Day 2. Northern Yemeni Arabs in Yemen (YEH-meh-nee)

Yemen is the poorest country in the Arab world, with a history of wars and conquests. A current civil war between the Shi’ite Houthis (backed by Iran) and the Sunni Arab coalition (backed by Saudi Arabia) has left some 17.8 million people at risk of starvation.

Seaports of entry for humanitarian supplies have been bombed and lack of clean water has resulted in a cholera outbreak with over one million cases reported. Yemen boys are recruited to fight and young girls are sold as child brides as a way for families to earn money. Few Yemeni children attend school for risk of death and injury. Terrorist cell groups like Al-Qaeda and addiction to their drug cash crop “qat” add to their suffering.Many Yemeni Arabs have left the country and settled in diaspora groups in Saudi Arabia, and the West.

While there have been some witnesses over the centuries, Yemen remains one of the most unreached countries in the world and embracing Jesus carries heavy penalties in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The Yemeni languages do not have a complete Bible, and only portions of Scripture have been translated into some of their dialects.

Prayers for the families in Yemen:

Lord, have mercy on the families of Yemen, healing their trauma and reunite them. Deliver them from the suffering caused by war, famine, disease, drugs and terrorist activities. Purify their faith in You and bless the families that follow Jesus in the way of peace. Sprout the seeds of Your word that You have planted in their hearts.

Lord, increase the spiritual hunger of the Yemeni Sunni and Shi’ite leaders in Yemen and in the diaspora. Show them how to worship You, the one true God, in Spirit and Truth through Your Messiah, Jesus (Isa). Provide translations of Your Word in their language in forms they can access, like phone apps, written and audio.

Lord, bless Yemeni families in both the diaspora and in Yemen, as the Spirit of God leads them to seek, discuss and apply Your Word. Give Yemeni families the desire to embrace Isa al Masih (Jesus the Messiah), depending on Him alone for salvation. Spread Your hope from family to family in both the diaspora and Yemen.

Thank God for His compassion for Yemenis in the desert of suffering: “You are the God who sees me,” Hagar said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” (Gen. 16:13)