Prayer for the Persecuted - April 7, 2025 @ 7 PM

1. Open in Prayer

2. Scripture: See # 4, 6 & 7 

3. Worship Video: I Asked the Lord that I Might Grow 
                                 Precious Lord Take My Hand 
                                Jews & Arabs worship together in Nazareth, Israel.

4. IRAN: Three Christians Facing Lengthy Prison Sentences

5. INDIA: Large Mob Attack at Pastors' Gathering

6. Arabian Peninsula - Christian Sisters Escape Family, Fear Forced Return

7. Togo - Pastors Targeted by Islamists

Somalia: Mother of Three in Loses All Relatives for Receiving Christ

Togo - Pastors Targeted by Islamists

Source: iCommitToPray
Apr. 03, 2025

Pastor Kokouvi is one of
many who serve in
dangerous parts of Togo.

Several pastors in the north of Togo have been persecuted by Islamists, who sometimes cross over from neighboring countries to attack Christians. In April 2024, Islamists attacked a village where Pastor Gbendja Félidja was serving, killing five people. He fled at that time, but he returned during the summer. On Feb. 7, 2025, armed militants came to his house and shot and stabbed him to death. He left behind seven married adult children. In the same region of Togo, Pastor Patrice Kokouvi continues to minister despite ongoing threats for sharing the gospel with Muslims. For the past three years, villagers have continuously destroyed his crops, limiting his income and source of food. When asked if he had reported the destruction to the police, he said, “If I go to the court system, perhaps they [the villagers] will never want to know Jesus.” For their safety, Patrice has moved his family to the outskirts of the village.

Overview:

Influenced by neighboring Benin, the birthplace of voodoo, persecution against Christians occurs primarily in the north of Togo, where voodooists and animists oppose the church because they see it as a threat to their power and influence. Members of the Muslim Fulani tribe who choose to follow Christ also experience opposition from their families and communities.

Matthew 5:10: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Please pray for Pastor Gbendja's family as they morn the loss of his life and pray for the safety of Pastor Patrice as he continues to minister in this dangerous region, and also for his family.  Pray that many will come to know Jesus through Pastor Patrice's ministry.

Pray for Abraham, who was beaten by people who practice sorcery because he placed his faith in Christ.

Many Togolese follow traditional religions. Pray that they will be set free from spiritual bondage.

Pray for the safety of Christians threatened by militant Fulani Muslims.

About 42% of Togolese are Christians. Pray that they will live boldly for Christ.

Pray for Togolese missionaries who are working to reach people in remote areas with the gospel.

Mother of Three in Somalia Loses All Relatives for Receiving Christ

Husband drives her from one home, parents from another. March 28, 2025 By Our East Africa Correspondent - 

Somali family in Lower Juba Region breaking daily Ramada fast in March 2025. (Morning Star News)

NAIROBI, Kenya (Morning Star News) – 
...A Christian team entered Fatuma Hussein's (age 30) house that day as her relatives were breaking the daily Ramadan fast at about 7:30 p.m.; Hussein’s husband was not present. The team found Hussein unwell and complaining of Jinn (supernatural beings from the unseen world in Islam) power menacing her; they prayed for her and left for another village, the leader said.

On March 17, Hussein phoned the team to let them know that that since the time of prayer, she had felt peace and comfort in her heart and invited them back to her house. When they arrived, she happily requested more prayer and said she would pay them $100 USD – which the team declined, telling her that salvation was a free gift of God through his Son, Issa (Jesus), the leader said.

Hussein told the team that she had heard the voice of God telling her, “Receive my power so that you can pray for others for healing as well,” he said.

“She needed some clarification on this, and we took time explaining to her that she is a vessel of God, and she was receiving salvation in Christ Jesus,” the leader told Morning Star News. “After her receiving Christ as her Savior, then we left the village to another area for mission outreach.”

On March 19, Hussein boldly shared her new faith with her husband, Ibrahim Suleiman. Angry with her for embracing a faith different from Islam, he informed her parents, and Hussein’s father told Suleiman to send her back to him so that he could “deal with the issue,” Hussein said.

