Day 5 - Yemeni Church

Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1 ESV

What is happening in the Yemeni Church? It is growing and we praise God. My name is Abdu*. I am a follower of Jesus in Yemen. And I want to tell you some of what I see among myself and my brothers here. I love my brothers, and praise God that I am one among many who know and love the name of Jesus. Please pray for us.

Please do not romanticize the Yemeni church. I understand that sometimes reports and stories come out of persecuted churches that may lead some to the conclusion that the church is superior or has greater faith or greater maturity than the rest. Do some of us endure persecution, imprisonment or torture and yet not deny our Savior? Praise God, yes. We rejoice in those who show us the power and hope of Jesus, but we grieve because these truths and stories also cause fear, and because these things happen to our brothers. Not one of us wants to suffer. Not one of us wants to experience betrayal.

Our circumstances seem overwhelming at times. I have heard of some who refuse to ever meet with any other brother from our country for fear their faith will be discovered, and they will be killed by their family. And I understand this.

The sin and temptation within us are just as dangerous and crippling as the circumstances and people against us. What sins? Division, fear, greed, immorality, laziness and selfish ambition, just to name a few. We struggle against the same sins from before we knew Jesus. Many of us do not even know what is sin and what is holy because we have not been taught yet. We still think like we did before and like our family tells us and expects us to think. We need to know the true thoughts of God, the ways of Jesus and His Kingdom. We need leaders to grow in these things so they can show us. And the leaders we do have need patience and understanding to help us.
We are grateful for our leaders and for the many who sacrifice to serve and to help us live and love like a church should. Divisions, trials and sins have arisen in recent days. Yet, we have seen grace and wisdom from them to help us hold fast to our faith and our love for one another.
We have joys and celebrations, too. My brother has even been able to marry another follower of Jesus and will be starting his family in the name of Jesus. They are looking to our leaders and their wives to teach them what that means, and to our church to encourage them and, God willing, their children one day.
So, if you are praying for us, thank you. We are a church in great need. Praise God for the Church in Yemen, and for Yemeni churches outside of Yemen.

*Abdu is NOT a real person, but his account is based on true stories.

Pray:

• For the Yemeni church to walk and live worthy of the calling they have received in the Gospel.

• For unity among leaders and the body of Christ in Yemen.

• Against divisions, disagreements, misunderstandings and bitterness.

• For unity among the Church, both among local gatherings of believers but also among regional networks of churches.

• For those whom Christ has gifted as leaders to rise and walk in the authority and calling God has given them, whether as evangelists, prophets, teachers or pastors.

• That those within the church would begin to discern their own Spirit-given gifts, purposes and opportunities for ministry.

• For the protection, encouragement and a rising up of the leaders, elders and people in the Yemeni church. Pray for strength for those facing persecution.

• That the Yemeni church would hunger and thirst for righteousness and for more of the fruit and work of the Holy Spirit. Pray they would love one another deeply.

• That the church would focus on the hope that is theirs in Jesus so that they would continue to endure.

• That as the church walks worthy of their calling, that the Lord would add day-by-day to their number those who are being saved.

• For isolated believers: for those isolated because of fear to be set free; for those isolated because of distance to find fellowship.

• For protection of all His children in Yemen from any persecution intended against them by Satan through family authorities, religious authorities, or government authorities.

• For protection from any spiritual oppression intended against His children by Satan.

• For more spiritual and physical support to reach His children in Yemen.

• For the growing Church of Yemeni believers to be a source of the Gospel spreading throughout the Arabian Peninsula.

Day 6 - End the War

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. Psalm 46:9 ESV

Although Yemen was once called “fortunate Arabia,” boasting exceptional landscape and being known for its long history of trade in frankincense, myrrh, gold, and premium coffee, Yemen is now one of the poorest countries in the world and is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis.

Six years ago today, Saudi Arabia entered into this devastating war in Yemen. Since March 26, 2015, the ongoing conflict between the Houthis, backed by Iran, and the Sunnis, backed by a coalition made up of Saudi Arabia, the US, the UK, and France, has plunged Yemen into a devastating war. This ongoing violence has led to a collapse of infrastructure and famine, leading to further health and hunger issues. Moreover, militants from al-Qaeda, local affiliates of the Islamic State, and other terrorist groups have taken advantage of the chaos by seizing territory in the south and carrying out deadly attacks, further adding to the turmoil and violence plaguing Yemen.

It is estimated that over 12,000 civilians have been killed in direct attacks, and many thousands more civilians have died from preventable causes, including malnutrition, disease, and poor health. Women and children have been especially affected by the war, with humanitarian organizations such as Save the Children estimating that 85,000 children with severe acute malnutrition might have died between April 2015 and October 2018. In fact, the United Nations reported in 2019 that Yemen is the country with the most people in need of humanitarian aid, with 24.1 million people in need. About 60% of Yemen’s population are living without reliable access to sufficient food, and over half lack access to safe drinking water and basic health services. Many hospitals and schools have been destroyed or lack the supplies necessary to function. In addition, many families have been torn apart. Women and children who lose their male head of household, in addition to mourning their losses, are singled out for oppression. The map below shows the warring factions and conflict zones.

Yemen is in a dire situation with much suffering and needs true hope and peace.