Fears of worse flooding across Bangkok grow and parts of Bangkok could face serious flooding for up to a month. (See Prayer Alert 42-2011) Residents were told to get their belongings to high ground as central Bangkok could be swamped by up to 1.5 metres of water if barriers brake. Current flood water is expected to remain in Bangkok for two to four weeks before going into the sea. The Thai government has declared a holiday from October 27 to 31 to allow people to evacuate their homes at a time of expected high estuary tides. Authorities are pumping out water around the east and west of Bangkok. The Chao Phraya River winds through Bangkok and the city's fate rests on dykes along the river this weekend. Residents have cleared supermarkets of bottled water and are hoarding food such as rice and instant noodles. Tap water has deteriorated since floodwater broke through temporary dikes into a water canal used for producing tap water.

Pray: this will not turn into a humanitarian disaster.

More: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2011/10/2011102642316925880.html

King Rama IX of Thailand has reigned since 1946, and is Head of State, the Head of the Armed Forces, an Upholder of the Buddhist religion, and the Defender of all Faiths. ‘Daisy’ is 12 years old. Her father lives and works in Bangkok and makes the 10 hour bus ride home for visits a few times a year. Daisy likes to go to a Christian neighbours' home to play with their girls and read books. One of her favourite books is their Lao Children's Picture Bible. Recently, Daisy said she had heard that there was a house gathering of Phuan Christians in town. She said that she wanted to go so that she could learn the worship songs as Daisy loves music.

Pray: for more opportunities for Christian workers to reach the Thai people with the truth of their Creator God. (Lk.10:8-9)

More: http://www.missionary-blogs.com/christian-missions-thailand.html

‘My uncle is in contact with the evil spirits. He presents offerings and sacrifices to them and makes promises to them so that they give him power. He tells me every member of the family must make offerings to the evil spirits and obey what they command. If not- problems will occur, a family member may become insane, if anyone betrays the spirits.’ ‘My uncle has been sick for 5 days and said it is because ‘someone’ in the family is not fully committed to the spirits. My father has warned me not to even think about Christianity. One of my brothers became a monk at our village temple for the Buddhist Lent ‘kao phan sa. He lost his money at the temple. Another brother had high fever and has been sent to hospital. I don’t want to cause any more problems to my family members because I am a Christian.’ We are asked to pray for lonely Christians living in Buddhist communities and families.

Pray: for a vibrant, multiplying group of Christian believers within walking distance of every Thai person. (Ps.128)

Three violent incidents against Christian ministers have left believers concerned over the future of religious freedom. On Feb 17 gunmen waited for Father Evaristus Mushi as he parked his car outside his church, they surrounded the car and killed him. He was an advocate of interfaith dialogue. Also two days later a church was burned down. On Feb 2 Pastor Mathayo Kachili was hacked to death when he intervened in an altercation over the slaughter of an animal. A group of Muslims had demanded immediate closure of butcheries owned by Christians. On Boxing Day Father Ambrose Mkenda was shot as he left his car, the gunmen then ransacked the rectory. The Secretary General of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference said the situation signalled a plot to destroy peace in the country. The situations on Zanzibar remain tense. Islamic extremism is the main persecution dynamic for the country.

Pray: for peace to prevail in the communities affected by the violence, may the government take decisive action in resolving issues pertinent to the incidents. (Ps.7:8-9)

More: http://blogs.christianpost.com/opendoors/tanzanian-attacks-against-christians-leave-believers-wary-over-future-14790/

On the Zanzibar archipelago, Islamic militants bent on wiping out all Christians from the islands have burnt and looted churches and threatened persecuted Christians with death. The push for the spread of Islam is less violent but equally persistent on the mainland. If successful, it could threaten the presence of the Church on the Zanzibar archipelago. Over the last year violence has been steadily increasing while at the same time becoming more public. Last month a deadly church bombing occurred with more violence continuing on into this month. Two weeks ago the home of Pastor Robert Ngai in north-eastern Tanzania was broken into by a large group of radical Muslims with machetes. The pastor received serious cuts on his hands and arms when he raised them to protect his head from the blows. Local doctors said the injuries were beyond their ability to treat and he was rushed to a larger city hospital. Tanzania is a Christian majority country with a substantial Muslim population with a strong Islamist drive toward the Tanzanian ‘House of Islam.’

Pray: that pressure from Islamic extremists will be resisted and freedom of religion protected. Pray for protection for church leaders on Zanzibar and Pemba islands. Pray that Christians will have courage to share God’s love with Muslims. (Ps.20:1)

More: http://rescuechristians.org/more-violence-in-tanzania-sends-alarms-through-church/

Islamisation is increasing at an alarming rate in Tanzania according to a bishop from the country. Bishop Bernadin Mfumbusa of Kondoa warned that religious freedom and other civil liberties were under threat from intolerant radical Muslim influences sweeping in from countries neighbouring the east African nation. Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need, the Catholic charity for persecuted and other suffering Christians, the bishop said: ‘We see more and more itinerant Muslim preachers from Saudi Arabia and Sudan entering this country, – and Muslims are increasingly making political demands.’ These demands include extending Islamic Sharia law and making everyone subject to it – Muslim and non-Muslim alike. Bishop Mfumbusa said: ‘In recent times there has been a constant demand to introduce Sharia into other parts of Tanzania which do not have a majority of Muslims.’ Sharia law is already in force in Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous archipelago with an almost completely Muslim population, but it does not apply to other parts of Tanzania.

Pray: against the growth of radical Islam and pray that Christians will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak boldly about their faith. (Ac.4:13)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/islamist.extremism.spreading.in.tanzania/30776.htm

Described as acts of frenzied madness, radical Islamists set on fire at least two churches in Zanzibar last weekend during running battles with security forces. Senior members of the ‘Uamsho’ (Swahili word for Islamic Mobilisation and Propagation) radical movement were arrested with scores of others from among the rioters, and there are serious concerns over the safety of tourists now that the threshold of burning Christian churches has been crossed. Last year the same radical group was accused of organising attacks on bars, clearly with the aim of introducing a radical form of Islam to the island by banning alcohol and turning tourist resorts into empty shells in what has in the past been a moderate and tolerant Islamic society on the Spice Island. Uamsho demanded a referendum to leave the union. Members have vowed to use whatever means necessary to force the issue, clearly not ruling out violence as seen this weekend.

Pray: for Tanzania, hitherto one of East Africa’s most moderate countries, to return to her peaceful inheritance. (Ps.17:7-9)

More: http://www.eturbonews.com/29435/zanzibar-radicals-opposed-union-mainland-cause-weekend-chaos