Source: www.csw.org.uk
Date: January 14, 2023
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
Jesus: the one who never changes, but has the power and grace to change everything. He is the one we look to each day, and even more so when we hear of the terrible injustice and suffering being perpetrated around the world.
Here are a few updates to keep in your prayers this week…
Pray for Myanmar/Burma
We are concerned for the wellbeing of Reverend Dr Hkalam Samson, the former president of the Kachin Baptist Convention, who was arrested on 5 December. Rev Dr Samson is one of Myanmar’s most prominent and outspoken Christian leaders, and an internationally respected advocate for religious freedom and human rights.
More than 16,600 people have been arrested since the military seized power nearly two years ago, ousting the democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Last month Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to a further seven years in prison by a military court. She was convicted of various charges which rights groups say are a sham. She now faces a total of 33 years in prison, and will likely spend the rest of her life behind bars.
Please pray for an outpouring of justice in these situations, and ultimately for an end to Myanmar’s brutal military regime. Christians and other religion or belief groups have been particularly targeted since the coup, as well as human rights defenders and pro-democracy protestors.
Find more prayer points in this week’s Prayer Diary.
Pray for Christians in China
Give thanks and continue to pray for an elder of Early Rain Church in Chengdu, who was released from prison on 9 December having completed a four-year sentence. Elder Qin Defu was arrested in 2018 alongside over 100 members of Early Rain, as part of an ongoing crackdown on the church. Among them was Pastor Wang Yi, who is still in prison serving a nine-year sentence. Church members have reported continued harassment in the years since the crackdown.
Please pray:
- For Chinese authorities to stop their targeting of Early Rain Church and ensure that Elder Qin can enjoy his freedom without further harassment.
- For Pastor Wang Yi to be allowed to meet regularly with his family members.