Contents
Thank the Lord that the gifts of Barnabas Aid’s faithful supporters have freed 920 Christian families from bonded labor in the brick kilns of Pakistan in the 18 months from September 2024. By the time you read this, God willing, that number will have risen to more than 1,000. Brick kiln labor is backbreakingly difficult and in many kilns workers are abused and mistreated. Because of grinding poverty and low wages, the majority of workers are forced to accept loans from brick kiln owners, leading in turn to debt that can never be repaid. Christians make up a disproportionately large number of brick kiln workers. Give praise to our God, who sets His people free, for His love endures forever (Psalm 136:11-12).
“It is an unfortunate tragedy that those who gathered to celebrate the Resurrection are now mourning the loss of a loved one.” These were the words of a Christian community leader in Pakistan, after a truck rammed into a procession in the early hours of Easter Sunday. The incident took place in Wazirabad, Punjab, causing the death of Ifran Masih, a brick kiln laborer, and leaving more than 60 injured. “Eyewitnesses confirmed that the incident was not accidental but a premeditated and well-planned terrorist attack,” a Barnabas contact reported. Pray that the Lord will abundantly comfort the grieving family of Ifran Masih and that all those injured in the incident will recover. Give thanks that our Lord has “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10, ESV).
“You have truly been an answer to our prayers,” said Mina, an impoverished Christian woman in Pakistan, as she received a monthly food parcel funded by the gifts of Barnabas Aid supporters. Mina’s husband is a daily-wage laborer, but his income is unpredictable, and their son is unemployed. With the cost of living rising, it has been a daily struggle for the family to meet even their basic needs. Praise God that the urgent needs of marginalized Pakistani believers are being met, and pray for His continued provision.
Please pray for the bereaved family of Zafar Bhatti, a Pakistani Christian who died from a heart attack just days after being released from prison. Zafar was wrongly accused of “blasphemy” against Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, in 2017 and given a life sentence. In 2022 an appeal against his conviction failed, and he was sentenced to death. In October 2025 Zafar was finally acquitted. Thank the Lord that justice was done for Zafar before the end of his life. Praise God that our brother now dwells in the everlasting arms of our Heavenly Father (Deuteronomy 33:27).
Father God, we pray that we will emulate Your servant David in his desire to love what is good and right, and oppose that which is evil. Please help us live blamelessly before You, and to sing of Your love and justice. We ask this grace not only for ourselves but also for Your Church around the world, especially those suffering for their faith in Your Son. We ask trusting that it is Your will to sanctify us and lead us in ways of righteousness for the sake of our Savior, in whose Name we pray. (Psalm 101; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Psalm 23:3)
Tensions remain high across Iran as political pressure, surveillance and fear continue to impact daily life. Many believers continue to worship in secret. The threat of arrest and imprisonment is constant, yet the Church grows in faith. Pray for protection, courage and discernment for Christians meeting in small fellowships. Ask for comfort for those living under constant anxiety and restriction. Pray also for civilians affected by shortages and instability. May God strengthen His people, reminding them, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Pray that God will open doors for peace, justice and deeper spiritual renewal across the nation.
We wake up each day not knowing what tomorrow will bring – yet we continue to trust God and care for one another because hope is all we have left.” These were the words of “Majd”, a believer from Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon is facing overlapping crises, with communities living under constant fear as renewed violence intensifies economic hardship and drives further displacement. Many Christian families are struggling to survive and rebuild amid uncertainty and loss. Pray for peace among divided communities and for wisdom for national leaders in such a fragile time. Ask God to strengthen churches as they continue to offer practical care, comfort and hope, in keeping with our Lord’s command, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed” (Isaiah 1:17). May the Lord guide His people in faithful service and bring healing to those weighed down by hardship and exhaustion.
After years of conflict, Syria continues to face a fragile reality of ongoing instability and renewed regional tensions that continue to affect the lives of civilians. Many are still living with displacement, trauma and deep loss. Please pray for protection over vulnerable communities and for pathways toward reconciliation where trust has been broken. Ask God to strengthen the Church as it serves among the wounded and the poor. May the Lord sustain His people and bring restoration where destruction has long lingered. A Syrian church leader shared, “We have learned to live between grief and hope, trusting that God has not forgotten Syria.” As the Word of God reminds us, “We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8).
Praise the Lord for a court decision in Iraq to allow a woman to change her officially registered religion from Islam to Christianity. The young woman had been registered as Muslim as a child because her mother was remarried to a Muslim man; she was forced to launch legal proceedings in January 2025 to have her records amended to accurately represent her Christian belief. Being registered as a Muslim can cause serious problems for non-Muslims, including being placed under the authority of a sharia court or wrongly regarded as an apostate from Islam. Pray that this decision will help to safeguard the religious freedom of our brothers and sisters in Iraq.
“The Lord has given me a heart for the Gospel to pray for my family despite the oppression,” says “Areej” in Yemen, a recent convert from a Muslim background. Following Christ remains costly in Yemen, where converts from Islam are hated as apostates. In addition, the country continues to endure severe humanitarian suffering, with millions affected by poverty, food insecurity and ongoing instability. Many communities remain isolated and vulnerable, struggling to access even basic necessities. Pray for families to have access to food, medicine and safety. Pray also for pathways toward peace in a context marked by long-standing conflict. Intercede particularly for our brothers and sisters who risk even their lives for the sake of their faith.
