More than 30 Pentecostal Christians were recently arrested for praying in Eritrea, Africa. Please join us in praying for their safety. Often called the "North Korea of Africa," Eritrea's intricate prison system is known for its atrocities, including jailing prisoners in metal shipping containers in the scorching heat.

We are awaiting news about Christians in Diffa, Niger, who are under threat of death by the Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram (read full story here). I will share any updates we receive on their situation as soon as we hear more.

In the meantime, those fellow brothers and sisters in Christ need our prayers, as do Christians in Eritrea, where 30 Pentecostal Christians have been arrested in three different locations during the past week.

Ranked number 7 on the Open Doors World Watch List for persecution, Eritrea is called the “North Korea of Africa” because of the authoritarian and brutal dictatorship of President Afwerki, who has built his regime on egregious human rights violations. Just last month we reported that 141 Christians—mostly women—had been rounded up and jailed there.

Since Eritrea only recognizes Sunni Muslims and members of the Eritrean Orthodox Church as “legal,” all Protestant believers are considered illegal and enemies. Government forces have conducted massive church and Bible study raids, imprisoning hundreds of Christians, and have started invading individual Christian homes arresting the entire family—even the children!

They are released only if they renounce their faith in Jesus. As in other areas where persecution is on the rise, many protestant believers are fleeing the volatile country to seek safety elsewhere.

It is heartbreaking to know that fellow believers are enduring such intense brutality for their faith—and for the most part, these atrocities are never reported by mainstream media.

That’s why I’m asking you to do three things today that will help these believers:

• Pray—for the protection of those recently arrested, and for God to give them endurance and perseverance in their faith. Pray also for the heart of President Afwerki to be open to the truth of the Gospel message.

• Share—forward this email to family, friends, and fellow church members to make them aware of the plight of persecuted Christians in these harsh regions. You can also follow LRI on Facebook and share the updates that are reported there;

• Give—Your tax-deductible gift of 50, 100, 500 dollars or more will enable us to send urgently needed aid to our partners in the field who are working with men, women and children who are at constant risk of violence, torture, false imprisonment, kidnapping, rape or even death.

We are told that some believers in Eritrea have been imprisoned for over 10 years, and when they are finally released, they are in desperate need of trauma counseling, housing, Bibles, job training and other practical, humanitarian needs.

Please let me hear from you today. Our prayers and our practical help are a lifeline for our persecuted family in countries like Eritrea—especially when they feel so isolated and forgotten. Thank you in advance for standing with LRI to pray for and care for our hurting family all over the world.

God bless you,

Mat

P.S. You can help LRI minister to the urgent needs of persecuted Christians and others in unbelievably desperate situations with your generous gift today.