This week marks four years since ### was among 110 students kidnapped from their school in Nigeria by Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP). Tragically, one girl died in captivity. The others were released within a month, but ### was kept because she refused to deny Jesus. In recent years, Nigeria’s government has made several assurances that ### will be freed, the most recent being last month. But ### – who will turn 19 this year – remains in captivity. For ### and her parents, ### and ###, the agonising wait goes on. Given the global coverage around ###, it may seem that her story is unique. Sadly, the reality is that there are thousands of ‘###s’ in Nigeria whose names we may never know – and recent reports suggest this is getting worse. Write to ###’s parents. PLEASE PRAY That God will give ### and her parents fresh hope, courage and strength For a breakthrough in negotiations between the government and ###’s captors That God’s loving presence will surround and protect all ‘###s’, and pray that all of them will soon be reunited with their loved ones.
YEMEN: CHRISTIANS ‘CARRY HOPE’ OF A BETTER TOMORROW (#5) The persecution of Christians in Yemen has been extreme for years. Most believers are converts from Islam who must live out their faith in secret because conversion from Islam to Christianity is forbidden both in Islam and in Yemeni law. Daily life for Yemini Christians is made harder by the presence of Islamic extremist groups and the ongoing destabilisation caused by the pandemic and civil war. Despite this, Yemen’s courageous believers still carry God’s hope. This includes ###, who says, “We, the believers, carry hope that helps us with the certainty that tomorrow will be better and that by the will of our Lord, we will pass through this and all the anxieties and fears surrounding us.”
What’s it like to be a Christian in Yemen? A prayer for Yemen Heavenly Father, thank You for the courageous faith of people like ### in Yemen. Strengthen and spread this hope, reaching even the darkest places that our brothers and sisters may be in at this moment. Protect Your children and provide avenues for secret believers to gather. Bring peace, stability and provision to this nation that has been destroyed by war and famine. May food and medical aid reach all those in need. We ask that the people of Yemen will flourish – and put Your people at the heart of this. Amen.
YEMEN: CHRISTIANS ‘CARRY HOPE’ OF A BETTER TOMORROW (#5) The persecution of Christians in Yemen has been extreme for years. Most believers are converts from Islam who must live out their faith in secret because conversion from Islam to Christianity is forbidden both in Islam and in Yemeni law. Daily life for Yemini Christians is made harder by the presence of Islamic extremist groups and the ongoing destabilisation caused by the pandemic and civil war. Despite this, Yemen’s courageous believers still carry God’s hope. This includes ###, who says, “We, the believers, carry hope that helps us with the certainty that tomorrow will be better and that by the will of our Lord, we will pass through this and all the anxieties and fears surrounding us.”
What’s it like to be a Christian in Yemen? A prayer for Yemen Heavenly Father, thank You for the courageous faith of people like ### in Yemen. Strengthen and spread this hope, reaching even the darkest places that our brothers and sisters may be in at this moment. Protect Your children and provide avenues for secret believers to gather. Bring peace, stability and provision to this nation that has been destroyed by war and famine. May food and medical aid reach all those in need. We ask that the people of Yemen will flourish – and put Your people at the heart of this. Amen.
