Prayer Focus Update February 2025

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“But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it for ever – yes, for ever and ever.”

Daniel 7:18

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Nigeria – Islamist groups kill at least 13 Christians in Benue and Borno states

Communities in Christian-majority Benue State are reeling after at least 11 Christians were killed in attacks by gunmen on Christmas Day, 25 December 2024.

The attacks took place in several towns across Nyiev-ya, Kwande Local Government Area (LGA).

Suspected Islamist militants launched the attacks in which an unknown number of Christians were injured, and many more were forced to evacuate. Homes were damaged, and attacks continued into Boxing Day (26 December).

Further north, two Christian youths were killed by Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram on 12 January in an attack on a community in Chibok LGA, Borno State.

A woman was also injured as armed gang members burned to the ground a church, shops and homes in Bazir village.

Boko Haram raided the village of Njiland on 2 January, and went on to assault Shikarkir community, razing a church and homes.

Founded in 2002 in Borno State, Boko Haram acquired worldwide notoriety in April 2014 when it kidnapped 276 girls, mostly Christian, from a school in Chibok. Around 170 girls have subsequently escaped, been rescued or freed.

They are one of the armed Islamist groups that collectively have murdered at least 45,000 Christians in northern and Middle Belt Nigeria in the last 15 years.

Intercede for families bereaved in the attacks in Benue and Borno states. Pray that as they consider lives lost, damage or theft of property and destruction of places of worship, they will know the comfort of the great high priest whose life in them is indestructible (Hebrews 7:16). Ask for healing of those injured and protection of those who remain. Pray that the attacks by Boko Haram will cease and no more families will know the pain of loss through terrorism.

Syria – Church leaders meet with transitional government amid concerns for Christians’ safety

Concerns for the safety of Syria’s small Christian community remain, even after Syrian church leaders met with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the head of Syria’s transitional government, in early January 2025.

The meeting enabled representatives of Syria’s Christian population to raise questions and concerns with the new administration following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad the previous month.

Many Christians have welcomed the fall of Assad’s brutal government, which was notorious for human rights abuses. Believers are apprehensive, however, about the possibility of an Islamist government that will persecute them and other religious minorities.

Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, has emerged as Syria’s leader. He previously worked closely with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who later became the caliph of Islamic State (IS – also known as ISIS, ISIL, Daesh). Sharaa’s group, the HTS, remained affiliated to Al Qaeda when IS and Al Qaeda split in 2014.

In recent years the HTS has disaffiliated from Al Qaeda, and Sharaa has spoken of respecting religious diversity and religious freedom.

In the days following the fall of Assad, Al Qaeda issued a statement urging the victorious rebels to turn against “Jews and Crusaders”, a pejorative term for Christians.

On 18 December, unidentified armed groups attacked a church building and desecrated a Christian cemetery in the western city of Hama. According to Nicolas Baalbaki, a senior church leader, they attempted to remove a cross from the building before parishioners intervened, forcing the assailants to retreat.

In a separate incident on 23 December, a group of eight men burned a Christmas tree in the Christian-majority town of Suqaylabiyah, near Hama.

These incidents reflect growing violence against religious minorities, heightening security concerns in the region.

Give thanks for the dialogue that Christian leaders have enjoyed with Syria’s transitional government. Pray that God will use His people to help steer the country in a peaceful and prosperous direction after years of hardship and brutality. Pray that Christians will be channels of His peace (2 Thessalonians 3:16) and radiate Christ’s presence in these uncertain days of laying new foundations. Ask that those intent on harming Christians will be silenced and that the government’s declared aims to protect religious freedom will be carried out.

D.R. Congo – More than 100 Christians slaughtered since Christmas Day

More than 100 Christians have been killed by Islamists in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo since Christmas Day, 25 December 2024.

Fifty-three were slaughtered between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve by the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP, also known as the Allied Democratic Forces).

This includes 31 killed in several attacks across Lubero Territory, North Kivu province, and 17 captured and killed in the village of Ofaye Otto Maber, Ituri province. Five others died in machine gun fire at another Ituri village, where the Islamists also burned down five houses.

At least 53 Christians were killed on 15 January in two further attacks in Lubero.

