10/27/12

Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Alert Update, Week of 10-26-2012

Cuba--Hidden Persecution
Source: VOM Sources

Psalm 9:13

While few Cuban Christians have been imprisoned for their faith in recent years, the Cuban government still mistreats, marginalizes and openly opposes Christians, especially those who are active in ministry. "Don't be fooled by appearances," a Cuban pastor told VOM recently. The pastor has been humiliated, threatened, beaten and interrogated more than 20 times. Recently, three officials appeared at his church's Sunday service and told him they were going to take his property and use it for a store. "I got firm with them," the pastor said. "I told them they couldn't do that because we were under the protection of the Holy Spirit. And they backed off." The pastor's doctors have told him to stop his pastoral work because the stress is harming his health. But he continues to serve his congregation. "I'm working for the Lord with all my heart," he said. Pray that God will sustain this pastor and other Christians as they minister in Cuba.

Jordan--Christian Girl Kidnapped
Source: VOM Sources

Psalm 129:4

A Christian girl from the town of Fuheis was kidnapped by Muslim fundamentalists on Oct. 15 and forced to convert to Islam, according to VOM sources. "The whole of Fuheis is protesting to have her back," wrote a VOM contact. Fuheis, which is 12 miles north of Amman, is the only settlement in Jordan that is still predominantly Christian. About 60 percent of its 20,000 residents are Greek Orthodox. The rest are Muslim or Catholic. The VOM contact said Jordan's prime minister visited Fuheis to help defuse the situation, asking residents to stop protesting and forget about the girl. But instead, the citizens asked him to leave their town. Kidnapping young Christian women and forcing them to convert to Islam is common in Egypt, but it hasn't been prevalent in Jordan. Pray that this girl will be released and that the Jordanian government will defend the rights of all its citizens rather than just the Muslim majority. Also pray that Jordan will prevent extremism from growing along its borders.

Kazakhstan--Police Intensify Church Investigation
Sources: Forum 18 News Service

1 Peter 2:19-21

Police in Kazakhstan raided Grace Church in Astana during an Oct. 3 service, as part of an ongoing investigation. Church members were detained at the church throughout the day while police conducted a search. They confiscated items from the church's safe as well as computers, DVDs and books. They also sealed a room where the church kept a printing press. Later, police asked 11 church members to voluntarily provide blood samples to see if the church administers drugs. A local news agency later reported, "The police established that the Grace Church's pastor during the service serves his visitors a red-colored drink, which according to the expertise of the center for research of medicinal drugs contains phenol group substance as well as hallucinogens." Pray that the members of Grace Church will remain faithful as they face this intense scrutiny.

Indonesia--VOM Project

Pray for those caring for and educating 66 orphans in Indonesia. The parents of these orphans were killed by fundamentalist Muslims during a series of attacks from 1999 to 2002.

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How Can We Know That Jesus Existed?

by Tim Chaffey, AiG–U.S.
October 26, 2012

The Bible is God’s Word, and since God cannot lie, we know that His Word is true. The Old Testament prophesied that Jesus would come, and the New Testament tells us a great deal about His life, ministry, and death. Therefore, we can be absolutely certain that He did exist. This truth is confirmed by the majority of scholarly historians...

Read more about Jesus from the Bible and from history. 

 © Copyright 2012 Answers in Genesis
 http://www.answersingenesis.org

CBN Christian World News: Week of October 26, 2012


On Christian World News, Oct. 26: US Christians Urge Terror Label for Boko Haram, Prayer Group Pitches Tent on White House Lawn, and more... The Christian Broadcasting Network CBN http://www.cbn.com

Hal Lindsey Report (10-26-2012): The Levy Report, U.S. Rejects Report, Killers in Charge, Keeping America Honest, Iran-U.S. Cyberwar, Bound for Eternity


From Hal Lindsey Media Ministries e-Newsletter, october 26, 2012. To subscribe go to the official Hal Lindsey Media Ministry website at: http://www.hallindsey.com/

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In January of this year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed a committee of respected Israeli jurists to investigate the legality of Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria, commonly called the West Bank.

Chaired by former Israeli Supreme Court Justice Edmund Levy, the committee released its report last July. After rigorously considering applicable international, Jordanian, Israeli, and even Ottoman laws, the Levy Committee determined that "Israelis have the legal right to settle in Judea and Samaria and the establishment of settlements cannot, in and of itself, be considered to be illegal."

