You turned my wailing in to dancing; you removed my sackcloth and turned it in to joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever. Psalm 30:11-12
Dear Friends in Christ
The World Evangelical Alliance is a global ministry working with local churches around the world to join in common concern to live and proclaim the Good News of Jesus in their communities. God is glorified and the nations of the earth are forever transformed.
The purpose of the WEA Religious Liberty Prayer Release is to keep you informed and mobilized in prayer and intercession for the needs of justice and religious liberty in the Church around the globe, so that we can stand together for the work of the Kingdom and the healing of the Nations. The Prayer Release is comprised on the basis of different credible Christian based resources.
Attack on open air worship service kills 2 Christians in KENYA
April 3, It is reported that a grenade attack by suspected Islamist extremists on an outdoor worship service left 2 Christians dead and more than 30 injured in Mtwapa, Kenya.
An eye witness to the incident stated, "3 people who were sitting in a parked car near the site of the event threw a grenade and drove away. Then I heard a blast and saw some women on the ground crying for help. A lady died on the spot. About 15 people were seriously wounded. About 2 days after the blast, a young boy succumbed to injuries."
Reports state that more than 150 Christians were present at the worship service which was held in close proximity to a Muslim gathering where Islamic preachers were openly degrading Christians.Officials have blamed the radical Islamic group, Al Shabaab, for the attack.
Prayer points:
- Pray for God's comfort for the families who are grieving the loss of their loved ones
- Pray for God's healing touch to be upon those who were injured in the attacks
- Pray for protection over Christians in Kenya who are subject to harassment by Islamic extremists
Officials confiscate church building in LAOS
April 5, It is reported that Lao officials confiscated and sealed a church building in February in a rural village in Saybuly district. The closure of the church came after a 2 day seminar held by government officials warning against religious belief that declared Westerners, particularly those from the United States, were using the Christian faith to destabilize the government. It was also mentioned at the seminar that the 745 Christians in the village could only meet in private homes.
Although church members were instructed to submit a formal written request to village, district and provincial level officials if they wished to use the building again, villagers have raised fears that these requests would be declined by local government authorities who in a similar manner, routinely deny applications for the construction of new churches.
The officials also declared that only 1 church in the district, located in Dongpoong village, was officially recognized and that all others would soon be shut down.
Prayer points:
- Pray for the reopening of the church which was confiscated and sealed by officials
- Pray for protection over all churches in the Saybuly district which are under the threat of forced closure
- Pray that God would strengthen all Lao Christians who are harassed for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
- Pray for International pressure upon the Laos government which is declining Christians the right to worship freely although it is provided for by the country's constitution
Easter bombings near church leaves 38 dead in NIGER
People gather at the site of the bomb explosion in Kaduna, Nigeria on Sunday, April 8, 2012. (AP Photos)
38 people were killed on Easter Sunday when a suicide car bomber detonated explosives outside a church in Nigeria.
The blast struck Kaduna, the capital of Kaduna state, leaving burnt motorcycles and debris scattered across a major road in the city. The explosion damaged the nearby All Nations Christian Assembly Church and the ECWA Good News Church as churchgoers attended the Easter service.
"We were in the Holy Communion service and I was exhorting my people and all of a sudden, we heard a loud noise that shattered all our windows and doors, destroyed our fans and some of our equipment in the church," a pastor said.
The Islamic militant group, Boko Haram, has been blamed for the attacks in Kaduna, a region on the dividing line between Nigeria's largely Christian South and Muslim North.
Prayer points:
- Please pray for God's comfort to be upon the families grieving the loss of their loved ones
- Pray for God's healing mercy upon those injured in the attack
- Pray that those responsible for the attacks will be brought to justice
- Pray that Islamic militia in Nigeria who have been targeting Christians will repent and come to know Christ
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