We read in Acts 2:9 that the Spirit baptized believers in Jerusalem spoke about of the mighty deeds of God in the languages of the Parthians, Medes and Elamites. The descendants of these three ethnic groups still form a significant part of the Iranian population. Unfortunately, the early Gospel preaching never deeply penetrated Iranian society, and later Islam became the predominant religion. While the Islamic Revolution of 1979 has lost much of its appeal, most Iranians have very little opportunity to hear the Gospel.

People Groups of Iran

There are over 65 different people groups in Iran, a country that is 99 per cent Muslim. Less than a dozen ethnic groups in Iran have known believers among them.

The largest group is the Persians, numbering about 30 million. Eleven million people are from an Azeri background; they live mostly south and west of the Caspian Sea. Then there are the closely related Turkic Azeri, Turks of Khorasan and Turkmen of the north, as well as the 3 million Mazanderanis. The New Testament has recently been translated into Azeri.

2/3 under 30 Years Old in Iran

Other significant people groups include the Kurds in the northwest (5 million) and the Baluch in the southeast (623,000). There are few known believers among them. There are also the partly nomadic tribes who live in the Zagros Mountains of southwestern Iran: the Luri (5 million), Bakhtiari (1.15 million) and Qashqa'i (960,000). Many are illiterate and speak unwritten languages.

Flag of Iran

Map of Iran

Another important element of Iranian society is that two-thirds of Iran's 70 million people today are under 30 years of age, and half are under 20 years.

For more information about Iran, see the following websites: www.persianwo.org/, www.farsinet.com and www.shalizar.net.

Pray for the Muslims in Iran:

* Pray for a Christian fellowship to be established in all the ethnic groups of Iran.

* Pray for people to meet Christ in each of the 28 provinces of Iran, from the Kurds in northwest Iran to the Baluch in the southeast.

* Pray for the partly nomadic tribes (Luri, Bakhtiari and Qashqa'i). Pray for the effectiveness of recently developed radio broadcasts in their dialects.

* Pray that God would raise up Christian leaders in every major town and city of Iran.

* Pray that the Gospel message might penetrate into the remote villages of rural Iran.

* Pray for indigenous worship styles to be birthed and worship leaders to be raised up within the emerging churches.

* Pray especially for the youth of Iran to know God and be used by Him to take the Gospel of Christ to their nation. Pray for the younger generation to find their place and role in society.

* Bibles are in short supply within Iran. Pray for innovative and effective ways of distributing God's Word. Pray for the impact of literature already distributed and that banning of Christian literature ministries might be ended.

* Pray for the authorities of Iran, including political leaders, local authorities, policemen, and imams, that they might come to know Christ and have wisdom to rule their land with righteousness and justice.

* Pray that Christian Internet sites dedicated to Iran will draw Iranians to Jesus Christ.

Background on Iran (World Factbook)

Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and the shah was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority nominally vested in a learned religious scholar. Iranian-US relations have been strained since a group of Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held it until 20 January 1981. During, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces between.

Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism for its activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the world and remains subject to US economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued involvement. Following the elections of a reformist president and Majlis in the late 1990s, attempts to foster political reform in response to popular dissatisfaction floundered as conservative politicians prevented reform measures from being enacted, increased repressive measures, and made electoral gains against reformers. Elections in 2009 caused protests and riots. Additional protests in March 2011 failed to elicit significant participation largely because of the robust security response, although discontent still smolders.

Economy of Iran

Relatively high oil prices in recent years have enabled Iran to amass nearly $60 billion in foreign exchange reserves, but have not eased economic hardships such as high unemployment and inflation. Private sector activity is typically small-scale workshops, farming, and services. Iran continues to suffer from double-digit unemployment and inflation - inflation climbed to a 28% annual rate in 2008. Underemployment among Iran's educated youth has convinced many to seek jobs overseas, resulting in a significant "brain drain."

