WEA Religious Liberty Prayer News – Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Malaysia

February 19, 2014

WEA Religious Liberty Prayer News

17 February 2014

RLPN: 2014/02

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:28

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 resources.

Criminal trial begins for Pastor Bakhytzhan Kashkumbaev in KAZAKHSTAN

6 February, 8 months following his arrest on false charges of trying to harm the health of his congregation, pastor Bakhytzhan Kashkumbaev remains imprisoned in Kazakhstan.

During his detention, 67-year-old pastor Kashkumbaev has gone deaf in one ear and suffered heart problems. On 22 January 2014, pastor Kashkumbaev attended the first hearing in his criminal trial in a court in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana.

According to reports he faces charges of harming health, inciting hatred, propagating extremism and leading an organization that harms others. The charges carry maximum penalties ranging from 6 to 10 years imprisonment.

Prayer points:

Pray that God would strengthen pastor Kashkumbaev during this time of great trial;
Pray that pastor Kashkumbaev would be exonerated from all charges;
Pray that the authorities would not discriminate against pastor Kashkumbaev.

Church attacked over "Allah" controversy in MALAYSIA

28 January, It is reported that a church in Penang, Malaysia was attacked with firebombs in escalating tensions over the use of the word “Allah” by the country’s Christians.

According to the Penang State police, on 27 January, 2 men on a motorcycle lobbed fire bombs into The Assumption Church compound.

The incident occurred after a provocative banner was hung by unknown people outside churches in Penang, including the Assumption Church. The banner read: “Allah is great, Jesus is the son of Allah.”

No one was injured in the attack.

Allah is the Arabic word for God and commonly used in the Malay language to refer to God. The government says Allah should be exclusively reserved for Muslims.

Prayer points:

Pray for the end of religious tension in Malaysia;
Pray that there would be no outbreak of religiously motivated violence in the country;
Pray for unity among all people in Malaysia;
Pray for the LORD’s wisdom and guidance upon the Malaysian Church during this testing period.

22 Christians killed in church attack in NIGERIA

1 February, 22 Christians were killed in an attack on a church worship service in the Adamawa State in Nigeria.

According to reports, on 26 January, suspected Islamist rebels armed with explosives and firearms attacked the Catholic church in the Waga Chakawa village by setting off bombs and firing into the congregation.

The rebels then burned houses and took residents hostage during the attack which lasted 4 hours.

The radical Islamist group, Boko Haram, is suspected of carrying out the attack.

Prayer points:

Pray for Jesus’ comforting presence upon the families grieving the loss of loved ones;
Pray for God’s healing mercy upon those injured in the attack;
Pray that the Church in Nigeria would be in complete submission to the guidance of the Holy Spirit during this difficult period;
Pray that God would change the hearts of Boko Haram militants and bring them to repentance.