This week, Christian media reported: –In Ethiopia the sons of a Christian woman embraced Christianity after witnessing their mother’s martyrdom for refusing to convert to Islam from Christianity. –In China the wife of a Christian pastor was buried alive by bulldozers as she protested against the demolition of her husband’s church. –A Syrian Christian woman who was killed by Muslim extremists because she refused to renounce her faith has been described as a ‘martyr’ by Pope Francis. –In Indonesia an elderly Christian woman was publicly whipped nearly thirty times for selling alcohol as the persecution of Christians continues to rise. –In Pakistan a Christian who stood up to Muslim drug dealers was murdered for his efforts, and in Syria more than twenty Christians were brutally killed by IS when the terror group captured a Syrian community that the government had recently liberated.

A week after the Taliban said it was launching a ‘spring offensive’ of large-scale attacks, bomb and gun attacks hit Kabul killing 28 and injuring 329. After the assault was declared over, another blast rocked Kabul. Afghan MP Elay Ershad said, ‘Everyone is scared in this situation.’ Other similar attacks have been foiled by security forces, but preventing them completely is almost impossible. Explosives are easily available, and bomb-making skills are common. The ‘spring offensive’ is a propaganda war. Meanwhile in Israel 21 people were injured, two seriously, when a bomb exploded on a Jerusalem bus. Bus bombings were a feature of the second intifada which ended ten years ago. However, recently there has been a fresh wave of Palestinian attacks on Israelis. Bombings are perpetrated by extremist segments of society and armies and police are under increasing pressure to stamp it out. See also:

It is twenty years since the end of Moscow’s domination over the Caucasus and Central Asia, but a bitter legacy of the Soviet era is ‘frozen conflicts’ that erupt for various reasons. For two weeks there has been a new wave of fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, which has serious destabilising potential in the South Caucasus. Although the clashes between troops have temporarily halted with a truce, the death of dozens of soldiers and civilians from both sides has caused serious concern among neighbouring countries and regional and outside powers. Azerbaijan’s wealth comes from oil reserves, the trade in which is riddled with corruption. 0.2% of Azerbaijan is Christian, with government persecution increasing. But despite harassment the Church is growing. Pray for the government to build structures that produce lasting benefits for the nation, and pray they will accept Christian values. See also:

With summer around the corner, the International House of Prayer in Kansas is preparing formative events. There will be camps and conferences that prepare people for growth and renewal: –Children’s Signs and Wonders Camps for ages 3–12 where children are trained and released to be wholeheartedly devoted to God. –Teens Awakening Camps where teens learn about their identity in God, intimacy with Jesus, intercession and how to have a lasting impact for the kingdom of God. –A high school conference for young people who desire to live radical lives of devotion to Jesus, encounter His love and bring His power and presence to school campuses and local churches. –A three-week training programme for college students and campus ministry leaders aged 18 to 30, who desire to fuel prayer in their colleges. –A conference to equip and empower pastors, parents, and leaders to pursue God and enjoy prayer.