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“Because of this school, I dream again,” writes Asma, a 13-year-old Christian girl in Pakistan. Thanks to the donations of Barnabas Aid’s supporters, Asma now has the opportunity to attend a Christian school that helps her to grow in her faith and gain the skills and knowledge needed to build a better life. “Thank you for giving us a place where we can learn, grow, and feel safe,” she adds. Praise the Lord for the 55 Barnabas-funded Christian schools in Pakistan, and pray that this work will continue to be a blessing to our brothers and sisters.
Thank the Lord that two Pakistani Christian men have been acquitted of “blasphemy” by the Additional Sessions Court in Lahore, Punjab. In a decision published in June, the court ruled that the allegation that Nadeem Masih, 49, had defiled the name of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, was entirely baseless. In a separate case the following month, the court ruled that Danis Albert, 37, had not intentionally desecrated the Quran when he stepped on some papers in the street that had Quranic texts written on them. Both decisions are significant, as lower courts often accept such allegations at face value. Pray that these decisions will deter further false “blasphemy” allegations.
Pray for the families of two Christian men who were shot and killed while playing cricket near Dand Village in the province of Balochistan, Pakistan. The killing was claimed in a social media post by the Islamic State Khorasan Province, a branch of Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) active across parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. Ask the Lord to comfort the bereaved with the reminder that death has no victory over the people of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
“Anika,” a convert from Islam, was among dozens of believers targeted by Islamist extremists after 97 converts were baptised upon profession of faith in a region of Bangladesh. Anika’s house was broken into and her Bible burned in front of her. She was dismissed from her job. Her daughter was sexually assaulted and can no longer attend school. Please pray for the success of a Barnabas-funded project to support these persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. Ask that the Holy Spirit will encourage them with the reminder that all those persecuted for righteousness’ sake will be blessed with a place in Christ’s Kingdom (Matthew 5:10-12).
At the time of writing at least 51 people have died and thousands more have been displaced by severe flooding in parts of Bangladesh. Among the affected areas is Cox’s Bazar refugee camp, which hosts more than a million refugees from Myanmar, mainly Rohingya Muslims. Pray for all those affected by this disaster. Intercede especially our brothers and sisters – Christians are a persecuted minority in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, and among the Rohingya refugees.
Heavenly Father, we pray for those suffering after natural disasters around the world. We ask for timely and sustained aid to reach thousands who have been left homeless and lacking basic supplies after earthquakes in Venezuela, hurricanes in the Caribbean, tropical storms in the Philippines, severe flooding in Bangladesh, and many other disasters. We ask You to comfort those who mourn loved ones lost. We ask You especially to encourage Christian communities seeking to rebuild and that they will continue to spread light and hope even amid the darkness experienced, for we ask in the Name of the One who is the light of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ. (John 8:12)
Venezuela has been devastated by two earthquakes that struck in late June. The first earthquake measured a 7.2 magnitude – the second, which followed just 40 seconds later, 7.5. At the time of writing, up to 4,500 fatalities have been confirmed and around 18,000 people have been left homeless. Please pray for all the relief efforts, including Barnabas Aid’s partnership with a network of churches and pastors aiming to help some of the most vulnerable among their members and wider communities by providing food, safe drinking water, and temporary shelter.
In mid-July, Cuba suffered two island-wide blackouts in the space of a single week. A blockade that began in January has created a worsening humanitarian situation, with shortages of fuel, safe drinking water, and other necessities. “Children are dying because doctors lack access to essential medical supplies and medicines,” said a human rights expert, explaining that infant mortality had doubled, adding, “This is unacceptable.” Ask the Lord to intervene, ensuring that the people of Cuba have access to fuel, food, water, and medical supplies. Pray that He will strengthen our brothers and sisters as they maintain their Gospel witness despite the severe difficulties they face.
Indonesia’s Minister of Human Rights has condemned the killing of a 20-year-old evangelist by Indonesian soldiers in the province of Papua. “Almost every day there are deaths of innocent civilians,” said Natalius Pigai, himself a Papuan Christian. The body of Elianus Agimbau, a church worker, was discovered in bushes near to a military post. Fighting between Indonesia and the Free Papua Movement has continued since October 1962, with many human rights abuses documented. Please pray for the family of our brother Elianus, and for the congregation that has lost a faithful servant of Christ. Ask for a peaceful end to this long-running conflict.
At least two Christian civilians were captured and killed in Mindat Township, Chin State, by the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) in late May. The two men, aged 16 and 60, were shot and killed by soldiers who also burned down ten houses in the area. “One of them was my friend’s younger brother, and the other was the father of a church minister,” said a resident. “They were ordinary villagers with no connection to any armed groups.” Six other civilians, including a Buddhist monk, were killed in separate attacks on villages in the region during the military advance. Ask for peace in Myanmar after years of civil war. Pray especially for persecuted believers in Christian-majority Chin State and across the country.
