International Day of Prayer

for the

Persecuted Church

November 2004

International Day of Prayer

for the

Persecuted Church

November 2004

I urge you, brothers, by I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to struggle by praying to God for me.God for me.

Romans Romans 15:3015:30

COLOMBIA

Church growth has been significant. Guerrilla groups, drug cartels, corrupt government bodies, and traditional religions continue to test the faith of new believers.

• Pastors have been martyred

• A murder takes place every 20 minutes

• The kidnap capital of the world

• The Christians say, ”Our faith is stronger than guns.”

Please pray

• For the protection of evangelists and Christian leaders from drug lords and guerrillas and for their continued boldness to proclaim the Gospel.

• For the protection of missionaries in Colombia and for the release of those who have been held by guerrillas.

ERITREA

Eritrea was formerly northern Ethiopia

and forms a part of the

eastern African

land mass known as

the Horn of Africa.

The current atmosphere of totalitarianism has contributed to the arrest of hundreds of Christians who are not part of the officially gov’t approved churches.

Please pray• For hundreds of believers in prison – some in terrible shipping containers – that they will sense God’s presence and love their persecutors.

• For various church groups in Eritrea to unite together, reconcile with one another, and work

together in the common goal of Christian evangelism.

• For persecuted Christians to stand strong through the pressures.

NORTH KOREA

Pyongyang was once known as the “Jerusalem of the East”. The estimated 500,000 secret believers are growing rapidly. Most believers do not own a Bible and many do not have access to one.

Please pray

• That Christian ministries will be able to provide food, Bibles and encouragement through creative means.

• That Christians in prison camps will be strengthened to endure faithfully.

• For more growth for the Church (from <2%). Pray that new opportunities for tactful witness will become available.

SRI LANKA

New growth in the Church has stirred

reaction from the other major religious

communities. There has been substantial

anti-Christian propaganda,

accompanied by accusations against

the Christians.

Please pray

• For continued church growth, and effective and bold sharing of the Gospel.

• For peace in the nation and for the Church to become an effective minister of healing and reconciliation.

Thank you for praying for the Persecuted Church