After fleeing domestic abuse, Aansa Bibi took a job as a house cleaner for a Muslim family. Her employer’s daughters enjoyed listening to Aansa sing Christian worship songs, but the girls’ aunt cautioned her brother about allowing an infidel Christian to work in their home. When Aansa’s employer told her she must accept Islam if she wanted to keep her job, Aansa replied that she could never leave Jesus Christ. The next day, her employer sent her to a friend’s house, where she was beaten, raped and locked in a room to “teach her a lesson.” After two days, Aansa escaped and found refuge in a women’s shelter. But while staying at the shelter, Aansa’s ex-husband kidnapped her children, and her Muslim employer is still looking for her. Pray for Aansa’s recovery and for the return of her children. Pray also that she will find a good job.

As Pastor Morris William Ndbila of Malunga Parish led his congregation in prayer on Friday, Jan. 18, he began to hear rocks hitting the church’s tin roof. When the pastor stepped outside to investigate, he was confronted by five young Muslim men. “This is the pastor,” one of the men said before hurling a large rock at his forehead. Pastor Morris had received continual threats from Muslim neighbors prior to the attack. Pray for Pastor Morris and for the young men who attacked him.

Beleaguered members of the Early Rain Covenant Church have continued to experience persecution since their church was closed and more than 100 members arrested in December 2018. While most of those arrested have been released, several key leaders remain in prison, including Pastor Wang Yi. And now the persecution has expanded to church members’ workplaces and homes. Xu Miaozhuang, wife of one of the church’s imprisoned elders, was evicted from her home in February along with her four children. Another church member, Pan Fei, was fired from his job and forced to sign a resignation form. On the letter of resignation, Fei wrote, “For believing in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God and Savior of mankind, my employment with Yonghui Superstore has been terminated.” Pray for Pastor Wang Yi, Miaozhuang, Fei and the other Early Rain members affected by ongoing persecution.