I'm trying to consolidate all the Open Doors postings I've been doing into this group. I will be moving the discussion featuring Prayer Alerts and Stories of Persecution to this thread. With each entry, I'll provide the link to the actual page on the Open Doors site, as well as the text of the alert. Please join me in praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world!
Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. -- Hebrews 12:3
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May 01: MORE EASTER ATTACKS: CHURCH IN EGYPT BURNED TO THE GROUND I...
In Mattai, a southern Egyptian town, the Christians there had set up a tent for use as a temporary sanctuary to celebrate Easter week services. Their church is under reconstruction. Believers were very much looking forward to coming together to celebrate Jesus’ work on the cross and the eternal life we have in Him.
At 4 am on Good Friday, radical Muslims sneaked in and set the church tent on fire. Furnished with chairs, a small altar and all other sound equipment, the tent was destroyed in just a few minutes.
For Christians in Mattai, the pile of burned ruins is a reminder of the pain and loss they have endured over the last several years as Muslim extremist groups and mobs have attacked both en masse (such as 2017’s Palm Sunday bombings in two churches) and in isolated incidents.
The team worker shares: “What a paradox! Radical Muslims, with hearts full of hatred, have burned a tent in which Christians were to celebrate the ultimate act of God’s love through the death and resurrection of Jesus!”
Please join us in praying with the Christians and leaders of this church–as well all Christians and churches in Egypt who live under intense oppression and threat of violence.
“May the name of Jesus be glorified in our land even through painful seasons, and may the love of God in Jesus touch and soften the hardened hearts.”
Apr. 12: PRAY WITH NEW CHRISTIAN COUPLE BADLY BEATEN AFTER WIFE’S B...
Rahima Khatun, 30 and her husband, Razzaq, 40, are a Christian couple living in Elongipara Village in West Bangladesh who are facing severe persecution from family members for accepting Christ. The most recent and blatant attack came recently a day after Rahima was baptized. She and Razzaq were badly beaten by Razzaq’s youngest brother and his friends.
In the middle of the night, the group came to the couple’s home and attacked Razzaq. Attempting to protect her husband, Rahima was also beaten. Neighbors who heard the couple screaming managed to stop the assault that left the couple hospitalized for three days with serious injuries.
THE ONLY BELIEVER IN THE FAMILY
A little bit about Razzaq: He works as a local newspaper journalist and also raises chickens. He is the oldest of three brothers and three sisters–and most important, he is the only believer in his family. Recently, he led his wife to Christ.
Razzaq’s decision to follow Jesus has now made him a target in his family who see his conversion as a betrayal of their tribe and family. Razzaq continues to draw fire for his conversion, his meeting up with other believers and regularly attending Christian seminars. Persecution of their brother has intensified since their father’s death; they have been trying to take the family land by force and deprive Razzaq of his rights and inheritance.
And now Razzaq has received death threats and is not comfortable in his house located on the land the siblings share. He didn’t file a police report against his brother because he was told he would be killed.
“We do not feel safe living in this house,” they said after the recent attack.
This couple—our brother and sister in Christ—need our prayers.
PRAYING WITH RAZZAQ AND RAHIMA
Apr. 18: Nigeria - "Give Us Peace"
‘GIVE US PEACE’—PRAY EASTER PRAYERS OF PEACE WITH RAPE SURVIVORS IN NIGERIA
“Dear God, I ask that you help us, save us. Give us peace at this time of Easter (Aisha).
I bring before you my country of Nigeria. Whatever the evils ones have planned, look down on your children with mercy (Esther).
At this time of Easter, Jesus died for our sins. After He died, He rose again, and this gives us hope of salvation. His death and resurrection from the dead have given us victory (Aisha).
I pray for all doing evil. Do not destroy them, but bring them back to Your path. As we celebrate Easter, let there be peace in our land (Esther).
Continue to preserve our lives so that we work and live for You. Grant us peace of mind and keep us safe in Your hands in Jesus’ name (Aisha).”
Apr. 27: Sri Lanka: "I Love My Jesus"
‘I LOVE MY JESUS, I LOVE MY JESUS’—A STORY FROM SRI LANKA
“I love my Jesus, I love my Jesus,” she said crying, as tears streamed down her face.
Ramesh was one of the nearly 300 people in Sri Lanka who lost their lives on Easter Sunday. A building contractor and father of two, 14-year-old Rukshika and 12-year-old Niruban, Ramesh was only 40 years old.
