Jan. 02, 2025 | Burkina Faso

Christian Women Widowed by Islamists

[158] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for widows and families.

Alimata’s husband, Yacouba, was the assistant pastor at a church in Kounla. On August 25, 2024, Islamic terrorists came to their house looking for Christian men. They forced Yacouba and another man, bound and blindfolded, into the church at gunpoint. As militants hunted more Christians, Alimata and other women fled with their children. As they ran, they heard gunshots. “I knew that they had killed my husband,” Alimata said. While hiding, a woman named Fadima also heard the gunshots that killed her husband and 27 more men inside the church. “Please pray for me as I am in trauma,” she said. “Pray that I will keep my faith in Christ. I can’t even remember any Bible verses now.” Another survivor saw the militants leave. “The terrorists came out of the church and yelled and laughed a lot,” she said. “They shot their guns in the air in celebration that they had killed Christians.” The women are receiving emergency housing and emotional care.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Burkina Faso and learn how to pray.

Write your own prayer for widows and families

  • Dear Father, my heart breaks for these dear women who have lost their husbands in such a traumatic way. Thank you for the care and housing they are receiving from VOM. May our sisters in Christ and their children be comforted by The Comforter. Please strengthen, provide, and heal them in Jesus' Name I pray. Amen
    Jennifer T - USA
  • Lord, how dark is the evil many must endure. Help Alimata and other widows as they face overwhelming challenges. Help them to forgive. Bring the murderers to repent of their sins. Help the widows raise their children to know and worship You. Heal them spiritually and emotionally and provide for their every need, both physical and unseen.
    Beth P - USA
  • In the name of the loving Jesus, our heavenly Father, Agape, God of Great Love, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we praise You for faithfulness of widows and families. We praise You for Your great love upon them. We ask of a hedge of protection, heavenly angels to encamp around and minister to them. Amen
    Gary F - USA
  • Dear Lord God of comfort, love and peace, still the fears, anxiety due to trauma these widows have experienced. Send workers to help them Lord. Miraculously restore their mental capacities to hold onto You, the author and perfecter of our lives. May none of these women give up their faith in You.
    Delicia W - New Zealand
  • Father God heal & deliver Alimata of her trauma & guide her through this tough season by Your Holy Spirit. I pray this for all the other women in Burkina Faso, Kounla, thank You that they are recovering and receiving emotional care. I pray Holy Spirit that You bring Bible Verses back to their hearts & minds, & that You grow their Faith in Christ. Amen.
    Mariah Ki'erra D - USA
  • Please Lord protect these precious widows and their families, please stop this wicked persecution in Burkina Faso I pray that these people would come to Justice if they do not repent and turn to you father which I pray that many of them do Lord please stop this wickedness and keep these precious people in the faith and heal their trauma in Jesus Name
    AMANDA Y - USA
  • In the name of Prince Jesus, our heavenly Father, King, Jehovah Jireh, God Who provides, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we praise You for faithfulness of Fadima, Alimata, widows and family. We ask for provision, for hedge of protection, heavenly angels to encamp around and minister to them. Amen
    Gary F - USA
  • Oh Father God Your people are in danger and peril, and they need You to rescue them and provide for them and shelter them and deliver them from evil!
    christine s - USA
  • Father, dispatch angels and every help from heaven to bring to justice against rebel leaders.Cause strife and in-fighting among evildoers that diminishes and weakens them until they are broken and powerless.Cause Your grace to superabound against evil in Burkina Faso.Bring healing,provision and hope to widows,families.Supply great leaders who protect.
    Danae V - USA
  • Father, I lift up my sisters, Alimata & Fadima to You, along with the other widows. Thank You that their husbands stood strong in the faith & are now in Your presence. Please comfort these women & their children as they have faced so much trauma, & now deep grief. Guard their hearts & minds with Your peace. Remind them of Your Truth through Your Word.
    April D - USA
  • Dear sisters in Christ. I pray you will stand fast no matter how the enemy tries to defeat you. Jesus is coming back soon and we will be with him always. I pray for you. You have many people who pray and love you. Stand fast. Your reward will be great in heaven.
    Susan R - USA
  • Heavenly Father, I pray for these dear women who have suffered such cruel tragedy. Your power is greater than the Enemy's, and I pray that Jesus will make His presence known to these ladies. Please heal them from the emotional and mental trauma, and make a way for them to rebuild their lives. Thank you for those caring for them.
    Rosalind T - USA
  • Father, may Your Holy Spirit come alongside the widows, family members, and friends who've been traumatized by this viscous attack at the hands of Islamic extremists. We pray specifically for Alimata, Fadima, and the widows as they grieve the loss of their spouse. Enable these widows to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.
    Patrick V - USA
  • Oh Lord Our God. Our Redeemer, Provider, Protector, Helper, Healer, and Banner, please comfort my Sisters in Christ as they mourn the loss of their husband, the enemy have robbed them of their life partner, but thank You Jesus they can't rob You from them. Help them to continue to keep the faith and never give up in Jesus precious name. Amen
