Myanmar’s youth fight for their future
Myanmar had long been in the grip of a brutal military junta. But in 2011, democratic reforms began. A year later Aung San Suu Kyi, who received a Nobel peace prize for her non-violent resistance against the regime, won a seat in parliament and was elected as leader of the nation in 2015. The country seemed to be firmly on
Continue ReadingIsolated BTJ Workers Go Hungry and Ask For Prayer
In a recent article, we shared about increasing pressures on food supplies in North Korea resulting from the long border closure in response to Covid-19. First and foremost, these shortages are affecting regular families of North Koreans. But foreigners residing in North Korea are not safe from food shortage either. The Russian diplomat family who recently left the country, told
Continue ReadingWednesday Ultimatum for Pastor Abducted by Boko Haram
Your prayers are once again urgently needed on behalf of the church in Nigeria. Pastor Bulus Yakuru was kidnapped by Boko Haram two months ago, in a Christmas Eve attack on a Christian village near Chibok. Seven people were killed and Pastor Yakuru was taken alive. His captors have now set an ultimatum for this Wednesday. If the government does
Continue ReadingNorth Korea: Russian diplomat reveals food crisis
It was an unusual picture. A Russian diplomate, his wife and children and a bunch of suitcases on a hand powered railway trolly, pushing their way over the North Korean- Russian border. They were part of a small remaining expat community in Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital. Since China’s first Covid outbreak, North Korea has shut its borders, in an attempt
Continue ReadingPersecution: Nigeria moves to the top ten
On the new watch list of Open Doors for 2021, rating the severity of persecution against Christians, Nigeria has moved from number 12 in 2020 to number 9 today. It now falls in the most extreme category, together with nations like Afghanistan, Yemen and Iran. It scores higher than even Iraq and Saudi Arabia. We have written several articles about
Continue ReadingTerrorists 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
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