“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
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Iran – Imprisoned convert’s request for retrial dismissed by supreme court
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Iraq – Stolen homes, shops and land returned to rightful christian owners
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Sri Lanka – Pastor barred from conducting worship services in his home
Nigeria – Christians martyred in attacks in three states
At least five Christians have been martyred in separate attacks by militants across three Nigerian states.
Three Christians were killed by Islamist militants in the village of Kautikari in Chibok Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State.
Gunmen from the Islamic State West Africa Province invaded the predominantly Christian area of the Muslim-majority state on 25 February, causing many residents to flee.
One of the dead was identified as Bulama Wadir, the son of a traditional ruler. The other two victims had sought safety in Kautikari after fleeing violence elsewhere in the region.
Barka Amos, who survived the attack, said he was “getting tired of running”.
Gunmen stormed a church in Kudenda, Kaduna State in the early hours of 8 March and shot dead at least one security guard before kidnapping the church minister Joseph Aketeh.
A woman and her two children were also abducted in the attack.
In Adamawa State, a 25-year-old Christian named Sheriff Yongo was ambushed and murdered by suspected Fulani militants as he walked home from a church convention in Dong Village, Demsa LGA.
Lift up in prayer the grieving families of Sheriff Yongo, Bulama Wadir and two other believers in Chibok, and the security guard in Kudenda. Ask that they will know the Lord’s comfort in abundance (Matthew 5:4). Pray that the mother, her two children and Joseph Aketeh will soon be released unharmed by the kidnappers. Cry out to God for an end to repeated violence towards Christians in Nigeria’s northern and Middle Belt states and for the authorities to find the most effective strategy to protect residents from such attacks. Ask that those who, like Barka, have spent a lifetime running from recurrent attacks, will experience sustained physical and spiritual rest in their later years.
Iran – Imprisoned convert’s request for retrial dismissed by supreme court
At least five Christians have been martyred in separate attacks by militants across three Nigerian states.
Three Christians were killed by Islamist militants in the village of Kautikari in Chibok Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State.
Gunmen from the Islamic State West Africa Province invaded the predominantly Christian area of the Muslim-majority state on 25 February, causing many residents to flee.
One of the dead was identified as Bulama Wadir, the son of a traditional ruler. The other two victims had sought safety in Kautikari after fleeing violence elsewhere in the region.
Barka Amos, who survived the attack, said he was “getting tired of running”.
Gunmen stormed a church in Kudenda, Kaduna State in the early hours of 8 March and shot dead at least one security guard before kidnapping the church minister Joseph Aketeh.
A woman and her two children were also abducted in the attack.
In Adamawa State, a 25-year-old Christian named Sheriff Yongo was ambushed and murdered by suspected Fulani militants as he walked home from a church convention in Dong Village, Demsa LGA.
Lift up in prayer the grieving families of Sheriff Yongo, Bulama Wadir and two other believers in Chibok, and the security guard in Kudenda. Ask that they will know the Lord’s comfort in abundance (Matthew 5:4). Pray that the mother, her two children and Joseph Aketeh will soon be released unharmed by the kidnappers. Cry out to God for an end to repeated violence towards Christians in Nigeria’s northern and Middle Belt states and for the authorities to find the most effective strategy to protect residents from such attacks. Ask that those who, like Barka, have spent a lifetime running from recurrent attacks, will experience sustained physical and spiritual rest in their later years.
Iraq – Stolen homes, shops and land returned to rightful christian owners
More than 120 properties stolen in Iraq from Christians and members of another minority group have been returned to their rightful owners.
The Committee for the Restitution of Christian and Sabean Property completed a review of proof of ownership on 21 February. The committee found that houses, factories, shops and parcels of land had been stolen by gangs. These were returned to Christians and Sabeans.
The committee hopes to continue the process of restoring land and property to their rightful owners, and that all displaced Iraqis will be able to return to their homes.
An estimated 75% of Iraq’s Christians (around 1.5 million in 1990) have left the country in the last 30 years because of anti-Christian hostility and violence, which began after the 1990-91 Gulf War and intensified after the US-led invasion of 2003 and again after the emergence in 2014 of Islamic State
(IS, ISIS, ISIL or Daesh).