Last Sunday, Netanyahu asked Israel's Attorney-General to render his opinion on the findings in the Levy Report. But before Israel's own top legal official could respond, US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice jumped feet first into the pool and rendered her own opinion on the matter.

Well, actually, she was officially delivering the opinion of her boss, President Obama. Ambassador Rice told the UN Security Council that the White House "does not accept the legitimacy of Israeli settlement activity, and will continue to oppose any efforts to legalize [Jewish] outposts."

Rice went on to suggest that the Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria impedes the West's plan to solve the conflict by creating a Palestinian state. A Jew-free Palestinian state, I might add.

Ironically, the United States has gone to war five times in the last 20 years on behalf of oppressed Muslims. At least two of those wars were to prevent the ethnic-cleansing of Muslims. But now we have no qualms advocating, even promoting, the ethnic-cleansing of Jews from their historic homeland.

Am I the only one who sees the hypocrisy here? (That's a rhetorical question.)

Speaking of hypocrisy, I also find it ironic that no one in this administration seems bothered by the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood is rapidly becoming the force to reckon with in the Middle East (not counting the Iranians). The organization that masterminded the assassination of Egyptian President and Nobel Laureate Anwar Sadat now holds his office in Egypt. They are busily stirring up the Palestinian majority in Jordan against pro-Western King Abdullah II, who is, by the way, Israel's only other Muslim peace partner. They have a strong presence in the uprising in Syria. They fostered both al-Qaeda and Hamas and they have their sights set on Saudi Arabia.

Yet we are learning that their representatives pay regular visits to the White House, their sympathizers advise the administration, and they have a strong presence on Secretary of State Clinton's inner staff. I suppose that's why our government officials continually emphasize how "moderate" the Brotherhood is.

But, wait, it gets crazier. The United States of America has always been the home of the world's fairest and freest democratic process. Until now, I suppose. Well, the party in power (or, at least, their ideological compatriots) is so fearful that the minority party (or, at least, their ideological compatriots) is going to suppress votes in the upcoming general election, that they've invited Europe to monitor us to make certain that doesn't happen.

You read me right. The Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has been asked by certain Liberal organizations to send monitors to next month's election to make certain the conservative minority doesn't cheat the liberal majority out of its supposed victory through voter intimidation and suppression tactics. You know, like the ones employed by ACORN, SEIU, and the New Black Panthers in the last general election. I guess they feel they have a trademark on those tactics and don't want the Tea Party and other conservatives to horn in on their turf!

Please forgive my sarcasm. The choice is sarcasm or tears. Especially when I see what's passing for acceptable in today's political culture. For instance, word is leaking out that the administration has been holding behind-the-scenes conversations with Iran. The New York Times recently reported that the US has promised to hold one-on-one talks with Iran concerning its nuclear program. The proviso was that the Ayatollah would announce just before the election that Iran would suspend nuclear enrichment. Of course, that would make it appear that the administration was really making progress even though the tacit agreement was that after the announcement (and maybe a few talking sessions), Iran could continue its enrichment unabated.

Everyone knows that it's only the usual Iranian tactic to buy time to enrich more uranium. It's scary that our own government thinks Americans will buy their ruse. But it's even scarier if our own government buys their ruse. So you see my skepticism? Especially in view of the fact that we are locked in an ongoing war with Iran. No, not a ground war or air war, but a cyber war.

For quite some time now, the US and US companies have been under constant cyber attack by elements of the Iranian government. As I reported last week, they've been successful in disrupting several banking operations in the United States. They were also successful in their attacks on American companies in the Persian Gulf region last summer.

Imagine the chaos that will erupt domestically if the Iranians can gain control of traffic controls in New York or Los Angeles. Imagine the carnage if they can seize control of our subway or air traffic control systems. They, and others like the Chinese, haven't been successful so far, but there is always the threat that one day they will be.

Consider this, the tiny nation of Israel fends off cyber attacks from its enemies at the rate of one thousand per minute, twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week. Imagine that number on steroids and you've got a picture of what America faces.

Jesus said that one of the signs that we were in the final days of this Age will be "wars and rumors of wars." The battles taking place in cyber space are every bit as real as traditional ground battles. And the consequences are just as deadly. Maybe even more so because of the massive stakes if vital civilian infrastructure and life systems are destroyed.

