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“I left school not because I don’t want to study, but because my family needed me,” says Elisha, a young Pakistani Christian, who was forced to find employment to help his struggling parents provide for his younger siblings. Then, at the age of 18, Elisha began a one-year Barnabas-funded apprenticeship in motor mechanics and is thriving. “Elisha has developed strong technical skills, demonstrating patience, attention to detail, and consistency in his work,” say our project partners. Pray that Elisha will continue to grow in his professional life and in his relationship with the Lord. Ask that the lives of many more young Christians in Pakistan will be transformed by apprenticeships.
The European Parliament has condemned abuses against underage girls from religious minority communities in Pakistan, particularly forced marriage and forced conversion to Islam. Christian and Hindu girls are at risk of abduction and abuse, and too often police and courts accept the word of the abductors that the girls have chosen to marry and convert freely and consensually. Pray for the victims of these crimes, and ask that international condemnation will lead to greater willingness from the Pakistani authorities to take action. Call upon the Lord to rise up in anger and decree justice (Psalm 7:6).
Christians in Pakistan continue to face false “blasphemy” accusations, forced conversions, violence, and discrimination. Praise God that Barnabas Aid was able to provide legal assistance, safe shelter, and practical support to vulnerable believers, including women and children at risk of abuse and exploitation. Pray that the Lord will protect His people, grant wisdom, and courage to those providing legal advocacy, and bring justice, healing, and lasting peace to those who have suffered, for, “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9).
Sovereign Lord, we lift up to You the struggles of Christians persecuted for following You in Afghanistan. We pray that You will direct the paths of Your people who are faced with the choice to convert to Islam, leave the country, or be executed as apostates. We thank You for congregations that are meeting, even though they must exercise the utmost secrecy. We ask for humanitarian aid to reach the country as it contends with acute hunger and poverty. Please provide for the Afghan people, especially Your Church, because we ask in the precious Name of Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Proverbs 16:9)
Twenty-six families were expelled from their home village in Chhattisgarh, India, after being ordered by village leaders and residents to leave their Christian faith. The families were forced to leave their homes in the village of Bharanda after a period of tension throughout June, including the disruption of two worship services. At the time of writing the families have been allowed to return to their homes, but tensions remain. “They have chosen to remain faithful to Jesus Christ,” said a Barnabas Aid contact. “Their commitment to their faith has encouraged other believers in the surrounding areas who are also facing various forms of persecution.” Praise God for this example of heartfelt faith, and pray for a peaceful resolution to the dispute.
At least eight Christians, including a pregnant woman, were severely injured when a crowd of extremists attacked a worship service in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. The congregation of between 20 and 30 people were holding their regular Sunday morning worship in the village of Sadrapal in May. Chhattisgarh is one of the Indian states with an anti-conversion law. Extremists often wrongly believe that such laws criminalize all conversions from Hinduism, or even that they outlaw any form of Christian worship. Ask the Lord to strengthen His people as they face violence and persecution. Pray that the authorities will act to protect those vulnerable to this kind of mob violence.
Praise God for a ruling earlier this year by the High Court of Chhattisgarh, India, that no official permission is required for Christians to hold worship or prayer meetings in their own homes. “It is a significant order that enables Christians to openly worship and practice their faith,” said a senior church leader in the state. The decision was made in response to a petition filed by two Christians after police sought to prevent them holding prayer meetings in their homes. Pray that this ruling will be taken seriously and lead to greater freedom for our brothers and sisters.
“We had lost everything during the violence – but this project helped us start again,” said a Christian in Manipur, north-eastern India, after the setting up of a pig farming initiative funded by Barnabas Aid’s supporters. Manipur has endured several years of ethnic and religious conflict, as well as severe poverty. “Now we have a hope through our farming work for a future steady income,” continued our brother. “My children can fully study in school with hope of a better livelihood than before.” Thank the Lord for His provision.
