Prayer Diary: April - July 2018

Your daily prayer guide

prayer diary

Giulio Paletta/CSW

Spring 2018

Welcome

A week of prayer for CSW. Week 1: 15-21 April

“THE PRAYERS OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON ARE POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE.”

To start 2018 we held a dedicated week of prayer for CSW, and every hour of that working week, a member of staff was in our prayer room to pray for our ministry and to listen to God. We were all really blessed by the time we spent committing our work in prayer, and this week it would be such an encouragement to us if you would spend the week covering CSW in prayer.

Every day this week, please pray one of these verses over CSW, our staff team, our local partners, supporters, volunteers and all that we do.

JAMES 5:16 I’ve learnt so much about the transforming power of prayer since coming to work at CSW over a decade ago. It’s such a privilege to work for an organisation than is underpinned by prayer: to gather with colleagues every day to pray and to know that you cover our work in prayer.

Without prayer our work would be impossible: It is our protection when we travel to some of the world’s most oppressive countries.

It is our source of strength when the task ahead of us seems insurmountable.

It is the way we hear God’s wisdom to make difficult decisions.

It is our channel for receiving God’s peace when we are heartbroken by the suffering of those we serve.

It is our place of rejoicing when we see a longedfor answer after years of faithful prayers.

Emma Head of Communications

Jeremiah 33:3

Isaiah 30:21

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 16:9

Micah 6:8 And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

Carlos Lamelas/CSW

Thank you for being part of our prayer army; we are humbled to know that you stand with us in prayer every day. Today we pray that you would be blessed for all that you have done to bless us.

With blessings

Psalm 100:4-5

Our manifesto #13

We believe in the power of prayer to bring change.

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This week please pray for North Korea.

Week 2: 22-28 April Earlier this year we released our North Korea report, an indepth analysis of the current situation in the country drawn from interviews with escapees. This week, please pray with us through the findings of the report and for the future of the people of North Korea.

Sunday 22 April Today, please pray that our report, Media, Markets and Mass Surveillance, raises awareness of today’s human rights situation in North Korea. Pray that it would be used to shape international policy towards North Korea and to hold the regime accountable for the severe human rights abuses they have committed against the North Korean people.

Monday 23 April Our research found that there had been absolutely no change in freedom of religion or belief in North Korea. Any sign of a belief other than total devotion to the Kim family continues to be severely punished. Pray for all those who are being imprisoned or punished for their religious beliefs and ask God to strengthen them in every way.

Tuesday 24 April It is estimated that over 200,000 people are detained in prison camps, where they endure dire living conditions and brutal torture. Many of these are Christians. Pray today for persecution of 4

North Korea’s Christians to come to an end, and for all those Christians in prison to be unconditionally released.

Wednesday 25 April Pray today for the many human rights activists who are committed to bringing the world’s attention to the situation in North Korea and the struggle for change on the peninsula: today, please pray that God would grant them energy, perseverance and resources.

Thursday 26 April Four years after the publication of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry report, few of its recommendations have been implemented, and North Korea has shown a lack of cooperation in refusing the UN representatives access to the country. Pray today for renewed, concrete action by the UN to hold the regime to account for crimes against humanity.

Your prayers are needed for Nigeria.

Friday 27 April We’re praying today for all those who have escaped North Korea and are using their freedom to work for the future of their country.

Pray for CSW and other human rights activists who are working together with North Koreans outside the country to bring about a brighter future.

Saturday 28 April Heavenly Father, today we pray for the nation of North Korea. We thank you for the release of our new report and the information we were able to gather about the people and how their lives have changed. We pray that one day we would see true freedom for the North Korean people. Amen.

Week 3: 29 April-5 May Since 2015 the religious freedom situation in Nigeria has deteriorated significantly. Non-Muslims in Shari’a states continue to report being denied the rights, opportunities, provisions and protection Muslims enjoy. As unrelenting cycles of violent attacks on non-Muslim communities in central states continue to spread southwards, join us to pray for Nigeria’s future and deliverance.

Sunday 29 April Since 2011, attacks by Fulani militia on non-Muslim communities are reported to have displaced at least 62,000 people, left around 6,000 people dead and many more injured. Pray for the survivors of the violence, many of whom have lost homes, livelihoods, and loved ones and may also have suffered life changing injuries. Ask God to meet every need they have today.

