Turkey: Imprisoned US pastor grateful for prayers
Andrew Brunson, Pastor of Izmir Resurrection Church, was arrested on October 7, 2016 on claims of links to “armed terrorist organisations.” He remains in prison in Izmir despite US requests for his release. Andrew’s wife has released a note from Andrew thanking people...
Egypt: Attack on church and Christian-owned shop in Helwan
Christians in Egypt request our prayers after the Mar Mina (Saint Mina) church was attacked earlier today, 29th December, 2017. The attack took place in Helwan, just south of Cairo, as worshippers were leaving the building. Two perpetrators were intercepted by...
Algeria: increasing pressure on Churches
Algerian Christians request prayer following several incidents in which churches and individual Christians have faced increased restrictions, raising concerns that these pressures signal a coordinated campaign of intensified action against churches by the governing...
Iran: Arrested Christians in Shiraz face court hearing
Iranian Christians request renewed prayer for the upcoming hearing on 28th December 2017 for Eskandar Rezaei and Soroush Saraei. They were arrested last July, although they have been facing pressures since 2012. Eskandar was arrested on 6th July 2017 at his home in...
Iran: Christians arrested in Karaj
Iranian Christians request prayer for four Christian converts from the self-styled “Church of Iran” who were arrested in their homes, in Karaj on 12th December 2017. Authorities went to the homes of Amin Khaki, Milad Goudarzi, Shahab Shahi and Alireza Nourmohamadi,...
Iran: Update on appeal hearing for Rasht Christians
Iranian Christians request prayer for four Christian converts who, following an appeal court hearing last Wednesday, 13th December 2017, are waiting for the court’s decision. Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, Mohammadreza Omidi, Yasser Mossayebzadeh, and Saheb Fadaie are...
Iran: Appeal hearing for sentenced Christians from Rasht
Iranian Christians request prayer for four Christian converts who face an appeal court hearing on Wednesday 13th December 2017. A hearing had been scheduled for 4th October 2017 but was rescheduled by the judge. The lawyer for Yousef Nadarkhani, Mohammadreza Omidi,...
Turkey: Government promises to return appropriated church properties
The Syriac community in Turkey is grateful for a pledge that church properties appropriated by the state will be returned to the community. On 22nd November 2017 deputy prime minister Hakan Cavusoglu, while speaking to the Anatolian News Agency, stated that the...
Algeria: Church and Bookshop Closed by Authorities
Last month police raided the bookshop, accusing its owner of illegally printing Bibles and evangelistic brochures. They confiscated books and equipment but returned them when no proof of the allegations was found. Despite that, police issued and implemented a closure order for both the church and the bookshop. The order, which wrongly identifies the bookshop owner as the pastor of the church, repeated the earlier accusations and also alleges that he uses his private car to distribute illegal Christian material. The closure order also claims the Ain Turk church is illegal, despite its affiliation with the officially recognized EPA (L’Église Protestante d’Algérie).
Churches in Algeria face long-standing legal difficulties. Permission is required before a building can be used for non-Muslim worship, however authorities have always failed to grant such permission to churches. It has therefore become standard practice for churches to rent premises and then inform the local authorities about their activities, providing all relevant documentation, including confirming affiliation with the EPA.
Christians in Algeria request our prayers:
a. that church leaders, the bookshop owner and the leaders of the EPA will know the peace of Jesus, the wisdom of the Father and the guidance of the Holy Spirit as they deal with this problem.
b. that the both the church in Ain Turk and the bookshop will be reopened, with believers able to worship in the rented building without further obstacles
c. that the regulations governing non-Muslim worship will be amended so that Christians will be able to worship freely
d. that those responsible for the order to close the church will know the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and the forgiveness and new life offered by Jesus
Sudan: Sudan Church of Christ Pastors’ Court Hearing
Sudanese Christians request prayer for an upcoming court hearing concerning several pastors of the Sudan Church of Christ (SCOC) in Al Thawra in Omdurman. The hearing, at which the defendants are expected to put forward their defence, is scheduled to take place...
Palestine: court hearing in Coptic attack case
Palestinian Christians request renewed prayer for nuns of the Coptic Orthodox church and convent in Bethlehem involved in legal action over a property dispute, after a further delay in the legal process. Today (14th November) the hearing related to the assault on nuns...
Sudan: update on Christian leader summoned to court
Sudanese Christians request prayer for an upcoming court hearing concerning the ongoing issue of illegal appropriation of church property by government-aligned agents. The hearing, at which a verdict is expected, is scheduled for 1pm (local time) on Monday 30th...