250 More Syrian Christians Abducted by ISIL

Late last week, there were reports from Syria that Islamic State (ISIL) had abducted dozens of Christians from the city of al-Quaryatayn, where fighting began a week ago.

Several sources from Syria reported that dozens of Christians were taken hostage by ISIL, but the Assyrian International News Agency (AINA) reported in a press statement that 250 Assyrian Christians were captured by ISIL, including women and children.

The city of al-Quaryatayn is located 62 miles southwest of the ancient city of Palmyra, that was captured by ISIL earlier this year. ISIL confirmed the takeover of al-Quaryatayn, which has a population of approximately 40,000 inhabitants, mainly Sunni Muslims and Christians.

ISIL was also responsible for the kidnapping of more than 200 Assyrian Christians from the Khabur River region in northeastern Syria, at the end of February this year. They were taken hostage from their villages when they were overrun by Islamic terrorists, and most of them are still missing.

Within Syria, there are an estimated 6.5 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Over the last few years, since the start of the civil war, approximately 4 million Syrians have left the country, including an estimated 700,000 Christians.

• Pray for the Christians who have been abducted by ISIL across Syria. Pray for protection from harm, for them to know that God is with them, and they are held in the palm of His hands.
• Pray for ISIL to release those who have been abducted and for them to return home unharmed.
• Pray for leaders and members of ISIL to have real encounters with the Living Jesus and fall on their knees to worship Him.
• Pray for peace and healing for Syria and its people.

Psalm 57 vs 1: “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by”

Source: http://opendoorsusa.org/newsroom