36 SYRIA

INTRODUCTION The church in Syria is relatively tolerated,

and Christians are free to join in services.

However, the secret police know everything, and Muslim Background Believers face a lot of pressure from family

and friends.In the spring of 2011, the Arabic Spring reached Syria and the violence has lasted

for months. Many foreign Muslim extremists

entered the country and started to threaten Christians. Living in a very insecure

time, church leaders fear that in the future

the freedom for Christians will be cut off. PRAYER Dip the bread and salad items into the hummus (a common Syrian food) and pray

for the nation.Pray: for Muslim Background Believers to remain strong in their faith under persecution.Pray: for future freedom for churches in

Syria.

35 TUNISIA

INTRODUCTION Tunisia is the country that started the movement

of demonstrations and protests that spread

throughout North Africa and the Middle East. The

regime of President Ben Ali tumbled in 2011.

There is pressure on Christians, coming both from

the authorities and from families. Many Muslim

extremists entered the country and intensified

the pressure on Christians but there is also good

news; the Church in Tunisia is growing despite all

the pressure. Many seekers find Jesus Christ

through the Internet and Christian television

programmes.

PRAYER Tunisian crochet is famous, considered to be a

mixture of crocheting and knitting. Grab some

knitted garments and hold them. Just as the

fabric is held together, pray for unity and support

for the Tunisian church.Pray: for new Christians to find fellowship and

support.

Pray: for Christian media to continue to reach

out and lead Tunisians to Christ.Pray: for the future regime.

15 EGYPT

INTRODUCTION Egypt is home to nearly 10 million Christians,

about three quarters of all Christians in the

Middle-East, but Islam is the state religion. The

protests brought Muslims and Christians together

against a hated dictator as they demanded

change, however relations deteriorated afterwards. Persecution of Christians in Egypt

is on the rise, with a substantial increase in numbers killed, physically harmed and

churches/houses attacked.When trying to change their religion on their

identification cards, Christians face a lot of

problems; believers Maher and Dina El-Gohary

were forced to hide for two years! PRAYER Follow the directions and make your own

origami pyramid.Pray: for the unsettled political regime, and

Egypt’s future.Pray: for believers facing persecution and

discrimination.Pray: for those that have lost loved ones in

recent attacks.

26 LIBYA

INTRODUCTION Under the rule of Muammar Gaddafi, thesituation for Christians in Libya was already

extremely harsh. The feared secret police made

sure that restrictions on the organisation of

church activities and distribution of Christian

literature were enforced and evangelism was

criminalised. During the uprisings that started in February and

led to civil war, Christians were more open about

their faith in Jesus Christ. These Christians now fear

the consequences of their witness. Because of

the unrest, 75% of the expat Christians left the

country and it is not clear how many Christians

remain or will return in the future. PRAYER Desert covers much of Libya, and is one of the

most arid places on earth. Fill a bowl with sand

and run your hands through the grains.Pray: for peace in Libya.Pray: for local believers to find ways of gathering.

Pray: for Muslim Background Believers who

face rejection and sometimes torture from their

families.

5 IRAN

INTRODUCTION Many Christians in Iran are persecuted and

put in jail because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

Armenian, Assyrian and Chaldean churches

are officially recognized by the government,

but they are forbidden to preach the gospel.

Muslim Background Believers often attend

house churches. It is very difficult to let people

know that you are a Christian. Since the presidential elections in 2009, there have been

many arrests; some released, but many are still

in prison. Life in an Iranian prison is very hard

and often there is no legal help. However there

are thousands of ‘underground’ believers and

God is on the move!

PRAYER “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat

falls to the ground and dies, it remains only

a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many

seeds.” (John 12:24) Take a seed and place it in

some soil.

Pray: for the church in Iran, that despite all the

pressures and suffering ‘it will produce many

seeds’.

Pray: for the growing number of secretbelievers in Iran.

8 YEMEN

INTRODUCTION In Yemen Islam is the only allowed religion and

Islamic law, Sharia, is the source of all legislation.

The government forbids conversion from Islam to

Christianity. In 2011, Muslim Background Believers

were arrested and imprisoned for becoming

Christians. Believers live in fear of being arrested

and put in jail without any official charges.

Pressure to convert to Islam is enormous.The government has used excessive force to

crack down on protestors after 10 months of mass

protest.

PRAYER A common spice used in Yemen is ‘Hawajat’,

which is a mixture of turmeric, black pepper,

cumin, coriander and cardamom. Get hold of

various spices and mix them together in a bowl.Pray: for a positive response to Christian radio

and TV, and revelation from God to those who are

seeking.

Pray: for the revelation of Jesus to the Islamic

fundamentalists.Pray: for foreign Christians to be able to reach out

to the local people.