Pray for countries experiencing civil unrest

Living in a place where there is ongoing civil unrest is difficult for everyone, including GFA-supported workers and the believers in their churches. Recently, a GFA leader was caught in riot while picking his children up from school. Another missionary was arrested and accused of being associated with the Maoists (also known as the Naxalites) in his village. Pray that God would put His angels around the missionaries and believers to protect them from harm.

Bridge of Hope centers are generally an oasis of learning and God's love. But, unfortunately, the centers can be literally caught in the crossfire of the unrest all around them. Children who live in these volatile areas also fear being kidnapped and forced to serve in armed combat. Pray that God would protect the children.

While most of the violence is not directed specifically at Christians, their churches and homes, as well as GFA-supported Bible colleges, have been targeted by protestors or singled out by arsonists. They need prayers for protection from this type of violence.

Civil unrest in South Asia often takes the form of a bandh, a type of strike used to intimidate people. The groups that call for the bandhs threaten harm to any business owner who opens up shop on the day of the strike. Protestors often block highways and shut down public transportation. This combination brings normal activity to a halt for days on end. Bandhs make it difficult for missionaries to move about freely and affects the believers as they try to go to church. Bandhs have also caused GFA film teams to be stranded.

GFA-supported missionaries understand that rebels need to hear that Jesus loves them. Several GFA-supported missionaries can really minister to insurgents because they were once rebels themselves.

While massive civil unrest may seem overwhelming, all is not lost. God has answered prayer. Nepal was once a country in crisis due to civil unrest, but much has changed there.