India, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Sudan, China, Prayer Requests & Intercession for Persecuted Christians

Intercessor Report / Prayer Points

November 2002

India - Christians in India continue to come under attack by Hindu fundamentalists. On September 22, eight Korean missionaries in Bihar State were beaten during worship services by members of the Bajrang Dal, a militant youth organization. During October the governor of Tamil Nadu state issued an ordinance banning religious conversions by "fraudulent means" or "forcible allurement." The punishment for violating the ordinance is up to 3 years imprisonment and/or a fine up to Rs. 50,000. All religious conversions must also be reported to district authorities according to the ordinance. The new ordinance does not bode well for Christians, who are commonly accused of using coercion to produce converts because they offer food and medical care to the poor.
Prayer Points: Pray that anti-conversion legislation would backfire and result in an even greater number of people coming to Christ. Ask God to help Christians in India to forgive their attackers so that the attackers hearts' may be softened by the great forgiveness and love of the Christians.

Indonesia - After several years of causing death and destruction to the Christian community of Maluku and central Sulawesi, the militant Laskar Jihad (LJ) group officially disbanded on October 12. Reliable sources confirm that jihad warriors from Java left Ambon on October 15 and central Sulawesi on October 16. However, not all of the LJ have left. Thousands of local jihad warriors that were trained by the LJ over the past 3 years remain in the area. Perhaps the group is going underground now that the Indonesian government has made more serious attempts at curbing terrorism.
Prayer Points: Praise God that jihad warriors have begun to disperse from Maluku and central Sulawesi! However, pray that the West would not be fooled into thinking the Indonesian Christians are totally out of danger. Ask the Lord to bring a lasting peace to these troubled areas. Pray for reconciliation between the Christian and Muslim communities. Ask the Lord to bring to nothing the plans of all militant Islamic groups seeking to carry out terrorist activities in Indonesia and beyond.

Jordan - A Christian widow has gone into hiding since the Supreme Court ordered her to hand over custody of her two teenage children by October 12. The Court ruled that Mrs. Siham Qandah is not fit to be the guardian of her children because she is raising them as Christians. Qandah's husband had converted to Islam a few years before his death and according to Jordanian law, children are officially of the same faith as their father. Qandah has been unable to leave the country with her children since they are on an immigration blacklist.
Prayer Points: Pray that the Supreme Court ruling would be miraculously overturned. Pray that Mrs. Qandah's children could continue to attend church and Christian school and that they would not be forcibly removed from their mother's care. Pray for the Lord to strengthen the faith of this beleaguered Christian family.

Pakistan - Pakistani Christians have continued to come under attack from Islamic militants. On September 25, two armed men entered the premises of the Peace and Justice Institute in Karachi, separated the Christians from the Muslims and proceeded to shoot eight Christians in the head at point blank range. Seven died and one is currently hospitalized. During the October 10 parliamentary elections, the MMA, an Islamic fundamentalist party, made significant gains and won the majority in two provinces. The MMA is known to openly support the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and wishes to implement sharia law in Pakistan.
Prayer Points: Pray that Pakistani Christians would feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and a peace that passes all understanding during these difficult days. Pray that President Musharraf would continue efforts to crack down on Islamic militants and that those responsible for attacks on Christians would be arrested and sentenced. Pray that the MMA would not gain more control.

Sudan - Peace talks between Khartoum and the SPLA resumed in October, but the war continues to escalate as the GOS uses more sophisticated weaponry against southern Christians and animists. MIG-29 bombers have been used in several recent attacks. ICC partners also report an increase in jihad propaganda in Khartoum. Christians in northern Sudan are coming under increased persecution as anti-Christian and anti-western sentiments run high.
Prayer Points: Pray for the Lord's protection over the Christians of the South. Pray that He would use the Christians of the North to share His love with their Muslim neighbors. Pray that the Khartoum regime would run out of money to finance the ongoing war against the South.

Praise Reports: 

China: During a re-trial in Hubei Province, members of the South China Church were given reduced sentences. Four people were exonerated and released. Pastor Gong Shengliang and several other top leaders had their sentences commuted from death to life in prison. Praise God for this turn of events! However, continue to pray for these imprisoned believers as they have reportedly been denied Bibles and forbidden to pray out loud in their cells. Several of them have been beaten.

Thanks for your prayers and action.
International Christian Concern

Posted:  October 24, 2002