Here at the Prayer Wall, we’ve been praying for Maria Shahbaz, a Christian abducted last year at age 12 by her 30-year-old neighbor, Shehryar Ahmad. Despite laws forbidding marriage to a minor and her family’s repeated attempts to legally free her, a federal court last week granted the rapist custody. The judge cited sharia (Islamic law) to declare the conversion legal and dismissed the documentary evidence of Maria’s age given by her father, Shahbaz Masih, saying she appears much older. (Christian Daily International-Morning Star News, March 26)
A driver and Christian father of five, Shahbaz said his Muslim neighbor kidnapped Maria on July 29 as she stepped outside their home to go to a nearby shop. “The girl was forced to record a statement claiming she had willingly converted to Islam and married Ahmad,” Supreme Court Attorney Rana Abdul Hameed explained. “She also falsely stated that she was an adult, despite official documentary evidence proving that she is a minor and below the legal age of marriage under provincial child marriage laws, which prohibit the marriage of girls under 16.”
Pakistan, where more than 96 percent of the population is Muslim, ranked eighth on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List of most dangerous countries for Christians. It is not uncommon in that country for men to kidnap Christian girls as young as 10, forcibly convert them to Islam and rape them under the cover of Islamic “marriages.”
Let’s pray today for Maria and others like her.
Lord, we ask You for a miracle. Overturn this verdict, make the way for Maria’s quick and safe release/escape, get her safely home to her parents, and bring her abductor to justice. Meet Shehryar in his dreams, convicting him of sin and shaking him with fear of the Lord until he repents. Prevent him and anyone else from any further abuse of Maria. Surround her with Your angels, and make them visible to Shehryar and to everyone who knows them. Strike every Muslim who has been party to this abduction with fear of the Lord. Give them visions and dreams that point them to the Truth. And heal Maria’s heart, mind and body. Meet her in intimately real ways. Bring others around her who are sympathetic and will aid in her escape/release. Father God, we thank you for these laws that are now being enforced in several provinces preventing such horrible abuse. We ask You to quickly make this law in all of Pakistan. Shield every girl and every woman from evil, and spread Your love through the church to every heart in every province, until all have heard the good news of Christ’s sacrifice so they can be free. We ask You, Lord, for a great awakening all throughout Pakistan to Your love, with every tribe freely hearing the gospel in their heart language, and entire people groups rapidly coming to faith. Plant church after church in homes, in villages, in neighborhoods and even on public street corners. Close the mosques for lack of attenders. Wrestle with every imam until the Bible is what they preach and entire cities come to faith in Christ. Bring down every Muslim bent on terrorism and evil and confront them with the choice of abundant life over darkness and death. Then give them courage to choose Life. Yes, Lord, we ask You for signs and miracles and wonders to turn all eyes to You. Bring forth a great movement of Your Spirit all throughout Pakistan with thousands upon thousands surrendering to Your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who have served many years in a country where Christians are persecuted. They live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through a donation, or by shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, click the buttons below:
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