A group from Mercy Teams International, an OM partner ministry, trekked through a mountainous province in northern Laos. The focus of the trek was to cry out to the Lord for those they encountered and to "loosen the hard soil and plant seeds". The villages in this province are remote and have never…

A group from Mercy Teams International, an OM partner ministry, trekked through a mountainous province in northern Laos. The focus of the trek was to cry out to the Lord for those they encountered and to "loosen the hard soil and plant seeds". The villages in this province are remote and have never had a Christian witness. Most are extremely poor. This province is also one of the most persecuted in Laos and believers are often forced to move. The guide who led the trip has believing relatives and listens to Christian worship songs on his phone. The team leader was able to give him a Bible.

In Iran, armed plain-clothes special security officers forcefully entered the homes of Christians while they were asleep and abused them verbally and physically. Christians were handcuffed and taken for interrogation during these raids in December. Many endured intense psychological pressure to renounce their faith and some prisoners may have been tortured. During the time of interrogation, which can go longer than a month, no family contact is allowed.

Right now in Iraq, around 500 Christian families are moving to safer areas as similar raids target believers there.

Please be in prayer for Christians forced to move from persecuted areas. Pray for God’s provision as these families leave everything behind. And lift up those persecuting them, that the Lord would change their hearts.