(Voice of the Persecuted) You are invited to join us tonight in a prayer conference call for the persecuted church hosted by Persecution Watch.
In the 13th century, this territory was conquered by the Mongol Empire and Genghis Khan.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, these nations painfully changed. Most ethnic Europeans left for Russia or Ukraine.
Tajikistan
10 million people: 96% Islam, 1% Christian
There is extensive corruption and violations of human rights, including torture, arbitrary imprisonment, worsening political repression, and a lack of religious freedom.
Tajik adherents of ISIS were part of assaults in Russia, Iran, Turkey, and foiled plots in Europe.
Tajikistan ranks among the world’s poorest countries.
Kazakhstan
18.9 million people, Islam 69%, Christian 17%
Human rights organizations have described the Kazakh government as authoritarian, and regularly describe Kazakhstan’s human rights situation as poor.
Uzbekistan – similar
Turkmenistan – similar
Kyrgyzstan – similar
Prayer Points
Tajikistan – Curbs on religious freedom include forcibly shaving beards in public, and hijabs torn off. Recently, society is pressuring the Christian minority to hide in the closet.
- Pray that the government would ignore Christian believers.
The ISIS Terror Group ISIS-K draws half its recruits from tiny Tajikistan.
- Pray Tajiks would be radical for Jesus, rather than for terrorism.
In Tajikistan, Men under 18 and women are banned from praying in mosques, and group religious instruction at home is forbidden.
- Pray that in this vacuum Tajiks will consider the claims of Christ.
Praise – In Kazakhstan there has been church growth. Almost 0 evangelicals in 1990 to 15 thousand in 2010.
- Pray the church continues to grow and mature!
Most people in the ‘Stan republics follow a version of Islam strongly influenced by shamans and indigenous practices.
- Pray that Muslim extremism would not gain a foothold.
New oil wealth goes to an elite few, but many live in poverty.
- As new “Stan” identities grow, alongside Muslim identity, pray that minority rights be respected.
Need for Mercy Ministries. There is a lot of brokenness in these nations. People who lose their documents sometimes are forced to live in garbage dumps.
- Pray Christian ministries are allowed to help!
- Pray for the power of Christ to break through alcoholism, drug use, and broken families.
Nearly 100 people were killed in the recent border clash between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
- Pray for protection to our brothers and sisters living in these nations
- Pray for access to Bibles, Christian literature, and training.
Many Christians are from the ethnic Russians or belong to the Orthodox church, the same people who emigrate to other nations.
- Pray for new believers from the Asian majorities.
- Pray for cultural bridges between different ethnic groups and languages. We are all one in Christ!
Converts from Islam face retribution from the government, Immans, family and neighbors.
- Pray for Holy Spirit grace.
Again, we want to lift-up these persecuted witnesses to the Lord:
- Leah Sharibu, a prisoner of Boko Haram since 2018. Pray for her release.
- Alice Loksha Ngaddah, kidnapped February 2019. She is a mother of two, working as a nurse for UNICEF. Pray for her release.
- Pastor Wang Yi to be released from prison, for his family and for the church.
- Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani from Iran, as he and his family are adjusting from his release from prison, that they may know what God’s will is for them now. Pray for the trauma they had to endure. UPDATE: According to Article 18, once sentenced to death for his “apostasy” has been “pardoned” and released after nearly five years in Tehran’s Evin Prison but told Nadarkhani that he still faces flogging (30 lashes) and two years’ exile 2,000km from his home. Read the report here.
- Armenian Genocide Happening Again. Read full report here: Genocide and Forced Deportation: Nagorno-Karabakh
- The Harvest: “37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38
Michael Laird, Persecution Watch Prayer Conference Call Moderator
Please forward prayer points to your church, prayer groups and others who will pray.
Prayer Conference Call Details
7 nights a week on your phone
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If you are experiencing any difficulties joining the call, please let us know.
What is Persecution Watch?
Persecution Watch is a U.S. national prayer conference call ministry that prays specifically for the global Persecuted Church. For over a decade, Blaine Scogin led this national network of believers who faithfully pray for the persecuted and the global harvest for the Kingdom of God. The group meets via a free call-in service every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday night at 9pm Eastern time in the United States (please check your time zone). Blaine also served as Prayer Director for Voice of the Persecuted, and the two missions became one. Brother Blaine passed into glory on December 26, 2019. It was truly a blessing for all of us to serve alongside this dear man of God and he will be greatly missed. The prayer mission of Persecution Watch remains an important part of our mission. Voice of the Persecuted is committed to continue the prayer conference call for the persecuted along with the dedicated Persecution Watch prayer warrior team.
Prior to the passing of Brother Blaine, he confirmed the passing of the torch as prayer conference call leader to Nadia Dybvik. Nadia has a burdened heart for the persecuted and is a prayer warrior standing in the gap for them. She joined the Persecution Watch prayer team in 2015 and has been part of the core ever since. Before becoming the prayer call leader, she served in the role of prayer moderator since 2016. Blaine chose Nadia for her faithfulness to pray for the persecuted and her strong commitment to the Persecution Watch mission. We are blessed not only with her gift of prayer, but her genuine love for every brother and sister in Christ that comes on the call to pray. May the Lord continue to bless Nadia and the prayer team in the mission and their personal lives.
“Pray for us” is the number one request that we hear from the persecuted. As the members of the first century Church were moved by the Holy Spirit to pray, we too must continue to serve those suffering persecution by lifting them up to the Lord through prayer.
On occasion, persecuted brothers and sisters are invited to join the conference call and share the trials they are facing. The team serves to encourage them by washing their feet in Spirit led prayer. Time is reserved for those on the call to ask questions. We believe this helps to gain a better understanding of the situation that persecuted Christians endure in their specific nations. Q&A also helps us to focus our prayers based on their current needs.
Persecution Watch also hosts callers who want to pray united from other nations. If your heart is perplexed by the sufferings of our persecuted brothers and sisters, you no longer need to pray alone.
We welcome all who desire to pray for the persecuted church and consider it a joy to pray together with you. If you are new to the call and cannot find your voice, listen in, and pray silently or mute. We are grateful and thank the Lord for bringing us all together to pray in agreement for our persecuted family in Christ. We can all be prayer warriors on this call!
God bless and protect you in your faithfulness to serve.
Lois Kanalos, Founder, Voice of the Persecuted, Nadia Dybvik, Persecution Watch Prayer Call Leader, and the Persecution Watch Prayer Call Moderator Team
NOTE: Please fill out the form in the sign up at link below to be added in our distribution list to receive urgent prayer requests, prayer points, notification of special prayer events and special guest speakers.
Note to Voice of the Persecuted (VOP) readers: The Persecution Watch prayer team is also the prayer team of Voice of the Persecuted. SIGN UP today.
VOICE OF THE PERSECUTED 