About Iran

Population: 77,891,220 (July 2011 est.) World rank #18

Life Expectancy at Birth: 70.06 years. World rank #146

Ethnic groups: Persian 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%

Religions: Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 9%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 2%

Languages: Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%

Literacy: 77% -- Male: 83.5%, Female: 70.4%

School life expectancy: 13 years

Testimonies from Iran - GodTube Video

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In AD 818 Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (Ali Reza) the seventh descendant of the Islamic prophet Mohammed was poisoned and buried in the small town which later became the city of Mashhad in Northeastern Iran. Ali Reza was known for his piety and he is now revered by Iranian Shi’a Muslims. He was the eighth Imam (head spiritual leader) of Shi’a Islam. Some considered him leader of all Muslims. His life and position made his tomb a sacred place for pilgrims. Over ten million people (mostly Iranians) visit his tomb each year.

Mashhad has grown significantly during recent years. Large malls and super markets as well as department stores, parks and other attractions have popped up in the city. Agricultural and industrial activity has boomed during the past decades in suburban areas. Mashhad has become the second largest city in Iran with a population of about 2.5 million people.

No one really knows how many people in Mashhad believe in Jesus as their saving king. All of them are under the threat of government persecution. One of Iran’s leading Protestant pastors from Mashhad was executed by hanging in December 1990 after a sharia court (an Islamic Court) condemned him. Even now many other believers from Mashhad have suffered for their faith. The vast majority of people in the city have very little understanding of the Gospel. Happily, the number of Iranian believers continues to grow even during persecution.

Flag of Iran

Map of Iran

Prayer Starters:

• Scriptures to meditate on and to proclaim in prayer: Acts 7:55-60, Luke 23:34, Luke 11:4.
• Pray for the millions of people in this city who do not know the living God. Even if they have heard much about the God of Abraham through Islamic traditions and the Qur’an, most of them still know very little of the true God by personal experience. They are far from receiving forgiveness and new life through the Messiah.

Testimonies

From Timo in Darfur

You wouldn't ever guess that he is someone called by God to reach his own people. He looks like any other young Sudanese... eating like all the others, moving around on transport like all the others, even wearing the traditional Muslim ‘jalabiyya’ like most Muslims in Darfur. But Timo is a light in the darkness. He brings Living Water to people in a dry and weary land. He is reaching out to those in this war-torn area.

The refugee camps spread for miles around the capital city of Darfur. Most days, Timo wakes early and prepares something to eat with his house-mate Abdo. He pulls the long white ‘jalabiyya’ over his head and place the small white ‘tagiyya’ on his head. He walks to the bus station with many others, waits in a long time for the right bus, and then pays a few precious coins for his ride to the edge of town. The bus unloads at the guarded gate of the refugee camp. People wander in and out, many of them being stopped for questioning or to be searched. If Timo were white, he would have a hard time clearing security. If he announced that he was bringing the Gospel message inside the camp walls, he would most certainly not be allowed. But Timo blends right in... and no one can see the Bibles he is carrying underneath the loose outer garment.

He has come to disciple the believers in the camp. He makes this journey as often as he can to meet together with new believers who would have no other way to learn the word of God. Because of this humble, obedient Sudanese servant named Timo... light is being spread amongst the lost in Darfur.

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More than 830,000 Khorasani Turks live in the northern part of the Khorasan province (northwest of Mashhad). Khorasan is an important agricultural area and most Khorasani Turks are farmers. They use both traditional and modern irrigation methods to produce wheat, barley, rice, cotton, sugar beets, potatoes, alfalfa, melons, and caraway. Sheep, goats, and cows provide Khorasani Turk families with milk, butter, oil, and meat. They are skillful craftsmen of jewellery, dolls, and glassware. They also weave beautiful rugs, cloth, and carpets known for their exquisite designs. Khorasan is Persian and means "Land of the Rising Sun."

The Khorasani Turks are 100 per cent Muslim, and their society is organized around traditional Muslim rules. At the present time, there are no known Khorasani Turk believers. Living in a very remote corner of the world, they are currently without Gospel resources in their own language, and there is no specific effort to implant believing congregations among them.

Flag of Iran

Map of Iran

Prayer Starters:

• Pray that God will open doors for Christian businessmen and others to share Christ with the Khorasani Turks.
• Ask God to raise up qualified linguists to translate the Bible into the Khorasani language.