I'm so thankful that even though danger looms dark and heavy on the horizon, we have hope in Christ Jesus. The Bible tells us that we can face the future with confidence if we are born again into His kingdom. Paul said in Romans that if God loved us so much that He did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up as a sacrifice for us, then why do we think He will not do everything necessary to keep us.

Then Paul asks, "Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ?" And he answers his own question: "...neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." By my reckoning, that seems to pretty much cover everything.

So we can face the future, the eternal future, with great certainty and a wonderful sense of security that whatever comes (and it will come), God will never let go of us.

You can't ask for more than that!


Don't miss this week's Report on TBN, Daystar, Inspiration, CPM Network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com. Please check your local listings.

Once again, remember to keep an eye on my website. You can find the top stories of the week so you can stay informed about what's happening in the world. Also, each week I post brief video commentaries about interesting Bible questions and hot topics. So check out "Hal on the Hot Seat" at www.hallindsey.com . And, of course, you can always find the current edition of "The Hal Lindsey Report," as well as archived editions, on demand. 


God Bless,

Hal Lindsey

mail: HLMM, P.O. Box 470470, Tulsa, OK 74147

email: comments@hallindsey.com

web: http://www.hallindsey.com

********************************************************************************

(Blog Disclaimer: I own nothing. All information from Hal Lindsey Media Ministries. Re-posted here for informative purposes only.

These videos can also be found on the official website: http://www.hallindsey.com/archives/videos/
Thanks to OmniChristianVids3 on YouTube for uploading the video to YouTube. 

Jack Van Impe Presents #1244 (10-27-2012)


(c) J.V.I. Ministries - http://www.jvim.com/ - Jack Van Impe Presents #1244 (2012-10-27)

Headlines:
Iran could produce enough uranium for a bomb in 2 months...
North Korea says missiles can strike continental U.S...
Spy chief sees Iran threats in the U.S...


Current Product Offer: "The President of Change Shortchanges America"; which can be purchased by phoning the telephone number on the video or by going to the JVIM Ministry online store: https://ww2.micahtek.com/nexolive/nJVISelector.cfm?rDATA1=SHOPPING

Thanks to CallOutToJesus on YouTube for uploading the video. 
The official video stream can be found on jvim.com in the section for 'TV Program'

Q&A w/Perry Stone and Mark Casto (10-02-12)


Audience asks questions about current events and the scriptures.

Website: www.voe.org
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/perrystonevoe
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/perrystonevoe
Twitter: http://twitter.com/perrystonevoe

Mark Casto Ministries: http://markcasto.com/

Official video from Perry Stone's YouTube page. Official stream can also be found on his website here: http://media.voe.org/

Thanks to Perry Stone/VOE Ministries.

Manna Fest w/Perry Stone: #629 (10-26-12) "A Message from an Angel in a Whirlwind"


Website: www.voe.org
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/perrystonevoe
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/perrystonevoe
Twitter: http://twitter.com/perrystonevoe

Official video from Perry Stone's YouTube page. Official stream can also be found on his website here: http://media.voe.org/

Thanks to Perry Stone/VOE Ministries.

PleaseConvinceMe Blog: Was the Early Church Communist?

Article Link: 
PleaseConvinceMe Blog: Was the Early Church Communist?

10/20/12

ChristianMovies.com October Special

Link: http://www.christianmovies.com/october

Six Myths of American History

Article Link:  Six Myths of American History

SAICFF Announces $250,000 Opportunity for Winner of Short Film Jubilee Award, and Deadline Extension!

The San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival (SAICFF) is pleased to announce that the winner of the Best Dramatic Short Film Jubilee Award, bestowed during their annual Jubilee Awards Ceremony, will now receive an added benefit — the opportunity to contract with EchoLight Studios to produce a feature-length film with a budget up to $250,000. This opportunity is being made possible, thanks to EchoLight Studios’ decision to sponsor the SAICFF’s Short Film Award.


In light of this development, the SAICFF has officially extended the deadline for all film submissions for the 2013 Film Festival to October 31 (the feature film deadline remains November 15th). Next year’s festival will be held on February 7-9, 2013 at the Gonzalez Convention in San Antonio, Texas, culminating with the Jubilee Awards Ceremony to be hosted the evening of February 9.

“We are thrilled by EchoLight Studios’ sponsorship of our Best Short Film Award,” noted Doug Phillips, founder of the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival.

