(Voice of the Persecuted) You are invited to join us on Thursday, March 16, 2023, in a prayer conference call for the persecuted church hosted by Persecution Watch.
NIGERIA: Population: 211,5 million; Christian 98 million
Christians living in Nigeria face some of the worst acts of persecution in the world. At least 17 Christians are killed every day simply because of their faith.
Since the dawn of the 21st century, and with horrifying acceleration in recent years,
verified reports of murders, rapes, mutilations, and kidnapping of Christians in
Nigeria have persistently increased. These attacks are frequently accompanied by the torching of homes, churches, villages, and agricultural fields. Such violence has reached a point at which expert observers and analysts are warning of a progressive genocide—a “slow-motion war” specifically targeting Christians across Africa’s largest and most economically powerful nation.
Violent attacks by Boko Haram and Fulani Islamic militants have affected families and churches, leaving many Christians without spouses, parents, and homes. But faithful believers continue to follow and serve Christ in Nigeria. The laws at the Supreme Court of Nigeria: Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a Nigerian Sufi musician, is bringing a challenge to the strict blasphemy law of Kano State, Northern Nigeria, under which he was previously sentenced to death, to the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He was convicted in 2020 despite not having legal representation, after sharing audio messages on social media deemed blasphemous towards the Prophet Mohammed.
Yahaya remains in jail without bail while awaiting the retrial, where he still faces a potential death penalty. ADF International is supporting Yahaya’s Supreme Court appeal, working to ensure that Yahaya is released, and the blasphemy law is overturned. The end of this law could save the lives of hundreds of persecuted Christians.
Prayer Points:
- Pray for Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was elected president in February of this year. Pray that the Lord will protect him from the influences of the evil one guide him to carry out his duties to all citizens.
- Pray that the Lord will convict incompetent and corrupt political leader in Nigeria that have taken little action to stop the rampant terrorism, what has been widely described as a slowly unfolding genocide.
- Pray to the Lord that national and local authorities will work actively and diligently to uphold justice, especially for Christians.
- Pray to the Lord that the cruel anti conversion laws in the Muslim controlled states will be abolished.
- Pray to the Lord for the many militant groups who attack Christians that He will blind them, confuse, and frustrate them in picking new targets.
- Pray to the Lord for His hand of protection on Christian women and teenagers as they face rape and abduction.
- Pray for NGOs to provide much needed trauma counseling because killings and are reaching crisis levels among Christians. Pray for healing and hope.
- Pray for the NGOs that in response to violent attacks, much-needed medical and other material assistance will be available.
- Pray for provision of ministry tools for front-line gospel workers reaching Muslims for Christ
- Pray for the replacement of Bibles which have been destroyed by Muslim extremists.
- Father God, the violence and brutality across Nigeria is horrible, we ask you to intervene to stop these evil attacks and work in the hearts of the militants to turn them from hatred to Your love.
- Pray to the Lord that the enemy cannot weaken His church through repeated attacks and that He will strengthen their faith that it will not be shaken.
- Pray for the Christians who are rebuilding after an attack, that the Lord will help them and that they know they are being prayed for.
- Pray to the Lord that the media in the “free world” will report the atrocities against Christians and that it will bring great pressure on the Nigerian Government.
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, who was working as a nurse for UNICEF. Pray for her release.
- Pray for Pastor Wang Yi to be released from prison
- Pray for Ryan Kohler, pilot for Mission Aviation who is in prison in Mozambique. While flying supplies to orphanages in the Northeast of the country, he and two others were detained and accused of supporting terrorism.
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)
Andy, Persecution Watch Prayer Call Moderator
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
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 