VOM-USA Prayer Update for September 2, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:12–13
- Lamentations 3:31–33
- But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Pray for the grieving family of Clarito dela Cruz, who
was murdered on July 26, 2011, near the town of Linamon in Mindanao
province. A Muslim couple pretending to be husband and wife hired
Clarito to drive them to a remote village and, likely assisted by a
companion, tortured and strangled Clarito with an electrical wire. They
then shot him twice before stealing his motorbike, which belonged to his
father-in-law and was the family’s means of earning a living. Clarito’s
wife, Leodel, is pregnant and is left to care for their 3-year-old son.
Clarito’s parents oversee their church’s evangelism program, and his
pastor told a VOM worker that Muslims in the area had tried to convert
church members to Islam. Muslims attacked Christians in Linamon several
years ago, burning homes and stealing livestock. VOM workers have met
with Leodel to offer encouragement and prayer. Pray for the entire dela
Cruz family as they grieve their loss.
- Psalm 74:10
- “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
On July 23, 10 police officers raided the home of
Muradiljon Umurzakov and Dilorom Mamasidikova, a married couple living
in the city of Fergana. The officers twisted Muradiljon’s arms and
threatened him, then searched his son’s room and confiscated a Bible, an
Uzbek New Testament, a copy of the book of Proverbs and a Quran in
Russian. All of the books have been authorized by the Religious Affairs
Committee for import and sale. The police are reportedly preparing a
case against the couple for the “illegal production, storage, import and
distribution of religious materials” and for “illegal missionary
activity.” Pray for this couple and other Christians in Uzbekistan.
- Deuteronomy 32:28–29
- And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.
Stung by government discrimination and apathy,
Christians in Nepal have begun a campaign to stop religious
discrimination. Christians are asking the government to allow all
institutions run by religious minorities to be registered as religious
institutions and to be exempted from paying taxes. They are also
requesting the amendment of the draft of a new penal code that would
make conversions a punishable offense. Christians are concerned that
continued delays in enacting the new constitution are giving militant
Hindu groups time to push for the restoration of Hinduism as the state
religion. Pray for Christians in Nepal as they struggle for recognition
in their society. Pray that the political agendas of Hindu groups will
not prevail.
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