“This sponsorship is not only a vote of confidence regarding the significance of our festival, but it’s also a boon of enablement for a Christian filmmaker who has demonstrated excellence through a dramatic short film to now be better poised to produce a full-length dramatic feature. This exciting development could well serve as the means to help a Christian filmmaker’s long-term dream come true. The message is this: Those who are faithful in the little things will be better equipped to pursue bigger projects.”

EchoLight Studios is a 21st century studio, producing and distributing family-friendly entertainment. EchoLight has a full film distribution platform servicing theatrical, home video, digital/VOD, and broadcast in both US domestic and international markets. EchoLight’s sponsorship of the Best Short Film Jubilee Award is a new step for their studio as well as for the SAICFF.

“We have long aspired to not only showcase the best in independent Christian filmmaking at our festival, but to actively invest in the movement by helping dedicated Christian filmmakers reach for greater heights in their craft,” Phillips remarked. “One of the ways we’ve done this in past years is through our $101,000 Grand Prize Jubilee Award, and we are now pleased to extend another large financial opportunity to the winner of our Best Short Film Jubilee Award, thanks to EchoLight’s generous sponsorship.”

The San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival (SAICFF) and Jubilee Awards was founded by Doug Phillips in 2004 and is held each year in the Alamo City, drawing film submissions from around the world. Among the awards bestowed at each year’s festival are: Best Dramatic Short Film, Best Commercial Advertisement, Best Documentary, Best Promotional Media, and Best Feature Film.

To learn more about the film submission categories, entry rules, and how to submit visit the SAICFF website.

Submit your film now to compete for the $101,000 Best of Festival Jubilee Award.

© 2012 Vision Forum Ministries
http://www.saicff.org/

To view this article on official website go here:  http://www.visionforum.com/news/onlineemail/film-festival/2012/10/12_echolight/

PrisonerAlert Update: Alireza Seyyedian

Alireza Seyyedian is a 37-year-old former Muslim who has been a Christian since 2006. Last year, security forces confiscated his computer during a raid on his apartment. Authorities then discovered video of Alireza’s baptism in Turkey on the computer. In December 2011 he was sentenced to six years in prison, for crimes against national security and propaganda against the regime.

The judge stated that since Alireza was baptized in Turkey, he was trying to express the lack of freedom in Iran and was therefore was propagating against the regime. He was also accused of holding regular meetings with former Muslims and distributing Bibles among youth. They also said he had communication with Zionist satellite TV channels such as Mohabat TV and Radio Mojde and shared worship hymns he had written with them. The verdict also falsely accused him of being a member of the Jesus Only cult.

On March 14, 2012, Alireza was caught seeking to flee Iran for Turkey. He was arrested and transported back to Tehran where he was imprisoned in Evin prison. He was put in Section 350 of the prison, which is where political prisoners are held. That part of the prison is run by VEVAK, the intelligence service that reports to Ayatollah Khameini and is beyond the control of Iran’s prison authorities. According to one report, the conditions of this section of the prison are unsanitary, and each cell is overcrowded with around 30 political prisoners.

Alireza has never been married.

Profile Link:  http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_222_profile.html

© 2011 The Voice of the Martyrs
www.persecution.com
www.prisoneralert.com

Hollywood Prayer Network Newsletter - October 2012

Hollywood Prayer Network Logo
  October 2012 Newsletter
 
(Blog Disclaimer: All information and links from Hollywood Prayer Network. Re-posted here for informative/educational purposes only. Official Website: http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org )

Dear HPN Prayer Partners,
 
 
The weather is finally cooling down in LA and we’re grateful. It’s Halloween month, a wonderful time of year to pray for the people, projects and issues in the entertainment industry. May we lift up God’s light and life during the second most profitable holiday for our nation and our industry. Let’s also pray for safety for our children on October 31st! We are so thankful that you’re praying with us and for us this month.
 
