Government Prayers

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-07-20 23:25:06)

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 02:25:06 -0400

Country : Ukraine
Prayer Request : Evangelical churches in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk are being targeted by pro-Russian forces, which view the evangelicals as "sects" that support the Ukrainian government by praying for peace. VOM has received reports of at least nine attacks on Christians, churches and church-run drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers. Pastor Sergei Kosyak, pastor of an Assemblies of God church in Donetsk and founder of the "Prayer for Ukraine" movement, was detained and beaten for four hours. In another incident, on June 17, gunmen broke into a Christian rehabilitation center and held 29 people hostage, before later releasing them. Pro-Russian rebels have detained other pastors and have robbed and looted churches. Many evangelicals in the region refuse to take up weapons on principle, and some congregations have been very public about the fact that they are praying for unity in Ukraine.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-07-20 23:24:33)

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 02:24:33 -0400

Country : Mali
Prayer Request : The conflict between government forces and Islamic rebel groups in northern Mali has left Christians vulnerable to persecution, especially Christian converts from Islam. Medical workers and other aid organizations have left the area, travel is difficult, and resources are few, leaving many hungry and sick. Government forces deliver humanitarian aid to Muslims first and often have nothing left for Christians. In addition to facing discrimination by the government, Christian converts from Islam are threatened by family members and often must flee for their lives.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-07-20 23:23:30)

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 02:23:30 -0400

Country : Iran
Prayer Request : Pastor Behnam Irani has been returned to prison after being held in solitary confinement for weeks at an undisclosed location. Religious police reportedly beat him on June 7 and threatened him with further prison time. The pastor, who was accused of communicating with the media, was interrogated repeatedly for hours at a time. He began serving his six-year prison sentence in 2011 after being convicted of "action against the state." He underwent stomach and colon surgery earlier in 2014.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-07-11 15:59:10)

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 18:59:10 -0400

Country : North Korea
Prayer Request : In May, a North Korean defector, "In-su," who is serving time in a prison in South Korea, received a parallel Bible and shared his testimony of how he had longed for a Bible of his own. Though there are many North Korean defectors in South Korean prisons, they are rarely reached by churches. In-su said he had been taught that foreign missionaries were spies. Although he had once seen a person shot to death for having a Bible, he was curious about what was in this forbidden book. He was so glad to read it for the first time. Parallel Bibles are given to missionaries so they can reach out to defectors like In-su as well as to defectors in refugee camps located in South Korea and other areas.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-07-03 03:15:31)

Thu, 03 Jul 2014 06:15:31 -0400

Country : Tanzania
Prayer Request : A group of 43 Tanzanian pastors, most former Muslims, have been charged with blasphemy for teaching biblical foundations to their church members. In addition, they have been fined the equivalent of nearly $3,000, which they are paying in order to continue their ministry work and to avoid multiple court hearings. If convicted of blasphemy, they could face up to 14 years in prison. Many of the pastors have been persecuted by their families and continue to face pressure in the largely Muslim areas where they work.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-06-21 21:58:27)

Sun, 22 Jun 2014 00:58:27 -0400

Country : Laos
Prayer Request : Pray for Sort, Believer Tied to Post. A Christian man in Laos was arrested on May 29 and tied to a post after refusing to recant his faith. Sort, who has been a Christian for the past year, was approached by a police official and the village leader on May 15 and threatened with expulsion from the village if he would not give up his Christian faith. "I've embraced the Christian faith over a year, and I have not broken any law!" he told authorities. They then took the equivalent of $500 from Sort and tied him to a post as punishment.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-06-21 21:55:33)

Sun, 22 Jun 2014 00:55:33 -0400

Country : People's Republic of China
Prayer Request : Pray for Prisoner Alimujiang Yimiti and family. The wife of Uyghur Christian Alimujiang Yimiti reports that her husband, who is being held in a prison in China, has lost a lot of weight since her last visit to the prison and that he looks pale. However, she said he is still doing well spiritually. She asks that we continue to pray for Alimujiang's strength to overcome the difficulties he faces in prison, such as unkind guards. Gulimar and her two children are allowed to visit Alimujiang for only 15 minutes every three months. The couple's oldest son, who is 15, is sad and discouraged about his father's continued imprisonment, and their 8-year-old son misses his dad and remains anxious for his return. Alimujiang was arrested in 2008 and sentenced to 15 years for "illegally providing state secrets to foreign nationals."

