InChains brings you the news about the persecuted Church worldwide. It also brings you resources available for prayer, statistics, and more. Part of being the body of Christ is remembering those that are persecuted. “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” We need to remember and pray for those that are being persecuted, but we also need to pray for those that are doing the persecuting, that they would come to Christ. “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” InChains prays that you will use this knowledge to strategically and specifically pray.
BURKINA FASO
A church was targeted during a worship service on Sunday. Terrorists murdered at least 24 people and injured 18 more. There were also people kidnapped.
KENYA
Two Christians were singled out and executed on their way to Nairobi. Members of al-Shabaab forced the ferry to halt, despite the driver trying to get away, then singled out the Christians. A muslim man was also killed while trying to protect the Christians.
INDIA
Five Christians were arrested last week on false charges of forced conversion. They were held overnight and eventually released.
Christians arrested in May 2017, while taking kids to church camp, were accused of kidnapping and forced conversions. They have been acquitted, almost three years after the arrest.
IRAN
Three prisoners appealing their sentences will have their appeals reviewed on February 24th. All are requesting prayer.
LAOS
There are 13 Christians suffering from malnutrition because aid is being kept from them. During this drought, the government gives villages money and food to help them through, however, the local village is refusing to give any to Christians until they renounce their faith.
NIGERIA
It is important to note that there are many more killings, kidnappings, and injured victims than is reported here. Many instances of persecution are reported as “ethnic tensions” or “farmer/herder” actions. They are not reported as Muslim vs Christian. The two parties, in this instance, are the Fulani (Muslim) tribe and the Christians, but are rarely reported this way. In addition, the problems with Boko Haram (also bears the name Islamic State in the Western African Province – ISWAP) are so overwhelming that victims are rarely identified in the media. For the most part, the media is now only reporting casualties by location/attack However, ISWAP is known to target Christians. Because of the reporting challenges, InChains is only reporting those instances that are known to be on Christians. You can read an overview of the current state of Nigeria’s persecution (as an update to my book) here.
Rev. Fr. Oboh has been released.
PAKISTAN
Sneha, a 14-year-old girl, has been rescued and returned to her family. In January, she was abducted, assaulted multiple times, gang raped multiple times, forced into a false conversion and a false marriage. She has since been rescued, but her perpetrators remain at large.
RESOURCES
PRAYER SHEETS
Open Doors February Prayer Calendar.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide has a prayer sheet for the week.
REPORTS, BOOKS & MOVIES
A movie about the Free Burma Rangers is available to watch in theaters Feb 24th and 25th. Check out the info here.
Voice of the Martyrs has a Global Prayer Guide available for free.
OpenDoors released its 2020 World Watchlist Report.
If you would like to receive more frequent updates on Christian persecution, you can follow the Persecuted Church facebook page.
Keep up the good work, thanks!