ISCAP announced the Lubero killings in two social media posts. One of the posts declared, “By the grace of God Almighty, the soldiers of the Caliphate attacked the village of Makoko in the Lubero region and killed 41 Christians [who] were stabbed with knives.”

The other post confirmed killing of 12 others in the village of Masakuki.

The terrorist group also abducted 16 Christians, as well as burning houses and motorcycles.

The scale and frequency of ISCAP’s attacks have increased in recent months, including the deaths of 90 Christians in July and August 2024 (See Prayer Focus Update, September 2024).

A TRAC (Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium) analysis concludes that the brutality of these attacks underscore “the group’s relentless targeting of the Christian population in the region” in exploiting the lack of a security presence to undertake repeated attacks on the same location.

Pray for the traumatised Christian communities of north-eastern DRC, especially those who have suffered multiple attacks. Ask the Lord, for whom nothing is impossible (Matthew 19:26), to strengthen the security network and bring an end to the violence. Pray that our brothers and sisters will know that their Saviour has gone before them and received multiple blows on our behalf but has conquered death (1 Corinthians 15:57). Ask the Lord to empower them with faith to build their lives anew.

Turkey – Pastor faces deportation to Iran

Iranian pastor Mojtaba Ahmadi, 57, who has been detained in Turkey on contested immigration charges, faces the imminent threat of deportation to Iran.

There are concerns that Pastor Mojtaba could be subjected to further imprisonment or even death.

His arrest underscores the growing persecution of Christians in Turkey.

On 29 January 2024 he was arrested in western Turkey on unclear immigration charges. His identification was confiscated, and he has since been held in an immigration detention centre with little information provided regarding the official charges against him.

Pastor Mojtaba, a convert from Islam, fled persecution in Iran in 2013 to escape impending imprisonment after an arrest warrant had been issued.

He was originally arrested in Iran in 2010 after participating in a private Bible study with other Christians. During his detention, he endured 170 days of solitary confinement and was subjected to physical and psychological torture. After his family provided bail for his temporary release, he was convicted of “spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran” and sentenced to prison.

Since 2019, Turkey has deported foreign pastors, denied residence permits and barred expatriate Christians from re-entering the country.

Pray that the Turkish authorities will grant Pastor Mojtaba official refugee status and allow him to stay in the country. Ask that the threat of deportation will be lifted and that he will be able to pursue his full calling in the Body of Christ in Turkey. Pray that, despite attempts to deprive the Church of leadership, God will raise up leaders to strengthen His people and spread the light of the Word of God amid the darkness of Islam (Micah 7:8).

Pakistan – Two Christians killed in separate shootings in Gujranwala, Punjab

Christians in Gujranwala, Punjab, need our prayer support after two believers were shot dead in separate incidents around the turn of the year.

Suleman Iqbal, 25, was ambushed by five men on motorbikes on Sunday 29 December and shot in the stomach. His younger brother Dawood was also shot at but narrowly escaped injury.

Suleman was rushed to hospital after the attack but succumbed to his injuries on 1 January 2025.

A local church leader said that Suleman’s success in farming had made him a target. For six months prior to the shooting Suleman had endured threats, harassment and attacks, including the destruction of crops, because of a dispute over land he had leased from the government.

“He had got married some months ago,” said his father Iqbal Masih, “but the cruel criminals have turned his young wife into a widow and created a void in our life that will never be filled.”

Four of the five attackers have been arrested.

In another incident on 6 January, also in Gujranwala, Shabana Bibi and her teenage daughter Misbah were shot in an unprovoked attack.

They were returning home from work when two men on a motorbike approached them and opened fire.

Shabana was killed instantly. Misbah was shot in the back and at the time of writing was in a critical condition in hospital.

Police have launched an investigation to apprehend the assailants.

Cry out to the Lord for the families of Suleman and Shabana to be comforted in their grief. Pray that He will heal Misbah and restore her to her family safe and well. Pray that no climate of fear will arise in Gujranwala but instead that faith, hope and love will grow and abide together (1 Corinthians 13:13) and make the community stronger. Pray for the Lord’s shield of protection around Christians in Pakistan at risk of persecution from Islamists.