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-06-21 21:54:28)

Sun, 22 Jun 2014 00:54:28 -0400

Country : Vietnam
Prayer Request : Pray for Qhua Ha, a Hmong believer. On April 14, a family of Hmong believers in Vietnam were beaten and forced from their home. For months, local authorities and villagers had pressured Qhua Ha, 37, his wife and their four children to renounce their faith, but they refused. After beating the couple and their 9-year-old son, authorities forced the family to leave, seizing their home and property, including 10 bags of rice and 125 chickens. Qhua Ha and his wife became Christians in February 2013 and were the only Christians in the village. VOM contacts ask for prayer for Qhua, his wife and their four children, ages 9, 6, 4 and 1.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-06-21 21:52:42)

Sun, 22 Jun 2014 00:52:42 -0400

Country : Azerbaijan
Prayer Request : Pray for Believers as Old Testament Banned. On May 5, a news agency in Baku, Azerbaijan, published a list of banned religious books, including the Old Testament. The list, said to be produced by state police and expert analysts, includes 28 titles claimed to be "some of the most radical and dangerous" religious books. Many believers are concerned that police in some areas of Azerbaijan may use the list of banned books as a reason to conduct raids and confiscate Bibles and other Christian literature. Religious literature is tightly controlled in Azerbaijan, and those caught with "illegal" materials often face criminal charges. "We need to pray to God for wisdom as to how to respond to this ban on the Holy Scriptures in Azerbaijan," one believer said.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-06-21 21:51:52)

Sun, 22 Jun 2014 00:51:52 -0400

Country : Indonesia
Prayer Request : Pray for Pastor and Reopened Church. Pastor David has spent the last 10 years ministering to believers in Central Java, but a local mosque recently sent him a letter indicating that his church building was illegal and could no longer hold services. After being summoned to the village office, Pastor David informed the head of the village that the church had been in existence prior to a decree that requires houses of worship to attain permission from locals in the community. In addition, the pastor told authorities that locals were not opposed to the church and that even the country's former president had approved it. As a result, authorities decided that the church could continue to hold services.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-06-21 21:46:22)

Sun, 22 Jun 2014 00:46:22 -0400

Country : Iran
Prayer Request : Pray for Pastor Injured in Prison Raid. Pastor Farshid Fathi, who is serving six years in Evin prison, was injured on April 17 when prison guards raided the ward where he is held. According to some reports, as many as 100 prison guards raided the ward for political prisoners after they protested the harsh treatment they received from authorities searching their belongings. Fathi was finally taken to the hospital on April 20 and was treated for several injuries, including a broken foot. Witnesses stated that a guard stamped on his foot during the raid.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-06-21 21:26:28)

Sun, 22 Jun 2014 00:26:28 -0400

Country : Iran
Prayer Request : Pray for Couple Arrested by Secret Police. A married couple who are part of a key ministry outreach in Iran have been arrested by secret police. The couple were questioned over multiple days, and it is possible that police are aware of others involved in their work. Police confiscated computers and other materials from their home during the raid. Please pray for the couple, their teenage child and for fellow workers affected by the arrests.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-06-21 21:21:57)

Sun, 22 Jun 2014 00:21:57 -0400

Country : Iran
Prayer Request : Pray for Detained Believers. Eight believers were arrested while having a picnic on March 5 near Shoush, in Khuzestan province. Five of those arrested were released, but the three others, including Amin Khaki, Hossein Barunzadeh and Rahman Bahman, remain in custody. Amin is a deacon in the fellowship led by Behnam Irani, who has been detained since May 2011. Security agents reportedly had arrest warrants for both Amin and Hossein, and their arrests are thought to be part of a broader attempt to limit activities of known ministry leaders throughout the country.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-06-21 21:09:25)

Sun, 22 Jun 2014 00:09:25 -0400

Country : Iran
Prayer Request : Pray for Jailed Pastor after Bible Seized. Iranian authorities recently confiscated a Bible and several Christian books from Pastor Behnam Irani, who is serving a five-year sentence on two separate convictions of “crimes against national security.” Prisoners are supposed to be allowed religious materials in their cell, regardless of their religion. The pastor is currently recovering from a February 2014 abdominal surgery. Write an encouraging letter to Pastor Behnam Irani

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-06-21 21:08:35)

