A Secret Prayer Request

Believers in hostile and restricted nations must often pray and worship in secret. They risk their freedom, their physical and emotional well-being, and even their lives for sharing the gospel message with others in their families and those around them. They trust the words of Jesus when He said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

Your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are encouraged when they hear how you have been praying for them, and they depend on your steadfast prayers. We consistently hear how God is working in their lives and using them even while they take great risks; they find more courage and strength because of prayers of readers like you.

Our VOM contacts try to give us as many pertinent details as possible, but they also must do so with extreme caution. This week, we received a very sensitive and urgent prayer request. Our VOM contact wrote:

In an Arabic country, a passionate local believer was informed by his father and his tribe’s leadership that he and others who decided to follow Christ had one week to return to Islam. If they do not, the family and tribe have decided they will be killed. This believer has already suffered greatly for his witness. Moreover, several of his closest friends have also been targeted and persecuted terribly because of their faith. Please pray for this brother and the others affected by this tribe’s decision. May God give them courage and wisdom in knowing how to respond. And may He work powerfully on the hearts of those who plan this scheme.

Will you please join us in prayer for this brother in Christ and his fellow workers?

“Ann Kay” is a writer for VOM. She learned about VOM five years ago when she read Tortured for Christ and began receiving the newsletter. She is passionate about reaching the world for Christ and sharing stories of the persecuted church.

Comments

[nick]

i need prayer for deliver me from court and legal issues - nick

[Gino Ferruzo]

Please Ann, keep us update of what's going now with our brethren! Thanks for sharing this prayer request. I'll be praying for them.

«Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.» Matthew 5:10

Serving together for the Kingdom,

G.

[Tony Collier]

I will be praying.

[Andrew Patterson II]

Father i ask the you send your spirit of peace and security to these individuals. Lord walk with them as they serve you and help them finish your work.

[Phyllis]

Praying....

[terri]

Dear Lord, I thank you for these dear ones that are standing for their faith at great cost to them and those around them. I ask in your name for protection and wisdom for these that are being persecuted.

[Randall]

Dear Father in Heaven, we ask you to protect our brothers in Christ. Touch those who would come against them. Keep our brothers and sisters safe, so others may hear of your free gift of Salvation thru Jesus Christ.

[Teresa Yeager]

LORD, keep these brothers and sisters in Your Hand. They are precious to You and to all of us. Make them to be steadfast and strong, leading others to You. Please hold them up in Your Grace, please hear their prayers. Holy Spirit, guide and protect them and shine the Truth through them. Let them know, LORD. Reassure them that You are with them. In Jesus Name, Amen.

[Allan]

Amen

[diana]

I will pray!Jesus makes them strong against persecution. ..

[Megan]

Covering our brothers and sisters in prayer. May He surround you with His mighty hand and protect you. May fear not withstand, and may the enemy flee! The power that raised Christ from the dead, is also in you! You are loved and your life is cherished.

[Debbie]

Praying for greater love than ever to fill these believers' hearts, direct from the Lord, and that His love shown through them will soften the hardened hearts of many, and empower the believers to live victoriously as long as He gives them breath.
Lord, preserve their lives for the love and salvation of many, and remain with them in power every minute you choose to give them breath.

[Victoria Newton]

Abba,
I ask that you give these people peace above anything else. Let them know that you are in control and that you have not and will not abandon them. Hold them close to you Lord as they walk through this valley. Remind them of your promises and that heaven and eternity with you are at the end of this road no matter what the worldly outcome. And Lord if you are willing, deliver them from their suffering and protect them. And Lord if your will is otherwise, fill them with the kind of peace and comfort and courage that shows their faith in you Lord and let their enemies see you through their sacrifice.
Power and glory to you Lord,
Forever and ever,
Amen.

[Kate Martin]

I will most definitely be praying for our brothers in Christ who are suffering. May the Lord keep them safe, calm their spirit, blind the enemies eyes, provide a way out, guide and direct them so that they can continue to be used for God's glory as His witnesses in a dying world. In Jesus' Name, Amin!

[Sarah Adolph]

Praying

[Peter Johnson]

MaganaKatherine, I appreciate your prayer and so I will also pray.

[louis françois abba shalom]

A MINHA ORAÇÃO A HA'SHEM É QUE CONFORTE SEUS FILHOS QUE SOFRE NESSE MUNDO, OS PERSEGUIDOS, OS SEM LIBERDADE. E QUE A FORÇA DO SEU SANTO ESPIRITO FAÇAM ENTENDER QUE SAIR DESSE MUNDO É MUITO MELHOR, ANTES QUE VENHA O GRANDE DIA DO SENHOR.

[MaganaKatherine]

Righteous Father, in the name of your Son Jesus I pray that you strengthen the faith of all the persecuted churches in Arab countries O God. Comfort them Lord and enable them to stand strong in their faith,my King Jesus Christ! And remove a heart of stone to all their persecutor and put them a heart of flesh and let your words O God works in their hearts that will lead them to repentance unto life! We believe by faith that you works all things for our good my Lord. Continue to give them strength to stand in the midst of trials,persecution,tribulation!Continue to reveal yourself to them Father, how deep, how wide, how long, how high is your love for all your children O God!in Jesus name...Amen

[Peter Johnson]

Ann Kay, I appreciate your guidance to pray, 'May God give them courage and wisdom in knowing how to respond'; and so my prayer. Wisdom anchored in our great God seeks his counsel in how to act, rather than push ill-informed proscriptive advice from our armchair perspective.

I am thinking here how the early church was murdered by Saul, and then how Saul>Paul suffered for his Lord and his Gospel, how Jesus simply walked through those who sought to kill him because his teaching and lifestyle enraged them, how Jesus was crucified, how those who sought the death of God's faithful chosen ones in Persia had the tables turned on them, how our Prophets and Apostles were killed for proclaiming the Lord's Name -- In all these examples of faith under fire, so much to consider and with such a contrast.

Indeed may the Lord give them the courage, wisdom and strength to know God's will and rejoice as the Lord works through them to further reveal to their opposition how mighty God is. To be sure, no opposition against God, his people and his Good News has ever survived for any time, for he is not mocked.

God bless you Ann Kay, and all your colleagues at VOM, and, of course, our suffering Arabic friends.

[Flor Lopez]

I pray that God will protect these Arabic believers and they will be delivered from the evil one. That God will give them supernatural strength in the midst of so much hatred and persecution.

[Elizabeth Buffy Register]

I will be praying!