Prayer Focus Update October 2025

“As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”

2 Samuel 22:31

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Africa – Islamic State demands continent’s Christians convert or submit to Islamic rule

Africa’s Christians need our prayers as Islamic State (IS – also known as ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) has made its intentions to subjugate those who profess faith in Christ abundantly clear.

The terrorist group has demanded that Christians in Africa convert to Islam or accept their status as conquered people under Islamic rule.

The demand came in a 28 July statement claiming responsibility for killing at least 34 worshippers at a church in Ituri, north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (see Prayer Focus Update, September 2025).

It was reiterated in the 7 August issue of Al Naba, the online publication of IS.

The initial statement declared, “Let the Christians of Africa and their Crusader armies know that there is no security for you except by Islam or jizya.”

In classical Islam, jizya is a tax paid by non-Muslim “People of the Book” – that is, Jews and Christians – as a sign of their subjugation to their Muslim rulers.

Those who accept such a status are known as dhimmi, and they must abide by various restrictions that reinforce their status as non-citizens under Islamic rule.

Al Naba’s editorial praised the fighters of Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) in DRC and Islamic State Mozambique (IS-M) for their campaign of violence against Christians. It added that Christians in Africa had three “options”: convert to Islam, pay jizya or be killed.

Both groups are co-ordinated by the Islamic State Al Karrar Office in Somalia. Between them, ISCAP and IS-M have killed nearly 8,000 Christians since 2017.

Alberto Miguel Fernandez, Vice-President of the Middle East Media Research Institute, explained, “What we see in Africa today is a kind of silent genocide or silent, brutal, savage war that is occurring in the shadows and all too often ignored by the international community.”

The practices of dhimmi and jizya are no longer officially enforced by the government of any Muslim-majority country.

Call on the Lord to enable Christians throughout Africa to keep themselves secure in the love of God and build themselves up in their most holy faith (Jude vv.20-21). Pray that, even as they endure suffering, they will consider the enemy’s threats and respond with renewed confidence in the Lord’s sovereign plans for His people (2 Kings 19:17-19). Pray that the growing power of jihadists across the continent will be broken, and that there will be peace for all Africans.

D. R. Congo – Islamist violence kills 170 Christians

At least 170 Christians were killed by Islamic State’s fighters in the north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in August and early September.

In the worst atrocity on 8 September, Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) claimed that “100 Congolese Christians” were killed in Ntoyo village, Lubero District, North Kivu Province. Local media reported that 72 had been killed. However, a resident was quoted as having counted 102 bodies. The dead included 26 mourners who were attending a funeral service.

“It’s horrible what I saw,” said a local church minister who visited the scene. “They killed almost all the people who were gathered at the place of mourning.”

In another incident, 18 Christians were captured and killed by ISCAP near Oicha, Beni District, also in North Kivu.

In the deadliest attack in the neighbouring province of Ituri, on 16 August, ISCAP fighters killed 10 “infidel Christians” with machine guns.

Since pledging bay’a (allegiance) to the central Islamic State in 2017, ISCAP has killed around 6,000 Christians, including 560 in north-eastern DRC since Christmas 2024.

Ask the Lord to bring peace to north-eastern D. R. Congo, and especially that the Islamic State jihad against Christians will be ended. Pray that the bereaved in Ituri and North Kivu will be comforted by the promise and reality of God’s mighty strength and help (Isaiah 41:10). Ask God to comfort the devastated community of Ntoyo and instil hope in all those left in mourning in the region.

Pakistan – Christian falsely accused of “blasphemy” dies, aged 24; Young Christian man bailed after facing “blasphemy” charge

Two young Christian men in Pakistan challenge us to intercede for those confronting the country’s repressive “blasphemy” laws.

Nabeel Masih, 24 years old, who was charged with “blasphemy” in September 2016, died on 31 July, after two days on life support at a hospital in Lahore, Punjab.

Nabeel was reported to have suffered from liver failure, his health having deteriorated during his imprisonment.

He was sentenced to ten years in prison in May 2017, but was released on bail pending an appeal in March 2021. Continual delays prevented the appeal being heard in full, and Nabeel was never acquitted of his alleged crime.

Another young Christian man in Lahore faces accusations of “blasphemy”. Maan Masih, 21 years old, was granted bail one day after being detained in police custody.

Maan was accused of pulling down a banner containing the name of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, on 6 September, a Muslim public holiday.