“They don’t just sing songs to God … they worship. We have never experienced the profoundly deep level of faith evident in these children.” These were the words of a Barnabas Aid project partner after visiting a ministry providing care to children who have escaped conflict zones within Myanmar. “They are all suffering varying degrees of trauma from what they have seen and experienced due to the civil war,” he added. Intercede for these young brothers and sisters in Christ. Praise God for their firm faith, and pray for the success of Barnabas-funded efforts to provide them with education and other basic necessities.
“Our village was burned and we had to flee immediately. The food and household items we received helped my family survive difficult days. We are deeply thankful to God and the donors for this timely support.” These are the words of a Christian who was among hundreds attacked by the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) in Sagaing Region. Praise God that Barnabas Aid was able to provide 507 displaced Christian families with urgently needed food and essential household items including rice, chickpeas, cooking oil, blankets, and sleeping mats. Pray for the Lord’s continued protection and provision for our brothers and sisters and that they will eventually be able to return home.
Lord God, we give You thanks because You are good and Your love endures for ever. Thank You for Your ongoing, steady, merciful, and forgiving love that cannot fail, throughout all generations. We praise You that we can depend on You as our strength and our defence, our song even in the midst of trials. We ask You to manifest Your power and love to encourage those oppressed by persecution, poverty, and suffering across the nations so that they will grow strong in faith in following the Lord Jesus, for we ask in His most holy Name. (Exodus 15:2; Psalm 118:1)
A report by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa has shown that 18,915 Nigerian Christians have been killed by Islamist terrorists between October 2019 and September 2025 – a death toll of around 3,150 each year. The worst-affected areas were the Middle Belt states of Benue, Plateau, and Kaduna. Several thousand more Christians died at the hands of other terrorists and armed criminals; more than 10,000 Muslims and several hundred followers of African Traditional Religion were also among the victims of violence. Cry out on behalf of our brothers and sisters bereaved, traumatized, displaced, and injured by persecution and other forms of violence. Remember too that many Muslims and others are among the victims of violent terrorism, and pray for the nation of Nigeria as a whole. Pray that our fellow believers will continue to bear witness of the Gospel hope that is found only in Christ.
At least 39 people were killed in separate attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt in the second half of June. Suspected Fulani Islamists struck the Kawel community in Plateau State just five days after an armed assault in the Kaura area of neighboring Kaduna State. Among the victims were health workers and patients, security personnel, and residents in their own homes. Ask the Lord to deliver His people from those who breathe out violence against them (Psalm 27:12).
Fourteen Christians were beheaded in two separate attacks carried out by Islamists in the Haut-Uélé Province of north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). These murders represent the first time that Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) has targeted believers in the province. ISCAP is known to have killed around 1,150 believers in north-eastern DRC between December 2024 and these attacks at the end of June 2026. Pray that our God, who sees the trouble and grief of His people, will break the arm of the wicked (Psalm 10:14-15).
Praise God for the delivery of food and other essentials, farming equipment, and seeds to grow vegetables to victims of Islamist violence in Ituri Province, north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The delivery to around 2,100 Congolese Christians was funded by Barnabas Aid supporters. “Your assistance has shown our community that God has not abandoned us despite everything we have suffered,” said one of the beneficiaries. Thank the Lord for preparing a table for His people in the midst of their enemies (Psalm 23:5).
Fifty vulnerable Christian families in South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), are now among the beneficiaries of Barnabas Aid’s sustainable livestock initiative. Like elsewhere in DRC, South Kivu suffers from poverty and persistent conflict, with the M23 rebel movement among the many armed groups in operation. Pig farming is providing a vital additional income to each family. Additionally, each family has committed to passing on a piglet from their first litter to another vulnerable family, thereby sharing the benefits of the project throughout the community. Praise God for this work of grace and provision.
Pray for Christians in eastern Central African Republic, after a church minister, Crépin Martial Monga, was killed in the Haut-Mbomou region. Conflict in this region between militia groups, the armed forces, and Russian paramilitaries had worsened in the weeks leading up to the killing in late June. It is possible that Reverend Monga was targeted because of his role as coordinator of the Local Committee for Peace and Reconciliation, which involved mediation between various armed groups and the care of displaced people. Praise God for the Christ-like example of our brother, and pray for the success of those who continue the work of peace-making in the region.
Lord Jesus, we praise You that You are our cornerstone, the very foundation of our faith and the One who holds the Church, Your Body on earth, together. Thank You that we can have complete confidence and find total security in the chief cornerstone that God laid in Zion. Help us, we pray, to offer sacrifices of praise that are fitting to the One upon whom we depend for salvation. We ask You to assure those suffering for their faith in You that You are our cornerstone forever, for we ask in Your wonderful Name. (Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22)
Please intercede for Iranian Christian converts Sam Khosravi and Maryam Falahi who, at the time of writing, face losing custody of their eight-year-old adopted daughter Lydia. The couple, who adopted Lydia in 2018, are seeking asylum in Turkey, having been forced to flee Iran after a family court demanded her removal, determining her to be a Muslim despite her birth parents being unknown. Turkish immigration officials have questioned Sam and Maryam’s right to custody of Lydia. Ask the Lord to provide divine protection to ensure that Lydia remains safely in the arms of her loving parents. Pray that immigration officials and family court judges will recognise the blatant religious discrimination behind the Iranian ruling and grant the family full asylum and protection.
