APRIL/MAY 2011

May PRAYER
FORCE
(continued) May 9 | UZBEKISTAN The import of Bibles is
becoming increasingly difficult due to further legal
requirements. Please pray that the official import of

alert
Scriptures will remain possible in Uzbekistan.
used to go… to the house of God, with shouts of joy and
thanksgiving among the festive throng. (Ps. 42:4) May 10 | TAJIKISTAN Please pray for the Christian
May 5 | KENYA Open organizations in the country as the Ministry of Culture has
Doors is preparing to host issued an order to investigate non-Islamic organizations
in the country. Ask for wisdom for all concerned. Wisdom is
Prayer request bulletin for
a leadership consultation persecuted Christians worldwide
in a Muslim-dominant supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have,
region of Kenya during get understanding. (Prov. 4:7)
May. Please pray that the
Christians who attend the May 11 | MEXICO Pray for the believers in the
consultation will realize community of Tuxpan de Bolaños in Jalisco
the importance of being state. Our brothers are still in bondage because of the
pro-active in reaching out gospel. They are still excluded from community activities
to their Muslim neighbors. and are not allowed to leave their community for
Also, pray for unity among more than three days. If they do, they will lose all rights
Please pray for unity among the local to their lands and properties. Turn, O LORD, and deliver
the local Christians as Christians in Muslim-dominated Keny
a as
the church.
they work together to they work together to strengthen me; save me because of your unfailing love. (Ps. 6:4)
strengthen the church.
May 12 | QATAR Join us in prayer for a secret Qatari
May 6 | ETHIOPIA Some Christians in certain parts believer who dearly loves the Lord and hungers for
of southern Ethiopia feel they can no longer live in Qatari Christian friends with a Muslim background like
these areas as a result of continued threats against their he has. Pray for this brother; that the Lord will protect
lives. Let us pray for God’s comfort upon the remaining and strengthen him, and that he will be one of the first
believers in this region and that they will put their trust of many indigenous believers in Qatar. I long for your
in God. Even though I walk through the valley of the salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight. (Ps. 119:174)
shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Ps. 23:4)