 
 
SUMMARY:
 
• Keep praying for studio and network executives to get hungry for the Lord
• Thank God that more influential people in Hollywood are becoming Christians 
• Halloween 3D has been pulled from being released for Halloween
• Thank you for coming to pray for the Industry
• Thanks for praying for the people in our industry who are in need of work
• Keep praying for Russell who is starting treatments for bladder cancer
• Pray for the hearts of the industry pros during this annual Awards season 
• Pray for Christian celebrities as they live and work in the public eye
•  Pray for the decision-makers at American and Foreign Film Festivals
• Pray for Ari Emanuel, Co-CEO at William Morris Endeavor
• Pray for Celine and her family members, who don’t know the Lord
• Be sure to join Ralph’s & Krogers’ Community Project for HPN
 
ANSWERED PRAYERS:
 
• We have an answered prayer from last month’s request to pray for studio and network executives to get hungry for the Lord. Just this month a top Studio Executive, who is a Christian member of our community, was highlighted in I AM Entertainment Magazine. DeVon Franklin is a respected creative Executive at Columbia Pictures. Let’s keep praying for his influence, his witness, his creativity, and his faithful walk with the Lord. Click HERE
 
• Thank the Lord that more and more people in influential positions in Hollywood are becoming Christians.  Pray for more decision-makers to experience God’s hand on them. Let’s pray for Record Executive, Bob Grace, who is going public with his conversion from decades ago while in the peak of his music career: Grace has worked with some of the biggest names in music—from David Bowie to The Spice Girls. But he says meeting God was the greatest experience of all.  Read his story HERE.
 
• As an answer to prayer for many, the upcoming horror film, Halloween 3D has been pulled from being released for Halloween because it wasn’t ready on time. It was the 8th sequel in a successful franchise and will held for a later release. Paranormal 4, however, will be released by Paramount Studios this month. May we praise God that He is bigger and stronger than any horror films and ask Him to protect the young people who are often exposed to darkness and horror for the first time, through these films. God is greater than any film!
 
UPDATES:
 
• Thank you for those who joined us last Wednesday evening to pray for the industry. It was a wonderful night of industry professionals, USC students & Artists in Action, coming together here in LA to pray for the people we work with. We will continue to believe for God's miracles to happen in the Entertainment Industry!
 
• Thank you so much for your continued prayers for the people in our industry who are in need of work. Most of the new TV shows that have been picked up are shooting outside of LA and many, outside the US. So, we need to continue praying for the cast, staff and crews in LA who can’t get work – especially as we approach the holidays. May the Lord supply their daily bread and give them hope and the strength to depend solely on Him!
 
• Keep praying for Russell who is starting treatments for bladder cancer. Russell and his wife Marion are confident that healing is ahead, but they ask that we continue to be a part of his “Prayer Therapy!”
 
REQUESTS:
 
• Pray for the hearts of the industry pros who are anticipating the 2012 -2013 annual Awards season. We just finished the Emmy’s in Sept., on Oct. 22 is the 16th Annual Hollywood Film Awards, and then many other awards ceremonies follow, leading up to the Academy Awards on Feb. 24th, 2013. These awards shows become too important for the stars whose careers hang on what acknowledgments and accolades they receive. As we pray, let’s focus on Richard Gere, who, at 63 and 40 years into his career, may receive his first Oscar nomination this year. May Gere and other actors, directors, writers and producers with global influence, all find their identity in Jesus and not in man’s recognitions. For more info on The Hollywood Film Awards, click HERE.
 
• Pray for Christian entertainment celebrities in order to lift up their arms as they live and work in the public eye. These people of faith need our prayers because man was not meant to get the glory and they and their families have unique and difficult challenges, especially as they try to stay solid in their faith. Many of them are scorned by the church for working in Hollywood and scorned by some people in Hollywood for being Christians. Pray for their influence, their protection, their families and their faith. As you pray, read THIS recent article about how celebrities like Justin Bieber may be making Christianity more “cool."
 
•  In our changing industry, Film Festivals are a growing phenomena in America and internationally, because more and more filmmakers can gain recognition, get distribution or even get more financing for their features, short films and documentaries, through screening their films at Festivals, especially when they win Festival awards. There are also many Christian film festivals,  (one of the newer ones being: http://www.sdchristianfilmfestival.com/newSite/index.php. Please pray that filmmakers with quality films can gain recognition at Festivals and yet not find their identity in the awards they are seeking.  Also pray for the judges at Festivals to be wise in choosing the “best” films, for their decisions, now, more than ever, impact our culture and our entertainment choices. For a list of some of the major secular film festivals, click HERE.
 
