The Africa and Middle East team is always busy! Covering some of the most turbulent regions in the world, the team receives daily information and updates on situations of religious persecution in Nigeria, Eritrea, Sudan, Egypt and Iran, among others.

The team visits the region regularly to gather first-hand testimonies of religious persecution, interviewing victims and witnesses, and offering support and solidarity. Their research is used to write reports which we use to further the cause of religious freedom in Africa and the Middle East.

Throughout this week, please:

• Thank God for the commitment of the Africa and Middle East team, some of whom have been working for CSW for many years;
• Thank God that he has blessed CSW with staff who have a heart for justice;
• Pray that God would uphold them emotionally as they deal with information that is often graphic and upsetting;
• Thank God for the team’s successes in the past few years, such as the UN’s Commission of Inquiry into human rights in Eritrea;
• Pray for strong relationships to be built with partners in the region;
• Pray for productive meetings with diplomats at the UN, EU and Foreign and Commonwealth Office;
• Pray that the Holy Spirit would inspire the team with creative strategies for bringing religious freedom violations to the world’s attention.