Prayer Meeting Raided by Officials and Muslim Imam

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Seven Christians were gathered for prayer in a home belonging to a recent convert named Oguldurdy, when officials from various government agencies, accompanied by a Muslim imam, raided the home.  The attack took place on December 17 in the north-eastern town of Deynau, according to a December 19 report from Forum 18. During the raid, the officials searched the home for any Christian literature and confiscated two Bibles.  The seven were then taken to the Public Prosecutor's office where they were threatened and insulted.  They were told that they should be publicly denounced as traitors.  One woman was threatened with expulsion from her rented apartment.

Pray that the Lord will grace His people with the quiet joy that comes from knowing that they are accused falsely for Christ's sake. Pray that their trust in Christ will overshadow any fear they might face. Ask God to restore the Bibles and Christian literature taken from them. Pray that the threats of the attackers will come to nothing.

For more information on persecution facing Christians in Turkmenistan, click here.

(Source: Forum 18)

  • Country Information

    Population
    5,690,818 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Turkmen (85), Uzbek (5), Russian (4), other (6)

    Religion (%)
    Islam (93), Christian (6.4)

    Leader
    President Serdar Berdimuhamedov (2022)

    Government type
    Presidential republic; authoritarian

    Legal system
    Civil law system with Islamic law influences

    Source: CIA World Factbook

    Pray for Turkmenistan

    Pray that the Lord will give the suffering members of the church in Turkmenistan the strength and determination to stand firm amid opposition and oppression. May they be granted opportunities to meet together for meaningful times of worship, Bible study and fellowship – encouraging and edifying one another in the Christian faith. Despite governmental restrictions, and the threat of fine or imprisonment, may the church in Turkmenistan flourish and bear much good fruit.

  • Pray for Turkmenistan

    Pray that the Lord will give the suffering members of the church in Turkmenistan the strength and determination to stand firm amid opposition and oppression. May they be granted opportunities to meet together for meaningful times of worship, Bible study and fellowship – encouraging and edifying one another in the Christian faith. Despite governmental restrictions, and the threat of fine or imprisonment, may the church in Turkmenistan flourish and bear much good fruit.

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Turkmenistan News

  • Christmastime Raid
    Christians studying the Bible - Photo: World Watch Monitor www.worldwatchmonitor.org
    Pray that Turkmen believers will have opportunities to share God’s truths.
    Photo: World Watch Monitor

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