{"id":50997,"date":"2026-03-17T14:09:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T14:09:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=prayerline&#038;p=50997"},"modified":"2026-03-17T17:12:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T17:12:51","slug":"as-if-you-were-there","status":"publish","type":"prayerline","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/as-if-you-were-there\/","title":{"rendered":"As If You Were There"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block block-core-html\">\n<iframe title=\"As If You Were There\" allowtransparency=\"true\" height=\"150\" width=\"100%\" style=\"border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;\" scrolling=\"no\" data-name=\"pb-iframe-player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.podbean.com\/player-v2\/?i=9h6we-1a733fa-pb&#038;from=pb6admin&#038;share=1&#038;download=1&#038;rtl=0&#038;fonts=Arial&#038;skin=8bbb4e&#038;font-color=ffffff&#038;logo_link=episode_page&#038;btn-skin=fb0584\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For this Prayerline, we pause from the usual student stories to pray more generally for the Middle East and our movements there at this time of increased conflict, destruction, and persecution. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">God calls us to remember those who are suffering for Christ as if we were there with them (Hebrews 13:3).  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jamil, Regional Secretary for <a href=\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/region\/mena\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the Middle East and North Africa<\/a>, says: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201c<\/em><em>It\u2019s crucial for us to know that our brothers and sisters are praying for this region.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-84fcb3868a5c638e52a8ad0ae06556f9\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-mena-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-84fcb3868a5c638e52a8ad0ae06556f9\"><strong>Persecution<\/strong> <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those involved in student ministry in high-risk places have faced grave persecution in recent months. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a country whose movement affiliated to IFES at the last World Assembly, the General Secretary had to flee abroad due to the arrest of a Christian brother with links to him. The detained man is said to be tortured and very ill, with a ransom being demanded for his release.   <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally, the board chair discovered a microphone planted in their home and has now fled to an undisclosed location. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a Gulf state, one movement has asked the IFES regional team to cut contact due to hostile scrutiny and pressure from authorities. Some staff workers who were there for international student ministry have been deported. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-4210c9de9d4829e5bc4c9e91838b93b2\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-mena-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4210c9de9d4829e5bc4c9e91838b93b2\"><strong>Destruction<\/strong> <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The current war on Iran has intensified ongoing conflicts and disrupted lives and ministry across the entire region. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Israel\u2019s renewed attacks on Hezbollah have caused death and destruction in Lebanon, including to Christian communities. LIVF Lebanon activities have been suspended due to the evacuation and bombing of southern Beirut (where their premises are). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet encouragement for students continues online \u2013 a recent LIVF Facebook post declared: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cIn the midst of the darkness and uncertainty our country and region are going through, fear is natural \u2013 but we choose to fix our hearts on God, trusting in His peace and help through the storms of war.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Similarly in Israel, FCSI staff said: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cAs the sirens sounded once again on Shabbat morning, we sent out the Psalm 121 to our students \u2013 to let them know that we love them and that we are with them \u2013 but even more, that the Lord is with them!\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-dddd05652df45f7e55d035ca9c3fbb42\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-mena-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-dddd05652df45f7e55d035ca9c3fbb42\"><strong>Hope<\/strong> <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Such hope was reinforced last month \u2013 not long before the current regional upheaval. Staff members from the IFES regional team and MENA movements spent four days together for mutual sharing and support. Jamil says: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201c<\/em><em>Despite the challenges and pain in our region, it was such a delight to see general secretaries from countries at war with each other<\/em><em> <\/em><em>standing side by side, united in Christ<\/em><em>.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other encouragements were the presence of more women in leadership (including a new General Secretary for a movement that had been leaderless for five years) and the growing numbers of students turning to Christ from other faith backgrounds. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s lament with our brothers and sisters that such ministry is currently being disrupted and pray that God will carry them, protect them, and bring them peace.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-33f867a31a538d3c33ddddde37664b40\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-mena-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-33f867a31a538d3c33ddddde37664b40\"><strong>Pray<\/strong> <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-list\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"wp-block block-core-list-item\">\n<li>Pray for an end to war across the region, including in Iran, Lebanon,&nbsp;Israel,&nbsp;and Gaza. Ask that&nbsp;the&nbsp;ongoing cycle of hatred, destruction, and killing&nbsp;will be broken.&nbsp;Pray that believers will know the peace&nbsp;and protection of&nbsp;Christ&nbsp;\u2013&nbsp;especially&nbsp;staff&nbsp;and&nbsp;students who are in direct physical danger from rocket fire.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-list\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"wp-block block-core-list-item\">\n<li>Pray for those facing persecution \u2013 for&nbsp;physical&nbsp;protection, peace&nbsp;beyond understanding,&nbsp;and&nbsp;wisdom&nbsp;and courage&nbsp;in decision-making.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-list\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"wp-block block-core-list-item\">\n<li>Pray for&nbsp;IFES regional team members&nbsp;as they&nbsp;counsel key staff in national movements&nbsp;(some&nbsp;have periodically&nbsp;had to&nbsp;evacuate their&nbsp;own&nbsp;homes due to missile&nbsp;strikes).&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-list\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"wp-block block-core-list-item\">\n<li>Praise God&nbsp;for&nbsp;fellowship&nbsp;in Jesus&nbsp;across borders&nbsp;and conflicts,&nbsp;and for the many who have been turning to him in recent months.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-list\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"wp-block block-core-list-item\">\n<li>As&nbsp;the religious observance of&nbsp;Ramadan draws to a close this week&nbsp;across the region, pray&nbsp;that&nbsp;Augustine\u2019s&nbsp;experience \u2013&nbsp;\u201cO Lord, our hearts are restless until they find rest in you\u201d&nbsp;\u2013 would be&nbsp;felt&nbsp;deeply&nbsp;across the region.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":51000,"template":"","area":[461],"theme":[],"class_list":["post-50997","prayerline","type-prayerline","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","area-mena"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>As If You Were There &#183; 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