Pray for the Suffering Parts of the Body of Christ
Part of our calling as Christians is to intercede for this world in prayer. We lift up those who suffer to the Almighty and ask for His help. But how do we know who to pray for?
Of course, we pray for our family, friends, and other people whose needs we know about firsthand. Many of us also pray for the victims of faraway catastrophes – wars, famines, natural disasters – that we learn about in the secular media.
Unfortunately, if our prayers are informed only by what we hear about in the news, we risk neglecting to pray for those who should be closest to us – the thousands around the world who are killed, beaten, raped, imprisoned, and discriminated against because of their identification with our Christian faith.
The Bible tells us that these victims of religious persecution are brothers and sisters in Christ. They are parts of the worldwide Body of Christ to which we belong. “When one part suffers” the Apostle Paul tells us, “all parts suffer with it”. (I Cor. 12:26)
You can make a difference – by encouraging prayer for the world’s persecuted Christians in your weekly worship services and prayer meetings.
CSI can help. Every month we publish the names and details of Christians who suffer for their faith. These cases are intended to be used in prayers of intercession. They can help direct our hearts and minds to specific individuals and many others that suffer similarly for their faith.
We will also share the good news of the liberation of Christian prisoners, slaves, bonded labor, and victims of human trafficking, so that you can life up prayers of praise and thanksgiving as well as intercession.
The monthly prayer calendar can be found on the “Get involved>Pray” page of the CSI website.
Wishing you the Almighty’s blessing,
Dr. John Eibner
International President
Prayer topics for September
Sunday September 6: ARMENIA
Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, is standing trial in Armenia amid a government campaign to seize control of the 1,700-year-old national church. If convicted of abuse of his official powers, Karekin faces up to two years in prison. (photo: Wikipedia)
We pray for the Catholicos, and six bishops standing trial with him, and for the Armenian church during a time of state repression.
Sunday September 13: INDONESIA
Pastor Dedi Saputra (31), a former Muslim, has been sentenced to two years in prison for blasphemy and incitement of the people. A court in Banda Aceh convicted him over comments he made on social media about the prophet of Islam. Islamic law is in effect in Banda Aceh. (source: Morning Star News; photo: USCIRF)
We pray for Dedi Saputra’s release and for a reform of the current, discriminatory blasphemy laws in Indonesia.
Sunday September 20: NIGERIA
Faith Barnabas, 17, disappeared from her home in Muslim Bauchi State, northern Nigeria, in April. Her mother subsequently found out Faith had converted to Islam and changed her name. Faith’s mother, a widow, believes her daughter was forcibly converted. She is taking legal action to have her daughter returned to her. (photo provided)
We pray for Faith to be reunited with her mother, and for all child victims of forced conversion in northern Nigeria.
Sunday September 27: PAKISTAN
Nadeem Yousaf, 51, was acquitted of blasphemy on June 22 and released from jail. Blind since birth, Nadeem had spent 10 months in prison after false accusations were brought against him. Nadeem described his freedom as a miracle.
We give thanks for Nadeem’s liberty and pray for all those falsely accused of blasphemy in Pakistan.