Praise God for the restoration of property and land to their rightful Christian and Sabean owners and pray that this initiative continues. Ask that justice will flow (Amos 5:24) and a forgiving spirit will be much in evidence as Christians return to properties. Pray that God’s people in response to restitution of property will demonstrate that righteousness exalts a nation (Proverbs 14:34) and be prominent by their Christ-like example in shaping Iraq’s spiritual path in years ahead.
Sri Lanka – Pastor barred from conducting worship services in his home
More than 120 properties stolen in Iraq from Christians and members of another minority group have been returned to their rightful owners.
The Committee for the Restitution of Christian and Sabean Property completed a review of proof of ownership on 21 February. The committee found that houses, factories, shops and parcels of land had been stolen by gangs. These were returned to Christians and Sabeans.
The committee hopes to continue the process of restoring land and property to their rightful owners, and that all displaced Iraqis will be able to return to their homes.
An estimated 75% of Iraq’s Christians (around 1.5 million in 1990) have left the country in the last 30 years because of anti-Christian hostility and violence, which began after the 1990-91 Gulf War and intensified after the US-led invasion of 2003 and again after the emergence in 2014 of Islamic State
(IS, ISIS, ISIL or Daesh).
Praise God for the restoration of property and land to their rightful Christian and Sabean owners and pray that this initiative continues. Ask that justice will flow (Amos 5:24) and a forgiving spirit will be much in evidence as Christians return to properties. Pray that God’s people in response to restitution of property will demonstrate that righteousness exalts a nation (Proverbs 14:34) and be prominent by their Christ-like example in shaping Iraq’s spiritual path in years ahead.
India – Dalit Christian woman becomes mayor of Chennai
A Dalit Christian woman has become the youngest ever mayor in the history of Chennai, India’s fourth largest city.
Priya Rajan, 28, a member of the Evangelical Church of India, was sworn in as mayor of the city of ten million inhabitants on 4 March.
Chennai, formerly Madras, is the state capital of Tamil Nadu in southern India.
Christian social activist Kulandai Swamy commented, “It is an important milestone in Tamil Nadu’s political history that a Dalit woman is being placed as mayor of this big city. It is a sign of empowerment of a marginalised community.”
Scheduled Castes, including Dalits, are viewed as having the lowest status within the Hindu caste system. The National Council of Churches in India estimates that about 70% of the Christian population of India is from a Scheduled Caste background. Although many Dalits have embraced Christianity, they are still identified primarily by their caste by a large section of society and suffer severe caste-based discrimination and violence.
Give thanks for Priya Rajan’s election and ask the Lord to fill her abundantly with wisdom as she addresses her new responsibilities. Pray that she will know His Divine guidance in serving the people of Chennai and inspire India’s Christian population. Ask that the Lord will direct her steps clearly in her time of office (Proverbs 16:9) and that her godly example will cause many to look on His people favourably.
Laos – Christians driven from their home
Villagers drove a Christian family of twelve from their home in southern Laos in anger at the family’s practice of a “foreign” religion.
On 9 February the family home in Dong Savanh village, Savannakhet province, was burned down.
When Seng Aloun was widowed on 4 December 2021 villagers physically prevented her and the family from using the village cemetery for the burial. The family chose to bury her husband in their own rice field. However, the field was seized by villagers on 10 February – the day after the attack on the family home.
“Village residents and local authorities don’t like us because we believe in Jesus Christ,” said Seng.
The family had previously been evicted from the village in 2017.
Christians in Savannakhet expressed concern over the family’s treatment, pointing out that even the village chief had participated in the attack at the funeral. They also feared that the police investigation would not be sufficiently rigorous.
Christians have been the victims of similar attacks in rural areas of Laos, a communist state with a predominantly Buddhist population. Five Christian families from Salavan province were evicted in October 2020 and January 2021 for refusing to renounce their faith. Their homes were demolished. District government orders to build new homes have yet to be carried out.
Intercede for Seng Aloun and her family to receive swift justice (Psalm 37:6) and a permanent home. Ask that earlier cases of Christians evicted will be resolved fairly and that authorities at local level will be prompted to enforce the law protecting Christians and other minorities. The country’s Law on the Evangelical Church, introduced in 2019, gives Lao Christians the right to conduct services and preach throughout the country and to maintain contacts with believers outside Laos. Pray that this law is applied justly in rural as well as urban areas.
