Mary Elijah also lost her husband in a Muslim attack on Christians in their village.
Mary Elijah also lost her husband in a Muslim attack on Christians in their village.
Sep. 21, 2017 | Tanzania

Pray for the Church of a Pastor Killed While Showing the JESUS Film

[310] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for Tanzanian church.

A pastor working in a remote area of Tanzania was attacked by angry villagers while showing the JESUS film. Pastor Paul Oloru was described as influential in his community, but he angered some tribal leaders by speaking out against customs like female circumcision and tribal religious practices. While the pastor was showing the JESUS film at the end of July, a group of warriors from the village interrupted the movie and began beating those who had gathered to watch. Pastor Oloru was speared through the chest and later died from an infection of the wound. Three others were also badly wounded, and the attackers destroyed the motorcycles of two pastors working with Pastor Oloru. Pray that the members of Pastor Oloru’s church will remain faithful and not give in to fear.

Write your own prayer for Tanzanian church

  • Father it is now over 2 years since pastor Paul's murder. You are a loving Father and we trust You to continue providing for the grieving families and to continue to use this powerful witness of this Jesus film to bring many to repentance. Please protect these believers from the evil one, leading them in paths of righteousness for Your name's sake
    Julie C - USA
  • Our Father, please protect Mary Elijah and her family. Strengthen her in faith and relief her fears. Please keep all the members of Pastor Oloru's church near You. Please let them not give in to fear . Let them have Your Love in their hearts. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
    Maria D - Finland
  • Father I pray for Pastor Oloru's family to be comforted by your Spirit. May the Christians not lose faith and hope in God because of what had happened but continue in to worship boldly and continue to share the love of Christ with others. May all who will hear them be led to repent and accept Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior in Jesus Name Amen
    Sipho S - South Africa
  • Dear God, thwart the efforts of those who hate You from attacking Your church. Strengthen this church in faith and determination to share the gospel. Comfort those who mourn the death of their beloved pastor. Amen.
    JM B - USA
  • Heavenly Father, it would seem impossible to go on after vicious attacks by the enemy; but You have a plan for those saints. Lord, make Your plan clear and inviting for these precious saints; strengthen their faith, and give them great endurance and hope as they live for You. Find favor among them, and fill them with joy for holding fast wYour love.
    Meg K. P - USA
  • Father, may the persecuted know that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of Your church. I pray that this death is not in vain but will lead many to You.
    Scott B - USA
  • Father, how painful it is to the christian community to lose this leader as he tried to present Jesus to the people. I pray and lift his wife and family to You for comfort and strength, and I pray that believers will meet the temporal needs the family has. Father, I just pray Your grace and mercy and blessing on this family and church. Amen.
    joey S - USA
  • Father, how painful it is to the christian community to lose this leader as he tried to present Jesus to the people. I pray and lift his wife and family to You for comfort and strength, and I pray that believers will meet the temporal needs the family has. Father, I just pray Your grace and mercy and blessing on this family and church. Amen.
    joey S - USA
  • Lord Jesus, give these people strength and peace to stand strong for You. They need to hear from you and help from you. May they be encouraged in their faith and comforted by the Holy Spirit. JC - USA
    Pamela F - USA
  • Our Father who art in Heaven hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory forever and ever. In Jesus Name. Amen.R
    renee h - USA
  • Father in the name of Jesus this church embolden to share Jesus because we know time is near & many need to hear saving knowledge of Jesus. I pray you will protect this church from further harm & heal wounds of those that were hurt during the attack. I pray the attackers would have remorse for their actions the working of the power of the Holy Spirit
    Debby S - USA
  • Dear God, thank You for Your faithful servants like Pastor Oloru. Thank You for caring and providing for his family and church. Please give back what the church and the other pastors lost. May none of them give way to fear. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
    Christienne D - USA
  • Father, forgive the enemies of these dear believers and restore those who were wounded to health. Comfort the family and parishioners of this pastor. Use this incident to bring many more to Jesus.
    Kathleen R - USA
  • Lord, we grieve with our brothers and sisters in Tanzania, but we don't grieve like those who have no hope. Thank you that Pastor Oloru is praising you in heaven, and we pray your comfort, peace, and strength for those left behind. Strengthen this body of believers and encourage them to hold fast to your truth regardless of the cost. Help them forgive.
    Jackie V - USA
  • Oh Lord,