Healing Needed

While much attention is given to healing of relationships between the faiths, it is interesting that many physical healings are also happening in the Muslim world right now. It is clear in the Gospels that Jesus healed many people. Some of these healings are so spectacular that whole towns were in awe of God. Other healings are less obvious and Jesus Himself commanded certain people not to speak of their healing publicly. May God raise up multitudes of believers in the Muslim world to be used by God in healing. It is not so much that spectacular healings or big name ministries are needed; Praying for the sick and expecting healing should be fairly normal for believers.

Prayer Starters:

• Meditate on these texts and proclaim them in prayer: Matthew 10:1 and 8; Luke 9:2; 10:9
• Thank God for the many healings which have been reported from the Muslim world. This has been a positive witness for the Gospel. Pray for an abundance of faith (James 5:14-15).
• Health workers are needed especially in Africa and Asia. Pray the Lord would send the missions trained workers.

Testimony from Laouali from Nigeria

I was Muslim and I went to a Qur’anic school in Kano, Nigeria for three years. I even studied the history of Jesus through some references in the Qur’an. When I arrived back home from my studies I started to have relationships with some practising Christians. My father and my brothers became suspicious of me and wanted to send me back to the leader of the Qur’anic school. But when I refused to go the school leader came to me. My family promised me money for business and even a marriage if I would break off all relations with believers in Jesus but I did not listen to them. Having seen the ‘Jesus’ film I thought that I might even be able to deceive the Christians as a type of “secret agent” for Islam but I really did meet the Messiah myself. My family pushed me out of my home and happily some believers took me in for a whole year until I went to a Bible School. Now I am a pastor.

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The Mazandarani speakers of Iran number between 3 and 4.5 million people who live mainly in the Mazandaran province and neighbouring provinces bordering the Caspian Sea, in northern Iran. (The Caspian Sea is actually called the Khazar Sea or Mazandaran Sea in Persian.) Mazandaran province is divided into two parts: the coastal plain and the Alborz Mountain Range, both providing beautiful natural landscapes.

The Mazandarani language is related to the neighbouring Gilaki language and also to Persian (Farsi), which is the official language of Iran. The more educated Mazandarani can read Farsi well. This people is almost 100% Shi’a Muslim, and Islam has been present in this province for about 1,300 years. In Iran it is a capital offence to convert from Islam to another religion. The full weight of this law is seldom applied, but a Muslim convert can certainly expect persecution from family and the local community, as well as economic hardships as a result of exclusion from certain occupations, business options and government benefits.

The Followers of Jesus:

There are a number of small cell churches and scattered believers throughout the region. In addition there are individual Mazandarani believers in many places around the world among the four million Iranians who have sought refuge in other countries. Most Mazandarani believers readily recognize the benefits of audio materials in their language and are eager to promote Scripture translation activity. This work is in the early stages and most of the four gospels are in first draft. It may be possible to use a computer adaptation to make a Mazandarani translation from Scriptures in a related language. Radio and satellite broadcasts are being planned. Training and discipleship of believers is being done discretely with small numbers of people in Iran.

Mazandaran Lifestyles

About 50% of the Mazandarani retain the traditional lifestyle of farming, raising cattle and breeding horses, with some carpet weaving being done by the women. The others are engaged in various manufacturing and commercial enterprises. The Mazandarani are among the more highly educated and progressive of the peoples of Iran. In the 1970’s, reforms brought in large-scale processing and distribution of agricultural products, manufacturing and investment. An oil boom brought new businesses in cement, cotton and textile industries. Fisheries developed on the coast.

Flag of Iran

Map of Iran

Prayer starters:

* Pray for receptive hearts towards the Gospel

* Pray for the few Mazandarani believers to grow in faith and develop ministry skills, and to becoming increasingly active and effective in witnessing discretely within the restrictions of their hostile environment.

* Pray for spiritual and physical protection of the believers (several have endured persecution).

* Pray for the Mazandarani Scripture translation team and their work.

Video: Sights of Mazandaran- North Iran [3:30]

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The name "Aimaq" (the Mongolian word for tribe) refers to the tribal peoples living in the largely barren and mountainous region of western Afghanistan and northeastern Iran. The Aimaq are actually a group of up to 20 smaller tribes which have historically linked themselves together through alliances and marriage.