That morning as Christians gathered in churches to celebrate the resurrection, a string of more than eight coordinated explosions rocked the country, including three churches, four hotels and a home. Six of the initial explosions struck in the capital city of Colombo followed by two more in the picturesque town of Batticaloa on Sri Lanka’s east coast.
IF HE HAD NOT BEEN THERE…
Chrishanthini shared with BBC reporter Rajini Vaidyanathan that the day her husband died, he also helped save many lives of Sri Lankans who had come for Easter Sunday services in Zion Church, a Protestant congregation. That morning, around 450 people had packed into the building. She recalled the events leading up to his death.
Chrishanthini, a Sunday school teacher, finished with her class and took some children outside for breakfast before the worship service. Ramesh was also in the courtyard when he spotted a man he didn’t recognize carrying a large backpack. The man said he had a video camera inside his backpack and had come to film worshippers inside.
“My husband sensed something was wrong and informed him he’d need to get permission first,” Chrishanthini told the BBC.
“He then forced him to leave.”
As she headed into the church, she said she heard a loud bang. Reports from those who were on site say people scattered in every possible direction, fleeing the blast and spilling out of the building trying to escape the fires caused by the bomb.
Chrishanthini and her family managed to get out and rushed to local hospitals searching for Ramesh. Hours later, she found the body of her husband in the church at the spot she’d last seen him. The family buried Ramesh on Monday. Local police attended the service.
If Ramesh had not stopped the attacker and he had been able to enter the worship service like other suicide bombers have done in the past, Zion Church would have seen many more casualties. According to the church’s website (which has since been suspended), more than 28 worshippers were killed, including a dozen children; another 27 were injured. The bombing is the worst violence to strike the town in a decade.
FOREVER-CHANGED LIVES
Chrishanthini, also 40 (the same age as her husband) shared details of her own life, including the losses she has endured living in a country that has seen ongoing violence and bloodshed caused by Sri Lanka’s 30-year-long civil war. She was just a child when she lost both of her parents to the war.
“My mother was killed when I was very young, she had her throat cut,” she told the BBC. A few years later, her father was also killed in “suspicious circumstances,” she said. And her aunt was one of the 2,000-plus victims in Batticaloa killed in 2004’s Boxing Day Tsunami.
Chrishanthini and her children are among the 1.9 million Christians in Sri Lanka. Until now, persecution in the country (No. 46 on the World Watch List) had been confined to mob protests, mainly on the village level in rural areas, and did not involve sophisticated weapons or plots of mass destruction.
But on Easter Sunday 2019, that all changed. And life forever changed for Ramesh’s family.
The new widow and now single parent is comforted by her strong faith, Christian community and knowing that the stern and protective actions of her husband saved many lives–and the grief of many families.
PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH IN SRI LANKA
A believer and Open Doors co-worker serving in Sri Lanka shares her prayer in response to the Easter attacks in her country
Father,
It broke my heart to hear about the bomb blasts that killed my brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka on Easter.
I am shocked and angry. I wonder why You allow these things to happen. But Lord, Your ways are higher than my ways and Your thoughts, deeper than my thoughts. Lord, help me, help Your children see the light of Your grace in this darkness.
Lord, this incident brings chaos, grief and irreplaceable loss of loved ones amongst the Christian community in the country. What should I do in times like these?
My brothers and sisters need comforting words, hands to carry them through their darkest days, and hope to see them through these tumultuous times.
Lord what can I do now?
Lord how can I sit still and be quiet when parts of your Body is suffering?
“Child,” You say, “Pray.”
Lord I pray for the comfort of the Holy Spirit to cover the grieving families.
I pray for strength and perseverance for the Christians in Sri Lanka. Victims and their families are suffering loss, shock and trauma. Heal them Lord. Heal their hearts, their bodies, their souls.
I pray for wisdom for the Christian leaders to lead believers to make wise decisions during this fateful time.
I pray for peace amongst the ethnic and religious groups in Sri Lanka.
I pray for the safety and strength of the Open Doors field team.
I pray against the hatred and the heart of vengeance present in the heart of those who detonated the bombs. I pray for the government to take appropriate action and to bring justice—Your justice—to Sri Lanka and its people.
