Syria: Situation worsens for Christians
29 Apr 2013Reports are surfacing of alarming conditions facing those who remain in Syria. ‘When people leave their houses in the morning they say goodbye to their families in case they don’t come back. There are suicide bombers and car bombs going off all around. 70% to 80% of the Christian population has fled to Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, and Egypt. Living conditions in Syria are extremely harsh and dangerous. Few people are employed. The infrastructure is in tatters. People are beheaded. Girls are raped and killed. The prices for gas and food are ten times what they were two years ago. But the situation is worse for Christians because they face persecution from all sides of the conflict. There is al-Qaeda, dissidents from the Syrian army, a Muslim group called Victory, and other factions. Before the revolution Christians enjoyed legal protection from the Assad government.
Pray: for God’s mercy to rest on all innocent victims still living in Syria. May those who know him also know his comfort and may those who do not yet know him be found by Him. (Ps.60:5)
More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2013/s13040071.htm
Syria: Risking it all to report the uprising
02 Feb 2012As foreign journalists weigh the risks of reporting on the unrest in Syria, many nameless locals are putting themselves in greater danger for fewer rewards covering an uprising in a tightly controlled police state that often literally shoots the messenger. We are witnessing the birth of citizen journalism, and Razzan Ghaxxawi, a popular blogger said, ‘Syrian journalists are targeted now, that's why we witnessed the birth of citizen journalists who are doing excellent work. Syria’s citizen journalists have learned to employ a variety of creative means to evade the radar of the vigilant authorities. When carrying out their daily work of media coverage they rely heavily on internet proxies, satellite phones, modems, hidden cameras often placed in buttons, pens and wristwatches. However some have learned that the sneakier they are the greater the punishment. The Smart Phone is more dangerous to the government than Israel now. (See also North Korea story below)
Pray: and thank God for the way technology is being used positively asking Him to protect those who communicate events truthfully. (Is.21:6)
Syria: Residents of Christiantvillage massacred
04 Jul 2013Almost 40 people, including women and children, were killed when opposition fighters attacked the village of Dweir, on the outskirts of Homs, on 27 May. A Barnabas Fund partner reported that the rebels tortured some residents before they killed them. On the day after the incident, independent United Nations investigators warned that opposition forces were becoming increasingly radicalised, and that only a minority of them were pro-democracy and wanted a state for all Syrians. Despite these developments, Western governments are moving towards increased support for the rebels. The United States will now provide direct military aid to the Syrian opposition for the first time. We are asked to pray for the Lord to guide Western governments as they respond to increasing radicalisation amongst the rebels, and pray that He will bring hope to Syrian Christians, whose position in their own country is becoming more and more precarious.
Pray: for comfort for all those who lost loved ones in the massacre. Pray also for those who had to flee their homes and may be traumatised by what they have witnessed. (Ps.34:17-18)
More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYywK6Z5zrc
Syria: Priest tells of fear and uncertainty
01 Sep 2011A London-based priest, The Rev Nadim Nassar, who is in Latakia, reported that ‘it felt like the whole city has closed down because people are scared to leave their homes and people don’t know what’s going on and what is next’. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he added: ‘On Sunday, you could hear a lot of shooting and bombing from different parts of the city. At least 30 people are reported to have been killed in Latakia so far, and government forces are accused of shooting at women and children trying to escape. Tanks have gathered on the outskirts of the city. Syrian government television has denied that any civilians have been targeted, and authorities say that it is tackling armed terrorist gangs. The crackdown began last Saturday, a day after there were anti-government protests in the city. The next day, activists say, Syrian warships fired shells at the city.
