TSUNAMI-HIT COUNTRIES
The death toll has surpassed 280,000 as bodies continued to to be recovered one month after the catastrophe. In Indonesia, which leads with over 228,000 deaths, the president has ordered a halt to counting corpses; instead workers are to focus on collecting data on refugees and those who are in hospital, and finding the missing.
The Indian Ocean Tsunami, caused by a submarine earthquake off Sumatra, travelled as far as and caused damage to East African countries including Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and Madagascar. The Asian countries affected are Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand and Malaysia. Two-thirds of Maldives was flooded as a result. Scientists said the earthquake was so powerful that it tilted the earth on its axis. The devastation was so great that according to reports from Banda Acheh, Sumatra, it could take could take a month to collect all the bodies in the area for burial.
Meanwhile, there are fears of human traffickers kidnapping orphaned children from refugee camps and selling them for cheap labour or the sex trade. The children also face sexual harassment at the camps. Praise God for the welfare groups that have raised these issues and pray for firm action to be taken to protect the children and women against the wicked.
In the midst of such great sufferings, our God is ever-present with those who are hurting. His compassion is demonstrated through the thousands of aid workers and the donations of concerned people. Pray for the newly formed association of the churches and Christian organisations in the affected countries as they channel money and aid to the victims so that the Christian witness will be a testimony of Christ’s love. Pray for the coordination, wisdom and strategy in the ministry of love.
Pray that this catastrophe will cause people to think about eternity and seek for the life that will never perish. Pray for God’s love to be manifested through the love and compassion of His servants in those countries that have thus far been hostile to the good news.
Pray also for effective, well-coordinated efforts by governments and international relief agencies so that aid will quickly reach the suffering. There has been an outpouring of sympathy from all over the world. Support is being raised via television and other media. Pray that all the money raised will actually get to the victims quickly. Pray against corruption on the part of irresponsible parties.
Continue to pray against any outbreak of diseases. Finally, pray for those ministering to the emotional needs of the victims. There will be long-term effects of this tragedy. Pray for emotional restoration.
THE WEST
European countries and Western nations in general are turning from their historic Christian roots and accepting a secularism opposed to religious thinking. It is now more difficult for Christians to freely express their faith and for Christian ministers to preach from the Bible without being criticised, fined, sued or even sent to prison.
In many post-Christian countries, persecution may soon be a stark reality as a Christian religious majority gradually becomes an unwelcome minority. While Christian cultural traditions may still be accepted, the moral and spiritual values are rejected as intolerant and old-fashioned. Modern-day attacks on believers take many subtle forms in the face of a growing aggressive and intolerant secularism. This is especially obvious at all levels of education.
Christians in the West need to be aware of the coming danger and prepare for it. The imperative is a true spiritual revival. Pray for: God to bring true repentance to the once-Christian and now-backslidden nations of the West; the churches in the West to stand firm for the Lord and godly values; and Christians to be strengthened by the Lord to speak God’s truth even when persecuted.
BHUTAN
The reclusive Himalayan nation of Bhutan, between India and Tibet, is an unassuming stronghold of repression of Christians. Though Bhutan promotes peace and harmony in lifestyle and culture it is systematically trying to marginalise, if not eliminate Christianity. Government and Buddhist authorities denounce Christianity as a threat to national culture and religion.
Harassed and persecuted, Bhutan’s Christian tiny minority faces constant challenges such as public beatings, employment discrimination, and refusal of basic utilities, business licences, identity cards, and even schooling. Most Christians worship secretly, fearing government reprisal.
Please pray for Bhutanese Christians amidst circumstances that test their faith, and that the light of the gospel will illumine the authorities, the monarchy, and Buddhist leaders. Pray for strength, encouragement, and wisdom to undergird Bhutan’s Christian community, asking that God will meet their daily needs; and for increased entrance by and openness to the gospel message, especially among the youths, some of whom are discontented with an agrarian way of life and desire a more materialistic lifestyle.
ERITREA
Continue to uphold our Eritrean brethren in prayer. On Dec 31, 2004 , 60 Christians from the Rema Charismatic Church in Asmara were arrested while celebrating the New Year in a pastor’s home. Over 400 Christians from the ‘illegal’ minority churches are imprisoned in Eritrea simply for their commitment to follow Jesus.
Other believers are in solitary confinement and many more of all ages suffer detention in overcrowded metal shipping containers rife with infectious diseases. Believers are tortured to try to make them renounce their faith. Eritrean authorities keep denying that any religious minorities are persecuted. Please pray for Eritrea and its suffering Church.
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