Churches in Zanzibar have been under assault for decades.
Churches in Zanzibar have been under assault for decades.
Sep. 10, 2020 | Tanzania

Pastor and His Wife in Zanzibar Assaulted

[212] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Pastor Philemon and family.

Vandals attacked the Calvary Mission Church in Mwamboni, Zanzibar on Feb. 24 and Feb. 29, 2020. Before the attack, Pastor Philemon Mafilili, 51, said he had received threats from a local official. This man had told the pastor to “leave as soon as possible, because the Muslim community does not want a church here.” On Feb. 24, a group of radical Muslims came to the church armed with machetes, hammers and a container of gasoline, intending to set the church on fire. Church members who were nearby intervened, but the attackers beat the pastor’s wife before running away. Five days later, they were back. This time they had machetes, axes and knives, and they assaulted the pastor, sending him to the hospital. Pray for Pastor Philemon, his wife and all the Christians in the area.

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Write your own prayer for Pastor Philemon and family

  • Please help this family God. Thank you for your promises. Thank you that those who are persecuted for you are blessed in your sight, that their rewards will be great. Thank you for going through pain and death yourself and for the many who have gone before us suffering for you. May they draw encouragement from these people and kept their eyes on you.
    Becky G - New Zealand
  • Lord God, protect Your church in Mwanboni. Protect them from the plans of satan & his demons. Bind his plans of destruction. Remove the power of evil there. May your strength rise up in the darkness as a beacon of hope & mercy. Turn the radical muslim hearts to YOU. Put your angels On guard, & make satan fearful so Your power & might can be seen. AMEN
    SM D - USA
  • Father God, You have the power to tell any community that JESUS is Lord. May they tremble in fear at Your name and turn from their wicked ways to Christ. Please help the believers in Zanzibar and protect them from violent attacks. Please bring healing to the bodies, minds, and souls of all those who were attacked. We thank you in Jesus' name.
    Kathy G - USA
  • I pray for this pastor and his family in Tanzania, may you bless him father and give him courage especially if he refuses to leave after the attacks. May many more countries come to accept religious liberty for the sake of your children and their ministering. Also please enlighten those harming them as they can become your beloved children as well amen
    Angela L - USA
  • Dear Jesus, give Pastor Philemon and his family wisdom. Comfort and encourage them. Protect them and may their faith and witness bring many people to Jesus. Send Your Holy Spirit to convict the wicked people. May those persecuting them repent and turn to Jesus.
    Patrecia J - USA
  • Dear Jesus, thank you for these brave people. Thank You for Pastor Philemon. Protect his wife and children. Protect all the Christians. Encourage them and being the wicked people to know you, Jesus. May the leaders and the entire area turn to You because of Pastor Philemon.
    Patrecia J - USA
  • Heal our brother and his family so he can show all the blessings of God.
    Debbie V - USA
  • Holy God, I ask that you will heal Philemon and his wife. Persecution and threats are scary Father, so I pray for the Christians who witnessed and endured such things, that they will not take on the spirit of fear from their adversaries, but rather accept and live in the spirit of power, love, and soundness of mind. Set a table for them amongst enemies
    Miranda J - USA
  • Lord Jesus, please heal Pastor Philemon and his wife from these attacks, and comfort them as they deal with the fearful memories. May they have supernatural strength and wisdom to know how to minister in this area, and may the Christians in their church also have great trust in You. Please use these believers to spread the power of Your gospel.
    Danielle H - USA
  • Dear Lord, please strengthen the faith of these believers. Help them to know that they serve as examples to those of us who have never experienced this type of threat to our lives and faith. Keep them safe and give them wisdom to handle each situation. Soften the hearts of those that seek to harm them, so that they, too may believe.
    Betty A - USA
  • Lord God, I pray for the Calvary Mission Church in Mwamboni, Zanzibar. May you help them and protect them as they are being persecuted and threatened by local Muslim community.
    Help them to love these lost people and forgive.
    May Pastor Philemon recover from his wounds. Help his wife to stay strong and provide their needs. May God strengthen you all!!
    Jacob R - Kenya
  • Lord, I pray for Pastor Philemon, his wife, and all the Christians around Zanzibar or Tanzania area. Could you please bring these persecuted peoples faith and Your strength? Please convict these Muslims of Your Gospel and bring them into a deeper knowledge of the love of Christ. You can do all things Lord, in Jesus name, Amen.
    Samuel Y - USA
  • Lord Jesus, please arm Pastor Philemon and his family with Your mighty armor. Shield them from the evil that's trying to tear them down. Bless them with physical and mental strength and determination. May they never forget You are with them always.
    Andrea K - USA
  • Dear Lord, we raise up the Pastors and the church members in Zanzibar. The Muslims are placing them under attack. Although they are attacking with weapons of this world, let our Christian brothers and sister put on the armor of God to fight back. Help the Christians to show the Muslims the love of God and let Yours be all the praise, honor & glory!Amen
    Donna H - USA