The most numerous tribes are the Taimani, Char Hazara, Jamshidi, Firozkuhi and Timuri (remember Revelation 7:9). Tribalism dominates so much that local customs and concepts of honour and shame are more important than Islamic or state law. Disputes tend to be settled by tribal rather than by government authorities.

As a result of various migrations and invasions, the ethnic make up of the Aimaq is one of the greatest admixture of people anywhere (the ethnic traits of Persians, Mongols, Turks, Greeks, Huns and Arabs are all present). The languages spoken by the Aimaq people could generally be described as Dari (Afghan eastern Farsi) which also contains Turkic and Mongolian words.

Semi-Nomadic

This semi-nomadic people spend the spring and summer in the mountains with their herds of sheep and goats. In fall and in winter they move to their villages where they weave carpets of traditional design, which differ according to each clan. They raise wheat, grapes, rice, barley, oats, melons, and vegetables, sometimes with primitive hoes and wooden plows. Agriculture is still considered only a secondary activity in their culture, and a man's wealth is determined by the size of his herds. Some Aimaq, like many other Afghans, have been significantly involved in the Afghan opium drug trade.

Aimaq women have exceptional freedoms when compared with others in rural Afghanistan. Women sit with men while talking, even if strangers are present. Often girls are not married until about age 18 and are free to reject a groom proposed by their father.

Sunni Muslim

The Aimaq are largely illiterate Sunni Muslims, yet the veneration of deceased Muslim holy men is significant. There are few if any known followers of Jesus among the Aimaq. Various Christian radio broadcasts have been done in Dari and Farsi, however, the extent to which these broadcasts are even received by the Aimaq in Afghanistan is not known.

Flag of Afghanistan

Map of Afghanistan

Prayer Starters

* Almost everything needs to be done to reach these people with the Gospel. Pray for qualified believers to take the message, various media tools and open doors (Luke 10:2; 2 Thessalonians 3:1).

Afghanistan’s Peoples

The great majority of Afghanistan’s 27 million people are Muslims. Most of them have little or no access to the Gospel. Of the 10 largest ethnic groups in Afghanistan, only four have portions of the scriptures available in their native tongue. Very few ethnic groups have Christian broadcasts or the Jesus Film available in their language. Possibly 85% of Afghans have never heard the Gospel.

Video: Life after the Taliban [2:29]

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The Bakhtiari language is used across generations at home and in commerce, but many Bakhtiari also speak Persian. There are about 350,000 monolingual Bakhtiari speakers, especially among older people and women.

Like the majority of Iranians the Bakhtiari are Shi'a Muslims. There are just a few small cell churches and scattered believers throughout the region. In addition there are small numbers of Bakhtiari believers in certain places around the world. Some initial Bible translation work has begun in the United Kingdom.

Flag of Iran

Map of Iran

Prayer Starters

* May God soften the hearts of the Bakhtiari people towards the followers of Jesus so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.

* Pray with a prayer partner for intercessors to be raised up for the Bakhtiari people.

* Pray for the development of suitable ministry materials and means in the Bakhtiari language including: Scripture translations, radio broadcasts and the “Jesus” film.

* Pray that Bakhtiari speakers who are already believers will develop strong ministry skills and become effective in reaching out to their people.

Gospel for nations ...

Jesus has told us that the Gospel will be preached to all the nations before the end of this present age (Matthew. 24:14). In Greek: the word nations in the text is “ethnos,” which is related to the English word ethnic, as in “ethnic group.” These groups have common ancestors, history, language, customs and practices.

Religious Affiliations: World Ethnic Groups
Christianity: 5,923 | 37%
Muslim: 3,109 | 20%
Ethnic Religions: 2,963 | 19%
Hinduism: 2,324 | 15%
Buddhism: 481 | 3%
Other / Undefined: 887 | 6%
Total: 15,687 | 99%
Mission Frontiers Magazine, March / April 2007

There are over 245 Muslim people groups of over 100,000 population which are completely unreached and for whom no one is actually engaged in proclaiming the Gospel.