Monday 30 April 2018 began with an attack

by Fulani militia on villagers in Guma and Logo areas, in Benue State, in which 73 villagers were killed. Attacks have continued in several states, with over 300 deaths in armed violence during March alone. Ask God to bring the attacks to an end, and to bring restoration and healing to all the communities affected.

Tuesday 1 May The lack of an effective government response to the violence has fuelled impunity, facilitating the spread of militia violence to southern

Nigeria. Pray today that local and national government officials would ensure that the perpetrators and facilitators of violent attacks are held accountable, and for the culture of impunity to come to a swift end.

Wednesday 2 May Last year many of you supported our Stand with Nigeria campaign, calling on the governor of Kaduna State to act against the attacks

by Fulani militia that were driving people from their homes. Please pray that our continued advocacy for the victims of these ongoing attacks would be effective in urging the international community to persuade Nigeria to protect vulnerable communities and bring an end to the violence.

Thursday 3 May In February Boko Haram abducted 110 girls from their school in Dapchi. All were returned a month later except for Leah Sharibu, a 15-year-old Christian who refused to convert to gain her freedom. Last month marked the fourth anniversary of

the abduction of 276 girls from a secondary school in Chibok by Boko Haram. 176 of them are from families belonging to the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria. 113 girls remain unaccounted for, all of them Christians. Pray today that these girls would all be released and returned to their families.

Friday 4 May Lawlessness has increased as weapons have proliferated unchecked. In April, 16 people were killed in an armed attack on a police station and five banks in Offa, Kwara state. Earlier, Nigeria replaced Mexico as the most dangerous country in the world to be a Catholic priest. Five pastoral workers were killed in Nigeria in 2017, usually in the course of attempted robberies. Please pray God’s protection over civilians and clergy, and for effective strategies to end to the lawlessness, kidnapping and general violence plaguing the country.

Saturday 5 May Lord, we bring the nation of Nigeria to you today. We pray that your justice would roll like a river for those who have faced violence, persecution or injustice. Send your peace to cover this troubled land we pray. Amen.

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Pray for Burma.

On earth as it is in heaven.

Week 4: 6-12 May Despite a fragile transition to democratization, over the past year the situation has worsened dramatically in some parts of the country – not only the crisis facing the Rohingyas, but also for the Kachin and Shan peoples. After seven years of opening up, Burma is facing new repression.

Sunday 6 May Burma faces two particularly significant challenges: ending decades of civil war, and addressing widespread religious intolerance. Pray today for an end to decades of conflict and intolerance that have caused suffering for so many people.

Monday 7 May Today join us as we pray for courage, wisdom, compassion and justice to be at the heart of the government of Burma’s actions. Pray that Aung San Suu Kyi and her ministers will take concrete steps to counter religiously-motivated hate speech, discrimination and violence, and promote

inter-religious harmony and religious freedom for all.

Tuesday 8 May Deacon Dumdaw Nwang Lat and Pastor Lamjang Geng Sam were arrested and imprisoned because they guided journalists around a Catholic church which had reportedly been bombed by a military airstrike. Pray today for justice for the two men, and that they would be unconditionally released.

Wednesday 9 May Deacon Dumdaw and Pastor Langjaw tried to help because “local priests weren’t allowed to speak to the media”. After being forcibly displaced by the violence

against the Kachin people they wanted the world to know the truth. Give thanks for their courage today, and ask God to use their situation to make the suffering of the Kachin people known to the world.

Thursday 10 May CSW is calling for the government of Burma to take decisive and concrete action to stem the tide of rising militant Buddhism which has led to religious intolerance.

Together let’s pray for an end to hate speech, discrimination and violence against religious minorities, and for greater efforts by religious leaders of all faiths to counter intolerance, promote peace and defend religious freedom.

Toby Maddens/CSW

This we’re looking to the model of prayer Jesus taught us to guide our prayers. Every day this week, please take time to pray the Lord ’s Prayer over one of the countries on which CSW works. You could pick one of the countries featured in this issue of Response or the Prayer Diary, or God might prompt you to pray for a particular country.

As you pray the Lord’s prayer each day, bring your chosen country before God, and pray that his kingdom would come and his will would be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Friday 11 May The church has an important role to play in building a brighter future for Burma.

Pray today for church leaders to play a role in peace building, dialogue and reconciliation.

Saturday 12 May

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Week 5: 13-19 May

Over 140,000 Kachin people, predominantly Christians, have been displaced, 200 villages attacked and 66 churches destroyed. Pray today for all those who have been forced to flee because of the violence and ask God to provide everything they need today.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

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This week please pray for Eritrea.

