Indonesia has for centuries been known as a tolerant, pluralistic, multi-cultural society. But things are changing. Over the last year, religious intolerance has risen sharply. Churches are being closed, Christians, Ahmadi Muslims and other religious minorities are attacked, and an atheist has been thrown in jail for choosing not to have any religious beliefs.

God, thank You so much for the nation of Indonesia and its tradition of freedom and tolerance. Thank You that You gave the country such a diverse culture and population, and inspired them to live together in peace.

Ask God to keep Indonesian Christians strong in what CSW has been told is “a growing atmosphere of intimidation and violence”, despite the country’s history of open-mindedness. Ask that they would be given spiritual peace despite the hostility they see around them.

This week, please:

• Pray for courage for the ‘silent majority’ of Muslims who don’t approve of extremism but do nothing to challenge it.
• Pray for Alex Aan, the atheist who was imprisoned after declaring his atheism on Facebook. He was sentenced to two and a half years in jail in June.
• Lift up to God the GKI Yasmin church. The Supreme Court ruled that it should be allowed to re-open after being forced to shut down, but the local mayor is still keeping the church closed.
• Pray for the congregation of HKBP Filadelfia church, whose Sunday services are often prevented by radical Islamist mobs and police.
• Pray that the rising tide of religious extremism would be reversed. Meanwhile, ask God to protect everyone in Indonesia who is under threat simply because of their religious beliefs.