I am comforted knowing that You will take your children in Your loving arms. I am assured knowing that they are with You, though they leave a huge emptiness in the hearts of their families. I pray for comfort and assurance and healing from shock and trauma for the families of Your children.
Lord, I pray for Your intervention, for Your presence and comfort. Help me to keep praying for my brothers and sisters.
Lord Jesus, I keep my hope in You, and I pray for Your mercy and grace to be over us all.
Amen.
Join us in prayer by posting on this special prayer wall for Sri Lanka. Lift up your brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka, like Chrishanthini and her children, and ask God to bring His hope to the devastation.
Apr. 27: Sri Lanka: "Jesus Defeated All Evil"
SRI LANKA GOVERNMENT LEADER: ‘JESUS DEFEATED ALL EVIL’
A week after the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, reports and updates have poured in as news outlets and our field on the ground have gathered news and information. Below, we compile some of the latest information, including a powerful testimony of faith from a member of Sri Lanka’s Parliament.
The official death toll has been reduced by about 100 people, to 253, according to the BBC. The reduction may be because the devastation of the explosions was so extensive that it is difficult to find out how many people were actually killed in a single blast. The UN confirmed on Tuesday that 45 of those who died were children.
More information has been slowly trickling out about the bombers themselves. The person who is thought to be the ringleader of the National Thowheeth Jama’ath group responsible for the bombings was a hardline Muslim radical who preached jihad so publicly that he’d been reported to the Sri Lankan authorities many times. The New York Times reports that the group likely has links to ISIS, a disturbing reminder of so many atrocities against Christians in Iraq and Syria.
The BBC reports that the Roman Catholic Church has canceled church services this weekend because of continued threats—the government suspects there may be more terrorists who have additional attacks planned.
Funerals have continued for Christians killed in the Easter Sunday bombings. Open Doors workers have attended some of the funerals, standing with our Sri Lankan brothers and sisters as they grieve their lost friends and family. Please continue to lift them up in prayer.
One of our team members in Sri Lanka attended the funeral of a Sunday school worker and her 13-year-old nephew who were killed in the Zion Church bombing in Batticaloa.
The government in Sri Lanka is facing many questions about how it dealt with reported threats and how it will address ongoing security issues. But one government official issued a powerful statement this week in Sri Lanka’s parliament. “I am a Christian and I share in the sorrow of the Christian church in Sri Lanka at this time,” said Honorable M. Abraham Sumanthiran, a member of parliament. “We believe in Jesus Christ, who came into this world, suffered as we do and took the worst of evil onto himself and was crucified unjustly. But he defeated all evil through self-sacrificial love, which is what we celebrate on Easter—Resurrection day. We are grieving—but yet we will not allow hate and revenge to overtake us. I can only quote Rev Fr Jude Fernando, who was celebrating the Easter Mass at Kochchikade St. Anthony’s Church when the explosion took place. I quote:
“’We love peace. We forgive. Our God is a God of peace, he is not a God of revenge. We love each other, we forgive.’”
Pray for Sri Lanka and for your brothers and sisters there. Pray they would be able to feel the hope and comfort of God. Pray they could practice the radical forgiveness of Jesus. And pray for justice to be done, that the perpetrators would be found and prevented from attacking any additional people.
Will you continue to bring these and other prayers to God? Post your prayer on our Sri Lanka Prayer Wall today.
Apr. 26: 40 Christians Killed Shortly Before Easter in Nigeria
Most of the attacks in Nigeria were not covered in the major media, likely due to the Sri Lanka bombings, which overshadowed other news stories. But today, we ask you to stand with your Christian family in Nigeria through prayer—to let them know they’re not alone and the worldwide Church is with them.
BACKGROUND ON NIGERIA
Most Christians in the southern part of Nigeria live in an environment where their religious freedom is respected. However, Christians in the middle belt and in the north often suffer from violence perpetrated by militant Islamic groups like Boko Haram and Fulani militants. Such violence often results in the loss of life and physical injury, as well as loss of property. Many Christians living in the north of the country go to sleep not knowing if they will wake up again. Each day is an act of faith.
Below, we share reports from our field around the Easter attacks in Nigeria:
PALM SUNDAY, NASSARAWA
At around 9 pm on Palm Sunday, April 14, Fulbe-speaking Fulani herdsmen invaded the village of Kochum-Numa, Andaha in Akwanga local Government area Nassarawa State, a part of north-central Nigeria.