•  Ari Emanuel, Co-CEO at William Morris Endeavor, recently posted 6 tips that he considers crucial to being successful in any business.  Though not a Christian, his list contains some biblical principals that are true in any setting.  Let's pray for Ari, that he realizes his understanding comes from his Creator, God! Click HERE

HPN MEMBER REQUESTS:
 
• Celine, who is from Europe, says, "I hope it would not be too much to ask if HPN could pray for my family. I am the only saved person and they do not understand why I would want to go to Hollywood. It is difficult to tell them I would like to witness to people in Hollywood so the people out there can hear the message of the Gospel." Please pray for Celine's family, who need to know Jesus, and also for Celine, both for her testimony and witness to her family and also as she attempts to ascertain God's direction for moving forward! Also, please pray for the other Christians who have a passion to pursue a career in entertainment and their families, who may not understand. May the Lord give them wisdom in making a decision that is His best plan for their lives.
 
• Thanks to all of you who have signed up to donate a portion of your Ralphs shopping bills to HPN.  Every time you shop at Ralphs or Krogers, 4% of your bill will be donated directly to HPN!!! We would LOVE to have you join our team of Community Donors.  Just click here and sign up, with absolutely no cost to you. Click HERE to join!
 
UPCOMING EVENTS:
 
• If you want to join a new Bible study to help you find your calling, click on the link below to sign up. Kathy and Kevin teach every Sunday evening. Hope4Hollywood’s first 6 week study begins October 21st. To Register: http://hope4hollywood.com/register/ or email Kathy at coach4crossroads@yahoo.com.
 
• If you live in LA and want to post an upcoming event, click on Hollywood Connect’s facebook page. Or if you’re looking for something to go to, check it out HERE
 
Thanks for praying with us and have a great October.
Karen, Caren and Lisa
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 
TIP OF THE MONTH:
Should Christians enter the world of COMEDY?  Click HERE to find out!

VERSE OF THE MONTH:
Hollywood is like James 3:16.   "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice."
 
QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
“No one is a firmer believer in the power of prayer than the devil; not that he practices it, but he suffers from it” - Guy L. King
 
 
 
 
© Copyright 2007 Hollywood Prayer Network
 
 
(Blog Disclaimer: All information and links from Hollywood Prayer Network. Re-posted here for informative/educational purposes only.) 

Just Released: New Exclusive Video From Kirk Cameron

Have you seen it yet? An artistically beautiful and touching celebration of a young man’s life, and his parents, who bravely and tenderly walked their son to the gates of Heaven. Join our “army of compassion” and watch this special short film/music video now. Watch now.

Free viewable introduction video from Kirk Cameron. Music video is $1.99 and all proceeds go to families of Camp Firefly whose children are terminally or seriously ill.

http://campfirefly.com/  
http://kirkcameron.com/

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: Free Guide: Praying For Our Elected Officials

Link:  http://www.billygraham.org/pray-for-leaders/

PrisonerAlert Update 10/18/12: Eva Abdullah

Eva's Appeal Filed; Cared for by Christian Guards
A VOM contact visited Eva in October. He brought paperwork for Eva to sign in order for her appeal to be filed in the capital. Some sympathetic attorneys are handling her case and deferring payment. The VOM contact wrote that he was greeted by two Christian female guards who are caring for Eva. They both promised to help keep her safe. Since it was not a day for regularly scheduled prison visits, our contact instead had to hand the paperwork through the thick iron bars and exchange a quick handshake with Eva. "She thanked Jehovah God a lot for our visits," he wrote.

Backstory
Eva Abdullah, 17, welcomed Christ into her life three years ago, though she grew up Muslim. After her conversion, her parents disowned her. Her father is a district Islamic leader. She lived with a Christian pastor until she was arrested.

A group of radicals in her hometown of Bagamoyo on Tanzania’s coast sought to convince her to give up her new Christian faith. When she refused, they falsely accused her of urinating on a Quran, Islam’s holy book. Eva was arrested and put in prison and many Christian leaders were too afraid to get involved in her case because of Muslim dominance in the district. At her trial on July 23, the judge, who was allegedly bribed by the Islamic militants who accused her, sentenced Eva to two years imprisonment.