Week 6: 20-26 May Thank you so much for your faithful prayers for Eritrea over the years. It’s often difficult to keep faithfully petitioning God during a situation which doesn’t change or worsens; so your perseverance means the world to us and, of course, to the Eritrean people.

Sunday 20 May Patriarch Antonios of the Eritrean Orthodox Church has been under house arrest since he was illegally removed from office in 2007. He is allegedly under pressure to resign and make way for a progovernment bishop. He’s in his 90s, surrounded by enemies, and severely diabetic. Ask God to encourage Patriarch Antonios in his imprisonment, granting him strength, faith and perseverance.

Monday 21 May Patriarch Antonios is one of over 10,000 prisoners of conscience in Eritrea, including many from recognised and unrecognised faith groups, who have been detained without charge or trial in life threatening conditions.

Please pray for all those who are imprisoned in Eritrea: for God to comfort them, grant them endurance, and for their unconditional release.

Tuesday 22 May

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Today, give thanks that CSW was able to provide Yona Germano Nati the opportunity to speak in the UN Human Rights Council chamber. Through him every country delegation heard of the enforced disappearance

of his father, who is one the political figures detained incommunicado in a harsh purpose-built facility since 2001, and the suffering of his family and tribe. He deeply appreciated the opportunity to call for justice at the highest international level.

Without our UN accreditation, we would not have been able to facilitate this, so join us in thanksgiving today.

Wednesday 23 May In October 2017, a government clampdown on education sparked a rare show of public protest against the authorities. The demonstrations against the government taking control of a private Islamic school and imprisoning its 93 year-old honorary president, Haji Musa Mohammed Nur, were dispersed violently, with even minors arrested. A Catholic seminary was also seized.

Haji Musa died in prison four months later. Pray comfort for his family, and for the return of all property seized from religious communities.

Thursday 24 May Today marks Eritrean Independence Day, making it 27 years since the country gained independence from Ethiopia. Pray this verse

Your prayers are needed for Vietnam. over Eritrea today: For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. Psalm 31: 3-5.

Thu Ha was also detained; she has been sentenced to nine years in prison. Today, please bring her before God in prayer and ask that she would also be released soon.

Thursday 31 May

Friday 25 May In June the tenure of the current UN Special Rapporteur on Eritrea comes to an end. Together with Human Rights Concern Eritrea, CSW will be lobbying for the renewal of the mandate at the Human Rights Council in June. Please pray we are successful. Also pray a blessing on the outgoing special rapporteur, who has amplified the voices of victims and advanced the cause of justice, despite insults and an assault from the Eritrean regime and its supporters, and for an equally effective new special rapporteur.

Saturday 26 May Lord, we know that the situation in Eritrea is so much worse than we can imagine.

We lift this country to you: it is dear to you. Guard and uphold the Eritrean people, we pray: protect them and ensure the international community maintains attention and pressure until the violations cease, perpetrators are made accountable and the nation is truly free. Amen.

Week 7: 27 May-2 June Over the past year CSW has been one of a coalition of organisations working for the release of prisoners of conscience in Vietnam, many of whom have been working against the repeated violations of freedom of religion or belief: harassment, forced evictions, beatings, torture, pressure to recant and detention or imprisonment. For this, they receive excessively harsh treatment by the government.

Sunday 27 May Many of you have been faithfully praying for Nguyen Van Dai, a human rights lawyer who has been detained without trial since December 2015. On 5 April he was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of house arrest. Ask God to give strength and courage to Lawyer Dai as he faces the prospect of over a decade in jail.

Monday 28 May Lawyer Dai was one of six defendants in the trial; pastor and activist Nguyen Trung Ton and legal expert Nguyen Bac

Truyen were tried with him.

Pastor Ton and Mr Truyen were sentenced to 12 years and 11 years in prison respectively.

Pray that the charges against all three men would be dismissed and they’d be unconditionally released.

Tuesday 29 May Lawyer Dai’s wife, Vu Minh Khanh, has campaigned tirelessly for his release since he was arrested. Please pray for her and the rest of Lawyer Dai’s family today; asking God to be their comforter and refuge.

Wednesday 30 May

In February, six Hoa Hao Buddhists were sentenced to up to six years in prison after they held a peaceful demonstration against the continued suppression of their right to freedom of religion by the government.

Today, pray that the charges against them would be dismissed, and they’d be released.

