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More than 290 million people across 53 countries endured “acute food insecurity” in 2024, and these numbers are expected to rise. Research carried out for the Food Security Cluster 2024 Annual Report also highlights “famine or famine-like conditions” in Haiti, Mali, the Palestinian Territories, the Republic of Sudan and South Sudan in which people are “likely to face starvation and death”. Many of our brothers and sisters are among those suffering from extreme hunger and food shortages. Pray that the Lord, who “gives food to every creature” (Psalm 136:25), will provide for His people, and all those made in His image.
“Thank you for thinking of us!” exclaimed Albanian mother-of-two Marsela, who struggles to earn a meager living in a shoe factory. Her family are among vulnerable Christians across several regions of Albania who received 1,089 .gives food parcels that were successfully distributed to 3,601 individuals by Barnabas partners. “Many were encouraged by knowing that they were remembered by the wider Body of Christ,” said our project partner. Many of the Christian families live in Muslim-majority areas and face discrimination, economic hardship and social exclusion. Pray that our brothers and sisters in Albania will be encouraged in knowing the support of God’s family worldwide.
Lord God and Heavenly Father, we pray for our brothers and sisters living in war zones and often suffering from conflicts that they have no part in. Please meet the needs of those who now find themselves without food, water or medical supplies; please provide shelter for those forced from their homes; please, above all, sustain their faith despite the trauma they have experienced. Thank You that a day is coming when wars and armed conflicts will come to an end, and the rule of Christ the King, in whose Name we pray, will be fully realized. (Isaiah 2:4)
Fighting in the north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has not come to a complete stop despite a ceasefire agreed at the end of April. Large areas of the provinces of North and South Kivu are still being held by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group. Tens of thousands of people have been left homeless by the violence. Pray that the Lord will comfort the bereaved and the traumatized, and supply their urgent needs. Ask that further talks will result in a peace deal.
Within days of rebel group M23 seizing control of Goma, capital of North Kivu province, Barnabas partners had provided relief for 500 Christian families affected by the violence. They also replaced furniture and computers stolen from a school in Goma and distributed food, medicine and soap to 200 vulnerable Christian families elsewhere in the province. Praise God for the swift delivery of aid and pray for the success of further plans to support displaced and vulnerable DRC Christians.
The Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP, formerly known as the Allied Democratic Forces) continues to launch deadly attacks against Christians in north-eastern D. R. Congo. In just one attack on a village in North Kivu, nine Christians were killed with guns and machetes. ISCAP, which is estimated to have between 800 and 1,300 adult male fighters, regularly uses the slaughter of Christians for propaganda purposes on social media. Pray that the Lord will hide His people from the mortal enemies that surround them (Psalm 17:8-9).
Fighters from Islamic State Mozambique (IS-M) captured and killed three Christians in the province of Cabo Delgado. Anti-terrorism experts describe the IS-M insurgency as “a brutal campaign against Christians with relentless attacks on villages and churches”. An estimated 1,800 believers have been killed since the insurgency began in October 2017. Pray that the Lord will bring peace to this troubled region, for the sake of His people and all those who are suffering from persistent terrorist violence.
Fierce fighting around the Sudanese capital of Khartoum and the neighboring city of Omdurman is placing civilian lives at risk, according to human rights experts. In May drone attacks on three power stations led to a days-long electricity blackout in both cities and across the wider region. “The magnitude of these drone attacks represents a major escalation in the conflict, with alarming implications for civilian protection,” said one expert. “The recurrent attacks on critical infrastructure place civilian lives at risk, worsen the humanitarian crisis, and undermine basic human rights.” More than 150,000 people have died in the civil war, which began more than two years ago. Nearly 9 million are internally displaced, and 3.5 million have fled the country. Pray for an end to this horrendous conflict, and remember particularly Sudan’s small Christian community.
The Darfur Network for Human Rights has warned of increased persecution of Christians in the Sudanese region of Darfur. The ongoing Sudanese civil war, they report, “has worsened conditions for Christians. Many are forced into hiding or displacement, as the region’s instability fuels hostility toward minority faiths”. In just one incident earlier this year, three Islamists with machetes attacked a Bible study attended by 26 believers, some of whom were converts from Islam; thankfully, nobody was killed. At least one of the converts fled for safety to a neighboring country. Pray that the Lord Himself will be a refuge, a rock and a fortress for our brothers and sisters in Darfur.
Gracious God, we thank You that You are the Lord who heals, supplying strength to the weary and power to the weak. We give thanks for those whom You have gifted in healing. Please work especially through medical staff who know and trust in You to communicate Your love and peace where there is affliction and trauma. Please use them to bring about recovery from sickness, injury and suffering, for we ask in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the One by whose wounds we are healed. (Exodus 15:26; Isaiah 40:29)
Tensions continue to run high in the Middle East, marked by ongoing conflict between Israel and Islamist terrorist groups connected to Iran. Christians, caught in the midst of this prolonged instability, often face marginalization and hostility across many parts of the region. Pray that the Lord will strengthen and sustain our brothers and sisters, and grant greater peace for the well-being of all people in these troubled lands.
