Next Saturday, 22 August, marks the International Day Commemorating Victims of Acts of Violence based on Religion or Belief. In countries across the globe different religious communities experience numerous violations at the hands of repressive authorities, dominant religious communities or tribes, or extremist groups. Join us this week in praying for all those who suffer violence for belonging to a particular faith community.

• Pray for Rev Canon Bayo James Famonure, his wife Naomi, and their two sons Adua and Victor. The family from Plateau State, Nigeria were shot in their home on 5 May, while they were praying in their sitting room. Thank God that none of them sustained lethal injuries. The attackers were from the Fulani tribe, and the incident follows a string of other attacks by armed Fulani groups on Christian communities in central Nigeria
• On 3 May authorities in Xiamen, China forcibly shut down a Sunday service at Xingguang Church, damaging the property and injuring several church members, with at least one person sustaining significant injuries. Pray for protection and healing for this Christian community.
• For the past decade large numbers of women affiliated with the Ladies in White movement in Cuba have been arbitrarily detained and – often violently – prevented from attending Sunday Mass. The women have, at times, been physically attacked by police and security agents. Despite suspending their activities and Sunday services under coronavirus lockdown restrictions, Ladies in White members continue to face harsh treatment at the hands of State Security. Several women were threatened and informed that they were not allowed to leave their homes, because there was no “truce” between the movement and the authorities. One woman was placed in a cell for four and a half hours before she was released and had to make her own way home. Ask God to sustain and strengthen these women in their faith.
• The Burmese Army, known as the Tatmadaw, has been responsible for widespread human rights violations targeting religious and ethnic minorities for decades. On 9 May, the Tatmadaw announced a ceasefire until the end of August, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the ceasefire excludes Rakhine and Chin states, which means that Rohingya Muslims and Chin Christians are still at risk. Please pray that the ceasefire would be extended to cover the entire country, and would be used as an opportunity for genuine peace-building.
• Three Christian families from a village in Chhattisgarh State, India were beaten and threatened with death for refusing to abandon their faith. The families were later expelled from the village and have taken refuge elsewhere, but still fear for their lives. Pray that God would keep them safe, dispel their fear, and fill them with his peace.

Lord Jesus Christ, you hear our cries when we are troubled and save us from distress. You, the Word-Made-Flesh, were sent by the Father to bring healing to the world. Protect all those who suffer violence on account of their faith and bring them the healing and comfort that you alone can provide. Amen.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. (Psalm 107:19-20)

Download a printable copy of this week’s Prayer Diary.