Pray4Nigeria would like to commend this prayer guide, 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World 2014 (published by WorldChristian.com) which we are also bringing to you each day through our website here.
Join millions of Christians around the world who participate each year in this largest ongoing international prayer focus on the Muslim world.
Coinciding with Ramadan, Christians worldwide are called to make an intentional effort to learn about, pray for and reach out to Muslim neighbours.. across the street and around the world.
Media sound bites about Islamic extremism can too easily incite anger, fear and even hatred toward Muslims. Instead, pray with the mind and heart of Christ. This full-color prayer guide is a proven tool helping Christians to understand and to persistently pray for Muslim neighbours and nations.
The prayer is translated into many different languages. To find out which languages are available, please check the 30-Days Prayer Network site.
The booklet contains daily reading pages with prayer points, informative background articles, and resources for further study AND involvement. While it is primarily produced for use during Ramadan, many individuals and churches use it also at other times throughout the year.
Each of the daily prayers for 2014 are being re-produced here on the Pray4Nigeria Website.
News
At least 91 people – including 60 schoolgirls and young women, plus 31 schoolboys – were kidnapped last week by Boko Haram extremists, two months after the same group kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls in northeastern Nigeria, according to the Los Angeles Times. They were also abducted from villages in that part of the country, an area where such attacks have been happening almost daily, while Nigeria’s army appears to be unable to enforce security in most of the country. Many have criticised Nigeria’s government and military for their slow response to the abductions of more than 200 schoolgirls from their school in Chibok on April 15: several dozen of the girls had been able to escape. About 30 people were reported to have been killed by the extremists in the latest attack. Elderly residents fled their homes, trudging 15 miles to get help.
Pray: that the authorities will find ways of stopping Boko Haram’s ongoing attacks and release for all those kidnapped. (Ps.86:14)
More: http://blog.godreports.com/2014/06/sixty-more-nigerian-schoolgirls-and-women-kidnapped-plus-31-boys/
"But thus says the LORD: Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible be delivered; for I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children. I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. All flesh shall know, that I, the LORD, am your Saviour, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob" (Isa.49:25,26).
"Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is His name. He will thoroughly plead their case, that He may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon" (Jere.50:34).
Prayer Points
Close to two months now the issue of insecurity in the nation has occupied the headlines especially the kidnap of close to 300 girls at Chibok, and the incessant killings by Boko Haram. The Boko Haram leader has boasted he will sell off the girls, but our God is greater and will stop him. We urge every Watchman to remain steadfast in prayers for the release of these girls. As the above texts states, our God is a Deliverer and our Redeemer. He will redeem these children, and he will defeat Boko Haram for us. Please remain in constant prayer for them.
Nigeria has the largest population of Internal Displaced Persons (IDP)
Assist News further reports that, "Nigeria has the largest population of IDPs in Africa-some 3.3 million people-according to a recent report by the Internal Displaced Monitoring Centre (IDMC). Even more alarming, Nigeria is listed as having the third highest number of displaced people in the world, ranking behind Syria with 6.5 million IDPs and Colombia with 5.7 million IDPs."
Pray: that God will reverse this negative trend.
More: http://www.christianaid.org/News/2014/mir20140529.aspx
Nigeria Tops Christian Persecution Violence List:
There is a deliberate attempt to exterminate the Church in various countries of the world like in Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan, Turkey, Somalia, Lebanon, Iran, etc.
In these countries, Christians are killed, their rights denied and their churches burnt. Surprisingly, this intense level of persecution of Christians is coming on the heels of close to two decades of unprecedented global prayer by the Church in the 1980s and 1990s. These persecutions seem to be a backlash and an attempt to reverse all the gains the Church had made in the last two to three decades.
Assist News reports that,"In all countries where Christians are persecuted, researchers recorded 3,641 churches and Christian properties destroyed and 13,120 other forms of violence against Christians such as beatings, abductions, rapes, arrests and forced marriages. Open Doors researchers also released information on the Top 10 Violence List in the category of faith-related killings during the 17-month reporting period. Nigeria was No. 1 with a total of 2,073 Christian martyrs. Nigeria is followed by Syria 1,479, CAR 1,115, Pakistan 228, Egypt 147, Kenya 85, Iraq 84, Myanmar (Burma) and Sudan 33 each and Venezuela 26. Of the overall compilation of 5,479 Christians killed for their faith around the world, Nigeria, Syria and CAR make up 85 percent of the total. The estimated average of Christians killed for their faith per month in the reporting period is 322. Researchers say the total number of martyrs is "a very minimum count and could be significantly higher. The alarming increase of violence against Christians in Nigeria over the past months highlights the lack of religious freedom they have and the daily dangers they face from the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram and other violent Islamic organizations," says Open Doors USA President/CEO Dr. David Curry."
