May 25, 2017
Thousands of people have fled the city of Marawi in the
south of the Philippines after militants kidnapped 14 Christians and burnt down
their church.
Extremists groups, which have pledged allegiance to Islamic State, went
on the rampage in the city on the island of Mindanao on
Tuesday.
Please pray for the safe return of Pastor Teresito ‘Chito’ Suganob and
the 13 other Christians kidnapped from his church.
Armed men raided St Mary’s Cathedral on Tuesday and abducted the 14
Christians. As well as setting light to the cathedral, they also burned down
three buildings of the church-owned Dansalan College.
The Filipino army engaged in firefights with militants whom the
Government has since identified as members of the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Maute
Group: two soldiers and a police chief were killed. President Rodrigo Duterte
has imposed martial law in Mindanao, an island with a significant Muslim
population.
- Pray for our Christian family in the Philippines, especially in the south of the country where several Islamist terrorist groups have been active.
- Pray especially for wisdom for church leaders in the southern Philippines: several pastors have been held hostage by terrorists.
- Pray that God will thwart the plans of the men of violence, including the Maute Group, considered one of the newest but most feared terror groups in the country.
(Sources: BBC, Morning Star News. Release
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