Kyrgyzstan: Authorities targeting Uzbeks
24 Jul 2010
First the violence, now the fear. Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyzstan report that Kyrgyz authorities are rounding up Uzbek men without probable cause. Many of the arrests are taking place during the pre-dawn hours. In some cases, Uzbeks say they are paying a ransom to secure their loved ones’ release. Several deaths in custody have been reported. Those living in predominantly Uzbek areas of Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s southern capital, say they now dread the onset of night. ‘We have decided to guard our streets at night between about 23:00 and 05:00 so we can somehow try to put a live shield against the Kyrgyz military and police, who rush into our neighborhoods at night and take away our sons, husbands and brothers,’ Minura, a 45-year-old Osh resident, told EurasiaNet.org. Like most sources discussing the ongoing ethnic tension in Osh, she asked her last name not be printed. 'They took away my husband about a week ago after searching our house’ she said. Pray: for a breakthrough to the healing of relationships that would bring lasting peace following the conflicts. (Ps.28:5)
Kwait: Pray for undergreound church
07 Oct 2011Kuwait was part of the ‘Arab Spring’ of 2011. Thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister. Unlike demonstrations in Egypt and Tunisia, this unrest slowly subsided with most of the government still intact. Sharing the Gospel is not permitted but expatriate Christians continue to witness with discretion. This has resulted in a growing underground Church. We can praise God for expatriate testimonies, satellite Christian television and internet ministries which are successfully proclaiming the Good News in a Muslim nation that forbids this activity. There is potential for a great harvest of souls in Kuwait. We are asked to pray for Christians to be protected as they tell friends, families, and neighbours about Jesus Christ.
Pray: that the Lord would open doors for Christians fearlessly to share the Gospel. (Ro.10:14; Eph.6:19)
Stating that ‘Kuwait already has an excessive number of churches compared to the country’s Christian minority,’ a member of parliament has called for a ban on the construction of new churches in the Middle Eastern nation. A group of legislators is also calling for a constitutional amendment that would make Sharia the basis of the legal system. 85% of the nation’s 2.6 million people are Muslim; 12%, most of them foreign workers, are Catholic. Fifteen priests in three parishes minister to the nation’s 300,000 Catholics.
Pray: the Christian presence in Kuwait would continue and may all who are commissioned by the Lord to share His truth in Kuwait be protected. (Ps.2:8)
More: http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=13463
Kurdistan: Plans to review Christian schools
12 Mar 2012A Christian in Erbil writes, ‘If you have not yet heard there was a tragic shooting incident in Sulaimaniyah School of the Medes last week - a student killed an American teacher and then himself. Now it seems the issue is having larger influence on the Christian work here. Please find the following article about these discussions and pray that the present freedom could continue.’ Aknews reported, ‘The killing of an American private school teacher by one of his students has prompted calls for the revision of program modules at the Christian Medes School in Sulaimaniyah. The Kurdistan Teachers Union believes that the murder-suicide was motivated by religious reasons and the student was agitated by the school promoting Christianity. We have information which confirms that in some private schools in Erbil, Sulaimaniyah and Duhok cities, a certain religion or sect (Christianity) is being promoted in a mainly Muslim country like Kurdistan.
Pray: the Ministry of Education would prevent further incidents while maintaining a Christian presence in the education system. (Ps.20:1-2)
More: http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/3/293682
Korea: Prayer for peace and reunification
16 Aug 2013August 15 is Korea's Liberation Day when liberation in 1945 from Japanese colonial domination is celebrated. This was soon tragically followed by the division of the Peninsula by the western powers. In 1989, the WCC agreed that WCC member Churches throughout the world would be asked to pray on a Sunday near August 15 for the Peace and Reunification of Korea. Therefore each year since then Christians of the NCCK and the KCF, (Korean Christian Federation of North Korea), have been preparing a common prayer for use on one of the Sundays around the 15th. Korean Christians are grateful each year for the prayer support and solidarity of Christian partners throughout the world. Again this year they want to share this joint prayer for peace and reunification in the Korean peninsula. You can read and pray the prayer by clicking the more link.
Pray: that we live no more with confrontation and conflict between North and South Korea. Make them recover their national community with love. (Ps.120:5-7)
Kenya: Post elections
29 Apr 2013In 2007 Kenya’s disputed presidential election descended into violence in which more than 1,000 people were killed. In 2013 strongholds of defeated presidential candidate Raila Odinga are currently peaceful, hopefully reflecting a desire by Kenyans to avoid a repeat of the bloodshed. However, Odinga has refused to concede the election to rival Uhuru Kenyatta and said he would challenge the result in the courts. On Sunday he urged his supporters to refrain from the violence that could once more convulse Kenya. A smooth handover of power this time around is seen as critical to restoring Kenya's reputation as a stable democracy and safe investment destination - an image that was shattered by the mayhem that followed the last election. Other nations have a diplomatic dilemma dealing with a president who is indicted for crimes against humanity, but will be an ally in the fight against militant Islam in the Horn of Africa.
Pray: that the nation would unite in a swift return to normality after the back-to-back election coverage and appeals by presenters for Kenyans to accept the outcome calmly. (Zec.9:16-17)
More: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/03/10/uk-kenya-elections-idUKBRE92907H20130310
Kenya: Grenade Attack on Church
08 May 2012On Sunday a grenade explosion killed 27-year-old university student Kelvin Walumba at God’s House of Miracles International Church in Nairobi. Sixteen people were also injured. Islamic extremists from al Shabaab rebels in Somalia have embarked on a series of attacks in Kenya after the Kenyan military invaded Somali territory last autumn in an attempt to quell al Shabaab violence at tourist destinations. Speculation that the attack stemmed from a land dispute were untrue, as the dispute with the church was resolved in court last year. Four church members are in a critical condition: Leonida Mbogo, Julia Mumbi, Ezekiel Muthini and Shalom Koronge. Mbogo sustained serious injuries to her leg, which was broken. The explosion comes a week after the U.S. Embassy in Kenya issued a possible terror attack warning. It also comes less than a month after a similar explosion took place in Mtwapa, claiming one life and injuring 30+.
Pray: against anti-Christian violence, and may Kenyan troops and government win the battle against al-Shabab. (Ps.12:7)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/kenya/article_1522556.html
Faith leaders in Kenya called for calm after the International Criminal Court in The Hague committed to trial high-ranking politicians for crimes against humanity in connection with violence following elections in 2007. Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, fellow presidential candidate William Ruto, cabinet secretary Francis Muthaura and radio journalist Joshua Sang will be tried for an orchestrated campaign to displace, torture, and kill civilians. More than 1,200 people died and around 650,000 were left homeless in clashes in the Rift Valley, Nyanza, Nairobi and Central provinces. ‘We call for sobriety and restraint as Kenyans engage in discussion and interpretation of the decision and its ramifications,’ said the Rev Peter Karanja, the general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Kenya, in a statement on 23 January. The council in 2009 urged the court to investigate the violence, following failure by the government to establish a local justice system to deal with the causes.
Pray: for restraint as these politicians engage in discussion. Pray for peace and justice. (Job.34:17a)