(Voice of the Persecuted) You are invited to join us on Tuesday May 31, 2022 in a prayer conference call for the persecuted church hosted by Persecution Watch.
Population: 1,526,929 Muslim 82%, Christian 11%, Hindu 6%
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Major People Groups: 58% Bahraini Arab; 13% Persian; 8% Filipino; 5% Urdu; 4% Malayali; plus 9 others
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Population in unreached people groups: 77.6%
Like its Middle Eastern neighbors, the desert island nation of Bahrain finds its identity in its Arab-Islamic roots. But, upon entering this Arabian gulf state, one will immediately notice a more relaxed and moderate atmosphere. Women’s faces are often unveiled, and churches for expatriate Christians are relatively common. With much exposure to other cultures’ influences (the labor force is 59% foreign), Bahrain has become more ethnically and religiously diverse. Overall, Bahrain enjoys a greater openness to modernization and westernization than surrounding gulf nations.
The cultures of Babylon, Greece, Rome, Persia, and the Arabs have all played their part in Bahraini history. Known as the gateway between the East and West, Bahrain continues to draw people from around the world. It is truly a land of contrasts, with its modern and drastic skylines juxtaposed with ancient architecture. The first nation to discover oil within the gulf, Bahrain has enjoyed many years of prosperity. Due to decreasing oil amounts, though, Bahrain has been forced to diversify and has turned to petroleum processing and refining as well as becoming an international banking center.
The supreme political authority comes from the King. Great tensions and even civil unrest have resulted from the conflict between the Sunni Muslim ruling family and Shia Muslim majority. Protests directed at the Bahraini government erupted in 2011 as Arabs throughout the region spoke out against their leaders and plight.
Bahrain sits in a strategic position among Arab gulf nations. With a greater sense of freedom, Bahrain has opened its doors to some Christian influence. Proselytism remains illegal, though, and local Christians struggle to freely practice their faith, some worshipping in secret. But with religious freedom for expatriate believers, one will find quite a few churches within these borders. With 83.2% of the population claiming to follow Islam and 9.8% claiming Christianity (predominantly foreigners), Bahrain still remains desperately in need of the Gospel.
Prayer Points
• Pray for Bahrainis to discover Gospel-proclaiming media resources.
• Pray for a united, vibrant, and mature national Church.
• Pray for Christian expatriates to boldly and creatively share the Gospel with Bahrainis.
Join us on the Prayer Conference Call as we will pray for Bahrain and those faithfully sharing the Good News.
Alice Loksha Ngaddah was kidnapped in February 2019. She is a mother of two, working as a nurse for UNICEF. Pray for her release.
Leah Sharibu prisoner of Boko Haram since 2018. Pray for her release.
Pastor Wang Yi to be released from Chinese prison.
Anita a Christian convert, facing a long prison term who escaped from Iran and praying to go to a country where she can express her faith openly.
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani from Iran for his release and his family as their persecution continues. Pastor Nadarkhani is serving the second year of his six-year sentence.
The Harvest
“I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18)
The Lord’s servant,
Nadia Dybvik, Persecution Watch Prayer Conference Call Leader
Photo: Saint Christopher’s cathedral, in Manama the Bahraini capital. Ciacho5
Prayer Conference Call Details
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
From any location on your phone
USA Time Zone:
9:00 PM Eastern
8:00 PM Central
7:00 PM Mountain
6:00 PM Pacific
Call in number: (667) 770-1476 (Note: We have a new call-in phone number)
Access Code: 281207#
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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 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 2013 and has been part of the core ever since. Before becoming the prayer call leader, she served in the role of prayer moderator since 2015. 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 have been invited on the conference call to share the trials they are facing. The team serves to encourage them by washing their feet in Spirit led prayer. Time is often 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 on 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 Team
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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 