Thailand: Chinese Christian refugees
15 Sep 2022
Sixty members of a Chinese church have submitted applications for asylum in Bangkok, after being denied refuge in South Korea. They had fled the communist regime to escape religious persecution. Pastor Pan’s church has been on the run for years. He said the persecution is growing worse. The group remains stateless, jobless, and homeless, but not without faith. ‘We're thinking of our children's future. We refuse to put their education in the hands of the Communist Party, to give them an atheist education, and to turn their backs on God. So we are willing to pay this price to flee China to allow them to keep going to church school and to know God. Although we don't know what we will encounter in the future, what our God gives us is the best. He will lead us through these issues; God always has the best plan and arrangement.’
Laos: pray for growth
15 Sep 2022
‘Those who believed Peter were baptised and added to the church - about 3,000 in all’ (Acts 2:41). This passage reminds us that the early Church grew rapidly during a time of persecution. It is happening again in Laos. Small house churches are scattered throughout the country, and believers in Laos face continual persecution. Converts to Christianity are considered betrayers to their community’s Buddhist-Animist traditions. Unregistered house churches are illegal. Communist authorities intensely monitor Christians. Yet, there is reason for hope. While only 2.5% of the 7.4 million population are evangelical, the yearly growth rate of the Church is 6.8%. Most of the house churches in Laos are led by faithful but untrained leaders, but this is not a limitation for a sovereign God. Pray protection over house church leaders who are targets of persecution; pray for believers to safely proclaim the Gospel to their neighbours and persevere with grace.
Armenia / Azerbaijan: border flare-ups
15 Sep 2022
Over a hundred Armenian soldiers are dead after border clashes with Azerbaijan ,which lost fifty of its troops in the worst fighting since 2020. Armenia appealed to world leaders for help after Azerbaijan began advancing on its territory. The conflict between the former Soviet republics is over the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is Azerbaijani territory but populated with ethnic Armenians. Azerbaijan states that ethnic Armenians are illegally occupying its land. 30,000 people died in a 1991 conflict following the collapse of the Soviet Union, and ethnic Armenian separatists broke away from Azerbaijan. The six-week war in 2020 killed 6,500 people and ended with a Russian-brokered truce; Armenia cedied swaths of territory it had controlled for decades. Armenians are mostly Christian with military ties to Russia, while Azerbaijan is a Muslim country with ties to Turkey. On 14 September Armenia said a truce had been agreed but there was no confirmation from Azerbaijan. See
Libya: Christian’s unfair death sentence
15 Sep 2022
A young man who accepted Jesus in 2018 was arrested by militias and detained several times during recent years. They tried to force him to recant his faith. There is no rule of law; there are no official law-enforcement agencies. Libya has no law against apostasy, so converts are tried for treason. However, a court based its decision on a law enacted by the elected legislative body between 2012 and 2014 ,which states that an apostate from Islam must be executed if they do not recant. That law and others were cancelled by the current Tobruk-based parliament, elected in 2014. However, as part of a continuing power struggle, the Tripoli supreme court declared the Tobruk-based parliament illegal, allowing courts freedom to still apply the cancelled laws. The accused did not have legal representation during the proceedings.
Morocco: pray for the mustard seed church
15 Sep 2022
A North African country of 37 million people, Morocco has enjoyed a degree of stability and peace. The King takes the lead in politics and religious affairs. He is attempting to spread wealth beyond the main cities, and to open a limited space for political discussion. Positive change is slowed by corruption, political repression, and unemployment. Young people and rural dwellers show their frustration in sporadic protests. Morocco is 99% Muslim. Christians number a couple of thousand, each one born into a hostile environment. Few Moroccans have heard the gospel; many have come across slanderous reports about the Church. Christian workers have been expelled. It is hard to gather Christians together for fellowship and discipleship. Pray for the King, and for fresh hope for the people of Morocco. Praise God for Morocco’s Church, for expatriate believers, and for the internet and satellite TV which are lifelines for Moroccan Christians and seekers.
