EMERGENCY PRAYER ALERT- Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
Dear John,
Prayer Alert-Benin
MUSLIM MILITANTS DESTROYS CHURCH: as Islam spreads
Prayer Alert
Intercessors are needed to pray for Benin as Islamic militants destroyed a church building established by Christ Power Ministries (CPM) in January 2007 in the latest attack against the indigenous evangelical mission group in the West African 10/40 Window nation.
Christian Aid Mission, which partners with CPM, confirmed the church building was destroyed just three days after it was dedicated to the LORD. No injuries were reported. Four months earlier, militants also destroyed a CPM training center, where more than 2,000 Christian workers, including 650 children’s ministry workers were educated, missionaries said.
It came as a major setback for the organization as the center apparently gained recognition for its effectiveness and members of neighboring Christian communities interested in starting similar projects visited the center to observe training methods and activities.
In addition, two CPM mission schools were reportedly ransacked and destroyed by Islamic militants. It was not immediately clear which group was behind the several attacks in recent months.
However, some key leaders are concerned that radical Muslims, who “subjugated North African countries under Islamic law,” are rapidly moving southward to countries like Benin “in their quest to convert the entire African continent.” This disturbing trend must be identified and confronted with prayer.
A faithful ministry leader stated he had experienced “the devastating effect” of the Islamic infiltration of his country, “as 30 percent of Benin’s population is now Muslim,” which is a higher percentage than previously estimated.
This Beninese overseer 130 church congregations, five mission schools and one School of Discipleship, said he will continue his work.
“We have lost our (training) center after many years of work,” he said. “But we continue to love those who destroyed it, because Jesus died for them and I believe that many of them will come to the LORD. The struggle continues.”
Hundreds of other Christian missionaries are also working in 45 mission fields, “targeting 32 of the 62 tribes living in Benin with the Gospel of Christ,” Christian Aid Mission stated.
According to the 2006 International Religious Freedom Report, the constitution of Benin provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respected this right in practice.
The country has a population of approximately 6.8 million. According to the 2002 census, 17.3 percent of Benin’s citizens practice the animist Vodun system of belief, also commonly known as voodoo.
Once banned in Benin, the religion of voodoo is celebrated at the country’s annual Voodoo Day, which draws thousands of celebrants.
Formerly known as Dahomey, Benin used to be one of the biggest areas for slave trade in West Africa. After gaining independence from France in 1960, Benin has seen seven takeovers of power and numerous different governments.
Political newcomer Yayi Boni won the presidential election in March 2006, gaining more than 74 percent of the vote. Born in 1952, into a Muslim family in the north, Boni later became an evangelical Christian.
Pray for:
• Christ Power Ministries (CPM) to be able to rebuild everything the Islamic militants has destroyed. Pray that the Christian leaders in Benin will eagerly follow through with the tasks God has given them (1 Peter 5:1-4).
• The Islamic militants to know the fear of God and Christ’s love, forgiveness and blessing through the lives of His people (Romans 12:14, 21).
• God to overtake the heart of Islamic militants and bring them to faith in Christ; their quest to dominate Africa will fail.
• God to encourage Christians in Benin to persevere despite the destructive circumstances they live in. Pray that God will strengthen, encourage and protect these Believers. Ask God to give the Church in Benin boldness of faith so that they will continue to meet together despite opposition (Hebrews 10:23-25).
• Thank God that a Christian won the presidency during the 2006 election. The former Muslim, Yayi Boni, has long been an evangelical Christian and seeks to use his expertise in economics to further help his country out of poverty. Pray that President Boni would have integrity and wisdom in his leadership, and that his plans for the cotton industry would produce prosperity.
• The salvation of all other government leaders in Benin.
• The continued growth of the Church in Benin and raise up missionaries to go to other 10/40 Window nations..
• The freedom of knowing Jesus would break into people’s lives in Benin. More people follow traditional ethnic religions in Benin than in any other African nation. Voodoo has its origins in the ethnic religion of the Fon peoples, and many are tied up in fear and superstition. Take authority in Jesus’ name over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping many bound.
• God to raise up intercessors who will faithfully stand in the gap for the people of Benin.
Sources: BosNewsLife, International Christian Concern, the BBC, Christian Aid Mission
SUMMARY: Intercessors are needed to pray for Benin as Islamic militants destroyed a Church established by Christ Power Ministries (CPM) in January 2007 in the latest attack against the indigenous evangelical mission group in the West African nation. Christian Aid Mission, which supports CPM, confirmed the Church was destroyed just three days after it was opened. About four months earlier, militants also destroyed a CPM training center, where more than 2,000 Christian workers, including 650 children’s ministry workers were educated. Missionaries said they fear that radical Muslims, who “subjugated North African countries under Islamic law,” are rapidly moving southward to countries like Benin “in their quest to convert the entire African continent.”
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