Praise God that 293 pastors, church leaders and Bible students in Sri Lanka received Barnabas-funded study Bibles. Many serve faithfully in rural and remote communities with few theological resources, making this gift an invaluable encouragement for preaching, discipleship and personal spiritual growth. Give thanks that God’s Word is equipping His servants to strengthen existing churches and plant new ones. Pray that these study Bibles will bear lasting fruit, helping believers grow in faith and enabling church leaders to proclaim the Gospel with wisdom, confidence, and hope. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
“Bhutan presents a highly restricted environment for Christian materials, making access to Bibles both difficult and limited,” says a Barnabas Aid project partner. “Many pastors and church leaders lack sufficient Biblical knowledge due to this scarcity, which affects their ability to teach and disciple effectively.” In Bhutan, where Christians make up less than 2% of the population, churches and individual believers suffer marginalization and legal restrictions on practising their faith. Please pray for a Barnabas-funded Bible distribution project to provide both children’s Bibles and study Bibles for believers in Bhutan.
Heavenly Father, we give thanks for those who work hard translating Your precious Word into multiple tongues, studying diligently and rightly dividing the word of truth. Thank You that the number of languages without the Scriptures is rapidly diminishing. We ask You to encourage these faithful translators as the Bible reaches more people groups. Please bless this vital work and those distributing the Bible to peoples long deprived of the Word in their native tongue. Cause the revelation of Your truth, especially in lands afflicted by poverty and persecution, to build Your Church, for we ask in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 2:15)
Thank the Lord that 98 young Christians from vulnerable families in Zimbabwe completed six months of practical training in phone and laptop repair. Many who had faced unemployment and limited opportunities have gained valuable skills to support themselves and serve their communities. Pray that the Lord will open doors for meaningful employment, strengthen these young believers in their faith, and use them as faithful witnesses wherever He leads them. As the Word of God assures us, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans”(Proverbs 16:3).
Praise God that 40 pastors and their families in the Bulawayo region of Zimbabwe are now among the beneficiaries of Barnabas Aid’s sustainable livestock project. Twenty-six pigs were delivered at the beginning of the project, and already they have produced 84 piglets. Each pastor has committed to passing on a piglet to another family. “Through this structured ripple effect,” says our partner, “the project is projected to reach 80 families in its first year alone. By the second year, that impact is expected to double.” Thank the Lord for this increase, and pray that the positive impact of this work will continue for many years.
Many children in Christian-majority Uganda are going without the education they need, owing to poverty and lack of opportunity. Only one in four children attend secondary school, and many young people miss out on gaining the skills and knowledge that they need for later life. Barnabas Aid is working with a Ugandan Christian NGO to support 130 Christian children to attend school. Among them are impoverished Ugandan children as well as refugees whose lives have been turned upside down by the horrors of war. Please pray for our young brothers and sisters, asking that they will grow in all knowledge and understanding – and most importantly in their knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A recent report on conditions in Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya, has exposed the extent of the abuse and violence endured by female refugees. The camp hosts thousands who have escaped conflict in Somalia, along with displaced people from several other African nations. “Dadaab is overwhelmingly Muslim, and non-Muslims are widely treated as unclean,” states the report. “Christian women in particular are assumed to be prostitutes.” Many Christian women feel they must dress and speak like Muslims to avoid harassment. Ask the Lord to sustain the faith of our sisters who live in such hardship. Pray for an improvement in conditions at Dadaab, so that all may live in dignity.
At the time of writing, around 19.5 million people in the Republic of Sudan face food insecurity. Among them are more than 100,000 enduring famine-like conditions. Sadly, this figure is expected to rise, owing to continuing fighting in Sudan and economic shocks caused by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. It has been three and a half years since the outbreak of civil war in Sudan, with no apparent end in sight. Pray for a peaceful resolution that will allow humanitarian needs to be met. Intercede especially for our Sudanese brothers and sisters who have long suffered persecution.
