VENEZUELA, NICARAGUA PRISONERS. From Jan. 8 to Jan. 17, human rights group Foro Penal said that 139 Venezuelan prisoners were freed. Foro Penal called them political prisoners. So it didn’t take long for pressure from the US to take effect after removing former president Maduro. Now we must pray for elections which allow political prisoners and refugees to return and run for office.
Nobel Peace Prize-winner Maria Machado would have languished in prison too had she not escaped. Now she counts as one of the almost 8 million who left Venezuela between 2014 and 2025. Those refugees consist of more than the 7 million total population of Nicaragua.
During the Jan. 10-11 weekend, Nicaragua also released dozens of political prisoners due to US pressure. They included Catholic priests imprisoned for giving shelter to protestors against the socialist regime. Then on Jan. 12, the 19th anniversary of that regime, Vice President Rosario Murillo cited a spiritual crisis. She called these days “times to strengthen our faith, our trust in the Father…times to grow in spirituality.”
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But only a month earlier, Nicaragua would not allow any tourists to bring Bibles into the country. And in August the regime confiscated the historic San Jose School due to “violence” during the 2018 protests. Yet they have shown no evidence for such a charge.
Next year Nicaragua will hold a general election. The US is now pressuring Venezuela to hold elections even sooner. Also the US is applying economic and possibly military pressure on Cuba for democratization. So pray that these three nations release more Christian and political prisoners. That all three will hold free and fair elections soon. And that Christians & dissidents take their rightful places in the religious & political life of these nations.
PRAY WITH US about Venezuela, Nicaragua prisoners released, that God will:
- Shake the three socialist regimes enough to allow for freedom of religion, expression and association. Let all necessary justice be done and as well as mercy for all who repent. And find productive places for everyone in His established new order for each nation.
- Free more religious and political prisoners in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba. Guide them into relationships, homes and work where they can exercise freedom and do His will. And make up for the years they have lost by accelerating their restoration and the impact of the work He has for them.
- For Haiti, establish new leadership now that the transitional presidential council is planning to step down. Break ties between gang leaders and politicians so that Haiti can begin a new work as God designs. And cause the old corrupt order to pass away and be uprooted, so that His choice of leaders can have a fresh start.
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