PRAY: for God's intervention in these countries where Christians are being persecuted. Pray that God will strengthen and support his Church from extermination.
The news headlines in the past two weeks have been filled with reports of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram. But many people aren’t aware of the campaign of terror that this group has waged on northern and central Nigeria for the past 10 years.
Nigeria is also witnessing a worrying surge in attacks by increasingly well-armed Fulani herders on Christian villages and individuals in four states, raising fears of linkage between the herders and Boko Haram.
Over 300,000 people have been displaced by violence since May last year. There are also very real fears of another outbreak of deadly religiously-motivated violence as the 2015 elections approach.
Download your resources for the CSW Nigeria Week of Prayer 2014 by clicking through to their website here
Last Wednesday Boko Haram entered a village saying they had come to preach then fired on the crowd that gathered, killing 45. It follows a similar attack on Attagara village the previous day when gunmen in military uniforms convinced residents they had come to provide protection, gathering people in the centre of the village to kill them. A survivor said ‘they fired continuously for a very long time until all that had gathered were dead’. A local MP said it was impossible to count the dead because survivors fled into nearby hills but he estimated 200. (See last week's PA STOP PRESS) These attacks happened near the mountains, close to the border with Cameroon where Boko Haram operates. Also please pray for Christian negotiator Stephen Davis, a former canon at Coventry Cathedral, who has been having talks with a senior commander of the group holding the 200 Chibok girls. See:
Pray: for all hostage negotiations. (Pr.23:9) and pray for Nigeria's government to successfully tackle Boko Haram in remote areas in the north-east. (Pr.23:10-11)
Armed men stormed a church at Attagara village in Gwoza at 9:30 on Sunday morning and opened fire. The church had members working as a security group outside the church when a service was going on. Nine of the men in the church security group were shot dead. The killing led to a reprisal by the villagers and the community mobilised. They succeeded in killing four of the attackers according to a police source. A further three insurgents were arrested. At 6:30 the same day a bomb exploded in Admawa, targeting fans leaving a football field after watching a local club match. The bomb also affected women and children within the blast area and 40 people died. Nigeria's military on Monday said it had made an arrest in connection with the bombing. See also Here
STOP PRESS: Following the Sunday incident, on Tuesday, insurgents dressed in army combat clothing carrying rifles and riding on army trucks re-entered the villages of Attagara, Agapalawa and Aganjara. They opened fire on villagers and burned houses and churches to the ground. African Spotlight reported dozens killed, BBC Radio 4 reported hundreds killed. This latest incident continues a pattern of almost daily deadly violence. See also Here
Pray: for Christians and Muslims alike to work together in nation-building (Ps.68:20), and for the families of those killed to know God's strength, comfort and consolation. (Ps.68:5) Pray for justice and peace and an end to violence in Nigeria. (Ps.68:1-3)
That Nigeria is under siege and perhaps, experiencing one of her worst moments in recent times is not in doubt. This is despite the success of the World Economic Forum on Africa (WAFA) which took place at Abuja from the 7th to the 9th of May, 2014.
The foremost threat now to our national stability comes from terrorism, and the widespread insecurity in the country. Insecurity has escalated in recent times especially since over 300 school girls were abducted from their school in Chibok, Bornu State by the terrorist group, Boko Haram. Apart from 50 girls who managed to escape from their captors, the whereabouts of the rest is still not certain. Worse still, is the impunity shown by the captors who boasted publicly that they will sell their victims in the slave market.
Apart from the problem of insecurity, the state of the economy is no better. The rate of unemployment is so worrisome. The so-called job creation by the Federal Government has not shown much impact among the youths, and has hardly alleviated the rate of crime. Apart from unemployment, there is also the problem of the lack of power. The so- called privatisation of the electricity companies has not improved the supply of electricity to the public.
Christian Association of Nigeria released the names of the abducted students in Chibok. A statement signed by evangelist Matthew Owojaiwe, the President of Old Time Revival Hour, chairman of Northern States Christian and Elders Forum says he believes the reason for the attack on Chibok Girls’ High School is, ‘Chibok Local Government is 90% Christian and the majority of the girls are Christian! Why did Boko Haram visit Chibok Local Government? Why didn’t they visit so many other Local Government girls secondary schools in Borno State?’ CAN has called the Nigerian Church to pray for their release for 15 minutes every time they gather. Owojaiye said. ‘For daughters of Zion taken captive, to be treated as slaves and sold into marriage to unclean people - an abomination has been committed. Raise lamentation to High Heavens. What a shame on the Church of the Living God. Military force may not get them out! Intensive agonising prayer will.’