Friday 1 June Today, please pray for the work of CSW’s East Asia team, who take responsibility for defending freedom of religion in Vietnam. Pray that God would equip them with energy, perseverance, and wisdom as they carry out their vital work. Ask God to grant them favour in all they do.

Saturday 2 June Father God we thank you for the courage of human rights defenders in Vietnam.

Thank you that despite the risks they take up the cause of freedom. We ask that you would strengthen their efforts today and equip them with every resource they need as they pursue justice for the oppressed. Amen.

When Nguyen Van Dai was arrested, his colleague, Le 9

Pray for Egypt.

Pray for the people of Nepal.

Wednesday 6 June

Week 9: 10-16 June

Pray today for an end to discriminatory and restrictive policies, including state-sponsored religious initiatives which discriminate against religious minorities.

Since the introduction of Nepal’s constitution in 2015, and a new Criminal Code Bill in October 2017, Nepal’s religious minorities face new levels of uncertainty. Many activists and experts believe that the constitution fails to protect the rights of marginalised communities, including religious minorities.

Week 8: 3-9 June Since the revolution of 25 January 2011, the human rights situation in Egypt has worsened progressively. Special measures introduced in response to the threat of terrorism have caused a grave deterioration in the human rights climate, including restrictions on freedom of association, freedom of expression, and freedom of religion or belief.

Sunday 3 June

Tuesday 5 June

More than 100 Christians were killed in Egypt in 2017, with most attacks claimed by the local branch of Islamic State (IS, Daesh).Please pray for an end for attacks by IS.

In December last year, a gunman affiliated with IS attacked a Coptic-owned shop south of Cairo, killing two brothers. Later that day, he attempted to storm Mar Mina church. He was intercepted and arrested before he could enter the church to detonate the explosives, but overall nine people were killed that day.

Please pray for all those who were affected by the attacks that day, and that justice would be served.

Monday 4 June Just over a year ago at least 28 people were killed and 23 injured when masked gunmen opened fire on three vehicles transporting members of the Coptic community to St Samuel the Confessor Monastery in Minya governorate. Pray for all those who survived the attack, and for God’s comfort for those who lost loved ones.

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With the growing number of terror attacks in Egypt, the government has introduced special measures which have resulted in human rights being restricted in the name of national security: please pray that this attitude would be softened.

Friday 8 June President Sisi has been the first serving president in the country’s history to attend Coptic Christmas Mass – which he has done several years running. On such occasions he has delivered unifying messages of national solidarity and equality of citizenship. Pray today that such equality would be reality for all Egyptians, regardless of their religious beliefs.

One of the most concerning aspects of Nepal’s constitution is one particular clause, under which talking about one’s faith to a person of another faith could be construed as an act that may ‘jeopardize other’s religion’, and as an attempt to ‘convert another person from one religion to another’. This action is to be punishable by law.

Sunday 10 June

Wednesday 13 June

Pray today that the government of Nepal amends the constitution and penal code to guarantee full religious freedom for all.

At the end of last year a Criminal Code Bill including clauses that criminalise religious conversion and ‘the hurting of religious sentiment’ was signed into law, which could lead to blasphemy accusations of the kind we often see in Pakistan. Today, please pray that these unjust laws would be repealed.

Monday 11 June In 2016, this ‘anti-conversion’ clause in the constitution was used to charge eight Christians in Charikot with attempting to convert children through distributing a comic book on the story of Jesus. Give thanks that they were acquitted and released, and pray protection over them.

Saturday 9 June

Tuesday 12 June

Father God, as the number of terror attacks in Egypt grows, we ask you to bring your peace to this troubled country and make it somewhere where everyone can worship freely and without fear. Amen.

Pray for human rights defenders in Nepal who are advocating for religious freedom to be upheld in Nepal.

It is two years since the government issued an order restricting how faithbased non-governmental organisations operate. The order states that those NGOs that run projects that involve the sharing of their faith would be denied permission.

Pray that these laws would be repealed soon, as this could affect the work of national and international faith-based humanitarian organisations.

Saturday 16 June Father God, you are above all earthly powers and governments: we ask that you would work to change the legislation introduced in Nepal over recent years and lift the restrictions being placed on religious freedom.

Amen.

Thursday 14 June In Nepal, the government does not allocate land for Christian, Muslim and Kirat burials, forcing these communities to regularly travel hundreds of miles to bury their loved ones. In extreme cases, the bodies are sometimes seized by Hindu extremists and forcibly cremated. Please pray that the government would recognise how horrific and unjust this is, and allocate land for burials.