    Jacqueline B - USA
  • In the touching name of Jesus, our heavenly Father, Jehovah Rohi, Great Shepherd, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we praise You for faithfulness of widows and families. We ask for provision, a hedge of protection, and heavenly angels to encamp around and minister to them. Amen
    Gary F - USA
  • Father God in Heaven we know you see all of the going's on all over the world- whether good or evil. We trust your precious promises, like never leave or. Forsaking us, and being the strong tower the righteous can run into for safety. God you know what these women desperately need- and I beg you to place a hedge of full protection in every way!
    Jamie G - USA
  • My sister's in Christ: May the God of all comfort, comfort your hearts in Christ Jesus. Love your enemies, pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you. Forgive them, pray for them. I love you in Jesus name, and I am praying for you. Jesus said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. God bless you in Jesus name. Amen!!!
    Jackie W - USA
  • Jesus please heal these women of there emotionally pain give them the gift of forgiveness to those that hurt them. Through the help of the holy spirit help them rember Bible verse that will comfort there soul in Jesus name we ask thank you God.
    Craig M - USA
  • Father we are praying for our sister's and their children emotional healing as they struggle to cope with their lost send your compassion to them give them strength to endure give them your renewed Word to comfort their souls that they may grow thereby in Jesus name we pray Amen
    Mark S - USA
  • Father please help Alimata to experience your presence in her recovery from this traumatic event. Lord help her to rely on Holy Spirit to intercede for her in her pain and grief. Lord lift her head to see your face and fill her heart and mind with hope and faith that there week be a day when you will make all things right. Please protect her
    Teresa S - USA
  • Holy father, I pray for Alimata and Fadima and other loved ones of the men who were martyred for your name. Give them healing from their trauma. Let them have faith to see your reward for their men and for them for enduring. Give them peace and perseverance. Provide for their needs for the families for food, shelter and education. Holy Spirit comfort.
    Rachel Albro H - USA
  • Lord, it is impossible for this community to bear such a load of grief, losing 27 of their men. Please do a miracle in each heart and cause their joy in Christ to sustain them. We urge you to provide for their physical needs and heal them from their trauma. Bring them together in community as they seek you for what is next.
    Brenda M - USA
  • Our Father, we weep with our sisters whose husband were killed for following Jesus. Surround them with others who love You and who will hold them, and comfort them, as they grieve. Give these precious women daily strength to endure, and may the hearts of the killers be convicted of the evil they did, and may they repent. In Jesus' name, Amen
    Elizabeth S - USA
  • Father, you are the Father of the fatherless and the protector of widows. We seek you on behalf of these dear sisters who have lost their husbands in such a traumatic attack. We pray for justice to be done on behalf of these women, that such violence would be brought to an end and that the faith of these sisters would remain firm in Jesus' name, amen.
    Matthew E - USA
  • God, Holy Comforter, Just Judge, be with these women. We know the men are now in heaven, but God, those who remain are weeping; are torn. Do not let their faith be torn from them, but be their all in all. Protect the next men these people attack, and Father, let justice be done. Help the women and children to love their enemies, and give them strength.
    Kesse R - USA
  • Oh Father, please wrap your arms around these women who are greiving. Lord, their hearts are so heavy, and they need to know they are not forsaken. The enemy is going to tell them you don't care. Lord, prove yourself to them. Lef them feel you like never before. Strengthen them, comfort them, help them forgive and stay faithful. Deal with those lost.
    Polly C - USA
  • Abba, My Adonai I pray for my dear sisters. I ask that You would grant them the peace that passes all our understanding and comfort during this most difficult time of loss for them. Give them the strength to continue in the faith and place a physical, spiritual and emotional hedge of protection around them I pray in Yahusha's name. Amein
    Yahleah M - USA
  • We pray for recovery from the demonic and stressful event. We pray for provision and protection for all survivors and more Christians will be raised to replace the ones killed. For conviction of the murderers so much there's no more rejoicing for sleepless nights until repentance.
    J H - USA
  • Lord you are a husband to the widows especially those who persecuted by the wicked. Protect their families and heal their hearts.Comfort and strengthen with the power of the Holy Spirit.Pursue these wicked ones to repent of their sin. May the gospel go forth in Burkina Faso for God's word will go forth and will not return void according to his purpose
    Rosemary T - USA
  • Merciful Father, please deliver these widows from their enemies and defend them against those who rise against them. Save them from these bloodthirsty men. Please grant them Freedom From Fear and provide for their physical, spiritual and emotional needs. Restore the joy of their salvation
    Julie C - USA
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