(ah-ZER-ees) – Pray for God to strengthen the pastors and church leaders among the Azeri people. Please also ask Him to raise up more faithful, mature leaders. Pray that He will protect them and their families, as they often face persecution, difficulty in finding jobs, and the loss of family relationships. Pray that these leaders will selflessly and faithfully serve the church through sound biblical teaching and wise shepherding of the people. Ask that they will be obedient to “pay careful attention to [themselves] and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made [them] overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28 ESV).