Believers pray over the plans for the new buildings before construction was stopped.
Believers pray over the plans for the new buildings before construction was stopped.
Feb. 18, 2021 | Ethiopia

Local Officials Oppose Church Being Rebuilt

[200] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Local government officials.

Though a church in the Alaba zone received permission to rebuild a church destroyed by Muslim extremists in 2019, local officials are not allowing them to begin work. On Feb. 9, 2019, extremists systematically moved through the town of Alaba Kulito dismantling churches. By the end of the day, 12 churches were destroyed, including instruments, materials and even the walls and fences of the concrete church compounds. Recently, one church raised the necessary funds to rebuild and even acquired permission. However, when a contractor arrived to begin the rebuilding process, district officials stopped him. The believers involved elevated the case to local government officials, regional officials and finally the federal government, who are in the process of investigating. The church also houses a school, which is currently shut down because there is no building. Pray that the Lord will intervene and that the church is able to rebuild.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Ethiopia and learn how to pray.

Write your own prayer for Local government officials

  • Jesus, please allow this church to be rebuilt. Move hearts and minds to change or honor laws to allow it to happen. May this church building be used to honor You, Jesus, unite all Christians to allow all the Christians of various traditions to worship You in this future church building and being glory to Your name by working together.
    Patrecia J - USA
  • Amen! Thank You LORD God. You CAN build Your Church. However You see fit. May all be well with my brothers and sisters in the Alaba Zone and their church project. Thank You in Jesus' Name. Amen.
    Christienne D - USA
  • Lord, You can build Your church; do that God of Heaven AND Earth.
    Gustav J - USA
  • Lord, please intervene on behalf of these Ethiopian believers and allow them to rebuild their church and in the meantime, give them wisdom on how and where to meet and worship. Fill them with love for their persecutors and grant them boldness and courage to stand for Jesus and declare their forgiveness for those guilty of these criminal acts, amen.
    Forrest B - USA
  • Lord I pray that this church will be able to be re-built in this town of Ethiopia. I ask for your mercy that the school would be reopened and these people would be able to meet again. I pray you would push the enemy back who has gotten away with this for far too long. I ask this in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus Christ..
    Nancy G - USA
  • All mighty father God creator of heaven and earth intervene in changing the hearts and the thoughts of local government officials to establish a way where there is no way for pastors and their congregations to reconstruct their churches that were destroyed by evil doers to cause harm.The Lord's house is a place of prayer,forgiveness and salvation.
    Ivan C - USA
  • Father, I thank you that ultimately you are in control of this situation. I pray that you will bring favor to the officials who are investigating and that this church can begin to rebuild. Please keep their faith strong and strengthen them through this. Help them to know what to do as they wait for the decision.
    Vicki W - USA
  • Lord please let these people rebuild their church. May they continue soon if they don't wish people to do rebuilding then perhaps they shouldn't be tearing it down. Learning respect might do them all well so please Lord, infuse it into them somehow for the sake of your people if they don't posses any of it already in the name of Jesus, amen.
    Angela L - USA
  • In the saving name of Jesus, our Father, Adonai, Lord, as brothers and sisters in Christ we glorify You for faithfulness of Ethiopian believers. We ask that they will continue to seek You, place a hedge of protection on them, angels to directly serve them and provision for them. So Be It. Amen
    Gary F - USA
  • Historically Ethiopia was one of the earliest countries to embrace Christianity, and only region of Africa to survive the expansion of Islam as a Christian state. It is no wonder the Church is under attack. Strengthen Your people to be faithful in their lives and witness. May they love their enemies as You love Yours. Provide meeting places for worship
    Toni D - USA
  • Father, Thy is the God of heaven that gives success, and your servants have started rebuilding. You see the troubles that this church is in, please enable them to rebuild so they will no longer be in disgrace. What glory have you hidden in this interruption? May your sovereignty be praised once your house of worship and school of wisdom stands again
    Jonathan C - Hong Kong
  • In the name of Jesus, our heavenly Father, El Shaddai, as brothers and sisters in Christ we praise You for faithfulness of Ethiopian believers. We ask that they continue to build Your temple spiritually and physically. We ask for a hedge of protection on them and angels sent directly from heaven to minister to them. Amen
    Gary F - USA
