Praying the News Summary 9

Summary: Country of the Week: Sudan
Source: Link

Syrian Refugee Crisis

Summary: Syria: People, including children, are freezing to death in tents and without shelter as they are fleeing violence in winter.
Source: Link
Summary: 82,000 people are living in the open air in Syria as they flee violence.
Source: Link
Summary: 5.5 million Syrian refugees and 6 million internally displaced people due to 9 years of war.
Source: Link
Summary: The conflict is escalating between Syria & Turkey (and also between opposing Syrian groups)
Source: Link
Summary: Syria's war is both a civil war (opposing factions in Syria), but also a proxy war (where Turkey and Russia are interceding on behalf of the groups they support). 3.7 million Syrian refugees in Turkey.
Source: Link
Summary: Turkey announced it will allow refugees from Syria to cross into the EU while Greece and Bulgaria ramp up their border security to prevent crossings.
Source: Link
Summary: 18,000 people have crossed into the EU, but Greece is firing tear gas to try to prevent crossings.
Source: Link

US Border Crisis

Summary: Study reveals that families who were separated at the US border display mental health conditions such as PTSD, major depressive disorder, or a generalized anxiety disorder. This has not only been linked to the families fleeing violence, but also the stress of separation.
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for God's justice to be done in broken immigration, refugee, and asylum systems.
Source: Link
Summary: The US is creating a specific office to handle de-naturalizing American citizens in trouble with the law or who have problems with their application. These are naturalized citizens having their citizenship revoked, while native-born citizens don't face the same punishments for their crimes.
Source: Link
Summary: 800+ migrants who sought asylum at the US border, but were told to wait in Mexico for their hearing, have experienced kidnapping, rape, and other violent crimes. The courts have ruled that the US must follow its asylum laws that grant an asylum hearing to anyone who requests it, regardless of their legal status, but the courts are hearing more arguments about whether the US can make asylum seekers wait in Mexico for their US hearing.
Source: Link
Summary: 60,000 migrants are waiting in Mexico for their US asylum hearing. Asylum courts at the border have less than a 1% chance of asylum being granted.
Source: Link
Summary: May the Church remember to show compassion as we love God and our neighbors.
Source: Link

Other Requests

Summary: 5 dead in a work shooting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Source: Link
Summary: At least 20 dead in protests in India.
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for holistic childhood programs in Brazil, human trafficking, and locust swarms in East Africa.
Source: Link
Summary: 18,000+ dead from the flu in the US and 32 million infected.
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for people to have compassion and empathy in the midst of their fear and prejudice.
Source: Link
Summary: Praise: US and Taliban reach a peace agreement.
Source: Link and Link

Pray for those without homes in winter

Pray for those who are sleeping outside.
Pray for those in tents and for those without any shelter.
Pray for those within our borders who have no homes.
Pray for the homeless within our own communities.
Pray for those around the world in similar situations.
Pray for refugees who are being turned away from overflowing camps to sleep in the open air in freezing weather in Syria.
Pray for the families who are grieving as their children are freezing to death because they have no shelter.
Pray for the Church to be disturbed by these deaths and to come alongside those who are suffering.
Pray for peace and justice to come to this world, so no one will die from sleeping outside in freezing weather.

Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update

Summary: Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update: This link is a live feed updated throughout the day.
Source: Link and Link
Summary: 60 cases in the US (45 from US citizens brought back from China & Japan)
Source: Link
Summary: 50 countries dealing with the virus with more than 4,300 infected outside of China. Italy, South Korea, and Japan have the worst outbreaks outside of China. This link has maps, charts, & summaries.
Source: Link
Summary: The greatest threat from the virus is fear, rumors, and stigma.
Source: Link
Summary: 83,000 cases worldwide of the virus and 2,800 deaths.
Source: Link
Summary: 3,100+ cases in South Korea, 78,900+ cases in China, and 500+ cases in Iran.
Source: Link
Summary:  Around 37,000 have recovered from the virus. 2-4% fatality rate in Wuhan, China and 0.7% fatality rate outside of Wuhan.
Source: Link