Pray: for the situation in Syria that a just solution would be found to bring about changes in the Syrian Government to halt the hostilities. (Ps.7:6)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/priest.tells.of.fear.and.uncertainty.in.syria/28507.htm
Syria: Plight of Christians intensifies
03 Jan 2013The condition of the Church in Syria is becoming more and more desperate. Christians, their property and their churches continue to be the targets of violent attack. According to a prayer bulletin from Barnabas Aid, a group which provides assistance to the persecuted church, a senior church leader reported some disturbing facts. Christians in Syria also face ‘inflation, poverty, growing of sectarian enmity, shortages of supplies of food and fuel, cold weather, revenge, kidnapping for big amounts of ransom, risks of travelling, frequent Internet cut off and (more).’ While the Christian population of Homs was once 50,000-60,000, just 80 Christians remain in a Christian neighbourhood of the old city in December 2012. They are being held hostage by rebels and prevented from leaving. They’re dying one by one as a result of serious hardships and lack of medication. They are being kept there as ‘human shields’ by Salafist rebel groups to deter government forces from attacking the Christian area, which is now occupied by rebels.
Pray: that all in Syria would know the Lord's peace in these desperate times. May God make a way for them to live in safety in their own country. (Hos.2:18)
Syria: Over 5,000 deaths since March
28 Sep 2011Pro-democracy protests begun in March 2011 are continuing despite fierce government opposition. President Bashar al-Assad has responded by killing over 5,000 of his citizens according to new statistics from human rights researchers. Thousands more have been arrested and tortured. 148 children were killed mainly by gunshots to the upper body. A report found 16 of the children had suffered severe torture in detention before their deaths. Amnesty International said, ‘It is difficult to second guess the motivation for torturing and killing children in custody. It may be that security forces hope to terrify people off the streets with the threat of what could happen to their children.’ International leaders are calling for al-Assad to step down and cease his attempts to put down and crush the serious threat to his family's 40-year rule. He repeatedly rejects these calls claiming demonstrations are ‘foreign-inspired plots,’ Syrian Christians request prayers for God to intervene and for political and emotional healing for the land.
Pray: for a peaceful transition of power, and for leaders to truly know God and serve with integrity. (Zec.13:9)
More: http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/syria-new-report-indicates-over-5000-deaths-since-march
Syria: More Christian kidnapping
29 Apr 2013Syrian Christians continue to request our prayers for their country. They note that, in recent months, there have been increasing numbers of attacks on Christians that seem to be religiously motivated. One example occurred on 9th February when two priests, Michel Kayyal (Armenian Catholic) and Maher Mahfouz (Greek Orthodox), were kidnapped when travelling by public bus between Damascus and Aleppo. The bus was stopped by armed men belonging to one of the groups fighting the government. The gunmen checked the identity documents of all passengers and only the two priests were taken. A Salesian priest travelling with them was not kidnapped. Negotiations for their release are on-going. Other kidnappings have been reported, especially in al-Hasakah Province where some Christians have demonstrated publicly to protest against this alarming new trend. There have been a number of assaults on church buildings and other Christian property. Such attacks are often interpreted as warnings or threats to the Christian communities.
Pray: that the violence in Syria will cease, and peace and justice will be established for all Syrians; those who have been kidnapped will be released unharmed. (Ps.7:9)
Syria: May 11th Day of Prayer for Syria
02 May 2013In an extraordinary show of unity of Christian denominations - Churches in Syria will unite in prayer on Saturday 11th May and are asking their brothers and sisters around the world to pray and fast with them. ‘As Christians in Syria continue to suffer from the devastating effects of the two-year-old civil war including killings, kidnappings, homelessness, lack of food and shelter and closing of schools; they are also seeing that God's hand is at work as all denominations are joining in passionate prayer.’ said Open Doors representative Steve Ridgway. ‘Christians in Syria know only Jesus can bring redemption and true peace. I urge you to take time on May 11 to pray with Syrian believers for their country. Please pray for:- The release of two Orthodox bishops, kidnapped in April, and other Christians who are missing; counselling for children who have been traumatized by violence; return of peace'.
Pray: for God to watch over the third of the population who are either refugees outside the country or homeless inside Syria. (Zec.9:8)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/syrias.churches.to.unite.in.prayer/32277.htm