The assailants who arrived at the community massacred 17 people at a late-night naming ceremony (christening) for a child. The parents of the child were among the victims. Several others sustained various degrees of injuries, our source in the village said.
Sixteen out of the 17 victims were buried while the remaining one, believed to be a Muslim family member who was hired as a DJ for the event, was buried earlier.
“Anger and sorrow were evident, and tears rolled uncontrollably down faces as the victims of this carnage were laid to rest in Kochum-Numa yesterday,” the source said.
The state deputy governor, Silas Ali Agara, attended the mass burial sponsored by the state government. He pledged continued commitment to swiftly finding the perpetrators.
Akwanga and Andaha are communities neighboring the troubled Sanga in southern Kaduna, and may have experienced this attack as a spill-over of the Fulani violence there. In recent months, the conflict seems to have expanded and communities that were normally considered safe are now experiencing sporadic attacks, wrote regional field workers.
GOOD FRIDAY, BENUE
Eleven people were killed and many are unaccounted for in a Good Friday attack by gunmen on worshippers returning from church at Tse-Aye and Tse-Ngibo, Ikurav Tiev in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, according to the newspaper Vanguard. Neither the identities of the attackers nor their motive is clear at this stage.
“… People went for Good Friday Service and were on their way back home when many of them were ambushed … the hoodlums mounted a roadblock and killed 11 of them; several others are still missing,” an official who requested anonymity told the newspaper.
“The death toll may be higher because nobody knows the whereabouts of close to 40 missing persons. … After killing the innocent victims, the attackers seized a vehicle from one of those killed and rustled several cows from the same village and went away with their loot. For some time now, Ikurav has come under repeated attacks. Sometimes young men in that community would be abducted at the border area for no reason whatsoever, and nobody will see or hear from them again.”
MOWED DOWN IN GOMBE, EASTER SUNDAY
On Easter Sunday, a Muslim defense officer killed 13 boys taking part in a late-night Easter procession in Sabob Layi, Gombe State. The procession in Sabon Layi is an annual event to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Some media outlets described the incident as an “accident,” but eyewitnesses say the officer, known as Ukasha, and his friend, a Nigerian police officer and two unidentified women, met the group of Christian boys around midnight and had a disagreement with the boys regulating traffic.
“Ukasha refused to use the lane reserved for vehicles and took the lane used by the procession. He apparently threatened to shoot he boys controlling traffic with his service firearm,” a field worker reports.
After the argument, Ukasha apparently dropped off the women before returning to the procession, turning off the vehicle’s headlights, and then ramming his vehicle into the group. He instantly killed nine and injured 32, 12 of them critically. Four more boys died later at the hospital, bringing the number of deaths to 13.
Ukasha and his friend both jumped from the car, attempting to escape, but the angry mob that had gathered caught them and beat them to death.
“This incident may seem like a misunderstanding between Ukasha and the Boys Brigade, but locals see this as an example of the growing intolerance against Christians in Gombe state,” reported a field worker. “Prior to this incident, there were isolated confrontations between Muslims and Christians in the area, but things seem to be escalating into violent conflict.” Leadership reports: “When the news broke out yesterday morning, tension engulfed Gombe, the state capital, it took the immediate intervention of the state government and the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria before calm returned.”
ATTACK ON RURAL SETTLEMENT
At 8 a.m. on April 17, a large number of suspected Fulani militants invaded the Sendegh rural settlement in Kwande local government area of Benue state. They killed two, but many others are still unaccounted for. One of the victims was murdered on the way to his farm. An unknown number of people were injured. The attackers also burnt down homes and shops.
A PRAYER FOR PEACE FROM NIGERIA
Recently, two women who have survived attacks from Boko Haram (Esther) and Fulani militants (Aisha) shared their hope for peace in their country. Join them in their prayer:
“Dear God, I ask that you help us, save us. Give us peace at this time of Easter (Aisha).
I bring before you my country of Nigeria. Whatever the evils ones have planned, look down on your children with mercy (Esther).
At this time of Easter, Jesus died for our sins. After He died, He rose again, and this gives us hope of salvation. His death and resurrection from the dead have given us victory (Aisha).
I pray for all doing evil. Do not destroy them, but bring them back to Your path. As we celebrate Easter, let there be peace in our land (Esther).
Continue to preserve our lives so that we work and live for You. Grant us peace of mind and keep us safe in Your hands in Jesus’ name (Aisha).”
