1. A small group of believers face severe persecution.  They have been told to deny Christ or face public execution.  Please pray these believers will stand firm in the faith.  Please pray their faithfulness will have a powerful impact on the other believers’ faith.  Please pray that the government will not act on these threats.

2. Please pray for a group of materials that was recently delivered into the country.  Please pray that these materials will find their way into the hands of those whose hearts have been prepared to receive the Good News.

1. Please pray for M, a Sorani-speaking Kurdish man from a key western city in Iran.  He is a leader of a small group of Kurdish believers in the area.  M is also involved in getting the word of God into the hands of believers and hungry seekers.  Recently, M was thrown in jail for his faith.  His wife has been able to visit him. He seems to be doing well so far.  The authorities are telling him he may be in jail for as long as six months.  They also tell him that if he will discontinue his Christian activities and also expose other believers in his area, his time in jail will be reduced. Please pray for M to remain faithful and strong during his time in jail.  Pray that he would experience the peace of God in a new way.  Please also pray for M’s family and the other believers in his group.  Often during times of persecution God will raise up new leaders, and strengthen the faith of others.  Pray that this would happen during M’s imprisonment. Pray that this experience will result in the growth of the Kurdish church in Iran.

2. For several years there has been an adequate translation of the New Testament in the Sorani Kurdish language.  However, there has never been a Sorani full Bible translation.  Please pray for those currently involved in this translation project.  These workers have labored on this translation for many years now.  There are various hold ups and delays which are causing many to grow discouraged with the project.  Please pray that a deep sense of unity will come over all involved in this project, and that all involved will press on to finish the translation.  Access to the whole Bible is so vital to the complete and effective training of Sorani believers and leaders.  It is essential for the long-term growth and development of the Sorani-speaking church.  Pray that many Sorani Kurds will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as a result of this Sorani full Bible.

1. Pray for a couple who are facing increased persecution.  They have refused to leave the country, but remain in order to continue sharing the Good News.  Pray for God’s protection on their lives.  Pray that God will reward their faithfulness.

2. Pray for a strategic city which has exhibited unusually high hostility to the Good News.  Pray that God will break the hold of the enemy on this city.

3. Last month, five church leaders attended a marriage retreat which helped lay a theological foundation for healthy marriages.  Please pray that God will use this retreat to secure these marriages and the marriages within their networks to the word of God.  Pray that revival will take place because men have committed to serving their families as biblical spiritual leaders. 

1. Thank God for the opportunity of visiting Iranian homes! Pray that the seeds sown with a family we recently visited will be watered through future contact. 

2. Praise our Lord for recent encounters with Azeri people.  Ask that a partnership for additional work and workers will be mobilized in order to see more people coming to faith.

3. Pray for S to come to Christ. He has already been presented with the Gospel on several occasions. Now, he is taking interest in reading the Bible, and is asking many questions about our faith.  Ask that more Azeris be able to hear and respond to the good news!

1. Recently, the Persians of Turkey team had to vacate their refugee center and re-open in a new location. Praise God that they were able to quickly find a new location to rent and that it is in a strategic location. Also, give praise that it has lower rent than the last location. Pray that many Persian refugees will find rest and peace when they come to this new center. Ask that they will hear of God, who is their only true refuge.

2. Recently, S and her family were relocated to a small city in eastern Turkey, where they will live for 9 months as they await word on their refugee case. This city is in a very dangerous area with much military and terrorist activity. Pray for this family’s safety while they are there. Also, ask that they would have opportunities to share the love of Christ with those they meet in this new place.

3. Another person named S is the pastor of a church in Turkey that is reaching out to Persian refugees. Recently, the church was threatened because they continue to preach about Jesus. Pray for the safety of S and his church. More importantly, ask that they will be emboldened, rather than threatened, and will continue to reach out to people who need to hear the Good News.

1. Please remember a gathering of house group leaders who are attending a leadership conference.  Please pray for the teaching team that is leading the conference. Ask that those teaching will share not just information, but their passion, experience and devotion to the Lord and His church.

