Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, has a long history of respecting other faiths. Sadly, the recent rise of militant Islamists is eroding this proud tradition, and many of the nation’s minority faiths are suffering the consequences.

CSW’s landmark report outlining the challenges facing Indonesia if freedom of religion is not respected will be publicly launched on 25 Feb. Our aims are to highlight religious freedom concerns in the run-up to the elections later this year, to raise the issue with Parliamentarians and influencers at the EU, UN and in the US Congress and to urge the international community to hold the Indonesian government to account on religious freedom issues.

This week, please pray:

• Pray for God to protect Pastor Bernhard, whose church has been left traumatised by violent attacks;
• Pray that the government would intervene when radical groups act against those of minority faiths;
• Pray for churches living in fear of being closed down; pray that God would give them peace and protection;
• Ask God to provide alternative places to meet for churches whose properties have been forcibly closed by the authorities;
• Pray for church leaders as they try to lead their congregations in very difficult circumstances. Pray particularly for Rev Palti Panjaitan, leader of HKBP Filadelfia church. The church has been refused permission to build and some members of the church want to pay bribes to enable this to happen rather than risk the church having to close down. Rev Palti needs wisdom to deal with infighting within the congregation.
• Give thanks for the recent release of Alex Aan, who was imprisoned for expressing his atheist convictions online;
• Pray that the Indonesian Government would allow the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief to visit the country.