Between 30 and 40 Christians were killed by militants as violence once again flared in the Ethiopian region of Oromia in May. The gunmen also looted and burned the homes of Christians, along with a century-old church building. “Many faithful believers were unjustly killed and hundreds of our people were displaced from their homes,” said a senior church leader in the country. “This is a deeply sorrowful event that has caused immense grief to our church.” Pray for the Christians being targeted in Oromia, and all those in Ethiopia who have lived too long among those who hate peace (Psalm 120:6).
Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, we thank You that there is perfect peace in relationship with You. We bring before You those caught up in wars and conflict zones around the world – in Sudan, the Middle East, Myanmar, and many other countries. We pray for Your protection for the vulnerable, especially those who trust in You, forced to flee their homes and even their homelands to escape the conflict. We ask You to intervene to cause wars to cease and provide for those who have suffered loss of loved ones, homes, and livelihoods, and remind them of the One who is their abiding hope, for we ask in Your holy Name. (Isaiah 9:7; Psalm 46:9)
Christian women and girls in northern and Middle Belt Nigeria are at particular risk of severe abuses, according to a report published by human rights experts. These abuses include abduction, sexual violence, forced marriage, and forced conversion to Islam. In just one horrific example, a 16-year-old Christian girl was reported to have had her hand cut off after her family rejected a proposal of marriage from an Islamist militant. Pray that this report will lead to action by the Nigerian authorities and international bodies. Cry out to the Lord, who delivers the needy and the afflicted (Psalm 72:12).
“Tabitha,” a Nigerian Christian, was just 15 years old when she was taken away from her family. A Muslim man wanted to marry her, and refusing to take “no” for an answer he arranged for the Tabitha to be abducted and her religion officially changed to Islam. The authorities failed to act – indeed, the religious police had colluded in the crime. Thanks to a Barnabas Aid project partner, a ministry of Christian lawyers and law students, Tabitha was reunited with her family. Please pray for this continuing work of justice and kindness (Micah 6:8).
The Sahel region of West Africa remains desperately unstable, as Islamist terrorists continue to operate across Burkina Faso, Mali, south-western Niger, and the far north-west of Nigeria. At the time of writing, militants affiliated to Al Qaeda have resumed a blockade of Bamako, the capital of Mali. These militants are, according to one security expert, “increasingly the gravest strategic threat to West Africa,” with the potential to create a safe haven for Islamists from southern Algeria into central Nigeria. Pray that the plans of these terrorists will come to nothing. Cry out especially for Christians who are among those with the most to fear from Islamist rule.
Morocco is scheduled to go to the polls tomorrow (September 23) to elect a new House of Representatives. Laws that forbid both criticizing Islam and inciting anybody to leave Islam mean that sharing the Gospel in this Muslim-majority country may be considered an unlawful act. Converts from Islam can be ostracized by their families, denied employment, and left without any means of support. Because of the risk of abuse, many converts keep their faith secret. Unofficial gatherings such as “house churches” are monitored by the authorities and sometimes broken up by the police. Lift in prayer our brothers and sisters in Morocco, especially those who have left Islam. Ask God to strengthen the Church and enable believers to be witnesses of Christ’s love. Pray for wise government that respects the rights of all.
“This workshop is the fulfillment of a long-held dream,” said Theresa, one of the believers benefiting from Barnabas-funded tailoring workshops in Egypt. Many Christians in Egypt, particularly those from poor and marginalized communities, face economic hardship and limited employment opportunities because of discrimination and social pressures. Praise God that many vulnerable Christians have received vocational training and stable employment opportunities through three workshops equipped with sewing machines and essential tools. Pray that these businesses will flourish, providing lasting livelihoods for Christian families, and that the love of Christ will be seen through this ministry in their local communities.
