
220
duty to purify the land by removing infidels who sought to lead Muslims
away from their faith.*
YEMEN PAST AND PRESENT
North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918.
The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port
of Aden in the nineteenth century, withdrew in 1967 from what became
South Yemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a
Marxist orientation. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of
Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostil-
ity between the states. The two countries were formally unified as the
Republic of Yemen in 1990.
Demographically, Yemen is similar to other Arab countries, with 50
percent of the population of 22 million under fifteen years of age. The
population growth rate of 3.7 percent is one of the highest in the world.
Such a rapid rate makes development in health care, education, or basic
public services very difficult. Seventy percent of the population lives in
rural settings. Illiteracy is high, especially for girls. The population is
projected to be around 26 million in 2012, at which point the nation’s
limited oil resources may be depleted.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CHURCH
Yemen is a tribally and religiously diverse nation. It has both Sunni
and Shia Muslim communities. Generally, the Sunni are in the south and
the Shiite in the north. The southerners are predominantly of the Shafa’i
order of Sunni Islam. The northerners are mostly of the Zaydi Shiite
order, which is closer in many respects to Sunni Islam than to most other
forms of Shia Islam.
Churches exist for expatriate Christians from a variety of languages,
including English and Korean. There is a large and active Ethiopian
church, and several Catholic churches. There is also one Anglican church
221
in the vicinity of Aden. It remains illegal to have a non-Muslim church
building in the north, despite the president having promised the late Pope
John Paul II in 2001 that this situation would be changed.
The constitution grants freedom of religion, but Islam is declared
to be the state religion. Non-Muslims may wear distinctive clothing and
symbols such as a cross. But conversion from Islam is forbidden. The
law states that apostasy from Islam carries the death penalty, although
there are no known examples of this law having been enforced.
HOW TO PRAY FOR YEMEN
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them
from all their troubles. (Psalm 34:17 NIV)
• Pray that the deaths of those martyred will be used by God to
expand the gospel in this land. (Acts 7:59–60)
• Pray for more expatriate Christians to receive visas and key
job opportunities. (Luke 2:52)
• Pray for wisdom for Christians dealing with the expectation
of bribery by officials. Pray that they will stand firm for
legitimate rights and will not participate in corruption.
(Deuteronomy 16:19)
• Pray for listeners of Christian radio and television beamed
into Yemen to respond to the gospel message and for Internet-
based ministries to present the truth of Christ clearly and
appropriately. (2 Thessalonians 3:1)
• Pray that Yemen will live up to its present constitution and
move toward actual freedom of religion. (Jeremiah 34:8)
* Testimony submitted by Middle East Concern/3P Ministries, May 13, 2005.
222
AFTERWORD
What Else Can We Do for the Persecuted Church?
Very few Christians in persecuted countries have plans to deal with
their horrific plights. All over the world, believers in Christ need to de-
velop lines of response, plans, and policies to address the problem.
One big factor for persecuted Christians is that they are standing
alone—they do not know where to turn for assistance. There is no built-
in infrastructure. They have little support from other Christian leaders
and organizations. Most persecuted Christians, especially those living
in villages and remote areas, just accept whatever predicament they find
themselves in. They do not realize that, in many cases, with a little help
they could access standing legal precedents to gain protection for them-
selves from unjust persecution.
Another challenge is educating Christian leaders about their exist-
ing rights in their country’s constitution. Another challenge is poverty:
Christians in the 10/40 Window can’t afford good representation. Another
problem is a broken network of communication: in many cases, global
Christian leaders don’t know about persecution that is happening just a
few kilometers away. In short, though the challenges are real, they are
all problems that we can overcome. With simple efforts in education and
building infrastructure, we could reduce and help eradicate the growing
problem of persecution.
Recently, we have seen how much international publicity can do
to stem the growing tide of persecution. In the United States, President
George Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice demanded that
223
President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan get involved on behalf of a
convert who was going to be killed. As a result, the convert was given
asylum in Italy. Exposing the hard, cold facts is often the only thing
that curtails persecution. Until pressure from the public is put on gov-
ernment officials or corrupt police, these atrocities will continue to go
unchecked.
Western governments can play a strategic role and so can Western cit-
izens. In many cases, the persecution that is happening is state-sponsored
terrorism. Citizens from Western countries can encourage their govern-
ments not to do business with countries persecuting Christians.
Have your church family and friends write letters to their govern-
ment officials worldwide and demand that they get involved in bringing
an end to this injustice.
