(Voice of the Persecuted) You are invited to join on Thursday April 11, 2024, in a prayer conference call for the persecuted church hosted by Persecution Watch.
JORDAN: Population: 10.3 million, Christians: 170,000
In general, Jordan is more tolerant of Christianity, particularly compared to some other places in the region, and many Christians can worship freely. The monarchy of King Abdullah II has recognized multiple churches and allows these communities to worship, as long as they don’t preach publicly or reach out to Muslims. But these churches are monitored by the state, and Christians in these communities’ report facing some level of discrimination in the workplace.
Outside forces also have an impact on life for Christians within Jordan. Radicalized Muslims who fought in Iraq and Syria have returned home, and a number of highly conservative Muslim teachers who’ve been influenced by surrounding countries (particularly Saudi Arabia) are potentially a danger to Christians and other minority groups in Jordan. However, the Jordanian government does monitor sermons in mosques to try to prevent extremism from rising.
Any Christian who is active in evangelism, is known to support converts from Islam, belongs to an unrecognized church, or is a convert from Islam, can experience pressure. Christians who convert from Islam and are open about their new faith can face threats of beating and killings, especially from their families and communities. If their conversion becomes known, all official documents (including marriage certificates, mortgages, etc.) they have signed will automatically become invalid.
All Christian women in Jordan experience some level of pressure to adopt Islamic rules around dress and are at some level of risk for sexual harassment. But women who convert from Islam are far and away the most vulnerable to persecution, usually from their own families. Converts from more radical Islamic families can face house arrest, isolation, beating, sexual harassment and even death (though so-called ‘honors’ killings are punished in Jordan).
Though Christian men can occupy high positions in Jordanian society and government, many believers report some level of discrimination, particularly Christians who are converts from Islam. If their faith in Jesus is discovered, converts can lose their jobs or security clearance. Because men in Jordan are traditionally the financial providers for their families, forced job loss can create a devastating economic impact on families of converts.
Prayer Points:
- Pray to the Lord to continue to bless King Abdullah II who said in 09/23 “Christianity is vital to the past and present of our region and the Holy Land, “It must remain an integral part of our future.”
- Pray to the Lord that more Christians will be elected to high positions in government and society.
- Praise God that Christians have more freedom in Jordan than elsewhere in the region. Pray to the Lord to continue to change hearts and minds so every believer can worship freely.
- Ask God to make His presence known to Jordanian Christians who have followed Jesus out of Islam. That these believers will know that they are not alone.
- Pray that God would open doors for Christians to share their faith safely and wisely.
- Pray to the Lord to protect secret MBB believers from discovery which means forced job loss that can create a devastating economic impact on families of converts.
- Pray to the Lord to protect the MBB from strong family and community pressure to recant and return to Islam. To give them strength and perseverance to resist their oppressors.
- Pray to the Lord that the government can control and reign in the Jihad fighters returning from Iraq, Syria, and neighboring countries.
- Pray for the many displaced people who live in camps that they will experience the love and support from Christian NGO workers.
- Pray to the Lord that He will appear to many Muslims in their dreams and connect them with believers to lead them to faith.
- Pray that the Christians will love and forgive their persecutors.
- Pray to the Lord that both Christians and Muslims will be touched by radio and internet messages that speaks to them – touches their hearts.
- Pray to the Lord that His churches will be the beacon of light on the hill in Jordan.
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
Andy, 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
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#
MOBILE APP: Free Conference Call HD also provides a quick and uncomplicated way for you to dial into conference calls without having to remember the dial-in credentials. Save all your conference call dial-in numbers and access codes using this free app. With the Free Conference Call HD, you can instantly dial into a conference call via a 3G/4G data network and or regular mobile carrier. Google Play link or App Store – iTunes
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.
Photo: Amman, Jordan, Citadel hill image by ChiemSeherin
VOICE OF THE PERSECUTED 