    I don't know what to pray when I look into the face of such hate. Jesus, be with the family of the deceased pastor and build up your congregation into a stronghold of hope and love, allow the church to shine so brightly that others are drawn to the light of your love. Help this Church to forgive - help this church to love.
    Andrew E - USA
  • Father, you see this. I pray you would strengthen your children. I pray that fear would not rule them, that your Spirit would pour over them in love and boldness. I pray you comfort the hearts of those who have suffered loss of loved ones. I pray the church would continue the work. Open the eyes of those who did this. pour out your Spirit, convict,
    Polly C - USA
  • Comfort and mercy to the pastor's family and congregation. May God's powerful hand of wrath compel the village leaders to bring justice to the Tanzanian pastor's church group. Hope, peace and love fill this place as the Lord cleanses and purges the evil forces ravishing this country, region, continent and world.
    Andrea R - USA
  • Father I thank you that Pastor Paul is now spending eternity with You. I pray that you would strengthen the faith of both his family and these believers in the village. I ask that you would bring joy and peace to them as they seek and abide in you. Give them a spirit of boldness in sharing the Gospel and please bless their efforts in sharing Your truth
    Natalie L - USA
  • Lord be with these good Christian people. Point them toward resources, give them encouragement. May your message come to those who attacked them and turn them from their evil back to you. Michael P.
    Michael P - USA
  • Father, give grace to the members of Pastor Oloru's church to pray and forgive those warriors who killed Pastor Oloru; help the members of his church to remain faithful and not give in to fear. Bless Mary Elijah who also lost her husband in a Muslim attack; give her the strength to carry on, to trust in in You and not be afraid.
    Anne S - USA
  • Dear Father GOD Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6),
    Please saturate Your Church with Your HOLY SPIRIT, (Luke 11:13)
    The Lord is rich unto those who call out unto HIM, AMEN (Romans 10:12)
    eric H - USA
  • I pray for the congregation of Pastor Oloru's Church! !! That they will be kept and Protected By GOD'S Grace and Mercy ,please Encouraged them and bless with peace and Love ,MIGHTY GOD touch the hearts of his attackers and allow them to repent and accept JESUS as there LORD AND SAVIOUR! !!!!
    In your name MASTER JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH AMEN
    Terrell A - USA
  • Heavenly Father, provide for those who grieve in Zion-
    to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
    the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
    They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.
    (Ps. 61:3) Keep them safe, Lord. Yeshua's name, Amen.
    Michelle B - USA
  • Lord your word says that what the enemy planned for evil you will work for the good of those who love you. I pray that this tragedy set a fire in the hearts of the church and that rather than fear, these members be emboldened in sharing your word and be filled with courage for your glory. Amen.
    Ingrid V - USA
  • O Lord,please comfort and strengthen the family of Pastor Oloru and his church members. May his death be used by You to bring life to many others who are now dead in their sins. Thank you for his willingness to give up his life to tell others about you.I pray that this tragedy will peak the interest of many to view this film who otherwise wouldn't have
    Sandy E - USA
  • Dear Lord I decree that fear is not portion in this brethren lives. Father comfort the wife of pastor Oloru as You provide for her in Jesus Mighty Name. You are the father to the fatherless and husband to the widow dear Lord take care of them,be their provision in Jesus Mighty Name. Thank you for the church members that you will use them for your Glory
    Maryann T - Kenya
  • Father this is so awful- We pray that where there is fear, you bring hope and boldness, where there is anxiety, bring your peace, where there is confusion, bring your lightyour knowledge & wisdom, let the tragedy bring many to Jesus Christ in a saving knowledge, protect the people who are Christians already and bring many more to you-In Jesus name
    Julie R - USA
  • Father God, I pray for the family of Pastor Oluru and ask that you would comfort and strengthen them as they mourn the loss of Pastor Oluru. I also pray that you would strengthen the members of his church and increase their faith on you and help them not to give in fear. Work in the hearts of the people who saw JESUS film and help them to know truth.
    David A - USA
  • God, please keep this church strong. Let them not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Let their persecutors see their unwavering love, & realize that Christ is worthy of their worship as well. Be glorified in Your people, O Rock of our Salvation! In Your name, for Your glory, and in Your Spirit, we seek to pray, amen!
    Mark M - USA
  • Father, thank You for the faithful witness of not only Pastor Oloru but also the other pastors who worked with him. Thank you for their powerful witness as they stand against the dark to shine Your light into Tanzania. Be a father and husband to Pastor Oloru's family. Be the strength and peace of the two pastors who carry on Your work in the area.
    Eileen C - USA
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