Pray for the Church in Syria on Saturday

SANTA ANA, Calif. (May 7, 2013) – “Without the church, Syria has no future.”

That’s what an Open Doors contact said last month about the horrendous conditions facing Christians inside Syria and the refugees struggling in camps along the borders. A report from Open Doors says some areas in the cities of Homs and Aleppo are being taken over by Muslim extremists, who are implementing Sharia Law.

“We need food and medicines,” says an Open Doors contact in Aleppo. “But what our country needs most now is prayer. We have no option than to turn to God in this desperate situation. The most important thing the world can do for us now is pray.” As a result of the turmoil and uncertainty, most churches in Syria will unite in prayer on Saturday, May 11, in many places around the war-torn nation. This will be an extraordinary show of unity of Christian denominations in Syria, where the on-going civil war has claimed over 70,000 lives.

Syrian Christians are asking their brothers and sisters around the world to pray and fast with them on the Day of Prayer for Syria on Saturday. A contact in Damascus states: “The situation in Syria is really desperate. We will all pray together in Syria, but we need every Christian in the world to pray. Please pray that the problems will come to an end and those causing the problems will stop. Pray that Syria will find Jesus.” Another church leader says: “It is so powerful to pray like one family. It’s not that just our prayers aren’t enough for God, but if all the Christians in the world unite with one heart, we believe it will be a blessing for Syria and the whole earth. Words can’t describe how thankful we are that you will pray with us. We pray that God will bless everyone who is praying with us.”

For more information, a list of specific prayer requests and to make a pledge to pray for Syria, go to www.opendoorsusa.org/syria-pray

“Join Christians in countries around the world who will pray for Syria on May 11,” says Open Doors USA spokesman Jerry Dykstra. “Perhaps you can also pray in your churches the following day. Pour out your heart with pleas for the suffering Christians there. They are in need and asking for our prayers!”

Prayer requests from churches inside Syria include:

• Healing for the injured and comfort for those who have lost loved ones
• End to the bloodshed
• The children; their childhood has been stolen from them
• Unity and reconciliation among churches and denominations will continue
• Christians will be rooted in their own land without fear of violence