A mighty day of prayer was launched on March 7th 2019 in Indonesia. By God’s grace and miracle, 555 cities, 511 cities in Indonesia and 44 cities overseas, participated in this Solemn Assembly to pray for the peace of Indonesia.

Hundreds of thousands gathered together in one accord across these 555 cities! No men, organization or churches could have made this happen where churches from different cities and denominations responded. Glory to His name and may His name only be exalted. Praise be to Jesus as the Prince of Peace who can bring peace to the nation of Indonesia.

Pray for the Peace of Indonesia was initiated by the prayer and church leaders in Indonesia, including the Council of Churches in Indonesia, Indonesian Evangelical Council, Indonesian Pentecostal Council, Catholic Bishop Conference of Indonesia, Salvation Army, Baptist, Orthodox, and the 7th day of Adventist Churches in Indonesia together with the Indonesian National Prayer Network, Transform World Connect Indonesia and My Home Indonesia. 

These leaders, churches and organizations agreed to unite together to pray for the Presidential and Legislative election which will be held on the 17th of April, 2019.

On that date, Indonesians are heading to the polls to vote on the Presidential Candidates and also to elect the 711 seats at People Consultative Assembly. This election will decide the future and direction of this nation, politically and economically.

As the election is getting closer, the political situation is heating up. Issues of ethnicity, religion, race and intergroup relations are the dominating factors which are segregating and splitting the nation. Hoax, fake news and hate speech attract voters based on their ethnicity, race and religion.

It has created much tension and chaos in the nation among the radical, the moderate Moslem and the minority. As we all know, Indonesia population is 87 % Moslem. It is crucial that the President and Legislators elect people who uphold truth, justice, tolerance, equality and stand for all races and religions in the fear of God. 

This is why we called for a solemn assembly for the churches to humble themselves and pray and seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways. We trust the Lord will hear our cry from heaven, forgive our sin and heal our land (2 Chr. 7:14).

Please join us in praying for:

The call for unity among the body of Christ to reconcile, to unite, to pray and to stand together for this upcoming election.

The preparation of the Presidential and Legislative Election will be in order and free from intervention in 34 Provinces and 800,000 polls throughout the cities.

Indonesian National Police and National Armed Forces would remain neutral and would uphold justice and peace.

The General Election Commission would do their job honestly and without impartiality.

The voters will be free to vote wisely, cleverly, freely, directly, honestly and fairly with God’s wisdom and without any intimidation.

Pray for thepeace of God to cover the cities and nation.

Pray that God’s chosen persons that will be elected. People who have high integrity, honest, true, just, tolerant and hold the value of morality and equality for all ethnicity, races and religions and persons who serve the people and nation and not just their group, religion or party.

Thank you for your prayer and stood with us. God bless you all.

Charles Jonan
Indonesian National Prayer Committee Chairman

As with most countries, India is no stranger to political drama.  The last half-decade, however, have evidenced political activity that warrants extra attention.  The author will aim to give a concise snapshot of the core issue so that readers will be better equipped to pray.  

In India there is a religious organization known as RSS.  It is often characterized by Hindu extremism; and is active at various levels of society. Because RSS cannot be a political party, it created a political party which is known as BJP.  RSS therefore controls BJP.  The BJP came into power in 2014, and its Prime Minister is Narendra Modi. 

In 2014, seven states in India were controlled by BJP.  By 2018, their rule had spread to 21 states. During this period of time, religious polarization has been on the rise, as has the persecution of Christians. Misuse of power (in the government) has become evident.  Persons in authority who were viewed as threats or obstacles to the BJP have been removed and replaced with those in favor of it.  If BJP is re-elected, the right people will be in the right places and the BJP will more easily be able to move its agenda forward.

In May 2019 India is holding its central government elections.  This will be a key vote which will determine whether or not the BJP and Mr. Modi will have another five years at the helm.  The RSS is well-organized with people, as well as media, and is endeavoring to influence (in part with reportedly corrupt methods) the election results. 