Please pray for the congregation of St. Peter Evangelical Church, Tehran, which has been closed by the Iranian authorities. The closure of the church building in July followed the seizure of a 100,000 sq. ft. area of land belonging to the church, which was home to around 20 families, mainly Armenian and Assyrian Christians. The building had been a place of Christian worship for more than 150 years. Pray for the leaders and congregation at this time of great difficulty. Ask the Lord to encourage them that His people have an eternal inheritance that can never be taken away, and to meet the needs of the families who were dependent on support from the church.
“It helped strengthen the church’s humanitarian and spiritual role in the local community, as the church, through this initiative, embodied the values of compassion,” said a Barnabas project partner after vulnerable Christian families in rural Iraqi Kurdistan received winter fuel assistance. Praise God that 395 families were each provided with 200 litres of kerosene to heat their homes and cook during the harsh winter months. Pray that the Lord will continue to provide for these believers, strengthen the witness of His Church, and encourage Christians facing economic hardship. As the Word of God reminds us, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Across the Middle East and North Africa, converts from Islam must live as secret believers. They meet with other Christians (if they’re able to meet at all) with the utmost discretion. They keep their Bibles hidden and cannot pray openly. They must weigh the consequences every time they share the Good News about Jesus with a friend, relative or neighbor – their very lives could be in danger. Please ask the Lord to encourage them to know that they are not alone, but that the Savior is with them through the Holy Spirit. Please pray for the success of a Barnabas-funded discipleship program in a Middle Eastern country, which cannot be named for security reasons.
Christians in Syria continue to face many challenges as they live amid the consequences of conflict, economic hardship, and uncertainty. Yet in the midst of suffering, the Church continues to serve faithfully, caring for vulnerable families and bringing hope to those around them. Praise God for the perseverance of Syrian believers. Pray that the Lord will strengthen His people, restore what has been lost, and encourage churches as they minister with compassion and faith. May God bring comfort to those who grieve and lead Syria towards lasting peace and renewal, for, “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy” (Psalm 126:5).
Lebanon continues to face severe economic hardship, leaving many Christian families struggling to afford food, medicine, and other daily necessities. Praise God that Barnabas Aid has been able to provide practical assistance, including food parcels, medical support, and help for vulnerable believers. These gifts have encouraged many Christians in their faith and to continue serving their communities despite ongoing uncertainty. Pray that the Lord will strengthen His Church in Lebanon, provide for every need, comfort those who are weary, and enable His people to shine as faithful witnesses of Christ, bringing hope and compassion to those around them. As one church leader in Beirut shared, “God never wastes the tears of His people; He turns them into seeds of hope.”
Heavenly Father, we pray for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, birthplace and heartland of Islam. We thank You for the small but growing number of believers who are converts from Islam. We pray for Saudi Christians from Muslim backgrounds who live in fear and isolation. Please grant them strength, courage, and protection as they grow in faith. We ask also that migrant Christian workers will share the love and light of Christ wisely despite restrictions and a ban on public worship, for we ask in the powerful Name of Jesus. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
In June the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker, concluded that there remain “reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity continue in Eritrea.” Babiker added that there have been “no meaningful signs of improvement” in the country’s human rights situation. Among the many violations carried out by Eritrea’s authoritarian government is the persecution of Christians, with many believers arrested and imprisoned without trial for no crime other than meeting for worship. Ask the Lord to sustain those imprisoned for their faith, and pray that their Gospel witness will continue despite the hardship they face.
The month of September marks three years since the invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan. Karabakh was an Armenian Christian enclave within Muslim-majority Azerbaijan. After a lengthy blockade, Azerbaijani troops took over the region, leaving the population of around 120,000 people to flee into Armenia itself. Today, many of these displaced people remain desperately impoverished and unable to find long-term employment. Please intercede for those who have lost their homes and their lands. Pray that they will know refuge in the Lord, who is a strong tower for all those who run to Him (Proverbs 18:10).
Christians in Armenia often struggle to provide financial support for their their pastors and church leaders, owing to widespread poverty. Congregations do the best they can, but many church leaders find themselves having to take on extra work. These second jobs – teaching, taxi-driving, office jobs – take valuable time away from ministry. One pastor hit on the idea of keeping bees in order to fund his ministry. Compared with other side-jobs, beekeeping takes up fewer hours, can be done flexibly, and does not interfere in the vital work of shepherding the Lord’s people while still providing a significant and much-needed income. Please pray for the success of a Barnabas-funded venture to expand this work and support the ministry of even more pastors.