Sun, 22 Jun 2014 00:08:35 -0400

Country : Pakistan
Prayer Request : Pray for Asia Bibi's Upcoming Appeal Hearing. Asia Bibi’s death-sentence appeal has again been delayed, this time because a prosecutor failed to appear for the March 26 hearing. A new appeal hearing has been scheduled for April 14. This is the third court hearing that has been delayed because of an absence. Hearings scheduled for Feb. 14 and March 17 were postponed because one of two presiding judges was absent each day. Pakistani law requires that two judges be present for all court proceedings in death penalty cases. Asia Bibi was arrested in June 2009 as a result of an argument with Muslim co-workers in which she defended her Christian faith. She was subsequently convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to death. Her lawyers filed an immediate appeal, but a variety of political and religious pressures have prevented the courts from hearing her case.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-06-21 21:05:51)

Sun, 22 Jun 2014 00:05:51 -0400

Country : People's Republic of China
Prayer Request : Pray for Wenxi Li's wife and family. In December 2012, Wenxi Li was arrested and sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement with a Christian book store in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province. His wife, Cai Hong Li, said the most important thing right now is that her Christian brothers and sisters continue to pray for her family. "Prayer is the most precious thing," she said.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-06-21 21:04:13)

Sun, 22 Jun 2014 00:04:13 -0400

Country : Sudan
Prayer Request : Pray for Christian Mother Sentenced to Death for Apostasy. A 27-year-old Sudanese woman, Meriam Yahia Ibrahim, was sentenced to death in early May for apostasy. Eight months pregnant at the time of her sentencing, she gave birth to a baby girl on May 26. Ibrahim explained to the court that she had grown up as a Christian under her Christian mother's care, but the court convicted her of apostasy because her father is Muslim. In addition, she is to receive 100 lashes for a charge of adultery, relating to her 2011 marriage to a South Sudanese Christian man. Since Ibrahim's father is Muslim, the marriage is not recognized under Sharia law. Her own family filed the complaint about her marriage, resulting in the charges. The court gave her three days to recant her Christian faith, but she refused to do so. Ibrahim's 20-month old son, Martin, and newborn daughter the couple named Maya, will be held in prison with her until her execution.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-03-26 18:59:02)

Wed, 26 Mar 2014 21:59:02 -0400

Country : Colombia
Prayer Request : Father, praying from Your Word in Joshua, we pray this prayer for our brothers and sisters in Colombia, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of god courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go.” Praying in the Name of Jesus, who has overcome the world, Amen.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-03-26 18:50:12)

Wed, 26 Mar 2014 21:50:12 -0400

Country : Iran
Prayer Request : Pray for Kristina Irani, the wife of imprisoned pastor Behnam Irani, whose home was raided by security force members.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-03-26 18:49:38)

Wed, 26 Mar 2014 21:49:38 -0400

Country : North Korea
Prayer Request : Pray for a refugee who recently stayed in a Chinese safe house and returned to North Korea to share the gospel message.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-03-14 07:41:52)

Fri, 14 Mar 2014 10:41:52 -0400

Country : Iran
Prayer Request : A married couple who are part of a key ministry outreach in Iran have been arrested by secret police. The couple were questioned over multiple days, and it is possible that police are aware of others involved in their work. Police confiscated computers and other materials from their home during the raid. Please pray for the couple, their teenage child and for fellow workers affected by the arrests. Please pray for these matters.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-03-11 12:40:47)

Tue, 11 Mar 2014 15:40:47 -0400

Country : Syria
Prayer Request : Father, strengthen us to continue praying faithfully for Your church in Syria. Strengthen them daily to see Your care and provision for them, to see Your protection over them. As they face the loss of loved ones taken into Your presence, give them a vision of their own sure hope of the glory set before them. In the midst of all their suffering and need, show them the sustaining power of Your presence with them. Bring an end to war and suffering, Lord. In the meantime, increase their compassion and reach to their Muslim neighbors who are suffering, as well. Make Your power and glory known in this land. In the name of Jesus, who is our only sure hope in this life and the next, Amen.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-03-11 12:37:59)

Tue, 11 Mar 2014 15:37:59 -0400

Country : Central African Republic
Prayer Request : Father, we pray against the current attempt to Islamize the nation of CAR, and we pray for the protection of Christians in these circumstances. We pray that they will engage in the ongoing dialogue with godly integrity. But we also pray for those caught in the middle of this complex political situation; that the light of Christ will shine through the lives of Christians, and that Muslims and those following tribal beliefs might turn to Christ in saving faith. In this conflict intended to thwart Christ’s Kingdom, we stand assured that You will work it for good. In the name of Jesus, who grows His church even in the midst of opposition, Amen.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-02-25 11:18:44)