May 7 | ETHIOPIA Please also pray for the Christians

in southern Ethiopia who have been forced into Islam.
Continue to pray for God’s intervention in the above
mentioned volatile situation, that the authorities will
For weekly prayer updates,
treat all citizens equally. call our Prayer Alert Line at
800-488-7729, or visit
May 8 | CENTRAL ASIA Please pray for all our
income-generating projects in the Central Asia region www.OpenDoorsUSA.org
with so much poverty, that they will be a real blessing Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord
and help people like “Rahmina” and “Gula” to make ends Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and
meet. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise the God of all comfort, who comforts us
preserves my life. (Ps. 119:50) Open Doors USA
P.O. Box 27001 in all our troubles, so that we can comfort
Santa Ana, CA 92799
www.OpenDoorsUSA.org
those in any trouble with the comfort we
ourselves receive from God. (2 Cor. 1:3-4)
A p ri l
April 16-17 | COLOMBIA Two leaders
of an indigenous Christian association
were threatened and now they cannot visit
some places because the police are waiting
for them. Please ask God for wisdom and
strength for these two men; that they will Pray for the Lord to send His workers to
know what to do and where to go. Since you Sudanese youth living in isolation from
other believers.
are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your
name lead and guide me. (Ps. 31:3)
April 18 | COLOMBIA Guerillas hardened their position
against the church in the southern region. Please pray for
the many pastors who have received threats if they continue
preaching in prohibited regions. “Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your
God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
(Deut. 31:6)
April 19 | BANGLADESH Believers who are former
Muslims struggle to make a living in their communities.
They are seldom hired because of their Christian faith. So
Open Doors implemented a program that extends livelihood
assistance to enterprising believers. Please pray for the Lord
to prosper our beneficiaries in 2011.
April 20 | BHUTAN In remote areas that are
predominantly Hindu or Buddhist, the believers experience
criticism, humiliation and alienation from their neighbors.
Please uphold them in prayer, so that they stand firm in the
faith when they go through these difficulties. “But as for you,
be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” (2
Chron. 15:7)
April 21 | BRUNEI Many of the believers who are Brunei
Malays are isolated from the rest of the body of Christ. They
are susceptible to discouragement, eventually causing
some of them to return to their old faith. Today, please ask
God to preserve their pure faith and to give them strength
to persevere. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial
because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of
life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)
April 22 | INDONESIA Young believers among the
Sundanese people in West Java are isolated from each other.
They seldom have ways to be mentored in the biblical
principles concerning relationships. Pray
for the Lord to send His workers to the
Sundanese youth.
April 23-24 | LAOS Young churches
in the provinces of Laos are struggling
because of weak leadership, coupled with
tremendous persecution. Some churches
are without a pastor to lead them. Please
remember them in your prayers today;
ask God to sustain them and for more of
His workers to be sent to these areas to
help these struggling churches. Therefore,
among God’s churches we boast about your
perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are
enduring. (2 Thes. 1:4)
April 25 | MALAYSIA Malay locals are sometimes drawn
to the love of Christ through television, radio and randomly
distributed literature. After embracing the gospel, they are
clueless on what to do next. Specifically pray for God to
May
connect these new believers to mature Christians who are
willing to mentor them in the faith. Bind up the testimony and
seal up the law among my disciples. (Is. 8:16)
April 26 | MALDIVES It is virtually impossible for Christians
in Maldives to gather as a church for worship and fellowship.
Greeting one another in public places poses risks for them.
Although discouraging, the Lord is able to sustain His children
in such tough circumstances. Let us pray for this to be true
for our brothers and sisters in Maldives. Therefore, brothers, in
all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you
because of your faith. (1 Thes. 3:7)
April 27 | MALDIVES Maldives boasts of having a 100%
Muslim population. Practice of religions other than Islam is
prohibited, even though its leaders committed
to uphold the UN Universal Declaration
of Human Rights. This year, let us pray for
breakthroughs with religious freedom in
Maldives. For the creation was subjected to
frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will
of the one who subjected it, in hope that the
creation itself will be liberated from its bondage
to decay and brought into the freedom and glory
of the children of God. (Rom. 8:20-21)
April 28 | MYANMAR Because of severe
poverty, some believers in Myanmar get
Pictured here is a local church in severe
involved in church work for financial reasons. Be Please pray for believers living
poverty in this coun
that as it may, we can still ask the Lord to work in their hearts.
Let us pray for God’s love to ultimately compel them to serve
Him and His church.
April 29 | SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES Besides adult
believers, Open Doors’ literacy program is benefitting many
Christian children too. Their hopes are restored when they
learn to read and write. Please continue praying for God’s
wisdom and strength to be with the coordinators, teachers and
students of this program. It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way perfect. (Ps. 18:32)
April 30 – May 1 | SRI LANKA This year, Open Doors
will provide monthly support for 15 Christian teachers who
will work in Sri Lankan schools. Through them, elementary
Christian students can fulfil their academic requirements to
progress to high school. Pray for the Lord to sustain these
teachers and for Christ to be seen through their lives. But let all
who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread
your protection over them, that those who love your name may
rejoice in you. (Ps. 5:11)
May 2 | VIETNAM Children’s camps will be held across
Vietnam this summer. Thousands of children flock to these
events with much anticipation. Many of them walk long
distances to reach the campsites, while some sneak out of their
homes just to attend. Let us pray for God’s hand of protection
over these children.
May 3 | VIETNAM Despite language
barriers and travel difficulties, “Philip” started
a small tribal church in an isolated village in
Central Vietnam. Nine new believers were
added to his church last year. We praise God
for this testimony! Please continue praying
for God’s protection upon Philip and his
growing congregation.
May 4 | ERITREA Please join us in prayer
for the Christians who continue to meet
in Myanmar. in secret. Pray for their protection and
continued spiritual growth. These things
try.
I remember as I pour out my soul: how I