• Pray that the European Parliament’s condemnation of Pakistan’s human rights violations will help Maria’s case.

• Pray for a greater awareness of Maria’s story and those of the countless other Christian girls in forced marriages to Muslim men.

European Parliament Stands with Pakistani Girl Fighting for Justice 

The European Parliament condemned Pakistan on July 7 for its violation of human rights, citing a 13-year-old Christian Pakistani girl who is still fighting for her freedom from the 30-year-old Muslim man who abducted her.

Maria Shahbaz was kidnapped in July 2025 by Shehryar Ahmad, who forced her to convert to Islam and married her against her will.

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• Pray for those affected by these latest attacks.

• Pray for an end to the violence that has overwhelmed the church in Nigeria for many years.

Fulani Extremists Kill 25 Christians After Nigerian Army Ignores Early Warnings

At least 25 Christians, including a 2-month-old, were killed in separate attacks during the weekend in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.

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• Pray for the faith of our Christian brothers and sisters in Bangladesh to be strengthened.

• Pray for their protection and for them to share the love of Christ with their neighbors and enemies.

Christians in Bangladesh Hold Onto Fragile Stability Following Elections

Following the August 2024 ousting of Bangladesh’s longtime leader Sheikh Hasina, the country fell into a power vacuum. Amid the ensuing upheaval, some people in this nation of 175 million (91% Muslim, 8% Hindu, and about half of 1% Christian) seized the opportunity to attack religious minorities.  

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• Pray for Christians in India who are forced to look for a new place to worship.

• Pray for the church in India as it faces increased scrutiny and oppression.

Maharashtra Orders Audit of Christian Properties

On July 8, the government of the Indian state of Maharashtra ordered a time-bound, statewide audit of land parcels owned by churches and Christian missionary organizations to identify illegal encroachments, disputed land titles, and unauthorized transfers dating back to the British era.

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• Pray that Bonhoeffer’s example and faithfulness to God’s kingdom inspire Christians in the U.S. and elsewhere in the West today.

• Pray for renewal within the Western church.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Cost of Discipleship in a Compromised Church

By the time we come to the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the question of persecution had taken on a new and deeply unsettling form. In earlier centuries, believers were often opposed by openly pagan rulers, hostile empires, or religious authorities who stood clearly outside the gospel. But in Bonhoeffer’s world, the crisis was more confusing and, in many ways, more dangerous.

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