Praise the Lord for the dedication of teachers and staff at a Barnabas-supported Christian school in Bethlehem. By God’s grace, these teachers are providing reassurance and calm to their students amid a time of great tension and uncertainty in the city where the Prince of Peace was born. Pray that the children will draw strength from their deep Christian faith and values, growing to become a blessing to the minority Christian communities in the Holy Land. Also, ask for peace and reconciliation throughout the region, and pray that the needs of the hungry and suffering are compassionately met.
A Barnabas Aid contact has described the present situation of Christians in Syria as “a miracle”. In the months since former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted and replaced by Ahmed al-Sharaa, believers have experienced greater tolerance and religious freedom. While other religious minorities (such as Alawites and Druze) have been attacked by Sunni Islamists, Christians have been almost entirely spared from harm. However, says our contact, it is only “early days – things can change”. President al-Sharaa is a former Salafi jihadi leader with links to Al Qaeda, and many fighters loyal to the new government are Islamist extremists. Pray for the continued protection of Christians from harm, as well as protection for other minorities in Sunni-majority Syria.
Earlier this year hundreds of Alawites were massacred by Sunni Islamists loyal to the new government of Syria. While Christians have so far been spared sectarian violence, Alawites (a Muslim sect regarded as heretical by many Sunnis) remain under constant threat. There is an increasing number of Christian converts from the Alawite community in Syria, with one church in the west of the country even building a new hall to accommodate a larger congregation. However, these converts are still identified as Alawites by the Sunni majority, which leaves them at risk. Pray that these, our brothers and sisters, will continue to find refuge and shelter under the wings of our Lord (Psalm 61:4).
Three people were injured by a man wielding an axe during the annual parade by Assyrian Christians in Duhok, Iraq to mark their new year on April 1. The assailant, a Syrian refugee, shouted Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) slogans before being overpowered and arrested. A 17-year-old youth, Fardi Abdullah, and a 75-year-old woman, Yoniyah Khoshaba, suffered skull fractures. A member of the local security forces was also injured. Ask for recovery for the three victims of this attack and for Christians in Iraq to stand firm in the Lord and not be intimidated by extremists. Give thanks that the celebrations concluded without further incident.
A Christian in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus pleaded guilty to a charge of illegal storage of Bibles in order to settle a legal dispute dating back to 2021. Ryan Keating, originally from the United States, accepted a fine of 10,000 Turkish lira $235 at a court in Famagusta on April 15. Give thanks that the long-running case has been concluded. Pray that the confiscated Bibles will be returned and distributed in time to those most in need.
Lord Jesus, we thank You for being the giver of life and provider of living water to all who trust in You. We bring before You Christian communities around the world for whom it is a daily struggle to find water to sustain life and have no reliable local water source. We ask You to bless and direct efforts to instal borewells and make any structural changes necessary to improve water supply. Thank You that You experienced the anguish of human thirst on the cross for us, and that we can trust in You to provide, for we ask in Your most holy Name. (John 4:13-14; John 19:28)
Pray for the success of a Barnabas-funded project to drill boreholes for two Christian villages in Manipur, north-eastern India. Until now these communities have not had a safe and regular supply of water. Instead, they have had to harvest rainwater, which may not be safe to drink, or purchase expensive drinking water. Christians in Manipur are often marginalized, and in recent years have experienced terrible violence. Ask the Lord, who waters the Earth (Psalm 65:9), to meet the needs of His people in Manipur.
The Joint-Secretary General of Hefazat-e-Islam, an Islamist coalition in Bangladesh, is confident of being able to implement sharia (Islamic law) after the next election. “Everything will be guided by the Quran,” said Mamunul Haque. “We demand death sentences for speaking against Allah, tarnishing the image of the Prophet, and offending Muslims,” Haque said. “There is no room for negotiation in this regard.” Muslim-majority Bangladesh was thrown into political turmoil when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in August 2024. Islamist extremists took the opportunity to attack Hindus and Christians. At the time of writing no date has been set for new elections, but the interim government has pledged to hold them by mid-2026. Pray that the extremists will not be able to implement their plans.
Pray for an ongoing Barnabas-funded small business initiative at a church in Manila, capital of the Philippines. Believers here are often marginalized and impoverished; they sometimes suffer extra discrimination for their faith. “Daily living is a big challenge,” says our project partner. The church plans to buy rice that can be purchased at a discount by Christian families, and then sold for a profit. Some of the money raised will pay for the necessities of life – food, medicine, utility bills. Some can be used to purchase more rice to sell. Ask that the aspirations of our partners to “empower impoverished Christians” and “achieve greater financial stability” will be realized.
New regulations about the religious activities of foreigners in China came into force on May 1, 2025. These strengthen existing regulations that originally came into force in 1994. Foreigners in China are prohibited from – among other restrictions – “Recruiting religious followers among Chinese citizens”, “Producing or selling religious books … or distributing religious propaganda materials” and “Organizing or conducting religious education or training”. Pray for foreign Christians living in or visiting China, asking that the Lord will grant them wisdom in navigating these regulations.
