PRAYER ALERT: Four believers beheaded in Indonesia

Pray for believers shocked by the attack

Yesterday, 11 May, at around 7:30am in the morning, four men from Kalimago Village in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia were beheaded by Islamic extremists. This is in the same region where four believers were beheaded in November 2020. The victims were between the ages of 42 and 61.

Open Doors local partner Ari Hartono* says that the attack comes as a shock to believers in Central Sulawesi, who are still reeling from the November attacks: “Central Sulawesi locals are still traumatised from the terrorist attack in Sigi last November and have not recovered yet. They need our prayers now.”

While the attack was carried out by the terrorist group East Indonesia Mujahidin, who has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist group, it’s uncertain if the recent attack was religiously motivated.

“It could be an act of survival. After the Sigi incident, the terrorists in Central Sulawesi have been increasingly pressed by the police and the army. Their logistics is exhausted. The only way to survive is to rob people of foodstuffs. In this area, there are many farmers who live in the forest far from the village and they were the ones targeted by the terrorists.”

Open Doors local partners are now trying to reach out to the churches and victims of the families.

In the meantime, Brother Ari asks for your prayer for Central Sulawesi and believers in the area:

• Pray for church leaders in the village, pray for the victims’ families and pray for the police and army. Hope they can protect all people in that village.
• Pray for the peace of God to cover this area. Fear and intimidation are trying to take over people’s hearts, but God’s power is more powerful. May the heart of His people be reminded of that truth.
• Pray for protection over God’s people in Poso and Central Sulawesi. As long as these terrorists are not caught yet, the threat is lingering. People are afraid to go to their field, therefore they can’t work and produce crops. This will affect their economic [situation]. Pray for His angels to encamp [around] His people and deliver them from any evil scheme.
• Pray for Madago Raya Task Force as they’re hunting this terrorist group. Pray for protection, strength and wisdom to do their job, and pray that they will catch these perpetrators.

Thank you for praying!

This is a developing story. We will post updates as soon as they are available.

*Name changed for security reasons.