Praying the News Summary 8

Summary: Country of the Week: Eritrea
Source: Link

Summary: Injuries and deaths due to earthquake in Turkey/Iran.
Source: Link

Summary: 10,000 civilians killed in Afghanistan in 2019. 100,000 civilians killed over last decade.
Source: Link

Summary: Anti-govenment protests continue in Chile for 4th month.
Source: Link

Summary: Increased attacks & counter-attacks between Israel and Gaza.
Source: Link

Summary: Hmong communities in US fear deportation back to Laos. The immigration system doesn't erase deportation orders after a person serves their time for a crime.
Source: Link

Summary: Increased military presence & influence in Latin America. Also increased protests.
Source: Link

Summary: The new public charge rule allows immigration officials to deny visas and green cards based on their opinion of whether the applicant use government benefits at any point in the future. May the officials be able to see past their biases and prejudices to render true and sound judgments.
Source: Link

Summary: Violence between Hindus and Muslim in Delhi, India. 189 injured and 23 dead. Protests for and against a new citizenship act that grants amnesty to non-Muslim immigrants in India illegally from Muslim-majority nations, but not to Muslims from the same nations.
Source: Link

Summary: Locust swarms continue in Africa & Asia. Aid is needed.
Source: Link

Summary: Humanitarian crisis in Syria. Violence and poor weather impact those fleeing violence.
Source: Link

Summary: US Surpreme Court ruled that the parents of a Mexican boy (who was in Mexico when he was shot in 2010 and killed by a US border agent on US soil) did not have the right to sue the agent.
Source: Link and Link and Link

Summary: Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update: 600 infected and 6 dead in South Korea from the virus.
100 cases and 2 dead in Italy from the virus. Around 50,000 people on lock-down in 2 cities.
43 cases and 8 dead in Iran from the virus.
76,000 cases and 2,442 deaths in China from the virus.
Israel didn't allow non-Israelis to disembark from a plane & has banned travelers from South Korea and Japan.
Pray for countries with weaker health systems as the risk of a pandemic rises.
Source: Link

Summary: Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update: Praise: 18 people have recovered from the virus in South Korea.
Israel also banning foreign visitors who visited Thailand, Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Macau in the last 2 weeks.
Nearly 79,000 cases worldwide.
229 cases in Italy.
The virus has spread to Austria, Croatia and Switzerland.
61 cases and 12 dead in Iran.
Praise: 80% of cases are mild and people recover from it. 
20% of severe cases.
Source: Link

Summary: Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update: 77,000+ cases including 2,600+ dead in China.
1,200 cases including 20 dead in 30 other countries worldwide.
7 dead in Italy.
1-2% of people infected die.
First cases in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain.
380 foreigners quarantined in North Korea.
Source: Link

Summary: Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan imposing travel restrictions from Iran.
78,800+ cases worldwide (all but 1,769 cases in China) including 2,400+ deaths (all but 17 in China).
Source: Link

Summary: Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update: 35 cases in US (half from repatriated cruise ship passengers)
11 cities on lockdown in Italy.
Source: Link

Summary: Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update: 70 cases and 12,000 people confined to their homes in Hong Kong.
Source: Link

Summary: Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update: Hotel on lock-down in Spain after virus case there.
80,000+ cases world-wide.
Source: Link

Summary: Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update: 763 cases in South Korea.
43 cases in Iran.
124 cases in Italy.
(As a comparison, the last pandemic sickened 60 million world-wide and killed half a million people)
Source: Link

Summary: Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update: 229 cases in Italy.
126 cases in Japan.
977 cases in South Korea.
Fatality rate in China is
Source: Link

Summary: Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update: This has live updates on the spread of the virus.
Source: Link

Summary: Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update: 80,000 virus cases worldwide including 2,700 deaths worldwide, but most of both numbers are within China.
53 cases in US.
Source: Link

Summary: Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update: The virus continues to spread in Europe.
1,200 cases in South Korea.
78,000 cases in China.
Source: Link

Summary: Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update: 400 cases in Italy.
New cases in Austria, Croatia, Greece, Norway, Switzerland, Georgia and North Macedonia
Source: Link

Praying the News Summary 7

Summary: Country of the Week: Eritrea
Source: Link

Summary: In Germany, a suspected far-right extremist killed 9 people at 2 bars.
Source: Link