2. Please remember a small team of national believers that is making regular trips to strategic cities. The purpose of these trips is to share the Good News with the lost and to strengthen a fragile group of believers.

3. Please remember a small team of national believers as they are seeking theological training. Pray that the training materials will be delivered safely. Also, ask that this training will ground their minds and their character deep into the word of God.

The Azeris of Iran, also known as the Southern Azerbaijani people, primarily live in the northwest regions of the Islamic Republic of Iran.  Their primary spoken language is Azerbaijani, however, for political reasons the language is unwritten. According to most current estimates, the population is believed to be more than 20 million people. The dominant religion is Islam (Shi’a). There is no known church among them.

Requests:

1. Pray for strategic teams targeting the Southern Azerbaijani people.  Ask that each person would gain a deep desire to participate in future work among the Southern Azerbaijani people.

2. Pray for the development of partnerships with churches to reach the Southern Azerbaijanis.

1. Recently the Persians of Turkey team was asked to leave the building they were using for a refugee ministry center in a major Turkish city. The landlord said it didn’t matter that there was a contract until the end of the year. He had a family member who needed a place to live. Here, family always takes priority over an acquaintance who is renting a building. The team has until June to find a new place. Please pray that they will find the perfect place to continue ministering to refugees and that it will be both safe and accessible.

 2. Please pray for a group from the United States who will be in Turkey in May to help minister to refugees in a major city. Pray that their time will be rewarding and that many refugees will feel God’s love through the group’s presence and ministry. Pray that the team would have safe travel, quick adjustment to the time difference, and health.

 3. Pray for S, a Turkish pastor whose congregation is starting to reach out to the Persians in his city. Pray that his congregation, and other national groups around the country, would catch a vision for reaching out with the Gospel to Persians, wherever they may find them.

1. Early in June, there will be an important training meeting for about 50 Iranians, many of whom will be Kurds.  This training will take place in a country near Iran.  It will be a week of praise, worship, prayer, fellowship, and some good solid teaching.  Pray that all those coming would arrive safely and that all would go well during the week.  Pray for the teachers and other event organizers.  Pray that this event would lead to the advancement of the Gospel among the peoples of Iran, including the millions of Kurds in Iran that have never heard the name of Jesus before.

 2. Pray for two new believers. “Mike” is a Sorani-speaking Kurd from the city of “M” in Iranian Kurdistan who was baptized in March.  He is only the second believer we know of from his city of several hundred thousand.  Pray that he can meet with “Kevin”, the other believer, for fellowship and encouragement. Pray that they will be able to share Christ with others in their city.  Pray also for “Jim” from the city of “N” in Iranian Kurdistan.  He was also baptized in March along with Mike.  He is the only known believer in his city.  Jim drives a taxi to make a living. Pray that he will meet other believers and that he will be bold to share his faith as he drives his taxi.

 3. Pray for “Joseph”, a Sorani-speaking Kurd from the city of “D” in Iranian Kurdistan, who is genuinely seeking the Lord.  During a recent conversation with Joseph, he asked how a person knows when he is a true follower of Jesus.  He sees that the majority religion in his area is not true. Because of this, he is seeking the Truth.  Pray that Joseph will see that Jesus is the only Truth.  There are a few other believers in the city of D where Joseph lives.  Pray that he will seek fellowship and encouragement together with them.  Pray that God will save Joseph.

1. Islam has interjected much into the culture which cripples marriages.  Even when people respond to Christ in faith, the vestiges of the Islamic culture still linger in their homes.  Please pray for a marriage retreat for church leaders which will help lay a theological framework for building healthier marriages inside their church networks.  Pray for our team of trainers as they prepare and present.  Pray that our participants will travel without obstacle.  Pray that God will restore broken marriages among our church leaders.  Pray that God will use this teaching to strength marriages within the church networks.

2. Pray for a new team of evangelists who will begin work in a strategic city.  Pray that they will sow seeds among hearts that have soft and fertile soil.  Pray that they will share without interference.

3. According to Jesus, we are to pray for someone to go into the fields.  There are two important cities where no work is maintained.  Please ask the Lord to send someone into these two cities to share the good news and to strengthen any believers that may exist.