President Obama ended his visit to India with a speech referring to religious freedom. He warned India not to stray from its constitutional commitment to allow people freedom to ‘profess, practice and propagate’ religion. Obama's visit aimed to cement a strategic partnership with India, and the two leaders gave the media plenty of opportunity to see them developing a stronger relationship. The President chose his parting speech to deliver his message to the nation about treatment of non-Hindu faiths. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Obama said that Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism are ‘all different flowers in the garden, India will succeed so long as it is not splintered along the lines of religious faith’. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to power in 2014, Hindu activists have been eager to declare their country a nation of Hindus, which has led to an increasing number of attacks on minority faiths.

American Pastor Saeed is in an Iranian prison because of his Christian faith. He was found guilty of ‘undermining state security,’ because he built a church network in private homes. He’s serving an eight year sentence. He's endured serious health problems and his wife has petitioned President Obama on his behalf for 2 ½ years while fasting and praying. Now there is a glimmer of hope for the family.  President Barack Obama met privately with Saeed's wife, Naghmeh, last Wednesday while he was visiting her town in Idaho. Their conversation only lasted 10 minutes but Naghmeh says it was an answer to her prayers. The president told Naghmeh that bringing her husband home is a top priority. Naghmeh said she told President Obama, ‘God brought you here, God set up this meeting.’  She later told CBN news, ‘I have hope for the next steps because God is in control.’

SAT-7 Kids presenter Mr Know visited camps for internally displaced people in Iraq. ‘I thought people would be miserable. The children miss their school and friends but they are full of hope. This is not denial. They talked about IS; one youngster said, ‘I will never react to what they have done to me;instead, I will pray that they feel the forgiveness of God in their hearts,’ Mr Know interviewed 11 year-old Miriam, asking if she was angry with Jesus because of what she had suffered but she said, ‘I know that he loves me because he kept me with my family; not one of us was kidnapped or sold.’ Mr Know began to cry and astonishingly Miriam comforted him, saying, ‘Do not cry for us. Your Christian broadcasting is giving us hope on screen. It is our turn to give you hope’.

Abraham, Job, Moses, and Jesus walked Jordan’s land. Today only 2% of the population are Christian and Christians are persecuted or oppressed as a result of government policy. Jordan’s Zaatari refugee camp is 10 kilometres east of Mafraq and has gradually evolved into a permanent settlement since opening in July 2012 to host Syrians fleeing the civil war. The camp features market-like structures along the main street where vegetables, basic household equipment and clothes are sold. There are also coffee shops where shisha can be smoked. The population has been increasing consistently and there have been demonstrations over lack of food supplies and poor accommodation. In the midst of the camp are Christians seeking to minister in these difficult conditions. Pray that in the heart of such hardship and uncertainty God will reveal Himself to many. Pray for families to have the opportunity to be resettled elsewhere. See also