Several Christians were left injured when a mob attacked a worship service in Egypt’s Minya Province in early July. The Christians were meeting in a building that they had recently designated as a church, with the knowledge of the authorities. Several people were arrested, including four Christians who were only released after they withdrew their complaint against their attackers. A 2018 ruling by the Egyptian government permits Christians to worship in unlicensed buildings while they await an official license. Pray for action to be taken to protect our brothers and sisters in Minya. Ask the Lord to comfort His people with the reminder that He “is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18)
Grant us, Lord Jesus, the capacity to stand, and even suffer with, our brothers and sisters in North Korea who risk their lives by following You. Please protect them as they meet in secret and fill them with courage wherever they go, to follow Your truth despite the risks. We intercede for those held in labor camps, that they will know the overwhelming power of Your love even through the harshest trials they endure. We pray for Christians practicing their faith in secret to know discernment in how to be lights in a dark world and be kept safe, for we ask in Your most holy Name. (Joshua 1:9; Matthew 5:14)
Praise God for the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, who has been released from detention and allowed to leave China. Pastor Jin arrived in Los Angeles, California, on July 4. He was among 30 church leaders arrested in October 2025, accused of “illegally using information networks.” Jin founded the Zion Church of Beijing in 2007. Its membership across several cities grew to 1,500. The church continued to operate online after it was banned from meeting in-person in Beijing in 2018. Pray that Pastor Jin will continue to recover from his experience. Intercede for those Zion Church leaders still in detention and others who may still face criminal charges. Ask the Lord to strengthen church leaders and all believers in China’s unregistered churches as they risk their safety and security to serve Him.
“They fear what they cannot control and don’t understand – or don’t want to understand,” said Gao Yingjia, a pastor from Zion Church, explaining why the Chinese authorities continue to harass unofficial churches. A report published in July stated that 10,000 people have been arrested in the past decade in an increasingly harsh crackdown on such churches. Ask the Lord to strengthen our brothers and sisters across China as they face increased pressure and persecution.
Christians in Nepal often face discrimination, social exclusion, and increasing pressure because of their faith, while laws restricting religious conversion can make sharing the Gospel difficult. In this challenging context, practical support can strengthen believers to remain and serve where God has called them. Praise God that five auto-rickshaws have provided sustainable income for Christian ministry workers and their families in Nepal. This practical support enables believers to remain in their communities rather than seeking work abroad, while continuing to serve the Church through disciple-making ministry. Pray that the Lord will bless these families with financial stability, protect them as they work, and use their faithful witness to draw others to Christ despite the pressures Christians face.
A cross overlooking the Ruby Valley in Dhanding, Nepal, was knocked over and broken in what appears to be an act of religious vandalism. “The cross served as a significant Christian landmark and was regularly used by churches and believers for mountain prayer gatherings and worship,” said a Barnabas Aid contact. Christians remain a persecuted minority in Nepal, treated with hostility and suspicion by Hindu nationalists. Pray that the believers in Nepal will be encouraged by the fact that the message of the cross, which cannot be broken or overturned, is the power of God for all who are being saved (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Seven pastors were convicted under the anti-conversion law of Madhya Pradesh, India, after a legal battle that lasted for more than two years. In a judgment delivered in mid-June, each pastor was given the maximum prison term of five years. They were first arrested in April 2024 after they were among the guests at a child’s birthday party. “May the Lord protect them, provide for their daily needs, strengthen their families, and surround them with His peace, comfort, and unfailing care,” said a Barnabas Aid project partner. “Pray that their testimony will remain strong and that they will continue to trust in God despite the challenges they face.” Please add your prayers to those of our brother.
A pastor in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh was arrested following a baseless accusation that he was bribing people to convert to Christianity. A complaint filed by members of extremist organisations alleged that Pastor Briton Phillips, who ministers in the city of Jabalpur, was offering cash payment to anybody who converted to Christianity. Pastor Briton was imprisoned for three days and charged under the state’s anti-conversion law before being released. Pray that justice will be done for Pastor Briton, and that the charges against him will be shown to be false. Ask the Lord – who loves justice and will not forsake His people (Psalm 37:28) – to protect him, the church that he serves, and the wider Christian community from attack and false accusation.