Summary: A man praying in a mosque in London was attacked and stabbed by an attacker.
Source: Link

Summary: Praise: there is a "reduction in violence" (ie a "partial truce") in Afghanistan between US, Afghan, & Taliban forces.
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Praise: Peace deal reached in South Sudan, hoping to end 6 years of civil war.
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for kids in refugee camps.
Source: Link

Summary: Swarms of locusts are causing damage in the Horn of Africa & Persian Gulf regions (Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Iran)
Source: Link

Summary: A mother is being deported after being pulled over for not wearing a seat belt. Her two children (both US citizens) will accompany her back to El Salvador, despite increased dangers and risks for them there.
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for the people impacted by proposed cuts to SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, ACA tax credits, child nutrition programs (ie school lunches), and global nutrition programs.
Source: Link

Summary: Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update: South Korea is having an outbreak of the virus. Cases went from 51 to 104 (now 200+). One lady had interacted with over 1,000 people by attending a church and visiting a hospital before coming down with the virus.
75,000 cases world-wide including 2,200+ deaths and 16,000+ recoveries. New virus case in Lebonan.
Praise: less than 100 pediatric cases of the virus.
North Korea's people are facing high prices and shortages as their border with China has been closed.
There are 500+ new virus cases in Chinese prisons.
In the Ukraine, demonstrators attack buses with evacuues from China. The health minister is joining the evacuues in quarantine and doing her job online.
75,500+ cases in China (includes those who recovered from, succumbed to, or currently have the virus).
1,000+ cases outside of China, in 26 countries, with at least 8 deaths.
400+ cases in South Korea.
Half a Billion citizens are on lockdown in China. (That's like locking down all of North America).
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for those who are facing attacks, insults, discrimination, and hate in the US, because they look to be of Asian descent.
Pray for perfect love to cast out fear.
Source: Link

For official statistics, check out the World Health Organization: Link

Praying the News Summary 6

Summary: Country of the Week: Pakistan
Source: Link

Summary: 69,550 migrant children were in US government custody in 2019. Around 4,000 are still separated from their parents.
Source: Link

Summary: Flooding in Mississippi.
Source: Link

Summary: More than half a million kids have been displaced by violence in Syria since Dec. 1, 2019. At least 28 kids killed and 48 injured since Jan. 1, 2020. Kids & families are living in tents in wintertime.
Source: Link

Summary: Praise: a museum is utilizing refugees & immigrants to show visitors around their museum & share their stories.
Source: Link

Summary: Praise: Spokane, WA, programs are being developed to help the homeless find resources & relationships, instead of punishing them for sleeping on the streets.
Source: Link

Summary: 50 million people globally who need insulin don't have reliable access to it.
Source: Link

Summary: Potential pending policy changes could negatively impact students on free or reduced lunches. Standards for SNAP (food stamps) could be tightened & families would be disqualified from that program, which automatically enrolls them in the free/reduced lunch program. Families can still apply for free/reduced lunches, by filling out a form. Immigration "public charge" policy changes could see families with US citizen children & parents working toward citizenship hesitant to use SNAP even though their child legally qualifies for it due to fear of having their citizenship application rejected.
Source: Link

Summary: Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update: Sick and elderly most at risk. 72,000+ cases including 1,800+ deaths. Praise: 12,000+ people recovered!
500+ (now 600+) virus cases on the cruise ship in quarantine in Japan.
Many countries are hesitant to allow cruise ships to dock or disembark.
74,000+ cases in China & 700-ish (now 918) cases outside of China.
New virus cases in Iran and United Arab Emirates.
Pray for those who are trying to development medicine to treat this virus.
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Praying the News Summary 5

Summary: Country of the Week: Pakistan
Source: Link

Summary: Refugees and Immigrants are not a faceless threat ready to steal all we value. They are people, made in God's image, who have face trouble and adversity. They add value to any society that welcomes them. Pray that the Church will welcome and love those who are different, instead of fearing them.
Source: Link

Summary: Praise: wildfires in Australia's New South Wales are contained.
Source: Link