Many people are asking the same question: what will happen if the BJP wins in May?  Here are a few key things that seem likely:

Top on the RSS/BJP agenda is to impose Hindu Rashthra.  This basically means that they will try to make India an all-Hindu nation. An anti-conversion law will likely be passed immediately which would make it illegal for people to proselytize (to share their faith with the goal of converting those of differing faiths).  As an all-Hindu nation, restrictions will be placed on Christians.  RSS is already meting out persecution; it will only get worse if BJP wins in May.

Some Christians are already leaving India. For new converts, the aim of RSS/BJP will be to reconvert them to Hinduism. This all-Hindu thrust is a way that Satan is using to try to keep the people in darkness. All over India the Hindu people are praying to their gods and performing religious rites as a way to help further this effort.

In addition, BJP will try to close every Christian organization, especially Christian schools and orphanages as they believe that these are how people come to know Christ. One reason that RSS/BJP hates Christian schools so much is because they teach equality.BJP wants to keep the masses underfoot; to make the rich richer, and the poor poorer. Among the poor is where the Christian church has grown the most. BJP wants to eliminate that class of people (this is also where the majority of the Muslims, outcastes, and tribal people are found). It is estimated that 50% of India’s population are in this class. BJP wants that class to stay poor, uneducated, and to be landless. 

The good news, however, is that there appears to have surfaced some cracks in the BJP’s seemingly unstoppable advance to gain control over all of India.  These cracks have come in the form of the BJP’s defeat in the state elections of Chhattisgarh, Madya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, as well as their defeat in the May 2018 election in Karnataka.  Additionally, an increase in cost of living, the introduction of a GST (Goods and Service Tax), and the demonetization which Modi imposed have had a cumulative negative impact on the economy, with the BJP to blame.

This is only a brief snapshot highlighting the core issue and the significant ramifications to Christians in India if a BJP re-election is won.  May God stir our hearts away from apathy, and to our knees, asking and believing Him who is able to do what only He can do! 

Here are a few key prayer targets as the May vote approaches:

1. That there will be division and disintegration within the RSS/BJP, and that God will thwart and prevent their re-election.  Daniel 2:21
2. That – regardless of the outcome – God will give Christians in India boldness in their faith, and that the Gospel will continue to move forward.  Ephesians 6:19-20
3. That God will stir the global Church to pray for India: in regards to the May elections, in regards to believers in India, and in regards to the millions in India which have yet to hear about HIM!  2 Peter 3:9

Sources Used:

1. www.timesofindia.com. BJP vs Congress in 2014 & 2016.
2. The Indian Express. 21 states are now BJP-ruled, home to 70 per cent of Indians.
3. Un-named, reliable sources.

WASHINGTON — Two months after declaring all U.S. troops are leaving Syria, President Donald Trump wrote to members of Congress that he now agrees "100%" with keeping a military presence in Syria.

A bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives wrote to Trump on Feb. 22, applauding his decision to keep a small residual force in Syria.

"We support a small American stabilizing force in Syria," the group wrote, adding that a force "which includes a small contingent of American troops and ground forces from our European allies, is essential to ensure stability and prevent the return of ISIS."

In a copy of the letter obtained by NBC News, Trump highlighted a paragraph in the letter about the U.S. goals in Syria, which said, "Like you, we seek to ensure that all of the gains made in Syria are not lost, that ISIS never returns, that Iran is not emboldened, and that we consolidate our gains and ensure the best outcome in Geneva for American interests."

"I agree 100%. ALL is being done," President Trump responded, writing directly on the letter and signing it.

Click here to read the letter

Since before he took office, Trump has promised to end the fight against the Islamic State, criticizing the cost to the U.S. in both blood and treasure. In a video message on Twitter posted Dec. 19, 2018, the president said: "Our boys, our young women, our men, they're all coming back and they're coming back now. We won."

