Terrorists on the move in Nigeria
Last Saturday, Boko Haram showed the world once again that Islamist extremism is not just a religious issue. Yes, Christians have been targeted over and over by the blood thirsty militias operating in Northern Nigeria. But targeting day labourers for hurting their pride is not beneath them. A group of labourers gathering the rice harvest in Borno state in the
Continue ReadingYoung Nigerians and their cry for justice
Nigeria has been in the news this past week with nation-wide protests and unrest. For those far away, this may seem like yet a typical African problem. A corrupt government, lots of unemployed young people, and poverty made worse by Covid, it all forms a perfect recipe for some chaos on the streets. But let’s not jump to conclusions quickly
Continue ReadingUPDATE: Yezidi girl on the road to recovery
A few weeks ago we asked urgent prayer for Khaleda, a Yezidi girl from Iraq who had set herself on fire and needed urgent medical treatment in Turkey. One of our friends in the area had started a fundraiser to cover her medical costs, and we want to thank all of you who have prayed and contributed financially. We would
Continue ReadingPersecution in Nigeria; Urgent, Significant and Closer than we think
In order to do some thinking an writing, I had to escape the craziness of a home full of children. Options were few, but a little coffee shop was open. It was the time of day when there were few other customers, and I chose a seat in an empty corner. To my dismay, almost as soon as I sat
Continue Reading30 Days of Prayer for North Korea
Few places in the world are like North Korea. It is a nation surrounded with conspiracy and speculation. You can mindlessly spend hours watching documentary after documentary, and feel no closer to understanding the reality of this remote country. We think of North Korea as an isolated nation, uniquely frightening, ruled by a mad dictator who refuses to be answerable
Continue ReadingTogether for Lebanon
As the magnitude of the disaster in Beirut begins to sink in, it is clear Lebanon needs our prayer. However, with news of fresh horror continuously coming in, it can be hard to focus our prayers or even know where to start. This is where different traditions of Christianity can help us out. The prayer below is written in the
Continue ReadingWhy pray for North Korea? 30 reasons for 30 days
We have started another 30 days of prayer; this time for North Korea. We are hoping you will join in! But why spend your precious summer holiday praying for North Korea? Here are 30 reasons. Mission and the church It is the business of the church that God’s name is glorified in all the earth. That includes North Korea. North
Continue ReadingUpdate: Extreme Weather in China Gives Bad Omen
We have reported recently here and here about extreme weather and floods in China. The situation is not letting up and we want to ask you to continue to keep this in your prayers. The Three Gorges Dam has held so far, for which we are thankful. The government has, however, opened the dam’s emergency floodwater spillways, which has led
Continue ReadingExtreme flooding in China, prayers asked
Very heavy rainfall has led to the first code red flood warning in 80 years. The Qijiang river is bursting its banks in many places. At the moment it is unclear how serious the situation is because communication has been lost in some areas. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated already, as water levels are expected to reach
Continue ReadingWandering the streets of North Korea
Homelessness is on the rise in North Korea, according to a report from Daily NK, (a media outlet run by North Korean defectors). An interview with two people, one living inside North Korea and one recently defected, explores the reasons for this. Homelessness among children is a long-standing problem in North Korea. There is even a specific term for them
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