Video: Bakhtiari Tribe Iran

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About the City

Isfahan is one of the oldest cities in Iran, going back about 2,500 years. It is located in West Central Iran at the edge of the Zagros Mountains about 420 km south of Tehran and 480 km north of Shiraz. Isfahan was the capital of the Safavid Empire from 1598 - 1722. The city experienced a type of "golden age" as it was beautified and enlarged during this period.

The Fame of Isfahan

Every year tens of thousands of Iranians and tourists from many nations visit the city of Isfahan. Very often they come to admire the beautiful Safavid period architecture and old gardens. Isfahan is famous for, amongst other things, the early 16th century bridges that span the Zayandeh River. The Imam Mosque on the Imam Khomeini Square is a magnificent example of Islamic architecture at its finest.

Christianity in Isfahan

Today there are very small numbers of Christians from a Muslim background in almost all major Iranian cities, including Isfahan. The overwhelming majority of the Iranian population is Shiite Muslim. Few believers reveal their true thoughts about Christ publicly because of potential and actual persecution.

What does God see when he looks at Isfahan?

Flag of Iran

Map of Iran

Certainly God sees the beautiful buildings, but he sees even more beauty and craftsmanship. He also sees the human beings made in his image. He knows the names of every person in the city. He knows where they live. He knows their lives. He knows their pains, their worries, and their joys. He knows all that the future could possibly bring to them. He knows and he cares. They are his creation. He wants them to be woven into the fabric of the new creation that is in Christ Jesus. See (Psalm 8:1-9 especially verse 5, Heb. 2:5-15, and Ephesians 2:10).

Pray for Muslims in Isfahan, Iran:

There are hundreds and probably thousands of people with the names listed below living in Isfahan. Name these groups of people before the Lord, asking him to bring them and the city to salvation. Ask the Lord "to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in the Messiah." (Acts 26:18)

Men:
Mohammed
Hassan
Ali
Hussein
Rasheed

Women:
Fatima
Roxanne
Soraya
Jasmine
Khadija

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The Luri of Iran are an unreached people group

Extending 1,000 kilometers (700 miles) southward from Turkey to southern Iran, the Zagros mountains are home to one the most unreached people groups in the world, the Luri of Iran. During the 7th century, the Luri were known as a war-like people and their region served as a no-mans land between the Medes and the Persians.

Today, the Luri are divided into several main groups including the Pusht Kuh, which means "behind the mountain", and the Peesh Kuh, meaning "in front of the mountain". These groups are then divided into kinship groups and tribes. Traditionally, each tribe is headed by a hereditary chief or khan. Their role is to ensure peace and security by maintaining a balance of power between the various sub-tribes, called Oulads. An Oulad varies from 3 to 8 households.

An important cultural aspect of the Luri is its rich tradition of folklore and story telling. One important piece of poetry, "the Book of Kings" glorifies cultural heroes with tales of honor, loyalty and bravery. Almost all Luri are Shiite Muslims.

How the Luri of Iran live

More than half of the Luri are nomadic pastoralists of sheep and goats. During winter they migrate to the low-lying pastures and live in more permanent dwellings made of mud bricks and stone. During summer, they move to the high mountain pastures. For these months they live in black tents made of goat hair.

Flag of Iran

Map of Iran

Development and literacy have been costly for the Luri, as the only opportunity for education results in long periods of isolation for the children from their families and their culture. Presently there are no Christians working among the Luri and no translation of the Bible. To reach the Luri of Iran it will take men and women willing to face the harsh realities of this remote region of the world.

Pray for the Muslim Luri in Iran:

* Pray that God will call workers forth who will work and live among the Luri. Pray for the implementation of strategies to effectively reach the Luri.

* Pray for the children who are separated from their families to have an opportunity to hear the Gospel.

* Jesus speaks of the characteristics of a good shepherd. Pray that the Luri will one day know the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-15).

* Pray for the translation of the Bible in the Luri language.

Note

There are now Luri believers and Luri scriptures - also the Jesus film in Luri.
See http://www.luripeople.com/LuriLove/ .

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Interested in Islam in Iran?