On March 20, Hussein’s husband sent her back to relatives without their three children ages 7, 5 and 3, she said. Undaunted, she began sharing about the love of God with her sister, the Christian leader said.

On March 22, Hussein’s father learned about her sharing Christ with his other daughter and began mistreating her, the leader said, recalling that Hussein told him, “My father started beating me with sticks and threatening to kill me and immediately kicked me out of the family by chasing me away with a sharp sword. He even told my husband to beat and even kill me whenever I am seen around.”

Driven from both families, Hussein is lonely and praying for them to receive what she has received, the leader said. His team has connected her with a nearby underground Christian family, a stop-gap measure that he does not regard as safe in the long term.

Hussein said she was trusting God to take her to a safe place where she can have freedom to worship God.

“I have lost my children, but the peace of God will continue comforting my heart,” she told the leader. “Please tell Christian families wherever they are to continue praying for me and support me with money to buy food to sustain me wherever I will be staying, so that I do not become a burden, and more so that God will sustain and meet all my physical and spiritual needs. I am lonely, but Issa is with me.”

2 Timothy 3:12: "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

Pray for Fatuma Hussein that she will be kept safe, have peace and remain strong in the Lord.

Pray for her parents, sister, husband and children that they would give their lives to Christ and that Fatuma would be able to reunite with her husband and children.

IRAN: Imprisoned Christian Beaten for Medical Request

Source:
Sources: Article18, Christian Post

Amir-Ali Minaei Photo: Article 18

Amir-Ali Minaei has been held in Tehran's Evin Prison since April 2024. The Christian man is presently serving a 43-month term for "propaganda activities against the regime through establishing a house church."

During the period of time between his arrest and sentencing, Amir-Ali was diagnosed with a heart condition which was believed to be brought on by stress. In recent months, the imprisoned believer's condition has reportedly worsened. He has repeatedly asked to meet with a cardiologist for medical treatment, but all of his requests have been rejected.

After his most recent request in early March, Amir-Ali was physically assaulted by a prison official. During the attack, the believer was struck in the chest, which further aggravated his heart condition. Despite the beating, Amir-Ali remains without medical treatment, leading to concerns that his health may continue to deteriorate.

Christians in Iran who meet together for prayer and worship are subjected to frequent harassment and arrests. While church gatherings are permitted for Armenian and Assyrian minorities, they are off-limits for most of the population. Previously published reports concerning the persecution of Christians in Iran are available at our country profile.

• On behalf of Amir-Ali, please pray for greatly needed physical strength and healing.
• Also ask our Heavenly Father to soften the hearts of the prison officials so that this detained brother in Christ can receive necessary medical treatment.
• May the many Christians throughout Iran who are currently being imprisoned or threatened because of their faith in Christ receive wisdom, peace and courage.
• Prayerfully remember the ongoing efforts of Christian ministries throughout this Persian nation that are reaching out with the Gospel message via radio and satellite television broadcasts.

PAKISTAN: Christian Man Assaulted and Humiliated

Source: VOMC
Sources: British Asian Christian Association, Pakistan Christian Post

Photo: Wikimedia / Tahsin Shah (cc)

On February 27th, an impoverished Christian man named Wasif Masih was collecting wood along the road when he was confronted by a group of six Muslim landowners. The men verbally abused the believer, referring to him as "chuhra" – a term frequently used in Pakistan to insult Christians. The perpetrators then physically beat Wasif and detained him for four hours on a poultry farm.

During the incident, the Muslim men forcibly shaved Wasif's head, along with one eyebrow and part of his moustache. The believer's face was also smeared with a black substance before he was paraded through the village streets on a donkey. When the procession reached the home of Muhammad Mushtaq, the father of one of the perpetrators, he immediately rebuked the culprits for their abusive treatment of Wasif, calling their actions "evil acts." When others began to arrive, the abusers released the injured Christian man and fled the area.

