Day 5

AUGUST | 2023

Saudi Arabia

PRAYER FOR THIS COUNTRY

As we pray for Saudi Arabia today, we bring the Christian Believers facing adverse circumstances for their faith in You Lord. Make them understand that they should listen to what You say. You will guide them and will give them the help that they need for their lives. We pray that the disputed rulers and leaders will rectify their deeds and words. Pray that they will only do and speak good things which are correct. Let them realize that anger and hatred stop the mind from receiving the truth of God. We pray that the damages caused by anger and vengeance will be replaced with good. We bless the Christian brothers and sisters to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (The Bible, James 1:19).

MORE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY

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.

CHIEF OF STATE
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
HEAD OF GOV.
PM Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
POPULATION
33 million
CHRISTIANS
4.3%
EVANGLICAL CHRISTIANS
0.6%
DOMINANT RELIGION
Islam
PERSECUTION RANKING
13
REFUGEES
70,661
LIFE EXPECTANCY
74.8 yrs
LITERACY RATE
87.2%
POPULATION BELOW POVERTY LINE
Unknown

Day 5

AUGUST | 2023

Bhutan

PRAYER FOR THIS COUNTRY

We praise You, Heavenly Father, that every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights. Thank you that You give good gifts to those who live in Bhutan. We pray that many in Bhutan would come to know You as a faithful, loving Father, who loves to give good gifts to His children. We also thank you, Lord, that You do not change like shifting shadows. You are the same yesterday, today and forever. Thank you that Your love for Bhutan does not change and that You desire people to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. May this be taking place today, even as we pray (The Bible, James 1:17).

MORE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY

Known as “the Land of the Thunder Dragon,” Bhutan prides itself on its elevated “happiness” levels despite being considered a least developed country. Rather than relying on Gross Domestic Product as the leading indicator of the small Himalayan nation’s progress, the late King Wangchuk suggested it should examine its “Gross National Happiness.” In South Asia, Bhutan ranks highly in economic freedom and per capita income and ranks low in corruption. It has almost eradicated all extreme poverty and was the first nation to fully vaccinate its entire population against COVID-19. Yet, Christians are sometimes denied employment, free education, and access to electricity and water. Buddhism, mysticism, and animism have dominated the country since the 7th century.

CHIEF OF STATE
King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck
HEAD OF GOV.
PM Lotay Tshering
POPULATION
741,700
CHRISTIANS
1.4%
EVANGLICAL CHRISTIANS
0.4%
DOMINANT RELIGION
Buddhism
PERSECUTION RANKING
40
REFUGEES
23,833
LIFE EXPECTANCY
68.3 yrs
LITERACY RATE
52.8%
POPULATION BELOW POVERTY LINE
12%
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