Won’t you get involved in being a herald to help our dear brothers
and sisters in Christ who are facing unthinkable suffering? Please, pray
and be proactive so that you can be a voice for our persecuted brothers
and sisters in the 10/40 Window!
224
ADVOCACY LIST
3P Ministries
www.3pministries.org
Local offices in United Kindgom
Barnabus Fund
www.barnabusfund.org
Local offices in:
Australia
Germany
Jersey
New Zealand
United Kingdom
United States of America
Christian Broadcast Network
www.cbn.com
Local offices in:
Canada
United States of America
Christian Solidarity Worldwide
www.csi-int.org
Local offices in:
Czech Republic
France
Germany
Hungary
Italy
Netherlands
South Korea
Switzerland
United States of America
225
Compass Direct
www.compassdirect.org
Local offices in United States of America
Christianity Today
www.christianitytoday.com
Local offices in United States of America
International Religious Freedom
www.state.gov/g/drl/irf/
Local offices in United States of America
Jubilee Campaign
www.jubileecampaign.co.uk
Local offices in United Kingdom
Middle East Concern
Email: Office@MEConcern.org
Local offices in:
United Kingdom
United States of America
Open Doors International
www.od.org
Local offices in:
Australia
Brazil
Canada
Denmark
France
Germany
Italy
Korea
Netherlands
226
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States of America
United Nations
www. un.org
United States House of Representatives
www.house.gov
Local offices in United States of America
United States Senate
www.senate.gov
Local offices in United States of America
Voice of the Martyrs
www.persecution.com/internationalOffice/index.cfm
Local offices in:
Germany
Australia
Netherlands
Belgium
New Zealand
Brazil
South Africa
Canada
Sweden
Costa Rica
United Kingdom
Czech Republic
United States of America
Finland
WINDOW INTERNATIONAL NETWORK
www.win1040.com
Local offices in United States of America
World Christian News
Local offices in United States of America
P.O. Box 2340
Chesapeake, VA 23327
227
World Impact, Foursquare Missions International
fmi.foursquare.org/wit/
Local offices in United States of America
World Vision International
www.wvi.org
Local offices in:
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Kenya
Switzerland
Thailand
United States of America
228
ADVOCACY LETTER
A sample advocacy letter can be found on the following page
We recommend you send your very important letter by controlled
courier with a tracking number so you know when it was delivered and
who signed for it. Also send a copy of your letter by email with a deliv-
ery and read receipt.
Follow up with another letter if you do not receive a response within
seven days. Encourage your friends and family to write as well.
229
SAMPLE ADVOCAY LETTER
Date:
Addressee
Address
City, State Zip Code
Country
Dear Sir/Madame:
Reading about the following atrocities that are taking place in
__________________, I am appalled:
1. (List your concerns)
2.
3.
I am writing you as a citizen of ______ and part of the
international Christian community to express my deep concern
regarding these horrific crimes against humanity.
I beseech you to investigate this matter and become an advocate
for those who civil rights have been violated. Would you please
take immediate actions that will solve this horrific situation?
Thank you for responding with your prompt reply setting out your
course of action.
Sincerely,
Your Contact Information:
Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Country
Day Time phone #
Email address:
230
PERSECUTION RANKING
(TOP 50 COUNTRIES)*
1st North Korea
2nd Saudi Arabia
3rd Iran
4th Somalia
5th The Maldives
6th Yemen
7th Bhutan
8th Vietnam
9th Laos
10th Afghanistan
11th Uzbekistan
12th China
13th Eritrea
14th Turkmenistan
15th Comoros **
16th Chechnya **
17th Pakistan
18th Egypt
19th Myanmar (Burma)
20th Sudan (North)
21st Iraq
22nd Azerbaijan
23rd Brunei
24th Cuba
25th Qatar
231
26th Libya
27th Nigeria (North)
28th Djibouti
29th India
30th Sri Lanka
31st Algeria
32nd Mauritania
33rd Morocco
34th Tajikistan
35th Turkey
36th Oman
37th Ethiopia
38th United Arab Emirates
39th Kuwait
40th Jordan
41st Indonesia
42nd Belarus **
43rd Colombia (Conflict Areas)
