 The Kurds are the largest ethnic group in the world without a nation of their own with a population of around 35 to 40 million. For centuries they have lived in Central Asia and the Middle East in a ruggedly mountainous region historically known as "Kurdistan." While empires rose and fell around them, the Kurds generally remained isolated and autonomous in these mountains until the late 19th century when large groups of them began to settle in the nearby lowlands. Since then, the Kurds have struggled to assert their independence as they experience various degrees of assimilation into the majority populations of the urban centers around them. https://prayforkurds.com/# is a website with daily prayer requests for these Kurds living around the world They also have an app that you can download to pray for this beautiful people group! Go to their website and Pray Now!
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 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." And He laid His hands on them and departed from there. (Matthew 19:14-15).
There are millions of extremely traumatized refugee children. Orphaned survivors of any ongoing humanitarian crisis experience post-traumatic stress, but the traumatized children of Syria's war have experienced more trauma than those in the medical profession that cares for them have ever seen. They have witnessed dismembered human beings who used to be their parents or siblings. Sometimes, only one or two people survive out of a family of 5 to 10. They may also have physical wounds, severe injuries or amputations. Somehow, some survivors make it to refugee camps. Traumatized Syrian children will have an impact on the world in the future. Pray:
A city in Northern Syria, once a refuge for those fleeing the fighting all around them, is now the scene of suffering and death. Afrin is a Kurdish city, but it has welcomed Christian and Yazidi refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war. "Afrin was untouched by the war going on around us," Valentine Hanan, a resident of Afrin said. "We were a safe place in the middle of a war-torn nation."  That all changed January 20, 2018, when Turkey, backed by Syrian rebels, started moving troops towards the north-western Syrian Kurdish enclave. Now, Turkey controls the city and says it won't leave. "I am very grieved about what is going on today," Hanan said.Hanan is a Syrian Kurdish Christian and fears Turkey's invasion of Afrin is a huge blow to Syria's Kurdish community, in particular those who converted from Islam to Christianity. "6 years ago when I started the church in Afrin, I didn't know of any other Christian," Hanan said. Now some 230 people attend his Church in Afrin. "Many of those who come to church are from Muslim background and they became Christians," Hanan said. He says eight years of a grinding civil war drove residents to the church in search of peace. "Many people were coming to the church because they were interested in knowing more about Christ," Hanan said. Several families from the church fled the town just before the Turkish troops entered. Many of the other Christian families are still in Afrin and are now trying to get out." Hanan has serious concerns whether the takeover will lead to the ethnic cleansing of Kurds from the region. Just before the invasion, Syrian rebels who led the assault on Afrin, reportedly posted a video online threatening to kill Kurds in Afrin unless they converted to Islam. "By Allah, if you repent and come back to Allah, then know that you are our brothers," a soldier in the video said. "But if you refuse, then we see that your heads are ripe, and that it is time for us to pluck them." Such declarations have Hanan and other Syrian Christians extremely worried about their future in Afrin. "Now they are afraid that they could be persecuted for their faith. Many are terrified for their lives because Islamic groups are moving around the town." The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 200,000 Afrinians were displaced to areas near the town. Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, says his troops plan to expand military operations into other Kurdish-controlled territory in Syria. "The situation in our town is very hard," said Hanan. Source: CBNNews   20 January 2018 Turkey launched an assault on Afrin that is still continuing today! Afrin is a Kurdish town in Syria, North of Aleppo. This town is daily being bombarded by troops, tanks, artillery and war planes. Hundreds of people have died, even more have been hurt and approximately 400 000 Kurds have taken shelter in Afrin. Over the last 14 days no one has been able to enter or leave the area of Afrin! Please join us in praying for this city! Please specifically pray for protection of the believers - many are currently living in the church building. The other areas were churches and house groups existed have already been take over by this war. Please pray for those crying out to God in this time, that God will meet them, reveal Himself to them and that God will bring beauty even from this unimaginable time! Please pray that God would intervene! HE IS ABLE! Image from Sky News https://news.sky.com/story/deadliest-day-for-turkish-soldiers-in-afrin-operation-in-syria-11236224  Thank You! CryOut started 10 years ago! Encouraging, motivating, enabling and mobilizing people to pray for Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iraq. Thank you for being part of this journey. The below video reflects on the last 10 years and dreams about the next... What is your dream for seeing more prayer raised up in the next 10 years? Watch a short clip on YouTube! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JGBvmb0_pOM&feature=youtu.be  The last month has been an intense time of intercession, we had:
