This Mother's Day, in addition to honoring the mothers in your life, you can make a real difference for Christian mothers in Muslim-dominated countries suffering extreme persecution...

We rejoice that--after spending the past 8 years in prison and condemned to die--Pakistani Christian and mother of five, Asia Bibi, has finally been set free and will spend this Mother's Day reunited with her family.

This is a tremendous answer to prayer and the best conceivable Mother's Day gift for Asia.

Yet even as we rejoice, we are painfully aware that many other mothers--as well as fathers, sisters, brothers and children--continue to suffer horrible hardship at the hands of those who despise our Savior.

This Mother's Day, in addition to honoring the mothers in your life, will you prayerfully help LRI care for mothers in in Muslim-dominated countries suffering extreme persecution?

• Remember the mothers in Sri Lanka who mourn the loss of husbands, children, family and friends after the devastating Easter Sunday bombings that killed 250 people and left hundreds more injured.

• Remember the mothers of the 13 young boys gunned down by a Muslim defense officer while they were taking part in a late-night Easter procession in Sabbo Layi, Gombe State, Nigeria.

• Remember the mothers of the 11 Christians killed and 40 who are still missing after an ambush on worshipers returning from a Good Friday church service in Benue State, Nigeria.

Tragically, the list goes on and on. It is estimated that 11 Christians die each day--simply because of their faith. During her imprisonment, Asia Bibi suffered repeated pressure to convert to Islam in exchange for her freedom, but she refused to deny Jesus and was willing to pay with her life.

With your help, LRI can remain committed to helping Christians and others suffering under oppression and brutality around the world.

Your tax-deductible gift of 50, 100, 500 dollars or more is urgently needed today to minister to the needs of persecuted Christians and others in unbelievably desperate situations.

We are working with trusted, Christ-centered partners who can carry humanitarian supplies to some of the most deeply affected areas, and offer vital food survival kits, safe houses, trauma counseling, legal help and much more.

This Mother's Day, let us recommit to serving Jesus by praying for and caring for those who are suffering for their faith. And let's pray with Esther, a mother in Nigeria:

I bring before you my country of Nigeria. Whatever the evil ones have planned, look down on your children with mercy. I pray for all doing evil. Do not destroy them but bring them back to Your path [and] let there be peace in our land.

Thank you for standing with LRI to pray for and care for our hurting brethren throughout the Middle East, northern Africa and the world.

God bless you,

Mat

P.S. Pray for peace in Pakistan. Ask God to intervene against plans for any violent protests and attacks on Christians and churches. Pray for Christians convicted of blasphemy awaiting trial and imprisoned in Pakistan and throughout the world. Pray for the 3.9 million Pakistan Christians who live with a daily fear of being arrested and imprisoned.