The men responsible for the incident are well known within the community for their violent actions. Two of them have since been arrested (including the son of Muhammad Mushtaq). Thus far, three others – Muhammad Junaid, Naeem and Teeter ul Haq – secured pre-arrest bail from the court. Wasif and his family are determined to seek justice for the assailants' acts of violence and humiliation.
To review other reports addressing the suffering inflicted on Christians in Pakistan, go to our country profile.

• As Wasif recovers both physically and emotionally from this ordeal, pray that he will tangibly sense the assurance of our Heavenly Father's loving care.
• Additionally, may this dear brother in Christ receive peace and comfort, as well the ability to rejoice, knowing that he's sharing in his Saviour's sufferings (1 Peter 4:13).
• Pray that all the perpetrators who are responsible for committing these abusive incidents will be held accountable for their actions, so that justice will prevail.

CHINA: Unregistered Churches Face Increasing Oppression

Source: VOMC
Source: ChinaAid

Photo: ChinaAid

Two recently received reports indicate the ongoing coordinated opposition that members of unregistered house churches are facing throughout China. Since the groups are considered illegal, the authorities have tried using fines and arrests, along with threats and intimidation tactics, in their attempts to shut down the organizations.

For the All Ranges Church, two particular cases have been highlighted. In 2023, 20 pastors and church members were arrested by Public Security Bureau officials in Suizhou, Hubei Province. In September 2024, nine of the members were formally indicted. The Christians' "crimes" include providing a meeting space to hold worship gatherings, encouraging congregants to tithe, and teaching potential lay leaders how to host ministry-related gatherings for Christian youth.

In Nyingchi City, Tibet, ten members of the All Ranges Church were charged on December 25th, 2024, due to their alleged illegal business activities and missionary work. These believers have been accused of using medical clinics and childcare services to spread so-called "heretical fallacies."

A similar crackdown has been launched against the Living Spring church and its leaders. The municipal government of Hotan, Xinjiang, imposed penalties on March 24th and banned the Christians from conducting all religious activities. The members of the church, which was established in 2020, had been meeting regularly in residential communities, parks and private homes for prayer and worship. However, since these activities were not previously approved by the government, the authorities have deemed them illegal. As a result, exorbitant fines have been issued which far exceed the ability of the church to pay.

While Christians belonging to unregistered churches throughout China face increasing pressures, those in the region of Xinjiang are subjected to particularly extreme restrictions and intense scrutiny from officials of the Chinese Communist Party.
For more details on the difficulties being encountered by Chinese Christians, go to our country report.

• Prayerfully remember the members and leaders of these oppressed churches, along with those of the many other unregistered fellowships throughout China, as they faithfully seek to spread the message of the Gospel in the midst of hostility.
• In particular, please pray for Christians residing in the region of Xinjiang, asking that these believers would not be intimidated by the government's stringent policies but rather emboldened to remain steadfast in their faith.
• Pray for radical changes to take place in the hearts of Chinese Communist Party leaders, bringing about increased freedoms throughout the country for our Christian brothers and sisters.

Arabian Peninsula - Christian Sisters Escape Family, Fear Forced Return

Source: iCommitToPray

Two sisters were imprisoned by their family for their faith and now seek safety in another country. Noor and Rana grew up in a Muslim home but did not like the way they and other women were treated. They searched the internet for information on different faiths and eventually met some Christians online. Through the Christians’ friendship and witness, the two sisters became followers of Christ. But when their family discovered their new faith, they locked the sisters inside and physically abused them for 13 months. The two women escaped and fled to a nearby country, but they do not have the paperwork necessary to stay or to move on. “They are afraid, terrified, that they might be sent home,” said a front-line worker. He asked that Christians pray for the sisters to experience God’s peace and provision for a safe home where they can grow in their faith.

2 Timothy 3:12: "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

Peace: Pray that Noor and Rana feel God's peace and comfort in the midst of their fear and uncertainty.

Provision: Seek God's provision for a safe and stable home where they can live without fear and grow in their faith.

Healing: Pray for emotional and physical healing from their trauma and strength to face the challenges ahead.

Faith Growth: Ask that their faith remains strong and that they continue to grow spiritually, finding encouragement and support from a Christian community to walk alongside them in their journey.