Giulio Paletta/CSW

Nevine Zaki

Thursday 7 June

Friday 15 June

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This week please pray for Refugees.

Your prayers are needed for Faith and a Future.

Wednesday 20 June

Week 11: 24-30 June

Today on UN refugee day, please pray for all refugees who are seeking a place of safety: ask God to protect them and provide their every need today.

At the start of the year we launched Faith and a Future, a campaign to ensure no child is denied a fair education because of their faith. In February we launched our report on this issue in Parliament, and were delighted to see so many people pledge their support to the campaign.

But then I thought ‘No, I must raise my voice for my nation and for myself.’”

Every day this week, you’ll see how children in many countries around the world can experience religious discrimination in education. As you read these facts, please pray for all those children affected.

Partiality: Children are marked down because of their faith. Joseph*, an 11-year-old Christian, reported that his teacher said, “If you were a Muslim I’d happily help you with your course and syllabus, homework and assignment.”

Thursday 21 June Today, please pray for a softening in the hearts of governments towards refugees: help them to be seen as people in need of care and understanding, and not a threat to be treated with suspicion and fear.

Week 10: 17-23 June This Wednesday (20 June) is UN Refugee Day, so we’re setting aside this week to pray for refugees. Religious intolerance is one of the root causes of the refugee crises in a number of the countries on which we work. Many vulnerable Christians and other religious minorities are forced to flee because their religion makes them a target for imprisonment, persecution or violent attacks.

Sunday 17 June In May, you prayed for Eritrea: many Eritreans are forced to flee to escape the oppression of their country, despite a shoot to kill policy in place on the border and a perilous journey ahead of them as they seek a place of safe refuge.

Please pray for Eritrean refugees: that God would protect them on their journeys and deliver them to safety.

Monday 18 June Burma’s Rohingya Muslims have been disowned by their own government, and are the targets of horrific violence. Many thousands of men, women and children 12

have been killed, and many more are now living in refugee camps. Pray for an end to this violence, and for the Rohingya to be receive desperately needed aid and food.

Tuesday 19 June Freedom of religion or belief is one of the most widely violated human rights in the world, and is one of the factors behind the global refugee crisis. Today, please pray that those with power and influence would use their positions to ensure that no one is forced to flee their home or country because of their religion.

Friday 22 June Thank you to everyone who supported our Real Change for Refugees campaign over the past few years. We are still working to tackle the refugee crisis at its root: please keep praying for our work on this issue.

Saturday 23 June Lord God, this week we remember that Jesus started his life as a refugee when his family fled into Egypt to escape the threat of death.

We ask you to watch over refugees around the world and protect them as they journey to a place where they can live freely. Amen.

Sunday 24 June

Wednesday 27 June

Reduced resources: In more remote areas of central and northern Nigeria, state governments often neglect the needs of children from religious minority communities, leaving them with woefully inadequate teaching and resources.

Mistreatment: Stephanie was targeted by Cuban authorities during her time at school, all because her father was a pastor. Children of religious leaders are often targeted to put pressure on their parents.

Monday 25 June

Segregation: Jacob*, a Christian in Pakistan, was told, “You’re not supposed to drink from the same cup as us. You’re not supposed to sit at the same desk as us.

I got mentally disturbed…

Pressure to convert: Children are promised free schooling, friendship, help with studies and better grades if they convert. Gurinder* was forced to leave school in 8th grade (aged 15) with no qualifications. “I couldn’t cope with the pressure my classmates and teachers put on me to…convert.”

Thursday 28 June

Friday 29 June

Saturday 30 June Lost identity: Students are forced to dress differently or change their names to hide their backgrounds. In several Shari’a states in Nigeria, Christian parents say their children have had to adopt Muslim-sounding names – and even adopt Muslim practices at school – in order to receive state education. *Name changed for security reasons.

Tuesday 26 June Disinformation: School textbooks in Pakistan are littered with discriminatory ideas and hate speech, teaching that religious minorities are inferior and don’t belong. This discrimination teaches intolerance and fuels religious hatred.

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Pray for China.

Pray for the people of Pakistan.

Week 12: 1-7 July

Thursday 12 July

Sunday 1 July Under Xi Jinping control of religious life has become a new priority for the CPC, and this has seen the right to freedom of religion or belief, for both registered and unregistered religious communities, severely restricted. Pray that the revised regulations would not lead to further crackdown on religious believers.

