Release International Highlights/ Prayer Points April-June 2026
. A very appropriate start to a post on here- God ABSOLUTELY calls us to suffer for Him- and yes, He is with us in our suffering. What an insult to the persecuted church to say otherwise. Paul Robinson kicks off by reminding us of our cross to carry. Paul Robinson says it is ironic that Christians in Communist states take the cross on a building more seriously than us in the West do- they know the cost of following Christ in an oppressive regime.
. A three month old baby in Nigeria has been left without parents, the baby was attacked by a machete but survived.
. Police in India stood aside as a mob beat a pastor and making him walk on thorns. His wife and two daughters witnessed the attack and went to the police but the police said they needed a written report, they then said a car wasn't available.
When officers eventually found him, they threatened to press charges against him instead! Pastor Bipin said after the incident his daughters couldn't sleep for four nights and couldn't eat for three days.
. We learn of two siblings John* and Leah* in Indonesia, who, on their conversion, their own mum informed authorities and journalists. John lost his job as a result. John and Leah minister in dangerous areas of Indonesia, please pray for them.
. We learn of Denda* from Indonesia- Denda originally tried to poison a Christian but she has embraced the Gospel now by God's grace! She goes around sharing the Gospel- she has been threatened to have her arm burned with an iron by police, left in a cell with no food or water and even survived an attempt on her life when she was pushed into a fast flowing river- but even all this does not stop her sharing the Gospel! Pray for her witness.
. A Chinese couple- church elder Li Yingqiang and his wife Zhang Xinyue prepared their children for the worst by making a video for them in the event of their capture. Before the video was even released, the Chinese police imprisoned the parents, the children are being looked after by their grandmother.
Prayers are especially requested for Zhang as she suffers with depression and it is unknown what the interrogations will do to her.
. We learn of *Ibrahim from Iraq who became a Christian when living in Turkey. Soon he had issues with his residency in Turkey and he later attempted to cross into Europe but failed and soon was forced to return to Iraq, where he was rejected by his family and his mum even hired a hitman to kill him!
Release International found out about Ibrahim and sent him to a safehouse in Kurdistan, where Ibrahim helped with a construction of a church and services too!
. Nick Bending recalls worshipping in English and nine new Iranian converts worshipping in Farsi was one of the most joyous experiences of his life!
. To conclude Stephen Mcilroy compares the persecuted church to the story of Joseph in Genesis and the conclusion of the story applies to the persecuted church today- what people meant for evil, God uses for His purposes!