The Syrian Democratic Forces recently completed their mission against ISIS in the small area of land they controlled in the Middle Euphrates River Valley in Syria. U.S. military officials say the battle to re-take the final part of the town of Baghuz still held by ISIS had been slowed by the exodus of thousands of civilians and the terror group's use of some women and children as human shields.

Late last month, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed that some U.S. troops will stay in Syria after the Syrian Democratic Forces finish clearing out Baghuz.

"A small peace keeping group of about 200 will remain in Syria for period of time," Sanders said in a one-sentence statement. U.S. military officials have since confirmed the residual force could be double that and that some U.S. troops could stay in the northeastern part of the country, and others in southern Syria.

Praise God for this turnaround in President Trump's policy which will help to achieve and maintain peace and stability in Syria and the region.

Pray for the efforts to continue impartial peace talks in Geneva and for an end to be brokered to the seven years of civil war.

Pray for aid and support for the hundreds of thousands of displaced people and the many victims of this war.

Please continue to be in prayer for Afghanistan where amidst a number of challenges and setbacks, there are significant efforts taking place to pursue peace talks between the Government, the Taliban, militant groups and tribal and religious leaders.

U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Palladino told journalists on March 5 that negotiations were continuing on "a daily basis right now and progress is being made."

"The discussions  wereongoing and focusing on the four interconnected issues that are going to compose any future agreement," Palladino said, listing them as "terrorism," "troop withdrawal," "intra-Afghan dialogue," and a "cease-fire."

However, this longest round of peace talks between the United States and the Taliban has ended with "real strides" being made but without an agreement on troop withdrawals from Afghanistan, U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said on March 12.

“The conditions for peace have improved. It’s clear all sides want to end the war. Despite ups and downs, we kept things on track and made real strides," Khalilzad said on Twitter, adding that another round is possible later this month after the 16 days of negotiations in Qatar's capital, Doha.  See: https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s--taliban-peace-talks-end-with-real-strides-made-but-no-deal/29818634.html?ltflags=mailer

This last month has seen two militant led attacks on civilians and Government forces in Jalalabad and Helmand Province with the loss of dozens of lives.  See: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-jalalabad-double-suicide-attack/29806106.html?ltflags=mailer  AND   https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban-attack-afghan-military-base-helmand-gunbattle/29797634.html?ltflags=mailer

A military source told RFE/RL that a top Afghan commander at the military installation had been killed in the attack.The assault on the base came while the U.S. peace envoy for Afghanistan was in Qatar for the latest round of peace talks.Peace negotiations resumed on March 2 following three days of talks with Taliban negotiators in Doha, aimed at finding a negotiated solution to Afghanistan's 17-year war.

The New York Times reported on March 1 that the proposal currently under discussion could include the withdrawal of U.S. forces in the next three to five years and the creation of a power-sharing government including the Taliban.

In the past, Khalilzad has tried to convince the Taliban to hold direct talks with representatives of Afghanistan's government. The Taliban has rejected that proposal.

In Kabul on February 28, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani reiterated that an Afghan-led peace process would provide lasting stability in the country.

"Afghanistan wants cooperation and collaboration, but Afghans and the legitimate government of Afghanistan should own the peace process," he said.

There are some 14,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, as well as thousands of European forces participating in NATO's Resolute Support mission.

Meanwhile, a planned meeting of hundreds of Afghan politicians and tribal, ethnic, and religious leaders aimed at discussing negotiations with the Taliban has been postponed, officials say. The gathering, known as a consultative Loya Jirga, was initially set to be held in Kabul from March 17-20.  See: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-loya-jirga-aimed-at-discussing-peace-talks-delayed/29801048.html?ltflags=mailer

Pray for those affected by the recent militant attacks and the medics and other professionals who are treating and supporting them.

Pray for breakthrough as the Afghan High Peace Council pursues reconciliation with the militants.

Pray for the US led talks, that they will open doors to meaningful dialogue between all parties and steps towards lasting peace.