Summary: Senior gang leader escaped from a court building after gunmen stormed the building to free him in Honduras. 4 officers killed & 3 wounded.
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for love to permeate the immigration system wrought with fear. Pray for justice and compassion to be properly blended.
Source: Link

Summary: 15 kids died in a fire at an unlicensed orphanage in Haiti. The orphanage was run by a US-based church. Pray for the 30,000 kids in the 760 orphanages in Haiti. 85% of these orphanages are not properly registered with the government.
Source: Link

Summary: There are protests in Mexico over femicide (the murder of women).
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for post-volcano recovery in the Philippines. Pray for economic development projects. Pray for flooding in Madagascar to end.
Source: Link/

Summary: COVID-19 (aka Coronavirus) Update: Pray for cruise ship crews taking care of passengers in quarantine. Praise: a cruise ship with no virus cases was allowed to dock in Cambodia. 55,748 (now 66,000+) cases in China including 1,380 (now 1,500+) deaths in China. 447 cases outside of China. Plasma from people who have recovered from the virus might be able to help those who currently have the virus. Pray for the health workers treating these cases (6 deaths & 1,716 infected health workers in China). Pray for the 70+ million people in quarantine in 12+ cities in China. Pray for the kids in quarantine. 4 deaths outside of China in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, and France. Pray for those with severe cases of the virus.
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Praying the News Summary 4

Summary: Country of the Week: Libya
Source: Link

Summary: Storm Ciara hit the UK and flooding hap
Source: Link

Summary: Ethnic clashes in Kazakhstan which killed 10 & injured 30 has resulted in an increase of refugees fleeing to Kyrgyzstan.
Source: Link

Summary: Native Americans are grieving the destruction of one of their burial sites by the federal government due to the border wall project.
Source: Link

Summary: Coronavirus update: 40,000+ (now 42,000+) infected including 900+ (now 1,000+) dead. A quarantine was ended on a cruise ship docked at Hong Kong. This virus is more deadly than the 2003 SARS epidemic. A cruise ship remains quarantined in Japan.
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: A 26-year man (with a visa allowing him to be in the country legally) was shot in the face by an ICE agent as the agents attempted to arrest another man.
Source: Link

Praying the News Summary 3

Summary: Country of the Week: Libya
Source: Link

Summary: The Nazarene Seminary in Nicaragua is reopening after being closed for nearly 40 years! (Lucas & I visited there when we were in Nicaragua in 2014!)
Source: Link

Summary: People deported from the U.S. to El Salvador between 2013 & 2019 have been being abused, assaulted, tortured, and killed.
Source: Link and Link

Summary: High speed train in Italy derailed. 2 dead.
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for Christians to let their faith influence every aspect of their lives. May our religion influence our politics, instead of the other way around.
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for those inside detention centers. Pray for the detainees to be treated humanely. Pray for the guards to balance justice and mercy.
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for the end of racism and prejudice. Pray for black immigrants in our midst today as we are in Black History Month.
Source: Link/

Summary: Pray for those suffering from the coronavirus (35,000+ infected, 24,000+ suspected cases, 186,000+ under medical watch). Pray for those treating the virus & those searching for a cure. Pray for those grieving the loss of a loved one due to the virus (700+ deaths thus far). Thank God for the 1,200+ who recovered from the virus. Pray for those quarantined on cruise ships due to the virus.
Source: Link and Link and Link

Summary: Soldier in Thailand killed 12 and injured many more at a Buddhist temple and a shopping center. Pray for repentance from the suspect at large.
Source: Link

Summary: Ethnic clashes in Kazakhstan. 8 killed and dozen injured.
Source: Link

Summary: Fires and floods across Australia.
Source: Link

Summary: Praise: the Pope is opening a "palazzo" in the Vatican to provide housing and meals for the homeless
Source: Link

Praying the News Summary 2

Summary: Country of the Week: Somalia
Source: Link

Summary: A week ago, 39 civilians were killed by militants in a market in Burkina Faso. On February 3rd, 20 civilians were killed by gunman.
Source: Link

Summary: Turkey/Syria conflict continues. Deaths on both sides. Syrian refugees in Turkey and around the world.
Source: Link

Summary: Several people injured in attack in London on Feb. 2nd. Terrorist suspect killed.
Source: Link