Saudi Arabia is home to an estimated 2.1 million Christians of other nationalities, often workers from across Asia and the Middle East. These believers are permitted to own their own Bibles and worship in private, but any public expression of faith is prohibited. Only the Lord knows how many Saudi Christians there are – these Muslim-background believers are at risk of violence at the hands of their own families or the death penalty for apostasy from Islam (although this penalty is not known to have been carried out in recent times). Please intercede for all our brothers and sisters in Saudi Arabia, especially converts from Islam.
Lord God, we pray today for those who live under repressive and authoritarian government the world over, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. We struggle to imagine what it is like to live with without basic human rights – often without any freedom to worship, to share the Gospel, or even to read the Bible. Thank You that You have promised never to leave Your people alone in their trials. We praise You in Christ’s Name that there is no end to His government or to the peace that He brings. (Hebrews 13:5; Isaiah 9:7)
The authorities in North Korea are boasting of having “practically exterminated” religion, according to opposition media based in South Korea. Experts, however, have cast doubt upon these claims. “We know there are still strong Christians who are worshiping in small groups or as individuals,” said Song Young-Chae of the Worldwide Coalition to Stop Genocide in North Korea. “They can ban religion, but they cannot stop people believing in Christ,” added Eunju Kim, a campaigner who escaped from North Korea in the 1990s. Praise the Lord that the Church cannot be defeated by the powers of darkness (Matthew 16:18). Continue to intercede for our North Korean brothers and sisters as they endure unthinkable hardships for the Name of Christ.
Grace Jin Drexel, the daughter of Pastor Jin Mingri who was arrested by the Chinese authorities in October 2025, has spoken of an increasing crackdown on China’s unofficial churches. Pastor Jin and 17 other leaders of the Zion Church network face trial and a possible three-year prison sentence for the crime of “illegally using information networks.” The church was founded in 2007, a time in which unofficial churches were generally tolerated by the authorities. Now, says Grace, “they see religion as an enemy of ideology.” Please pray that the Lord will give wisdom to the leaders and members of China’s unofficial churches if repression and persecution increases.
The islands of Cebu and Catanduanes in the Philippines were among the worst-affected regions after unprecedented tropical storms deluged South-East Asia between September and November 2025, resulting in widespread destruction and the deaths of hundreds. Funding from Barnabas Aid supporters provided urgently needed food and clean drinking water for 1,310 Christian families. A further 800 Christian families received hygiene kits and solar lights. Pray for ongoing relief efforts to be used by God to strengthen communities that have lost so much, and that Christians in the Philippines will know great spiritual encouragement as they rebuild.
Christian-majority Karen State, Myanmar, has endured an increase in attacks against civilians in the first half of 2026. The Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) holds to an ideology of Buddhist nationalism, and often conducts artillery strikes and bombings against Christian communities. Barnabas Aid contacts in Myanmar reported in April that one bombing targeted a meeting of the Karen Baptist Convention. Ask the Lord to draw near to His people in their suffering.
Barnabas Aid contacts in a Christian-majority region of Myanmar reported in late April that Tatmadaw soldiers had taken control of a village, rounding up any villagers who had not been able to escape and forcing them to stay in a church building. Women were being forced to cook for the soldiers. Please pray for the safety of our brothers and sisters for however long this occupation continues. Ask that their faithfulness at a time of severe trial will be a witness of Christ and His Gospel that will stay with the soldiers long after they have moved on.
Barnabas Aid is supporting a Christian ministry in Thailand that serves refugees. Among these are 80 Christian children from north-eastern Myanmar who have fled conflict and persecution and are now separated from their families. Our partners are providing basic accommodation, food and education, thanks to the gifts of Barnabas Aid supporters. Praise God for His people in Thailand who have such a heart to serve their young brothers and sisters from Myanmar. Pray that the children will be helped, comforted and blessed in their time of immense need. Ask too that they will grow in their knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ as they see His compassion exemplified in the help they receive.
Lord God, we pray for the success of Christian schools throughout the world, and especially in lands of great suffering and anti-Christian persecution. We ask You to fill those entrusted with leadership with Divine wisdom in governance and management so that values that reflect the Gospel are maintained. Please raise up and bless the work of godly teachers to train up children in the way they should go, to produce lasting fruit all their lives. Protect and renew students’ minds and hearts to receive all the benefits of a Christian education through instruction, practical experience and healthy social interaction and grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose Name we pray. (Proverbs 22:6)
At least 41 Christians were killed by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in two targeted attacks carried out in Adamawa State, north-eastern Nigeria, in late April. North-eastern Nigeria is the epicenter of ISWAP and Boko Haram activity. Kubako lies just across the state boundary from Borno State, where ISWAP has slaughtered hundreds of Christian and Muslim civilians as well as Nigerian soldiers. Ask the Lord to bring an end to this campaign of violence, for the sake of all people in north-eastern Nigeria and especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray that He will comfort the bereaved and make His people in Adamawa State a witness of His glory and grace.