Monday 2 July Today please pray for CSW’s East Asia advocacy team as they seek to raise concerns about the new regulations with the politicians in the UK and US, and with institutions such as the European Union and the United Nations. Pray that human rights concerns would not be side-lined in the interest of maintaining trade relationships.

Tuesday 3 July Thank you for your prayers for Living Stone Church in Guiyang, which has experienced severe government harassment since 2013. The church 14

membership continue to face harassment and intimidation; please pray for courage and protection for them.

Wednesday 4 July Pastor Yang Hua is one of Living Stone’s leaders. He was arrested in 2016 and sentenced to two and a half years in prison on national security charges. His health has suffered due to extremely poor treatment in prison: at one point his legs were so swollen he couldn’t walk.

Please pray that Pastor Yang would be unconditionally released and all charges against him dismissed.

Thursday 5 July Earlier this year the $2.5-million Golden Lampstand Church was totally destroyed by armed police with explosives. This was the latest in a campaign of forced demolition of churches, cross removal and destruction. Pray for wisdom, provision and strength for all those churches that have seen their churches destroyed or crosses removed from the church.

Friday 6 July At the end of 2017, human rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong was sentenced to two years in prison on the charge of “inciting subversion of state power”, however CSW believes that his conviction is because of his human rights work. Pray for Jiang Tianyong as he enters the last year of his imprisonment: that he will be released soon and the charges against him dismissed.

Saturday 7 July Lord, we pray for China: we ask you to move in power to restore freedom for people to choose, change and practise their religion. We thank you for brave church leaders such as Pastor Yang Hua and human rights defenders like Jiang Tianyong. Though their only reward today is prison, you have a heavenly reward waiting: please grant them strength, courage and, soon, freedom. Amen.

Saad Salfraz/CSW

In February the Chinese government introduced revised ‘Regulations on Religious Affairs’, with the aim of tightening control over religious affairs in the country. In March,it was also announced that an agency of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will now oversee all ethnic and religious affairs, which analysts fear could lead to a situation where the Party leadership may bypass laws and regulations in an attempt to control religious minorities.

Week 13: 8-14 July Christians and other minority faiths in Pakistan not only face the prospect of being targeted in a violent attack, but also face everyday institutional and social discrimination.

Sunday 8 July Pakistan’s blasphemy laws make it a criminal act to insult another’s religion.

The blasphemy laws are widely misused to settle personal scores and target religious minorities. Though the majority of accusations are made against Muslims, in some cases where nonMuslims are accused, their entire community may be attacked. Pray today that the blasphemy laws would be amended.

Monday 9 July Last June, Taimoor Raiza was the first person to be sentenced to death by the Anti-Terrorism Court for allegedly committing blasphemy on Facebook.

Please pray for justice in his

case, and that this ruling does not lead to more accusations of blasphemy on social media.

Tuesday 10 July Today please pray for Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five who has been sentenced to death for blasphemy. She has been on death row since 2009. Pray today for her unconditional release.

Wednesday 11 July In March, 20 men accused of being part of the mob that burned Shama and Shezad Masih to death were acquitted of any wrongdoing.

Pray that justice would be done in the case of Shama and Shezad, and that all those involved in their murders would be punished.

We’ve seen a worrying increase in the forced marriage and forced conversion of Christian and Hindu girls. These girls, usually just barely teenagers, are abducted, forced to convert to Islam and marry Muslim men who are strangers to them. Often, their families never see them again.

Pray that the government and police in Pakistan would take decisive action to stop these abductions.

Friday 13 July Students in Pakistan are exposed to biased curriculum, which breeds discrimination against religious minorities. Religious minority students face discrimination as well as physical and mental abuse from fellow classmates and teachers. Pray today for a change in the education system, and for unbiased textbooks and nondiscriminatory curricula to become commonplace.

Saturday 14 July Lord, we thank you for the work of our partners in Pakistan, especially Michelle Chaudhry and her brother, Cecil Chaudhry Jr. Thank you for their calling to work with religious minorities and seek justice for the oppressed: please bless their work and grant them the physical and spiritual resources they need.

Amen.

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Our manifesto #13

We believe in the power of prayer to bring change.

As Christians, we stand with everyone facing injustice because of their religion or belief.

T +44 (0)20 8329 0010 @CSW_UK /CSWUK csw.org.uk

PO Box 99 New Malden Surrey, KT3 3YF United Kingdom