Apr. 25: A prayer from Sri Lanka
Father,
It broke my heart to hear about the bomb blasts that killed my brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka on Easter.
I am shocked and angry. I wonder why You allow these things to happen. But Lord, Your ways are higher than my ways and Your thoughts, deeper than my thoughts. Lord, help me, help Your children see the light of Your grace in this darkness.
Lord, this incident brings chaos, grief and irreplaceable loss of loved ones amongst the Christian community in the country. What should I do in times like these?
My brothers and sisters need comforting words, hands to carry them through their darkest days, and hope to see them through these tumultuous times.
Lord what can I do now?
Lord how can I sit still and be quiet when parts of your Body is suffering?
“Child,” You say, “Pray.”
Lord I pray for the comfort of the Holy Spirit to cover the grieving families.
I pray for strength and perseverance for the Christians in Sri Lanka. Victims and their families are suffering loss, shock and trauma. Heal them Lord. Heal their hearts, their bodies, their souls.
I pray for wisdom for the Christian leaders to lead believers to make wise decisions during this fateful time.
I pray for peace amongst the ethnic and religious groups in Sri Lanka.
I pray for the safety and strength of the Open Doors field team.
I pray against the hatred and the heart of vengeance present in the heart of those who detonated the bombs. I pray for the government to take appropriate action and to bring justice—Your justice—to Sri Lanka and its people.
I am comforted knowing that You will take your children in Your loving arms. I am assured knowing that they are with You, though they leave a huge emptiness in the hearts of their families. I pray for comfort and assurance and healing from shock and trauma for the families of Your children.
Lord, I pray for Your intervention, for Your presence and comfort. Help me to keep praying for my brothers and sisters.
Lord Jesus, I keep my hope in You, and I pray for Your mercy and grace to be over us all.
Amen.
Join your sister in prayer by posting on this special prayer wall for Sri Lanka. Lift up your brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka and ask God to bring His hope to the devastation.
Apr. 22: Worst Attack on Christians in Asia in Recent History
Our Christian family in Sri Lanka has suffered one of its greatest attacks in recent history.
Our hearts sank on Easter Sunday to hear from our Open Doors field workers that terrorists attacked three churches during Easter services and three hotels in Sri Lanka. The latest death toll is nearly 300, with 500 more wounded.
These deadly bombings will affect the lives of thousands of Christians in the country.
Open Doors has served the church in Sri Lanka for decades and religious attacks of this scale and severity are unprecedented. In the past, attacks on Christian churches and believers have been confined to certain areas of the country, usually at the village level, and with no bombs or sophisticated plots involved.
But on Sunday, that all changed.
Christians in South Asia pray for their brothers and sisters in nearby Sri Lanka. “This is the persecuted church interceding for the persecuted church,” an Open Doors field worker shared.
The six initial blasts occurred in St. Anthony’s Church in Kochcikade, Colombo; St. Sebestian’s Church in Negombo; Zion Church in Batticaloa; and at the Kingsbury Hotel and the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo. The five-star hotels all offered special Easter-themed breakfasts, while all churches celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ with an Easter service. One explosion occurred in the residential district Dematagoda and one in a hotel near Dehiwala Zoo.
Our team is on the ground meeting with church leaders and believers—to encourage them and to evaluate the situation to determine the greatest needs moving forward.
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?
No group has claimed responsibility yet, but police officials report the arrests of 24 people suspected to have played a part in the attacks. Reportedly, the attacks were carried out by seven suicide bombers, all Sri Lankans. The Sri Lankan government has asked the media not to publish the names of the suspects, as releasing the names could give other extremist groups the opportunity to exploit the situation further.
Recent reports indicate the government blames little known Jihadist group, National Thoweed Jamathfor the bombings.
A NOTE FROM THE FIELD
Open Doors worker, Sunil Kumar, shares specific prayer requests and gives insight into the situation and general feeling in Sri Lanka:
“At the church in Batticaloa, even though only 28 people have been confirmed dead, many more people (mostly children) are still missing,” Kumar says. “The police have enforced a curfew until further notice, and all social media has been blocked. I can’t send or receive messages on Viber or Whatsapp. So much traffic on the main roads as people rush to go home but other roads are deserted.”
BACKGROUND ON SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka, ranked #46 on the 2019 World Watch List, is predominantly Buddhist and ethnic Sinhala (80 percent of the population). The country has a long and violent history for religious and ethnic reasons.
