1) Belarus’ Election Aftermath
Mass demonstrations have erupted against an obviously rigged election by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, a dictatorial leader for the last 26 years. Thousands of protestors have been imprisoned and are being savagely tortured. We have been asked to pray for the situation by an evangelical leader who wrote to German friends:
Please pray for Belarus. We go through a very difficult time. After the falsified presidential election, thousands of peaceful protesters have been beaten, injured and imprisoned including many members of our churches. People are kidnapped on the streets, dragged out of the cars, beaten and arrested. Many of them have not even been protesters.
Please pray for a change of the president and for a new election to come making way for a new government upholding human rights and freedoms.
Pray for those who were wounded and arrested during a brutal reaction of the government towards peaceful protesters.
He also asks that we pray “for freedom” to come to Belarus.
Here is brief video about the situation there (Al Jazeera). Belarus protests: UN human rights chief condemns crackdown (2:33)
Let’s support our brothers and sisters and all the people of Belarus who need to be liberated from this oppressive regime.
2) Afghanistan’s Peace Process
In an effort to bring both the government and its Taliban opponents into what they hope is a lasting peace, the Afghan assembly of tribal leaders called the Loyal Jirga approved the release of the most dangerous 400 Taliban prisoners. It is hoped that this will pave the way for talks and a possible ceasefire.
In order to implement a peace agreement, the Afghan government and the Taliban plan to meet within days of the prisoner release being completed.
The US-Taliban agreement signed in February included Washington agreeing to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan in return for a pledge from the armed group to hold peace talks with the Afghan government.
The Afghan government hopes the release of the last Taliban prisoners will "speed up efforts for direct talks and a lasting, nationwide ceasefire". However, they know that many of the 400 inmates to be released have been involved in the killings of many Afghans and foreigners. Their release, the president of Afghanistan warns, will be “a danger to the world”.
Please pray for the peace process of this long-embattled nation as the multinational coalition of foreign troops withdraw, that by God’s grace real peace can come to the nation in spite of the unwise step of releasing these hard-core terrorists and killers.
3) Beirut, Lebanon’s traumatic situation
The massive explosion that destroyed much of the Lebanese capital on August 4th is causing many to struggle with awful confusion and paralysis. The massive explosion killed more than 170 people, wounded more than 6,000 and left an estimated 300,000 homeless.
Many residents are struggling to hope for the future since the trauma of the explosion at the Beirut port has added to the worst wildfires in decades followed by an uprising demanding reform of the political system. This was followed by the country's deepest-ever economic crisis that bought poverty to thousands. Then Covid-19 struck as well. Many, therefore, feel they are now living in a hopeless wasteland.
Please pray for comfort, hope and healing for the hundreds of thousands that have been affected by the most recent disaster and for those providing relief and trauma counselling.
Pray for a well coordinated, effective relief and rebuilding program and that those governments that have pledged help will do so quickly and faithfully.
Pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ there from the multitude of different denominations that have often struggled with division to come together in real unity, prayer and action to serve their people and bear witness for the Lord together.
Thanks for remembering these challenging situations in your prayers to the One who has all power and can move in ways we cannot imagine to bring about deliverance, hope and a new destiny as His people stand in the breach and intercede with faith in His omnipotent love, grace and mercy.
John Robb - Chairman
Dr Jason Hubbard – Executive Coordinator
International Prayer Connect