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Some 1,500 devoted Tunisian Christians, most of them former Muslims, worship in church buildings or in house churches despite death threats and growing influence of Islamic extremists, a well-informed advocacy and aid group told BosNewsLife Monday, September 17. Open Doors, which supports persecuted Christians worldwide, mentioned a man identified only as Steve who was allegedly threatened by Islamists. ‘They said to me: 'Do you know that it is not forbidden to kill you?' But I didn't really feel afraid,’ Steve was quoted as saying. ‘I could answer them: 'Yes I know you can do that you can kill me'. They responded that I was crazy saying that. I said to them: 'Yes, I am crazy for Jesus'. Pressure was expected to increase on Christians like Steve amid mounting protests across the region against an anti-Islam film, posted in part on the YouTube website.
Pray: for the church in Tunisia that it will remain strong in the face of mounting pressures. (2Cor.11:28)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/23475-tunisian-christians-worship-amid-death-threats
As international efforts increase to relieve Philippine’s suffering there are reports of looting in warehouses, relief agencies being mobbed and water pipes punctured as people try to get at precious supplies. Pray for order to be restored as desperation, thirst, hunger and opportunism are provoking anarchy. Pray for wide-ranging co-ordination between government bodies, relief agencies and on site NGO’s. Pray that survivors are properly fed and the dead are promptly buried. Pray for the dozens of relief organisations to work in unity with no unnecessary duplication of efforts or communication breakdown. Pray for the government to deliver workable logistics as they attempt to restore airports that are broken down, roads that are still covered in debris, services that are cut off. Pray against disease taking hold in areas lacking sanitation. Pray for effective mobile hospitals and teams of medics to be released into the most deadly situations where entire areas have been completely and utterly decimated; may they keep those who survived alive.
Pray: for the millions of people affected by the super typhoon, four million are said to be children. (Ps. 46.1-3)
More: http://www.euronews.com/2013/11/12/philippines-supplies-looted-and-aid-convoys-mobbed/
Saudi Arabia is referred to as ‘The Land of The Two Holy Mosques, ‘Al-Masjid al-Nabawi’ Mosque where Muhammad is buried and ‘Masjid al-Haram’ the largest mosque in the world situated in Mecca. Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life if they are able.’ This pilgrimage is called Hajj. The dates for the Hajj change each year, this year it starts on November 4th lasting 4 days. Thousands of pilgrims will perform religious acts to be cleansed of their sins by praying at the Grand Mosque, spending a night in a tent at Mina, walking to where Muhammad delivered his final sermon, throwing stones at three pillars representing Satan, sacrificing an animal and walking round a sacred rock seven times. Please pray for those searching for cleansing and forgiveness, and also for the residents of Saudi Arabia where the constitution is based on the Qur’an.
Pray: for Saudis and pilgrims to have their spiritual thirsts truly quenched. (Jn.7:37-38)
More: http://www.pray4muslimpeoples.org/index.php/resources/100-hajj-2011
A Christian from Thailand writes: ‘At a conference 2 weeks ago the Lord said we will experience great shaking, natural disasters, political upheavals. Is the church ready to act? We are experiencing natural disasters now as I type this. Please pray now! Northern Thailand is experiencing the worst flooding in decades. Last night’s Singapore News showed the reporter in water up to her hips. Churches in Bangkok are putting together survivor kits for the flood victims in northeast and central Thailand: torches, boots, dry food, medicine, powdered milk for children. The situation is getting worse in some areas and spreading to wider areas. Please pray, this is too big and we are doing whatever we can.’ Flooding is affecting over 3 million people. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said it was the worst flooding in 50 years due to larger than normal rainfall affecting dams and reservoirs, plus aggressive housing and business development affecting natural drainage channels. Pray: for God’s enabling for the Church in Thailand as they do whatever he calls them to do. (Ps.60:4-5) More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/27/AR2010102700580.html
The Thai government is blaming unnamed ‘terrorists’ for explosions which hit commuters in Bangkok on Thursday night, amid deadlock in the Thai capital. Early on Friday, hundreds of riot police crossed a major road to confront red-shirt anti-government protesters. But the police later stepped back from confrontation and the reds agreed to move further away from their barricade. Britain, the US and Australia have issued new warnings against travelling to Thailand in the attacks' aftermath. Six weeks of red-shirt protests have severely challenged the Thai government. The protesters are occupying swathes of Bangkok's shopping hub and have built barricades, the largest of which faces police in the Silom business district. Pressure is rising on the government to find a way out of the conflict but room for negotiation appears to be slim, correspondents say. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said through a spokesman that it was ‘a moment requiring restraint on all sides’.
Pray: against extreme measures on all sides and for restraint to allow for peaceful negotiation. For Christians working in Thailand to have freedom to share the Gospel. (Mt.24:12-14)
More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8638942.stm
Thailand's government has vowed to go after shadowy ‘terrorists’ blamed for triggering bloody clashes between the army and red-shirted demonstrators, believing several hundred militants trained in combat joined protesters in their downtown Bangkok encampment. Government officials and the army believe the men in black are politically aligned with the red shirt movement and sought to cause bloodshed severe enough to force Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to call a new election. Red shirt leaders said the ‘black clads’ are protecting them, but they don't know who they are. The government fears ‘terrorists’ could strike at any time and may have been behind dozens of unsolved grenade attacks and bombings across the city. Security and military analysts believe rangers trained in counter-insurgency may be among them.
Pray: for an unconditional end to bloodshed as God turns the situation into opportunities to end the divisions in Thailand’s society. (Ro.15:5)
More: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63Q1F220100427
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
Pro-government ‘yellow shirt’ protesters in Thailand have called on the Prime Minister to take concrete measures against thousands of The National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship protestors - commonly known as the Red Shirts who have occupied the streets of Bangkok for over six weeks. The red shirts are calling for the Prime Minister to step down claiming he came to power illegally. About 1,000 yellow shirts are demanding the army take harsh measures against their rivals. An army spokesman previously told a news briefing the troops would use live ammunition against red shirts if necessary. On Wednesday Thai troops and hundreds of red shirts clashed as the protestors attended a rally. Many observers believe Thailand is at a critical crossroads. Differences could be healed or far worse bloodletting could occur depending upon how the government reacts. Thailand is one of the few countries never colonized by a European power. The word ‘Thai’ means freedom.
Pray: for the Prime Minister to have wisdom as he responds to the groups and for the security forces to maintain order through protecting rather than assaulting citizens. (Pr.1:7)
More: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/04/201042955128388187.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)