Prayer Focus – November 17-23, 2025
Middle East Region (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, UAE)
Regional leaders: Majors Doug and Janet Newman (NZFTS) Assistant Regional Leaders: Majors AmyJo and Paul Ferguson (USC)
MDE Region
Founded in faith, inspired by hope, and serving in love; The Salvation Army Middle East Region prays that God would continue to empower our faithful witness as we seek to grow saints throughout the Middle East. We praise God for the continued support of our partners in mission and for all those whose gifts help sustain The Salvation Army’s ministry throughout Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.
Prayer Requests:
· As regional conflicts with international implications flare across our region, we are praying for reconciliation and peace in the Middle East. We also pray for the safety of the officers and soldiers who live and work in this area of the world and hold sacred our Christian calling to be peacemakers and reconcilers.
· We ask for continued prayer for official recognition and registration of The Salvation Army within the countries of the Middle East. We pray specifically for registration in the country of Bahrain where our regional headquarters is located.
· We pray for wisdom and perseverance in addressing the many challenges of operating within the context of the Middle East. Pray with us that our work would be sustainable and that we might leave a legacy of faith, hope, and love.
Bahrain
Registration of the Salvation Army here in Bahrain slowly continues its course. Nothing happens quickly here but we are in regular contact with our government contact and we are assured that everything is progressing. We have two corps here in Bahrain, a Tamil Corps and an International Corps. The international corps attendees are mainly from north Africa and are the victims of MSHT having paid money on the promise of work which doesn’t eventuate when they arrive. This ministry is heartbreaking and when we obtain registration, we feel we will be able to significantly speak into this situation.
Prayer Requests:
· The registration will be processed soon, and Bahrain can stand as a new country officially flying the Salvation Army flag as an independent Christian church.
· The compassion and understanding would prevail as authorities deal with those tricked and trafficked into both Bahrain and the Gulf region as a whole.
Kuwait
Whilst Christian worship within the church compound that we are in, can happen with relative freedom, outside those walls is a different story. The authorities are very strict around gatherings and any form of fellowship that might be considered a Christian activity. Any form of public celebration of Christian events such as Christmas or Easter is very quickly attended resulting in severe consequences such as arrest, imprisonment and deportation.
Prayer Requests:
· We pray that Christians would not be persecuted for expressing their faith and worship of Jesus. That peace and the true meaning of tolerance would prevail as people of faith work and worship in the same country.
Oman
God has been good to The Salvation Army in Oman which is led by passionate and capable soldiers. We thank God for raising up leaders to continue the mission in Oman. We praise God for the interdenominational support and cooperation that we experience within the church compounds in Oman. We are blessed to see an increase in children’s ministry and the number of children and youth in our corps who love to learn about Jesus and use their gifts and talents to praise him.
Prayer Requests
· Praying for the corps leaders in Oman. May God renew their strength as they serve faithfully in the name of Jesus. We also pray for more leaders and helpers. As the demands of the ministry increase may the burdens of each leader grow lighter by the miracle of God’s grace and provision.
· We pray for the resources to continue to disciple and grow the youth in the corps of Oman. There is a specific need for Christian education material in both Tamil and English.
United Arab Emirates
We are thankful for the grace which allows us to continue our ministry in the United Arab Emirates. We praise God that Salvationists from around the world can come to this country and benefit from the many opportunities available to them and that while they are here there is a place for them to serve and worship in The Salvation Army.
Prayer Requests
· Pray for a worship space in Abu Dhabi. We are praying specifically for a chapel to be available and for the necessary approvals to worship there to come soon.
Pray that the congregation in Abu Dhabi would grow and flourish as a space to worship opens.
· The ministry in the United Arab Emirates must be sustainable. Pray for the freedoms and resources to continue serving the soldiers who are living and working here.
