Tag Archives: 10/40 Window

Each Friday I pray and fast for nations where Christians suffer the worst persecution around the world. This week I am praying and fasting for:

Vietnam. 93.3 million people with 9.9 million Christians. 

Vietnam is one of the few remaining countries in the world following a communist ideology. Consequently, authorities still perceive Christianity as a foreign influence and Christians as Western agents. The regime is based on Marxist-Leninist doctrine and Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts. The publication and distribution of Christian materials is difficult and highly restricted. Work among children and youth is not officially restricted, but monitored and youth camps and trainings can be disturbed. The level of violence increased in 2014. Several church buildings as well as houses of Christians were destroyed and more than 10 Christians were sentenced to jail. (World Watch List)

Vietnam uses a specialized religious police force to stop the growth of religious groups, such as Christians, through discrimination and violence. Official government documents give local authorities in the northwest the mandate to compel Christians to recant their faith…The government restricts religious freedom through legislation, registration requirements, and by harassing and intimidating unsanctioned religious groups. In some urban areas, religious activity is permitted within government-approved parameters. But in rural areas, local authorities view Christianity as a foreign threat and often use discrimination, intimidation, property destruction, detentions, beatings and forced renunciations of faith to halt church growth. Many of Vietnam’s more than 50 ethnic minority groups face persecution because of both their ethnicity and Christian faith. Several ethnic Christians have died while being tortured. Christians at a prayer vigil for the release of two Christian leaders were shot when police fired into the crowd, and many were injured. Persecution is more severe in the north than in the south. VOM workers report that local officials increasingly target new believers for extreme harassment, and leave established Christians alone. (Voice of Martyrs)

Today, I prayed:

Lord, I pray for Your Spirit to move in Vietnam to open the eyes of the people, so they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. And so they receive forgiveness for their sins and are given a place among God’s people. (Based on Acts 26:18)

Join with me on Fridays to fast and pray for prisoners, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Click on to see MyGFA site.

Each Friday I pray and fast for nations where Christians suffer the worst persecution around the world. This week I am praying and fasting for:

Uzbekistan. 29.7 million people with 210,000 Christians.

The regime of President Islam Karimov continues to restrict the freedom of religion, and Christian converts from a Muslim background are facing many problems from their family, friends and community. The fear of an influx of Islamic jihadists, the terrible human rights situation and the succession of President Karimov will remain important happenings. In the past year, the oppression of Christians has been constant. Frequently, houses of Christians are raided and books and other materials confiscated. Most often, the state monitors and heavily fines undue religious movements in order to control them. (World Watch List 2015)

Uzbekistan, which gained independence in 1991, is Central Asia’s most populous country and one of the poorest. It is the world’s fifth largest cotton exporter and much of its agriculture centers around cotton…Though a secular state, Uzbekistan’s religion law bans unregistered religious activity. The government relentlessly persecutes Christians, especially active congregations. Almost all Christians are ethnic minorities, who are treated with particular harshness. Proselytism is illegal. In the southeast, police have campaigned to prevent children from attending worship services. Uzbekistan’s secret police carry out phone taps and surveillance on places of worship, occasionally recruiting informers to infiltrate church activities. Because it is nearly impossible to obtain church registration, there are about 65 unregistered fellowships scattered throughout the country. Christians also face raids, literature confiscations, heavy fines, public humiliation, property seizure, job dismissal, beatings and torture. Observers report that torture is widely used to force adults and children to renounce their religious beliefs or to implicate themselves or others. (The Voice of the Martyrs)

Today I prayed according to Open Doors’ prayer points for Uzbekistan:

• Pray for Uzbek Christians who are under constant scrutiny, especially in their homes
• Pray for strength for believers who are under pressure to betray their fellow Christians
• Obtaining a Bible can be difficult for many Christians: pray that Christian materials and Bibles will get into their hands without consequences from the government

Join with me on Fridays to fast and pray for prisoners, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Click on to see MyGFA site.

Each Friday I pray and fast for nations where Christians suffer the worst persecution around the world. This week I am praying and fasting for:

Yemen. 27.2 million people with a few thousand Christians (.1 %).

There is some religious freedom for foreigners here, but evangelism is prohibited, and Yemenis who leave Islam may face the death penalty. Muslim-background believers are forced to meet in secret. If their faith is discovered, they face severe persecution from authorities, family, and extremist groups who threaten ‘apostates’ with death if they do not recant. Insecurity caused by Islamist movements makes Yemen very unstable. Christians are believed to be under surveillance by extremists, and ex-pat Christians can be a specific target for these extremist groups. (Open Doors, World Watch List)

Yemen is the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula, making it susceptible to infiltration by extremist groups.  The country is a haven for Islamic militants, who have kidnapped and held foreigners for ransom…Expressing faith in Jesus is dangerous for Yemenis. It is illegal for non- Muslims to proselytize and for Muslims to convert to Christianity, but expatriates may privately practice religions other than Islam. Yemeni Christian converts from Islam face the death penalty if discovered, and family culture is extremely opposed to conversion. Mosque leaders openly preach an anti-Western message of hate. (Voice of the Martyrs)

Today, I prayed:

Lord, I pray for a thousand Stephens to be raised up in Yemen who are full of grace, power, wisdom, and the Spirit, who do great wonders and signs among the people, and who are willing to debate crowds of Muslims to their faces, not worrying about their lives even unto their deaths. (Based on Acts 6:8-10 and Revelation 12:11)

Join with me on Fridays to fast and pray for prisoners, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Click on to see MyGFA site.