Religious Liberty Prayer List - No. 201 - Tue 07 Jan 2003

-------------------------- MISSION FACES RISK IN 2003 --------------------------

If present trends continue, we should expect to see a growing number of targeted attacks on Christian workers in 2003. This is particularly true in Muslim majority nations and regions, especially the Middle East, Northern Nigeria, Indonesia, and Pakistan. However, it is also the case in nations where other religions are striving to regain their historic dominance and influence and where religious nationalism is being used as a political tool. This is so with Hinduism in India and Buddhism across much of South East Asia. Christian work in these regions will become increasingly dangerous.

Several Christian workers have been executed in targeted killings in recent months: Bonnie Penner Weatherall in Lebanon, shot in a Christian-run clinic (Nov 2002); Reverend Bitrus Manjang, recently retired vice president of the Church of Christ in Nigeria, shot outside his home in Plateau State (Dec 2002); Dr Martha Myers, William Koehn, and Kathleen Gariety, shot in the Jibla Baptist Hospital in Yemen (Dec 2002); and the attempted murder through poisoning of Reverend Renaldy Damanik while in police custody in Palu (Christmas 2002).

There were also two instances in late 2002 when mission was seriously threatened due to the lives of Christian workers' children being jeopardised - first in Asia at the Murree Christian School in Pakistan (Aug 2002) and only weeks later in West Africa at the International Christian Academy in Bouake, central Ivory Coast (Sep 2002). In both cases all the children were delivered unharmed, but neither of these environments is considered safe enough to re-enter.

As we commence a new year of praying for the persecuted and for religious liberty, let's open it with a prayer for God's protection and power to be on all his courageous servants who minister and witness in increasingly dangerous places, and for the cause of religious liberty to be advanced.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:

* 'spiritual eyes' to be opened, so that Christians everywhere may be convinced about ministry and witness for the Lord being worth the risk, with mission being growingly challenged.

'There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them.' Acts 4:12 (NLT)

* God to frustrate the plans of the wicked. Psalm 146:9

* the work of the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission, especially the International Director, the Reverend Johan Candelin, and the Chairman, John Langlois, as they make decisions and engage in diplomatic negotiations in the cause of religious liberty. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead them in their work and empower and bless all they do. Proverbs 29:26

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ------------------------------------------------------------ MISSION FACES RISK IN 2003

If present trends continue, we should expect to see a growing number of targeted attacks on Christian workers in 2003. Christian work is becoming increasingly dangerous in Islamic regions, especially the Middle East, Northern Nigeria, Pakistan and Indonesia. India, Sri Lanka and other South and South East Asian regions are also seeing a rise in anti-Christian (especially 'anti- missionary') hostility. Pray that God will protect his people and frustrate the plans of the wicked (Psalm 146:9). Please pray for the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission, that the Holy Spirit will lead, empower and bless its ministry as it advocates for religious liberty for all people.

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The WEA Religious Liberty Commission sponsors this RL Prayer List to help individuals and groups pray specifically and regularly for religious liberty issues, and in particular to uphold the Church where it is suffering persecution.

RL Prayer is moderated by Ron Clough, a commissioner of the WEA RLC and convenor of the Australian EA RLC.

Elizabeth Kendal researched and authored this message.

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