Summary: US homeless student population is at a 10+-year high. 1.5 million homeless students. 10-11 year olds & 16-17 year olds most likely to become homeless.
Source: Link

Summary: Justice for sexual assault victims, specifically in Spain in this article.
Source: Link

Summary: 17,000+ (now 24,300+ as of 2/5) Coronavirus cases in China. 150+ cases outside of China, including 360+ (now 490+ as of 2/5) deaths, mainly in China. 11 cases in US. 24+ countries with virus cases. Not yet pandemic level. 27 cases of 24,700+ due to proximity to person who visited China & caught the virus. Two cruise ships quarantined and undergoing testing after person came down with the virus. 18 million people in China required to stay at home. The elderly have the hightedt
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: 6 new countries have been added to the US travel ban. It doesn't apply to refugees, tourists, or students from these three countries. It just affects people from these 6 counties who want to immigrate to the US.
Source: Link

Praying the News Summary 1

Summary: Country of the Week: Somalia
Source: Link

Summary: US is starting to use landmines in all conflicts again. Pray for the civilians and especially the children who encounter landmines.
Source: Link

Summary: The US is expanding the travel ban to include citizens from Nigeria, Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar in addition to Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela and North Korea. The bolded countries are on the OpenDoor's World Watch List (of the top 50 countries where Christians face the worst persecution).
Source: Link and Link

Summary: The US is rolling back clean water regulations.
Source: Link

Summary: Flint still has drinking water problems, even before clean water regulations rollbacks.
Source: Link

Summary: Coronavirus: China and 22 other countries affected. WHO declared a global health emergency. In the province of origin, there's 60 million people on lock-down.
Source: Link

Summary: Coronavirus: Multiple countries closing borders to visitors who have been to China. WHO says it limits research cooporation, hurts economies, & hinders medical supply chains. 13,000 infected, including 304 dead. Lunar New Year extended from Jan. 30 (original end date) to Feb. 13. Weddings banned in China to limit public gatherings.
Source: Link

Summary: Coronavirus: The US is quarantining those returning from China.
Source: Link

Summary: Coronavirus: Hong Kong medical staff is threatening to strike since border with China isn't closed. Medical workers divided into clean teams and dirty teams. The dirty teams are to treat all suspected virus cases but stay in quarantine themselves for 4-6 weeks and the clean teams are to treat people not suspect of having the virus.
Source: Link

Summary: Coronavirus: There are over 150 virus cases outside of China. US health officials state that there is a low risk to US overall. In fact, there is a higher risk of contracting and dying from the flu in the US than the coronavirus at this time.
Source: Link

Kyrie Eleison

Kyrie Eleison.

For those who don't speak or read Latin, this means "Lord, have mercy."

People are dying. Lord, have mercy.

People are fleeing their homes and countries to seek refuge elsewhere. Lord, have mercy.

Children are being kept in detention centers. Lord, have mercy.

Natural disasters are wreaking havoc all over the world. Floods, fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, and more. Lord, have mercy.

Wars are being fought. Lord, have mercy.

Some people are starving while others die from eating too much. Lord, have mercy.

We hate and fear those who are different, as we have lost the ability to dialogue about our differences. Lord, have mercy.

People are enslaved, abused, and treated like objects. Lord, have mercy.

Many are homeless, hopeless, or hurting. Lord, have mercy.

Far too often, I don't care about these things because I (and those I love) are not impacted by these things. Lord, have mercy.

We don't deserve it, but please Kyrie Eleison anyway.

An Explanation

A while back, I was compelled to pray a dangerous prayer. I asked God to change my heart so I would react like He does to world events.

I didn't realize how that prayer would shatter me.

When God observes death, destruction, and sin, His heart is broken.
As God has been answering my prayer, my heart has been breaking too.

I've formed the habit of reading multiple news sites before church services, to find topics to pray for. I've begun to email myself headlines and summaries to share at church.

That's when I thought I could collect these prayer prompts in a blog for others who have a heart for the nations and for everyone in them.

These won't be perfect or complete lists, but it is a step in the right direction to bring these requests before God, even while asking others to join in praying.