North Korea is routinely ranked the most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian, with believers enduring terrible persecution by the State. The “crime” of owning a Bible can result in execution. Believers who gather for worship risk being sent to labor camps, along with their entire families. Inmates of the camps are starved, tortured or worked to death, with Christians often suffering the worst treatment. Pray for strength for Christians in North Korea. Ask that they remember through their persecution that God is their fortress and their refuge (Psalm 18:2-3).
“It means a lot because I know… that someone, through God, can help us,” said a Christian in Vanuatu after the delivery of .gives boxes provided by Barnabas Aid supporters in New Zealand. Around 1,200 boxes were distributed to eight Christian communities enduring hardship following a 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck the island in December 2024. Praise God that Barnabas has been able to help our suffering family in Vanuatu. Pray that they will be able to recover from the earthquake quickly, and that their faith will continue to keep them strong.
Lord Jesus Christ, we remember that You overcame all the power of the enemy when You bore our sins on the cross. Thank You for being our help in times of trouble because You triumphed over death. We ask You to use Your servants to reach those suffering from natural disasters. Please provide for those rendered homeless by famine, earthquakes, floods and other extreme weather events, and hasten the arrival of essential supplies to those most in need. We ask that those afflicted will know You as their refuge and strength and even through these circumstances be drawn into relationship with their Creator, for we ask in Your mighty Name. (Psalm 46:1-3)
“This has been a dream; we have been aspiring for it for years and now it has come to pass,” said the head teacher of a Christian school in Kaduna State, Nigeria, expressing her gratitude for receiving solar energy. Barnabas partners have supported Christian communities suffering attacks by Islamist militants by supplying power to churches, hospitals and schools in 20 villages across Plateau and Kaduna states. Bible studies and other evening classes are now possible, and Christians can charge phones and make calls in times of emergency. Praise God for this vital provision and ask that it be used effectively to build His Church across the region.
The ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) Court of Justice has declared that “blasphemy” laws in northern Nigeria violate international human rights standards. The court specifically struck down section 382(b) of the Kano State Sharia Penal Code Law (2000), which imposes the death penalty for insulting Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, as well as Section 210, which imposes a prison sentence for insulting “any religion”. However, the court does not have the authority to enforce its ruling, and the government of Kano State has said that it will uphold the laws. Please pray for the protection of Christians and others in northern Nigeria who are vulnerable to accusations of “blasphemy” and the mob violence that can follow.
Six Christians were killed and another 30 injured when a truck was deliberately crashed into an Easter procession in Gombe State, Nigeria, on Easter Monday. The police report claimed that the crash was an accident caused by a brake failure, despite eyewitness testimony to the contrary. Three local NGOs issued a joint statement explaining that the police report was incorrect, as the police never investigated a mechanical fault and there was video evidence that the crash was intentional: the driver made no attempt to stop or warn of his approach, and drove straight into the crowd. An investigative panel sided with the NGOs, ruling that the crash was intentional and the driver must be prosecuted. Give thanks that the panel’s decision allowed the truth to come out. Pray for healing for the victims of this attack, and comfort for the bereaved.
Regional experts in West African nations have raised concern about the spread of Islamist terrorism. Church leaders in Ghana, military experts in Benin, and the Senegalese government have all acknowledged the threat from terrorist groups that have established themselves in the Sahel nations of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger as well as northern Nigeria. “We are all, in one way or another, under threat,” said Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister of Senegal. While jihadist militants are a threat to all people, the Christian communities in these regions are among those at particular risk. Ask that any plans for expansion by the Islamic State and Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist groups in West Africa will be thwarted.
Two Christian education officials, Blessings Luka and Gideon Bitterleaf, were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded along a highway in Borno State, north-eastern Nigeria. The officials were transporting mangoes from Damboa, a major location on a key food supply route, when their van was struck. Islamic State West Africa Province, a group particularly active in the state in April and May, is suspected to have planted the IED. Ask the Lord to comfort the family and friends of Blessings and Gideon as they grieve. Pray for wisdom for the authorities in Borno State to intensify security and protect the population from Islamist attacks, especially the vulnerable Christian minority.
Praise the Lord for the safe return of two church leaders, Matthew David Dutsemi and Abraham Saummam, who were abducted in Adamawa State, Nigeria, in February. Three other pastors were among 19 kidnapped victims rescued by Nigerian security forces in Kogi State. However, the threat of abductions remains high – with Christians, and especially church leaders, in Nigeria’s northern and Middle Belt states remaining at risk. Please pray for the continued protection of our brothers and sisters. Ask the Lord to strengthen those who have suffered trauma, to comfort families still awaiting news of loved ones, and to bring lasting peace to regions plagued by violence.
Sovereign Lord, we give thanks for those You have placed in leadership roles in Your Church. We ask You to encourage and direct church leaders throughout the world, particularly those facing severe restrictions or persecution for their faith in You. We pray that they will demonstrate Your radical love and humility by practicing servant leadership and be able to rejoice as spiritual children grow in the truth of the Word of God. We ask that they will know the joy of following the example of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose mighty Name we pray. (Matthew 20:26-28)