Pray: for the Church to be strong in their lamentation prayer. Let God arise and defend his Name. (Ps.3:7)
More: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/chibok-can-releases-names-abducted-girls/#sthash.7lvzWxYQ.dpuf
As Nigeria struggles with the abduction of 200+ girls in April, Voice of America reported eight more teenage girls being kidnapped from Warabe village in north-eastern Nigeria on Tuesday night. On Monday the leader of Boko Haram said ‘I abducted your girls. Allah commands me to sell them in the market.’ President Goodluck Jonathan, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and several Christian groups are calling for everything to be done to rescue the girls. Boko Haram kidnaps Christian girls and turns them into sex slaves. Their strategy is ‘marry the girls and kill the men’. So by kidnapping these female students they demonstrate the impunity with which Boko Haram has been running its terrorist activities,’ Pray for God to employ more international governments to work in unity using technology and strategies that will end the reign of Boko Haram. See also
Pray: for the girls' release, for their healing from the dehumanisation, anguish and humiliation and for justice to be served. (Ps.7:5-7)
More: http://www.christianpost.com/news/boko-haram-leader-admits-to-abducting-200-schoolgirls-says-allah-told-him-to-sell-them-119128/
Last week you were asked to pray for more than 230 school girls abducted by Boko Haram militants in Chilbok. This week, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the United Nations' special adviser on girls' education, will visit Nigeria to launch a campaign to raise funds and awareness of the schoolgirls' plight. ‘We cannot stop terrorism overnight but we can make sure that its perpetrators are aware that murdering and abducting schoolchildren is a heinous crime that the international authorities are determined to punish,’ he said. Relatives say they have been told of mass weddings last weekend involving insurgents and some of the abducted girls. ‘It's unbearable. Our wives have grown bitter and cry all day. The abduction of our children and the news of them being married off is like hearing of the return of the slave trade,’ said Yakubu Ubalala, whose 17- and 18-year-old daughters Kulu and Maimuna are among the disappeared.
Pray: for Nigeria's armed forces who face an uphill battle against the insurgents. (Ps.58:9). Pray protection for communities across the country's porous desert borders. (Ps.58:10,11)
More: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/29/kidnapped-nigerian-schoolgirls-marriage-claims
While the violence directed against Christians in northern Nigeria lately has been at the hands of the Islamic insurgent group Boko Haram, previous attacks against Christian villages were perpetrated by members of the nomadic Fulani herdsmen. The Fulani are traditionally Muslim and resent the encroachment of Christian settlements on land they use for grazing their cattle. They consider Christians as infidels that should be exterminated. Going back further into Nigeria’s history we get a glimpse of a root of division and animosity that todays challenges may stem from. In 1809 the North of Nigeria was established as a single powerful Islamic state that existed throughout the 1800s. Meanwhile in the south between 1830s-1886 civil wars plagued the Yorubaland speaking region. In 1960 Nigeria gained independence from Britain and an amalgamation of more than 200 tribes was divided into three regions based on the three major ethnic groups. Ethnicity and religion still play a huge role in Nigerian politics.
Pray: for God to remove violent spiritual roots that have been allowed to grow in the nation; pray that every altar raised against God’s purposes for Nigeria shall fail. (1Jn.3:8)
Last week 230 schoolgirls in Borno State were kidnapped from Chilbok boarding school by Boko Haram. Efforts by officials have not rescued them so a group of fathers clubbed together to buy motorcycle fuel, and risking their own lives they drove into the Sambisa forest to try to find their daughters. They were unsuccessful. Musa Muka, whose 17-year-old daughter Martha is missing, said ‘We plead with the government to help rescue her and her friends. We pray nothing happens to her.’ Schools had been closed for four weeks for security reasons but girls aged 16 to 18 were recalled for a physics exam. Dozens of students managed to escape their captors by jumping from the back of an open truck or by running away and hiding in the dense forest. On the same day 75 people were killed and 141 injured by an explosion at a bus station in Abuja. (see last week’s Prayer-Alert)
Pray: for God to strengthen the military who are struggling to protect civilians from this insurgency. Pray for God to give the government His strategies for victory over death and destruction. (Pr.11:11)
More: http://www.channel4.com/news/nigeria-boko-haram-girls-school-kidnap-video
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