Prayer Board Requests - International day of prayer today Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007 for all persecuted believers

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International day of prayer today Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007 for all persecuted believers
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Posted by: Sulten

Today, Sunday Nov. 11, 2007 is to be recognized as an international day of prayer for all those persecuted believers throughout the world who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Many have done so at the peril of their lives. These are some of the things we might ask in our prayers for them:

Pray for any former Muslims who have turned from Islam to follow Jesus Christ. Pray they will have the courage to stand strong in the face of persecution. Also that they may be used by God to lead other Muslims to Christ. Many former Muslims have been rejected by their family and friends. They so need prayers that they can be surrounded with a new Christian family. Also there is such a need for the distribution of Bibles. There are countries like North Korea that have thousands of converted Christians living in fear of being executed for their beliefs. Pray that these walls and barriers may come down in these nations like the Iron Curtain fell. Please make this one focus of your prayers today.

Dear Lord I lift up all those down trodden and living in peril over their beliefs from within the nations of the earth for accepting Jesus Christ into their lives. I pray that the state of North Korea may change its policy towards Christianity and the doors for freedom of religious worship may be opened wherever people are oppressed and living in fear and cannot worship according to the dictates of their own conscious. May those who live in such darkness be lifted up in their trials that they will not seem greater than they can bear. I pray the kingdoms of the Devil to shake and give way for the light of the gospel to take hold and spread to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. We know that this is a time where souls are being harvested before the return of Thy Son and I pray that all those meek of the earth will have a chance to hear the gospel. Please open the way for these things to come about. We know that revival begins in the power of prayer and we pray for the nations that sit in such darkness to be brought into the light. Comfort those who mourn the loss of loved ones that have been martyred for their beliefs. Let their testimonies stand as a witness to the world and against all unbelievers. May the blindness of hearts and minds be broken down and hearts softened or removed who stand in the way of religious tolerance. Strengthen the members in the body of Christ who stand alone in far away places from the sanction and comfort of others. Renew their strength daily and give them courage as those of old who had to face similar trials. All those who are in prison for their beliefs because of Thy Son, may they have angels to attend them and mercifully be delivered and spared. I pray Thy hand to be over all the lost and fallen in the world that they may be recovered as well and brought back, I pray in Jesus holy name, amen.

Posted by: Sulten

This is just one of myriads of stories about Christians who have been persecuted for accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Emad had a problem: as a Muslim man in his 30s with a good position as an electrician, his family expected him to marry and have a Muslim ceremony. But Emad was a strong Christian and had been for several years. Like many Muslim Background Believers (MBBs), he’d kept his conversion a secret from his Muslim family for fear of what they might do to him. Now where would he find a young Christian woman to marry who would accept a Muslim ceremony?

Fatma was a university graduate who met the Lord through her own research. Her Muslim family became suspicious that she had left Islam, but later decided that she had come back to her senses. Unknown to them, she was a secret believer seeking fellowship with other MBB women, encouraged in her faith through their loving care.

Emad and Fatma one day were able to meet each other. They fell in love and decided to marry and have a Muslim wedding. As newlyweds, they decided to live away from their families to escape their scrutiny.

For two years it seemed they had found a way to avoid dangers faced by many MBBs. But their peace was shattered when suddenly a violent pounding on the door put them face to face with an angry group of fundamentalist Muslims. Emad had been spotted walking out of a church, and the Muslims noticed that Emad did not attend weekly prayers at the local mosque.

The fundamentalists raided their apartment, collecting evidence of their association with the Christian community. They dragged the pair down the street and handed them over to the police. For two weeks, they were separated and subjected to physical and psychological torture.

They were released, shaken and broken. They had been warned to stay away from Christians. Emad was fired from his job and word spread not to give him any work because he was an infidel. They faced social isolation as well as direct threats to their lives.

Late one night they decided to sneak away, taking practically nothing with them. They moved to a rural community where they were accepted by a number of Christian farmers and permitted to live among them and work in their orchards under their protection.

Emad and Fatma have given up possessions, position, family and security for the sake of following Christ. But their situation is not unique. Many, many young MBBs face these kinds of challenges following Jesus in the setting of Islam.

Posted by: Sulten

Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoner, and those who are ill treated as if you yourselves were suffering. Hebrews 13:3

These are the top 20 countries where most persecution is happening.