A typical young Iranian is intelligent, charming, interested in everything Western, but not very interested in Islam. Many Iranian young people long for freedom. Unfortunately, the term 'freedom' is often defined by how Western media sees the term - which essentially means that almost anything is acceptable (this is not God's perspective). Today, more than half of Iran's population is under 25 years old. Several student movements have been repressed in recent decades, slowly pushing the young generation towards apathy. Some have largely lost hope in politics and religion; many have fled reality through drugs.

The Christian Witness in Iran

A decision for Jesus is of great consequence for Iranians, since missionary activities are strictly forbidden in Iran. The threat of death is real to an Iranian who converts to any other belief. Despite this, God is building His kingdom in Iran, especially through house churches. "Muslims in Iran are coming to faith in Christ by the thousands," according to reports of the organisation Open Doors. One Iranian pastor comments: "In the 1980s, we rejoiced over two or three new believers each month. In the 1990s, we were impressed when we heard about a group of new believers. Today, we are just somewhat surprised to discover an entire new underground church."

Flag of Iran

Map of Iran

Remarkable things are also happening among the 4-5 million Iranians who live outside Iran. Many are refugees who were forced to leave Iran. Thousands have come to Christ, and Iranian fellowships have sprung up in many countries throughout Europe and North America, as well as in other countries such as Turkey and Australia. A new evangelistic Iranian film called The Tune of Nostalgia has been produced and is now being distributed among the Iranian diaspora. It describes the hardships of Iranian refugees in Europe.

Pray for the Muslims in Iran:

* Pray that the politicians and religious leaders of Iran will respect basic human rights and act for the well-being of their people.

* Pray that disillusioned Muslims in Iran will find the Lord.

* Pray for the protection of believers from a Muslim background.

* Pray for the fruitfulness of satellite TV broadcasts and internet evangelism efforts.

* Pray for the growth and development of the many Iranian fellowships scattered throughout many countries.

* Pray for the distribution of Bibles, books and DVDs such as the film The Tune of Nostalgia.

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The Kurds are the largest ethnic group without a land

The Kurds are the largest ethnic group in the world without their own homeland and the fourth largest block of people in the Middle East. For more than 4,000 years the Kurds have inhabited the Zagros Mountains, the Mesopotamian Plains, Taurus Mountains and Mt Ararat. This rugged mountainous region has provided a sanctuary from oppression and is their heartland, the single most important natural feature of Kurdistan. Kurdistan is not found on most maps but comprises the area of eastern Turkey, eastern Syria, northern Iraq, north-west Iran and southern Azerbaijan.

Exact estimates of the Kurdish population is difficult and contentious, in some countries it is politically beneficial to minimize their numbers, while many Kurdish political groups feel it necessary to exaggerate their numbers. In Turkey, Kurds are not counted as Kurds in population census yet they comprise almost 30% of the total population.

The Kurds are a people with no friends

Converted to Islam in 7th century, the Kurds are essentially Sunni Muslims yet they adhere to a diversity of tribal and family structures and local religious practices. History traces the Kurds as descendants of Indo-European tribes who settled in the mountainous regions of where they are found today. They are thought to be the direct descendants of the Medes and have retained their identity throughout the Ottoman and Persian empires. The Kurds are a significant people group in the Middle East and their aspirations for national identity will continue to be strongly expressed.

Traditionally a pastoral and nomadic people, yet today, most Kurds live in cities and large villages. However, Kurdistan remains a land rich in agricultural and natural resources.

A people faced with continual conflict from within and from without. In recent years many lives have been lost through these uprising and invasions and they often refer to themselves as a people with no friends. Enemies on all sides, hated and despised by their own fellow Muslims. These people need to know of a God who loves them so much, that he has sent His only Son as an atonement for their sins.

Prayer Guide for the Kurds

* Pray for these people to receive a revelation of the healing power of the Cross, and the grace and mercy of a God who loves them.

* Pray for the children and youth of this generation to want peace, and to be willing to make every effort to restore their lands.

* Pray for the Kurds, especially the leaders of each community to find Jesus and to be able to lead their families to know Him also.

* Ask God to raise up peacemakers, where there is hatred, may they bring peace. Pray for wise and just leaders to be raised up across all these communities and political fractions.

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