During Lent 2025, each of these six prisoners pictured will be featured in weekly prayer profiles. Each profile details arrest and sentence, background, prison conditions and daily prayer points (dated to begin on Sunday 9 March, the first Sunday of Lent).
Top Row (left to right): Zafar Bhatti (Pakistan), Mina Khajavi (Iran), Choi Chun-gil (North Korea)
Bottom Row (left to right): Haile Naizghe (Eritrea), Fu Xuanjuan (China), Nay Y Blang (Vietnam)
CHURCH RESOURCE:
Set of Powerpoint slides (one slide for each Sunday). Download slide set
PRINTED RESOURCE:
Prayer Profiles are also featured in the Spring issue of Church in Chains magazine which you can order by completing this form.
WEEK 1 – Zafar Bhatti (Pakistan)
Zafar Bhatti (62) has been in prison since July 2012, falsely accused of sending blasphemous text messages. He is in poor health as he continues to wait for his appeal against the death sentence to be heard. Zafar’s wife Nawab (75) is also in poor health
WEEK 2 – Mina Khajavi (Iran)
Mina Khajavi (61) is a convert from Islam who was detained in a raid on a house church and given a six-year sentence, which she began serving in January 2024. She walks with a limp and has developed arthritis since a car accident.
WEEK 3 – Choi Chun-gil (North Korea)
Choi Chun-gil (65) is a South Korean businessman and missionary serving a life sentence in a labour camp in North Korea. He was involved in transporting religious and humanitarian goods for North Koreans when he was arrested in 2014.
WEEK 4 – Haile Naizghe (Eritrea)
Haile Naizghe has been in prison in Eritrea since his arrest in May 2004. He worked with World Vision and was a leader of a large Pentecostal network of house churches that the government shut down. He has never been tried or sentenced.
WEEK 5 – Fu Xuanjuan (China)
Fu Xuanjuan (46) was arrested for running a company that sold audio Bible players and was given a six-year sentence for “illegal business operations”. She is suffering from painful uterine fibroids and is not due for release until July 2026.
WEEK 6 – Nay Y Blang (Vietnam)
Nay Y Blang (49) was arrested in May 2023 and imprisoned for his affiliation with the unregistered Central Highlands Evangelical Church of Christ and for holding prayer meetings in his home. He is serving a four and half year sentence.