Thank you for diligently and patiently standing with us, praying with us and trusting God for the impossible. We want to take this time to share some stories and celebrate some of the things that happened:
Your Prayers DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Thank you for praying!  The Bedouin are traditionally Arabic speaking nomads that live in tents throughout the deserts of the Middle East. In recent decades many of these families have settled into small villages within their tribal territories while continuing to shepherd herds of goats, sheep, and sometimes camels. They culturally have stronger ties to their families, tribal customs, and traditions than with conservative Islam — though all would declare themselves Muslim. The Bedouin are known particularly for their hospitality. Even the poorest family will offer a cup of tea or coffee to their guest. And yet, many times behind the open generosity there is a family suffering from degrees of brokenness and hopelessness. Life is difficult out in the desert and many have accepted this as fate ordained by God and unchangeable. Because the majority of the Bedouin still live in remote areas, they are hard to reach and as a result, many have never met a true believer in their lives. However, what may seem impossible for us, is possible for God.  Please join us in praying for the Bedouin of the Middle East:
Throughout October, millions of people are praying through the 10-40 Window. Today the focus is on Lebanon. Let's join this network in focusing on the following: Praise Report Praise God for the way Lebanon has helped care for Syrian refugees and for its effort to be neutral in this conflict of radically different ideologies resulting in major atrocities of innocent civilians (Proverbs 12:20). Prayer Request Pray that as the Lebanese government seeks a speedy and safe return of Syrian refugees to Syria, that they will find the best way to do so that gives dignity and hope to these traumatized people (Romans 2:10). Transformational Prayer Pray for major Christian media producers in Lebanon to continue to produce life- transforming media to the Arab world; may Christian media bring great glory to God the Father (Matthew 5:16). Call to Salvation Pray that people in Lebanon realize that many of them are on the road leading to destruction; pray they will come to the narrow road leading to eternal life found in Jesus Christ (The Bible, Matthew 7:13-14). For more information visit:
https://www.1040windowreporter.com/day-20 Window International Network (WIN) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1999 to continue the international outreach segment of the Christian Information Network. WIN's vision is to see sustained, strategic, and informed prayer transforming unreached people for Christ in the 10/40 Window. WIN's mission is to inform, equip, and mobilize networks of prayer around the globe to empower effective evangelism, church growth, and discipleship in the 10/40 Window. Please visit them at: http://win1040.com/  John * visited Syria in March 2017 and felt that the atmosphere was rather depressing with many check points along the way. When he returned in August, he felt a change in the air. “People are feeling more hopeful for the future. Some refugees and internally displaced people are starting to return to their homes” John shares. Reconstruction - John and his delegation met with various leaders in Syria. These ministers and deputy ministers are indicating that they feel the civil war is ending and they need help to rebuild Syria! The destruction was massive, with almost half of the 22 million population misplaced, infrastructure destroyed and buildings collapsed. But, where to begin?The civil war started in Homs with 40% of the city buildings destroyed, many beyond repair! At the same time there is the beauty of some families starting to rebuild their own houses and shop buildings! In many areas there are still no electricity or water supplies.The country needs to be rebuild. The economy needs to be reestablished. New jobs & new opportunities needs to be created! Business people from China sees this as a golden opportunity to do business and make money, an opportunity to sell their products, technologies and services. The risk is high, but they are willing to come. Are Christians willing to say yes to this challenge? Are believers willing to say that we will take the risk, step out in faith and see a nation restored? This is the moment and the opportunity to help in the reconstruction and rebuilding of lives, while having the opportunity to share God’s love in their time of need. * Name changed for security reasons  |
Who we are.We are ones who want to see God move in the Near East and are praying for the people and cities in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Iraq. Archives
July 2018
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