Day 20
Brunei
Brunei has again been experiencing a sharp rise in cases of COVID-19. Though few people are needing to be hospitalized, community frustration has been expressed at the impact the virus continues to have in this tiny nation. As another year draws to a close during this pandemic, pray for Brunei to lift up her eyes to the loving Heavenly Father. Pray for hearts and minds to be soft and open. Though Christmas celebrations are usually banned in this country, the Holy Spirit can’t be banned from working and moving in people’s lives. Pray for dreams and visions of Jesus sharing His love and care (The Bible, 1 John 4:18).
Source: Brunei COVID-19 cases rise for 7th straight week (Xinhua)
Brunei has boasted a small but prosperous economy. Its wealthy standard of living surely contributes to the wild popularity of its sultan who provides free health care, housing, and education to his countrymen. The nation has begun exploring alternative sources of income as it foresees its oil reserves running out. Sharia (Islamic) law was fully implemented in 2019. The enormous international backlash against the death penalty by stoning for homosexual acts resulted in the Sultan reneging and claiming the death penalty will not be applied, but concerns about the fate of Christians in the country remained out of the spotlight. Propagating any other religion than Islam is illegal.
