Day 10
Benin
Benin is a country known for artifacts of culture and occult practices. The British Colonial forces had forcibly taken a number of them from Benin 125 years ago. Nigeria Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Tuggar, has urged the German authorities to fast-track the process of returning 96 pieces from the Benin cultural properties. Progress has been made in the negotiations with both the German government and museums and all look forward to signing agreements for their return in the very near future. Pray for the people of Benin practicing multitudes of worshiping forms and objects. Pray for the people to see that the idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them (The Bible, Psalm 135:15-18).
Source:
https://guardian.ng/art/return-of-benin-bronzes-to-catalyse-colonial-healing-process-says-tuggar/
Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon is a Beninese politician and businessman who has been President of Benin since 6 April 2016. An economist and investment banker turned politician, Lionel Zinsou was appointed Prime Minister of Benin in June 2015. Benin is best known for its peaceful democracy, one of the most stable in Africa. However, corruption remains a significant issue. The country, once hosting main ports crucial in the slave trade, still negotiates shady deals. Poverty increases each year. At the start of this year, the government made moves to effectively exile all political opposition. This resulted in massive public protests, with unrest continuing for some months.
Day 10
Indonesia
One Christian ministry has a particular focus to reach the Sundanese people, which is the second-largest people group in Indonesia with 45 million people. The Sundanese people also remain stubbornly unreached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Divorce is unusually high among the Sundanese people. Pray for restoration in families. Pray for a breakthrough among the Sundanese that their hearts may be softened towards Jesus. May the Holy Spirit intervene and bring new and abundant life (The Bible, 2 Corinthians 3:6).
Source: Christian workers in Indonesia
Having Southeast Asia’s strongest economy, Indonesia is also one of the G20’s wealthiest. It is the world’s fourth most populous nation. It also has the largest concentration of Muslims, yet Indonesia has an astonishingly high level of Christian presence. More than ten percent of the population are Christians, over 28 million people, with church growth continuing to increase. While Christianity is not illegal, provincial laws can override it and Islamic law is sometimes used. Muslim extremists continue to spread anti-Christian messages in the public sector.