44th Bangladesh
45th Syria
46th Tunisia
47th Kenya (North East) **
48th Nepal
49th Mexico (South) **
50th Bahrain
* Countries list as of January 2007. http://sb.od.org
** These countries are outside of the 10/40 Window.
232
COLONIZED NATIONS CHART
Country Persecution Colonized by Year of
Ranking Independence
Afghanistan 10 British control over 1919
foreign affairs
Albania not in top 50 Ottoman Empire 1912
Algeria 31 France 1962
Azerbaijan 22 Soviet Union 1991
Bahrain 50 Great Britain 1971
Bangladesh 44 West Pakistan 1971
1960
Benin not in top 50 France Bhutan 7 India 1949
Brunei 23 Great Britain 1984
Burkina Faso not in top 50 France 1960
Cambodia not in top 50 France 1953
Chad not in top 50 France
China
1960
221 BC–
Unification
12
Djibouti 28 France 1977
East Timor not in top 50 Portugal, Indonesia 1975, 2002*
Egypt 18 Great Britain 1922
Eritrea 13 Ethiopia 1993
Ethiopia 37 Gambia, The not in top 50
oldest
independent
country in Africa
Great Britain
1965
Governed by
the Palestinian
Authority
Gaza Strip not in top 50 Guinea not in top 50 Guinea-Bissau not in top 50 Portugal 1973
India 29 Great Britain 1947
Indonesia 41 Netherlands 1945 proclaimed,
1949 recognized
France
1958
233
Country Persecution Iran 3 Iraq 21 League of Nations 1932
Ranking Mandate, British
administration
Israel not in top 50 League of Nations 1948
Mandate, British
administration
Japan not in top 50 Jordan 40 League of Nations 1946
Mandate, British
administration
Kazakhstan not in top 50 Soviet Union 1991
Colonized by
Year of
Independence
500 BC, date of
Persian Empire
660 BC
- traditional
founding
Kuwait 39 Great Britain 1961
Kyrgyzstan not in top 50 Soviet Union 1991
Laos 9 France 1949
Lebanon not in top 50 League of Nations 1943
Mandate, French
administration
Libya 26 UN trusteeship 1951
Malaysia not in top 50 Great Britain 1957
Maldives 5 Great Britain 1965
Mali not in top 50 France 1960
Mauritania 32 France 1960
Mongolia not in top 50 China 1921
Morocco 33 France 1956
Myanmar 19 Great Britain 1948
Nepal 48 Niger not in top 50 France
1768 unified
1960
Nigeria 27 Great Britain 1960
North Korea 1 Japan 1945
Oman Portugal 1650
17 Great Britain 1947
Qatar
234
36 Pakistan 25 Great Britain 1971
Country Persecution Saudi Arabia 2 Senegal not in top 50 France 1960
Ranking
Somalia 4 Great Britain and Italy 1960
Sri Lanka 30 Great Britain 1948
Sudan 20 Egypt and Great Britain 1956
Syria 45 League of Nations Taiwan not in top 50 Tajikistan 34
Mandate, French
administration
Colonized by
Year of
Independence
1932 country
unification
Self-Governed
Soviet Union
1991
Thailand not in top 50 1238, first Thai
Kingdom
Tibet not in top 50 Governed by the
Republic of China
Tunisia 46
France
1956
1923 successor
state to Ottoman
Empire
Turkey 35 Turkmenistan 14 Soviet Union 1991
United Arab 38 Great Britain 1971
Emirates
Uzbekistan 11 Soviet Union 1991
Source:
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/gov_ind-government-independence
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/print/tw.html
http://p2.www.britannica.com/ebc/article-208904
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/print/gz.html
* East Timor was occupied by Indonesia between 1975-1999.
** Western Sahara is still occupied in part by Morocco
235
THE
PERSECUTED CHURCH
PRAYER DEVOTIONAL
INT E RC E DI N G FOR THE S UF F E RI NG CHU RCH
More Christians were martyred in the twentieth century than all
previous centuries combined, and this onslaught has continued
unabated into the new century. As Christians, it is our duty to be
knowledgeable and to take action on behalf of those who are
persecuted. One of the most essential actions we can take is to
stand in the gap by being on our knees in prayer.
The Persecuted Church Prayer Devotional lists over sixty
countries in desperate need of prayer. It describes the past and
present situation in each country and the challenges and
opportunities for the future. Once well informed, you can use the
prayer points at the end of each country to help you focus on
specific areas of intercession.
This excellent resource will equip and mobilize Christians
worldwide to take part in the lives of the persecuted church
through prayer.
BEVERLY J. PEGUES is the co-founder and president of the WINDOW INTERNATIONAL
NETWORK, a Christian organization developed to inform, equip, and mobilize
networks of prayer around the globe for the 10/40 Window. Beverly is a gifted and
passionate speaker at conferences, churches, and retreats nationally and
internationally. Beverly is an ordained minister with New Life Church in Colorado
Springs where she resides.
Missions / Prayer
ISBN 978-1-932805-90-1
www.authenticbooks.com
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