In mid-April, ISWAP boasted of burning down a church building and killing ten Christians in Borno State, north-east Nigeria. Borno State has been the scene of increased activity by ISWAP and Boko Haram in the first half of 2026. All people in the state have been affected, including Muslims, though the Islamists make a particular point of targeting members of the state’s minority Christian community. Cry out to the Lord on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray for an end to the violence and unrest, for the sake of all those who want to live in peace.
Praise the Lord that nearly 6,000 believers in Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria have been reached with food funded by Barnabas Aid’s supporters. The recipients are those affected by Islamist terrorism in north-eastern Nigeria. Many are farmers who have been unable to work because of violence and instability. “People have seen God at work because they never expected to get this help,” said a Barnabas project partner. “God has provided.”
At least 53 Christians were killed by terrorists in Middle Belt Nigeria in several attacks during the Easter period. The worst loss of life came on Palm Sunday, when 29 members of a Christian community in Plateau State were slaughtered by Fulani extremists armed with guns and swords. Another 24 were killed in separate attacks in Benue and Kaduna on Easter Sunday. “We owe the dead justice. We owe the living protection,” said Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria. Ask the Lord to provide the justice and protection that our brother has called for.
Persistent violence and unrest in Burkina Faso have led to the closure of more than 2,000 churches, including an estimated 135 church buildings that have been destroyed. More than two million people have been displaced, among them nearly 200,000 Christians. The main drivers of violence are Islamist terrorist groups who now control an estimated 60% of the country’s territory. Please pray for all those left homeless, hungry, bereaved and traumatized by this situation. Intercede particularly for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are among those who have the most to fear from Islamist rule.
A series of coordinated attacks carried out by Al Qaeda-affiliated militants and their allies in Mali in late April again highlighted the Islamist threat to security in West Africa. The terrorists increased the amount of territory they hold in Mali, including seizing the northern town of Kidal. Christians make up around 2% of the Malian population; most live in the south of the country. Islamist terrorists are a threat to all civilians, but especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray that the Lord will rise up to keep the needy safe and protect His people from the wicked (Psalm 12:5, 7).
Lord God and Heavenly Father, we cry out to You on behalf of secret believers in Afghanistan, who face the constant threat of being killed for their faith. Please protect those meeting in private with other believers. Please give strength and grace to those unable to have any contact with their brothers and sisters in Christ. Deliver them, we pray, from the hands of enemies who pursue them, for we ask it in our Savior’s Name. (Psalm 35:19)
Please pray for the bereaved family of a 14-year-old girl from Punjab, Pakistan, who died after a suspected sexual assault. Muqadas Masih and her sister Zarish, eight, were abducted in mid-April. Both were found alone four days later and admitted to hospital, where Muqadas died. Barnabas Aid project partners report that she was likely the victim of rape. Cry out to the Lord for the family of Muqadas as they grieve the loss of their beloved daughter and sister. Pray that they will receive abundant comfort and support and that justice will be served and the perpetrators held to account.
Three Christian sanitation workers have died in separate incidents in Punjab, Pakistan. Sabbir Masih, a father of three, died after inhaling toxic fumes while working in a sewer in Faisalabad in early May; two others died in similar circumstances around a month earlier. Many Pakistani Christians work in low-paid, dirty and dangerous jobs owing to systemic discrimination and marginalization. Often they must work without the necessary safety equipment. Please pray for the bereaved families of our three brothers, and ask that steps will be taken to protect the safety and wellbeing of Christians and other sanitary workers in Pakistan.
“Zafar” is a church leader in Uzbekistan. He and his wife are converts from Islam, and the church in which he serves is made up of Muslim-background believers. Converts from Islam are at risk of severe reprisals from extremists in Uzbekistan and across Central Asia. Barnabas Aid project partners have drawn up plans for a sustainable dairy farming project that will provide a long-term income to five church leaders and their families in a rural and impoverished area of the country. Please pray that this project will allow these men to continue in their work for the Lord Jesus and His people.
Two prominent church buildings in the city of Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, have been demolished, with Armenian church leaders accusing “the Azerbaijani authorities” of “the systematic destruction of the spiritual and cultural heritage” in the region. Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave within Azerbaijan, was populated by Armenians (who accepted Christianity in 301 AD) for at least 2,500 years. In September 2023 almost the entire population was displaced when Azerbaijan launched a military operation to take control of the region. Ask the Lord to comfort refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh, who retain a strong attachment to the land that they lost. Pray that they will be reminded that there remains an everlasting home for the people of God (Revelation 21:1-5).
“This is a vivid testimony that there is love in this world that is stronger than evil. Your compassion and concern gives us hope and comfort.” These words were expressed by Ukrainian Christian Lena, displaced along with her husband and elderly mother amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Barnabas funding provided three months’ supply of food for 560 Christian families in Kherson and Kharkiv, along with hygiene kits for 320 families. The donations also covered urgent house repairs for five of the families. Praise God for the safe arrival of these vital supplies and pray that He will continue to sustain and encourage His Church in Ukraine.