Day 16

Israel is a republic with a president as head of state. However, the president's powers are largely ceremonial; the prime minister holds the executive power. Reuven Rivlin is the Israel President and Benjamin Netanyahu is serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009. Over a three-decade military career, Israeli Major General Ori Gordin has led commando raids, fought in wars and even earned a degree at Harvard. But he has never seen anything quite like his latest mission. As head of the Israeli army’s Home Front Command, Gordin is now overseeing the military’s CORONAVIRUS “task force”, formed last month to bring one of the developed world’s worst outbreaks under control. Its main responsibility is taking the lead in contact tracing and breaking chains of infection. Israel appeared to have contained its outbreak by swiftly closing its borders and imposing tough lockdown measures. The government had been expected to approve a stricter lockdown on many of the localities, as called for by the country's CORONAVIRUS czar, Ronni Gamzu.

Praise Report
We praise God that Israel appeared to be a model of crisis management, when the CORONAVIRUS first arrived. Authorities quickly sealed the borders and imposed tough lockdown measures, bringing the number of new infections down and they continue to be cautious (The Bible, Ecclesiastes 2:3).

Prayer Requests
After a hasty reopening, infection numbers have shot up to levels. The country now has one of the world's worst outbreaks, adjusted for population. We pray that the government will manage to bring it under control (The Bible, Luke 10:19).

Infection rates in ultra-Orthodox communities have been disproportionately high. We pray that those who tend to live in poor, crowded neighborhoods where sickness can quickly spread will be wise, safe and be protected from the spread (The Bible, Proverbs 1:33).

Call to Salvation
As the ultra-Orthodox plan for Mass Holiday Prayers regardless of CORONAVIRUS lockdown, We pray that tens of thousands of worshipers will turn to the Lord so that the veil will be taken away and their spiritual blindness will be removed (The Bible, 2 Corinthians 3:13).

Sources:
WIN

Central Asia’s poorest nation, Tajikistan has never recovered from the Soviet era. After five years of civil war following the 1991 Soviet collapse, an UN-brokered peace deal resulted. Secular forces dominate, but economic stability hasn’t returned. Tajikistan voted to allow its president to rule indefinitely. Each year greater legislative restrictions oppress the Tajik masses. Secular forces also dictate religious law. Although the constitution guarantees religious freedom, oppression is widespread. Literature confiscation is a primary tool the government uses against Christians. Churches must register to be legal, a near impossible task. However, both registered and unregistered church gatherings continue to take place. Tajikistan has been terribly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Praise Report
Praise God for reports of small groups of people willing to come together to read the Bible together to find out who Jesus is (The Bible, Jeremiah 29:13).

Prayer Requests
Currently the government operates with power to repress, harass and intimidate its people. Pray that the love of Jesus will sweep through these authorities (The Bible, Galatians 5:1).

Pray for Christians who have experienced set-backs, harassment and forced closure of their ministries to know God’s grace and wisdom (The Bible, Acts 4:33).

Call to Salvation
Pray that the police and authorities who are called in the raid churches and Christian homes might be touched by God’s presence and begin the journey towards salvation (The Bible, Deuteronomy 29:9-11).

Sources:
WIN
Christian workers in the region