After decades of ethnic tension, a full-fledged civil war broke out in 1983. The Sinhalese Buddhist majority fought against the Tamil minority (mostly Hindu, but including a considerable number of Christians). There was a high death toll on both sides. The war ended in 2009 with the defeat of the Tamils, especially the Tamil Tigers group (LTTE), but true peace and reconciliation are still far off.
Due to this history, religious nationalism has thrived in Sri Lanka. Radical Buddhist groups have sprouted up across the country and were used by the previous government as a means of keeping religious minorities in check.
EASTER ATTACKS
Terrorists have used Easter to launch deadly attacks in the past as well. Two of the most brutal killings took place on Palm Sunday 2017 in Egypt (45 dead) and Easter 2017 in Lahore, Pakistan (75 dead).
In many countries where faith costs the most, Christians run a higher risk of being assaulted during Christian holy days such as Christmas and Easter. In countries like Nigeria, Iraq, Egypt and Pakistan, worshipping on these special days often comes with potential danger.
“In the midst of all these terrible events, we take comfort in the truth that He is risen. Thank you all for mobilizing prayer for Sri Lanka. Let‘s continue to be on our knees.”
—The Open Doors field team.
STAND WITH YOUR PERSECUTED FAMILY IN SRI LANKA
SHARE YOUR PRAYERS
Our Christian brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka need to know they’re not alone and the worldwide Body of Christ stands with them through prayer and encouragement. We need to do everything we can to lift them up in prayer—and to strengthen them in the face of great persecution. Here are two ways you can encourage your Christian family in Sri Lanka through prayer.
Apr. 20: Three Churches Targeted in Multiple Sri Lanka Bombings, De...
Top photo: Destruction inside St Sebastian’s in Negombo posted on the church’s Facebook page
[Update, 8:51 EDT] As Christians in Sri Lanka gathered to celebrate Easter Sunday, eight explosions hit three churches, as well as four hotels and one house. A police spokesman has confirmed the total death toll has risen to 207 people with 450 people injured.The attacks hit St. Anthony’s in Colombo, St. Sebastian’s in Negombo, north of the capital, and Zion Church in the town of Batticaloa—one of the largest churches in the town. The attacks happened during worship services. Three separate explosions were also reported at the Shangri La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury hotels in the center of Colombo, along with additional explosions at a hotel in front of a zoo in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia.
“This is a very heartbreaking time for Christians in this country,” says an Open Doors field worker from the region. “We don’t know who did it or why yet. Please pray.”
On its Facebook page, St Sebastian’s Church posted photos showing the destruction inside the church. A single post in English reads: “bomb attack to our church please come and help if your family members are there.” Photos circulating on social media show the roof of one church almost blown off in the blast.
An official at the Batticaloa hospital reportedly told AFP news agency more than 300 people had been admitted with injuries.
Sri Lanka is No. 46 on Open Doors’ World Watch List, a ranking of the 50 most dangerous countries for Christians. The majority religion in the Southeast Asian country is Buddhism, with Christians making up only 1.9 million of the country’s population of almost 21 million. Most of the persecution against Sri Lankan Christians comes from the community. Christian churches are frequently targeted by neighbors, repeatedly leading to mob protests against and church attacks, especially in rural areas. According to the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka, there has been a sharp increase of attacks on Christians, including violent attacks often carried out through mobs.
At this point, no one has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Please pray with our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka–and Christians around the world who risk their lives to be part of a church and come together to worship.
The Open Doors field expert gave the following ways to pray with the family of God in Sri Lanka as they suffer during what should be the most joyful day of the year for Christians:
Apr. 15: Syrian Believers Proclaim: ‘Christ the Lord Is Risen Today’
Three years ago, the church in Syria was all but dead. The vicious civil war and invasion by Islamic State militants threatened the very existence of Christianity. But our partners on the ground say the story is changing and continues to transform. God is resurrecting the church in Syria.
Still, becoming a Christian and expressing your faith in the Muslim nation (814,000 Christians out of 18 million people) is a risky choice. If or when their conversion is discovered, new believers could lose their family, friends, their job, even their life.
Recently, we were privileged to be there when a group of young adults from the Alliance Church in the city of Aleppo gathered to worship. Listen and sing along with them as they proclaim, “Christ the Lord is risen today.”
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