Day 5
Bhutan
Praise God for a recent visit that a group of Christian Believers from Nepal could make to Bhutan to meet with Believers there to encourage them. It was a precious time of fellowship as the Church is so small in Bhutan that opportunities to worship with a group of others are rare. Pray that the faith of those in Bhutan will be strengthened this Christmas. Pray they may know God is Emmanuel; He is with us even when isolated (The Bible, Isaiah 7:14).
Source: Christian workers in the region
Bhutan is a small South Asian country wedged between India and China. It is predominantly Buddhist while hosting a reasonable Hindu presence. The Christian population is minuscule, and the majority of attempts at outreach failed. Bhutan ranks 40th in the Open Doors Persecution Country List for 2023. Despite its small population, the lack of reliable job centers increased unemployment to 18% this year. There is little scope for tent ministries due to this predicament. However, it also increases the opportunity for Bhutanese youth to venture beyond the borders to India or China, where Christian Missions have some presence.
Day 5
Saudi Arabia
Israeli war against Hamas has continued for more than a month, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians and children and many more wounded, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. Gaza’s residents are facing a humanitarian catastrophe due to Israeli bombings, resulting in a lack of water, food, treatment, electricity, and fuel and a collapsed medical sector. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has sent first aid convoys to the Gaza Strip, which crossed the Rafah border. The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center from Saudi Arabia sent the convoy to provide relief to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The convoy of trucks is carrying relief supplies, including shelter and food. Pray for the people in Saudi Arabia oppressed by imposed bondages to be set free by God (The Bible, Proverbs 5:22).
Source:
https://www.siasat.com/saudi-arabias-first-aid-convoys-arrive-in-gaza-2863518/
As persecution is on the rise, Saudi Arabia moved to 13th position in the World Watch Report 2023 by Open Doors for Christian persecution. Mohammed bin Salman is the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, the home of Islam, has outlawed Churches and punished Christian worship for decades. The kingdom’s 1.4 million Christians meet in secret places. According to the human rights report, Saudi Arabia held the presidency of the G20 in 2020 despite the country’s longstanding human rights abuses. The Saudi-led coalition continued a military campaign against the Houthi rebel group in Yemen that has included scores of unlawful airstrikes that killed and wounded thousands of civilians. The majority of the Christians in Saudi Arabia are foreigners who temporarily live and work in the country. They are severely restricted in sharing their Christian faith with Muslims and in gathering for worship, which entails the risk of detention and deportation.