Streets were bedecked with flags and banners bearing the name of Muhammad. When Maan joined friends in the street, a Muslim youth accused him of desecrating the banner.

Extremist groups issued threats that “the entire Christian community will face the consequences” if Maan did not surrender himself.

On Sunday 7 September, Maan’s parents handed him over to the police. A complaint was registered under Section 298 of the Pakistan Penal Code. This section prohibits using words, sounds or gestures with the intent to wound religious feelings. The offence is punishable with up to one year’s imprisonment or with a fine, or both.

The case was taken up by Barnabas partners. The following day, 8 September, the court agreed bail amounting to PKR 50,000 (£130; $156; €143). The required amount was duly submitted, allowing Maan to return home.

Pray for Nabeel’s bereaved family and friends, asking for their comfort in the knowledge that the Lord Jesus Christ has swallowed up death forever (Isaiah 25:8). Pray for others wrongly accused of “blasphemy” in Pakistan to experience the justice that in this life Nabeel was denied. Give thanks for Maan’s successful bail application. Pray that the faith and courage of Maan and his family will grow as legal proceedings continue. Ask for their protection from retaliation by extremist sections of the Muslim community.

Nigeria – Fifteen killed in assaults on Plateau Christian communities; Thousands flee Islamist violence in Benue State

We are compelled to draw your attention once more to two areas of Nigeria’s Middle Belt where Christians have suffered much.

In Plateau State, three people were confirmed dead following an attack on 13 August in Rim community of Riyom Local Government Area (LGA) by suspected Fulani Islamists.

On 18 August, twelve residents were killed in an attack by suspected Fulani Islamists on Chakfem Chiefdom, Mangu LGA.

Community leader Simon Takbang reported that more than 1,000 assailants attacked several villages, resulting in the displacement of hundreds of residents in this predominantly Christian area.

The victims included a four-month-old girl, Yilshwal Godwin, Takbang announced. The other victims’ ages ranged from 26 to 81.

In predominantly Christian Benue State thousands of residents fled from their homes after suspected Islamist gunmen attacked the Aye-Twar community on Sunday 10 August.

The church building in Aye-Twar in Katsina-Ala Riyom LGA was ruined with numerous fittings destroyed.

The incident follows two months after at least 200 people were killed and 6,500 displaced following attacks by gunmen on Christian communities in Benue State in June (see Prayer Focus Update, July 2025).

Lift up in prayer the Christians of Benue and Plateau states amid repeated attacks. Pray for peace to be restored in Aye-Twar and the church building to be rebuilt. Pray that Christians’ faith in the Lord’s plans will remain firm, and that they will know God as their fortress and protection from further attacks (Psalm 18:2) as they return to their homes. Ask God to comfort those bereaved in Chakfem Chiefdom and bring healing to the wounded. Pray that perpetrators of such attacks are identified and brought to justice. Continue to pray for improved security throughout Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

Iran – Supreme Court denies Christian convert request for retrial

The Supreme Court of Iran has refused a retrial request lodged by Mehran Shamloui, 37 years old, who has received a 10-year prison sentence for his membership of a “house church”.

Mehran was sentenced in March 2025 along with two other converts from Islam, Narges Nasri and Abbas Soori. All three were arrested during raids by intelligence agents in November 2024.

The converts’ appeals were rejected in April, by which time they had already fled the country.

After seeking refuge in Turkey (Türkiye), Mehran was deported in July (see Prayer Focus Update, August 2025). He has spent two months in Evin Prison, Tehran, since his enforced return to Iran.

Mehran’s prison term comprises eight years for “propaganda activities” and two years and eight months for belonging to an “opposition group”. He was also fined 250 million tomans (£2,290; $2,750; €2,519).

He is among several Christians returned to Evin Prison in August following its partial reopening. The prison was closed and prisoners transferred after an Israeli airstrike on 23 June.

In August the Iranian authorities arrested more than 50 Christians on supposed national security grounds in the weeks since the end of active hostilities with Israel.

Farsi (Persian)-speaking Christians are converts from Islam who are hated as apostates and viewed as a threat to Iran’s national security.

Pray that our brother Mehran will experience encouragement, hope and even the joy of the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10) despite this latest disappointment. Pray that He will strengthen all Christians suffering for their faith in Iran, both those who have endured years of trials and imprisonment and those recently arrested for the first time after trials.