Tue, 25 Feb 2014 14:18:44 -0500

Country : Syria
Prayer Request : Father, thank You for Frans van der Lugt, who has served You for so many years in Homs. We pray for him and this small handful of Your faithful followers who have chosen to remain. In their isolation, provide food and shelter and all the things they need to survive in this harsh existence. Protect them from harm and despair. Grow their faith, and use them as a witness to those around them of Your presence with them. And we pray for those who have fled to refugee camps in Syria and neighboring countries; that You would sustain them there and bring peace to this land that they might return to their homes. Father, truly we are all sojourners in this world; our home is in heaven, but wherever we are, You are there with us. Thank You. In the name of Jesus our sure presence in all of life, Amen.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-02-18 09:15:30)

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 12:15:30 -0500

Country : Uzbekistan
Prayer Request : Father, with heavy hearts, we lift up Tolkyn before Your presence. Heal his body, Father, and mend the torn places in his soul with a healing balm from Your Spirit who lives within him. We pray also for his family and fellow believers who have suffered as well, living in fear in the wake of the chaos perpetrated by the police. Keep them safe, fortify their faith, remove their fear, and strengthen them to stand strong, clothed with the full armor of Christ, as they face the insecurity of each new day. We pray, Father, that you would also grant local leaders wisdom and courage to confront these trials that have come before Your church. In the name of Jesus our refuge and strong tower, Amen.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-02-03 11:31:35)

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 14:31:35 -0500

Country : North Korea
Prayer Request : In the late hours of Oct. 23, the staff of a VOM partner organization gathered to launch Bibles into North Korea via balloon. The launch party prepared packages containing lightweight Korean New Testaments, attached them to hydrogen-filled balloons, and released a total of 3,600 into the air. After the overnight launch, the group was just 675 short of their goal of sending 48,000 into a country where the Bible is forbidden. As winter approaches, fewer days will provide weather conditions suitable for balloon launches.

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-02-03 11:27:29)

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 14:27:29 -0500

Country : Sudan
Prayer Request : When Christians were driven from their homes in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains by government bombings, most fled with little more than the clothes on their backs. Many had to walk for days to reach refugee camps that offered very little in the way of meeting their numerous needs. Recently, VOM workers and partners distributed Action Packs through church networks in the camps. Displaced families, widows and the disabled were among those who received the VOM reader-sponsored Action Packs recently in Yida, a refugee camp in South Sudan. The Action Packs contained shoes, children’s clothing, towels, soap, bed sheets and many other badly needed items. In total, VOM will distribute 3,500 Action Packs in various refugee camps in 2013. One recipient, a widow with five children, said, “With all that happened to me during the war and up until now, I still trust in God. Last month as I was seated in my house, one of the church members brought me an Action Pack from the church, which he said were gifts from our Christian brothers and sisters in U.S. who are praying for us. This really touched my heart.”

Government Prayers - Submission (2014-02-03 11:16:07)

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 14:16:07 -0500

Country : People's Republic of China
Prayer Request : Pastor Zhang Shaojie, 49, and Yan Beibei, 23, were allowed to see their lawyers on Jan. 15, 2014, after two months in detention. They were among 12 Christians detained for their involvement with the Nanle County Christian Church in November and December 2013. Pastor Zhang, who has been charged with fraud and “gathering a mob to disrupt public order,” asked his lawyer to express his thanks to “all the people in the world who are paying attention to Nanle County Christian Church” and are remembering those in custody. One of the prisoners attempted suicide after being beaten by authorities. Pray for their resilience and faith, as many of them and their family members have been beaten.

Government Prayers - Submission (2012-08-24 19:59:46)

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 22:59:46 -0400

Country : Liberia
Prayer Request : Liberia is recovering from the pains and hurts of war and is need of reconciliation. Please remember Liberia in your prayers.

Government Prayers - Submission (2012-08-22 16:28:43)

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 19:28:43 -0400

Country : United States
Prayer Request : Lord you have left us with a choice in this up coming election! It is true that we must choose one, but the real problem is one of a heart issue here in the United States. We have left our first love and we need to return to HIM! Please help us to find our way back to HIM! Forgive us for our rebellion and our sin agains You! Please come back and be our Lord and Savior! In Jesus name AMEN.