  • Lord bless these families that are standing strong in their faith for you despite the hardship and cruel treatment they are receiving from their village. Open the eyes of those in their village to see Your truth as they watch these families strength in faith for You and how you will provide for them despite all the village tries to do to harm them.
    Angie E - USA
  • God, I pray for Pastor Philemon, his family, and each Christian in Tanzania. I pray they will remain faithful despite the costs in such a troubled land. I pray You will use these believers in a mighty way to shine light and reach the lost in a land filled with darkness. I pray for their Muslim persecutors, knowing they need Jesus Christ in their lives.
    Curtis M - USA
  • Lord I pray for the Calvary Mission Church in Mwamboni, Zanzibar. Help them as they are persecuted and threatened by local Muslim community. Help them to love these lost people and forgive. May Pastor Philemon recover from his wounds. Help his wife to stay strong and provide their needs. Help the persecuted Church in Zanzibar.
    margaret m - USA
  • Lord, we pray for Pastor Philemon, his wife & all the Christians in this area. May they sense Your Presence with them & be comforted. You have not given them a spirit of fear but of Power, love & a sound mind. Fill them with You, Lord! Help them forgive and love their persecutors, that they may join us in prayer for the salvation of their attackers!
    Sharon G - USA
  • Father, what are they to do? Lord, the enemy is wanting to destroy your children and your Word. Move in this area. Give your children the wisdom and boldness to do your will. Guide them. Give them strength to face the enemy. Help them to face fear. Help them forgive. Open the eyes of those who want to stop them. Pour out your Holy Spirit. Move, Father
    Polly C - USA
  • For all those persecuted for the lords work and to all our brothers and sisters in the lord i pray when you all pass away you may R I P this to me dose not only mean rest in peace but intended to mean by prayer risen in peace at the time of the resurrection of the dead to live forever this time this is my prayer for all those in JESUS love your all
    Themis K - Australia
  • Heavenly FATHER, we come before YOU pleading for the innocent worshippers who were apart of the senseless violent assaults cared out against those devout servants that attend this spoken of Church. We humbly ask for a speedy recovery for the pastor and any others that may have been viciously attacked during this wicked ambush. In JESUS name amen.
    anthony c - USA
  • Father, this is a difficult and dangerous time for this church in Tanzania and I am sure many other churches. Please encourage the Christians their and help them to remain strong in faith and trusting you as you meet their needs in Christ Jesus. Work in the hearts of their persecutors and turn many to Christ. Please bring peace in Tanzania.
    Vicki W - USA
  • Lord, please be with these brave believers. Help Pastor Philemon to recover well and quickly from his injuries. Protect his wife and children. Help this whole church to stay united in these harrowing times. Please help the officials to stop harrassing them. Open their hearts to the Gospel. Guide and direct in all things for Pastor and his flock.
    Amy G - USA
  • Dear Lord,
    I pray for Pastor Philemon, and his family, and the Church in Zanzibar. Give them them comfort and strength as they are spreading the Gospel. I pray that they stay strong in their faith, and they persevere through this hard time. Reveal yourself, Lord, to the city of Mwamboni. In Your name I pray, Amen.
    Aubrey L - USA
  • Heavenly Father, please protect the believers in Zanzibar. As they continue to hold fast to their faith in Christ, remove the scales from the eyes of their persecutors. Bring them to a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus. In the name of Christ Jesus, AMEN!
    Linda R - USA
  • Dear Lord,
    We lift up Pastor Philemon, his wife, family and his entire church to You in this persecution. Give them heal, grace and comfort. Help them to forgive and love these people even now. Send Your Angels to guard and watch over them. Be a shield about them by night and day. May their witness be powerful to all, drawing many to know You as Lord
    Madison F - USA
  • Dear God & Father, I pray for Pastor Philemon, his wife and all the Christians in the area: Protect, provide for, comfort, strengthen, encourage & guide them. May they stay strong in faith, hope & love, committed to Christ. Bring radical Muslims to repentance. Give the pastor & his wife full recoveries. Sustain area believers. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
    Lisa D - USA
  • Lord God, I pray for the people of Zanzibar that their eyes would be opened to the gospel and that you would draw them into your kingdom. Thank you for the Christians who minister there like Pastor Philemon and his family. Please protect them and help them, Lord. Guide them as they make decisions and answer their prayers. Glorify the name of Jesus.amen
    Julia F - USA
  • Dear Pastor Philemon, I thank God for you and your wife: for your love for the Lord Jesus Christ and His church, demonstrated in your willingness to suffer for the gospel of need be. God give you courage and wisdom to know and to do His will in the power of the Holy Spirit. May He guide you and protect you and enable you to be lights for Christ.
    Jane C - USA
  • Lord, it is humbling to even read of such courage in the face of persecution let alone live it. Thank you for your promise to strengthen Pastor Philemon & his wife, to never leave or forsake them. In Jesus' name, I ask that you infuse them with unwavering faith & courage & that you use their testimony to turn the hearts of their persecutors. Amen!
    Lori B - USA
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