Ethiopia: civil war
15 Sep 2022
Drone strikes have killed ten civilians and wounded thirteen in the capital of Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Tigray hospitals are cut off from vital supplies, putting the wounded in more danger. The civil war in Ethiopia ignited again in recent weeks. The Tigray Liberation Front offered a ceasefire, but the Ethiopian central government has yet to respond. Unfortunately, some Christians within Ethiopia have advocated for continuing attacks. People calling themselves prophets have arisen among the evangelical leaders, who are quite strong across Ethiopia in their support of the government. They say, ‘God is with you. Now is the time to move forward with the attack.’ After many months of fighting there are ongoing challenges of electricity being off and banks closed. But churches have continued to meet. Under the pressure of hunger and lack of peace, they still worship and serve the Lord. They are like North Korean and Chinese Christians.
America: border crisis
15 Sep 2022
US / Mexico border concerns are unaddressed; Americans are complaining. Judges and commissioners of 26 Texas counties have signed declarations of needing ‘protection from the influx of violent Mexicans’. They want constitutional authority to protect themselves from Mexican ‘paramilitary, narco-terrorist organisations that profit from trafficking people and drugs into the US and exploit insecure borders for their power and profit, harming local communities’. The counties say the Texas constitution allows them to 'defend themselves against invasion.’ Both the Republican Party and the Texas Public Policy Foundation want Texas to declare an invasion by unprecedented illegal immigration. They argue that Mexican cartels and their extensive criminal networks across US cities are threatening the lives of Texans and Americans. Meanwhile Governor Abbott has directed officials to apprehend illegal border crossers and return them to ports of entry. He is the only Texas governor to build a wall on Texas soil.
We are pleased to bring you this September 2022 edition of IPC Connections.
This edition begins with a focus on praying for Kingdom breakthrough in a number of key cities across INDIA! My friend and colleague, Brother Onassis Jeevaraj (Director of IPC’s South Asia Prayer Council) introduces us to these cities and their strategic significance in his article.
These 27 Indian cities are among 110 cities which are collectively populated by 98% of the remaining unreached peoples. We would invite you to commit to pray for all of these cities and others throughout the year for 15 minutes a day.
Sign up for 110 Cities HERE.
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IPC partnered with the Church in Japan to help mobilise 365,000 hours of worldwide prayer for their nation during the 2021 Olympic and Paralympic Games. On the anniversary of the closing ceremony (this last week) we jointly launched LOVE JAPAN which aims to mobilise worldwide 24/7 Prayer for Japan! Read more and sign up below!
This month, our team will be facilitating prayer and mission conferences, events and initiatives across the continents of the world! We value your prayers! Please do pray for us by name here!
As we ‘go to press’ we are hearing of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. As well as being respected worldwide, she was appreciated as a figure of national honour. She was the longest reigning monarch in British history and was head of the Commonwealth of 56 nations and monarch of 14 nations.
The Queen was a remarkable ambassador for the Christian faith across her reign of 70 years. Her Christian faith was prominently in evidence in many of her speeches, particularly her Christmas Day messages to the nations. She has been described as being ‘sustained by her faith and driven by her duty’.
We extend our prayers and condolences to the Royal Family and our friends in the IPC family across Britain and the Commonwealth territories at this time of national mourning.
Two of our senior advisors in England - Brian Mills and Ian Cole from England have asked for our prayers - ‘for the British Isles and the Royal Family in these coming days of transition. Also, please pray for King Charles 111 that he would be open to the leading of God’s Spirit as he takes up such huge responsibilities at such a critical time in our nation's history.’
In the Editorial article, in response to requests from a number of people, I am unpacking the topic of Prayer Walking and the power of praying the Word! As well as exalting Jesus and praying for transformation across the strategic 110 Cities IPC / FTT have targeted, we can all take part in prayer walking our home villages, towns and cities - with the right preparation! I trust you will be inspired and encouraged as you put these guidelines into action.
Thank you for continuing to partner with us in mobilising and informing united prayer across nations, denominations, movements, and generations for the fulfilment of the Great Commission.
May we express grateful thanks to Andy Page and the IPC Editorial Team who put this email together each month.
There is so much to be honoring and glorifying the Lamb for, as we contend and step out in unity of purpose - ‘for His way to be known across the earth and his salvation among all nations!’ (Psalm 67)
Jason Hubbard - Director
International Prayer Connect
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