  • Lord, I pray that you intervene and allow the Church in Alaba zone to be rebuilt. Please change the hearts and minds of the government officials so that they will allow the Church to be rebuilt without any further harassment and problems. I pray in the name of Jesus and in the Holy Spirit that you, Father, will make a great change in their hearts.
    Brian E - USA
  • May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord's face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace.
    Mary-Ellen V - USA
  • 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
    Layne N - USA
  • In the name of Jesus, our heavenly Father, King Eternal, we thank and praise You today for faithfulness of believers in Ethiopia and this church. . We thank and praise You for access to Your Word. We ask for a hedge of protection on them and angels directly from heaven to teach and minister to them. Amen
    Gary F - USA
  • O LORD, bind evil in Ethiopia, esp in Alaba Kulito. May your work be completed according to your desire. May the leaders and government be bent to your will. Emboldened your faithful servants to do your will. Give them strength and materials to complete the church and school. May your name be glorified among the nations, Amen!
    SM D - USA
  • Father, I pray You will use this to help persecutors realize they cannot destroy Your true church. I pray You will pave the way for Your work to continue. Please encourage Your people. In Jesus Name, amen
    Debbie M - USA
  • Father, please provide somewhere for these believers to meet and for the school to gather. Work on the hearts of the government leaders to favor the Christians and grant permission for this church to be rebuilt. Will you also provide that other churches can be rebuilt? Protect your people and your resources from harm and destruction. Thank you! Amen
    Vicki Y - USA
  • Lord I pray the church could be rebuild. I pray local government officials agree for the rebuild. Strength this congregation in their faith. Amen.
    Cristian G - Colombia
  • Dear Heavenly Father,
    We ask that Your Will would prevail here! Work miracles in the hearts of those who oppose this church being rebuilt; may they see the Love of Christ in the believers there and be touched for Your glory! Don't let the people be discouraged or give up; let them be filled with Your Joy and Peace!
    In the precious name of Jesus, Amen
    Madison F - USA
  • Heavenly Father, thank you for these precious believers. Help them to realize the power within them through your Holy Spirit. Help them to continually cry out to You, knowing that You hear them and will answer with perfect timing. I pray they will be able to rebuild the church so that they can worship You and have school again. Thank you in advance.
    In
    Lis S - USA
  • Help Your people Lord to be how You want them to be as the church, the body of Christ in this place. Help them love their enemies and bless those who persecute them. May they walk humbly before You and loving one another and those in their community. Amen
    Carolann P - Canada
  • Lord send your Holy Spirit to the Ethiopian church to give them hope, strength, wisdom, courage, forgiveness, love, boldness, peace & protection. Use them to bring their persecutors to salvation. Send people & resources to them to provide for their needs, buid a church & school and bring many to salvation & help the community to grow in their faith.
    Angie E - USA
  • Father we pray that you would move on the hearts of government officials. We pray that the church will be built and that nothing will be able to stop it. Your word says that upon this rock, Christ Jesus, that the church will be built and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Help your church Lord. Thank you, in Christ name amen.
    Diane E - Canada
  • FATHER, I pray against the evil that fights so hard against YOUR HOLY NAME in the whole eastern world. The battles are fierce and continuous. Authority, guns and physical weapons against righteous praying, and it seems that evil is winning. YOUR people there are very immature and it seems so are your western world CHRISTIANS. Please forgive GOD!!
    Bobby C - USA
  • Dear God & Father, I pray for the believers in the danger zone: Protect, provide for, comfort, strengthen, encourage & guide them. Intervene in their situation; may they be able to keep their church building & all it houses, including a school. Open the hearts of the officials who are trying to stop this. May these believers thrive. In Jesus' Name. Ame
    Lisa D - USA
  • Father God we ask you to help our brothers and sisters who are trying to rebuild the church. We ask for your grace to open the hearts of the government officials to do what is right for the construction work to begin. We ask all that in the name of Jesus Christ.
    Dumezweni M - South Africa
  • Like Nehemiah instructed those rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem, may these believers not be afraid, but remember their God who is great and awesome! As opposition comes, may they continue to pray boldly and watch how you will fight for them. The hearts of kings and officials are in your hands, dear Lord, and we ask for your favor.
    Jackie V - USA
  • In the victorious name of Jesus, our heavenly Father, the Overcomer, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we praise You for the faithfulness of Ethiopian believers and churches. We praise You for this victory. We continue to ask for a hedge of protection on them and angels directly from heaven to minister to them. Amen
    Gary F - USA
Load More Prayers