Profile: http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_220_profile.html


© 2011 The Voice of the Martyrs
http://www.prisoneralert.com

Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Updates for Week of 10/19/12: Please pray for these persecuted Christians around the world

Philippines—Philippine Government and Rebels Make a Deal
Source: BBC News
Colossians 1:11
The Philippine government reached a peace deal with the largest Muslim terror group last week, ending 40 years of conflict between the two groups. The government conceded another autonomous region in Mindanao to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). While most Filipinos are Catholics, in the Mindanao region, Muslims are the majority. The MILF has long agitated for an independent state, but the agreement to give Bangasamoro leaders more political and economic freedom appears to have pacified them. What is not clear, is how this will affect Christians in the Mindanao region. Christians have long been the victims of violence and land-grabs. Pray for the protection of Christians in the region, that God will strengthen them in his power.
Iran—Another Christian Convert to Spend Six Years in Evin Prison
Sources: VOM Contacts
Romans 5:3
A Christian convert from Islam was sentenced to six years in prison after he was charged with crimes against the regime and caught trying to flee the country. Alireza Seyyedian, 37, has been a Christian since 2006. Last year, authorities found a video of his baptism in Turkey on his laptop, which had been seized in a raid. In December 2011, he was charged with crimes against national security and propaganda against the regime. The judge cited his baptism in Turkey as evidence that Alireza was trying to express dissatisfaction with the regime. He was also accused of hosting a house church and distributing Bibles to youth. In March, Alireza was caught fleeing to Turkey, and was brought back to Iran to Evin prison. He is being held in the section for political prisoners. Pray for Alireza. Ask God to strengthen his faith and give him endurance.
Indonesia—Bomb Attacks Revive Church Fears
Source: Release International, BBC News, The Jakarta Globe
1 John 4:18
Bomb attacks on Christian targets in the city of Poso have revived painful memories of religious violence in Central Sulawesi. Explosives were detonated outside a Christian’s home just after 8 p.m. on Oct. 9 — then, about an hour later, a bomb went off outside Imanuel Church in nearby Taripa, Pamona Timur. Police said the house targeted in the first attack was that of Okrifil Mamuaya, a Christian working for the local government. No one was injured in the blasts — but they have alarmed Christians in an area blighted by religious conflict in the past. Groups such as Laskar Jihad have carried out jihad, or holy war, against Christian communities, particularly in the Moluccas and Central Sulawesi between 1999 and 2002. Pray that Christians in Poso and other parts of Central Sulawesi will know God's peace and love. Thank God that His perfect love drives out fear.

Vietnam—VOM Project
Pray for tribal Christian training centers operating in Vietnam. The centers provide materials and training for 400 rural and tribal Christian pastors with the goal of strengthening house churches in rural areas, which face more persecution.
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) is on November 11, 2012. Will you pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ? Visit http://www.persecution.com/idop to learn more.
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
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© 2012 The Voice of the Martyrs
http://www.persecution.com/  
http://www.prisoneralert.com/

(Blog Disclaimer: All information and links from Voice of the Martyrs. Re-posted here for informative/educational purposes only.)

Hal Lindsey Report (10-19-2012): What Global Warming?, Middle East Heating, Cyber-'Pearl Harbor,' the Sanctions Gamble, God Loves the Humble

From Hal Lindsey Media Ministries e-Newsletter, october 19, 2012. To subscribe go to the official Hal Lindsey Media Ministry website at: http://www.hallindsey.com/

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Are there subjects that just wear you out? Things you find yourself discussing again and again, yet there never seems to be a conclusion reached?

For me, one of those "are we talking about this again?" subjects is "man-made global warming." In the new PC vernacular, it's "climate change."

And the answer is, "Yes, we are talking about this again." However, this time, it's a bit of a surprise.

Recently, the British Met Office (I'm supposing that "Met" is the shortened version of "meteorological" since the British Met Office is Britain's weather bureau or the equivalent to our National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration) very quietly released an interesting report. And it's interesting because it seems to debunk a theory that the Brits were largely responsible for promoting to world prominence.

Apparently, a number of world-class scientists considered new data from more than 3,000 locations on land and sea. Their conclusion? There has been no appreciable global warming since 1997. 1997! Hey, that's when the Kyoto Protocols were signed obligating the West to hundreds of billions of dollars in research, clean-up, and extortion payments to the Third World. Though the United States never ratified Al Gore's greatest triumph (the Senate during Bill Clinton's reign refused to even consider it), the US has been going along with the program nonetheless.

Fortunately for Mr. Gore, he was able to amass a fortune and win both an Academy Award and a Nobel Peace Prize before the truth got out. Global warming was over before he began!

Now, I know what some of you are thinking: Hal must be a dunce if he can't see that there are changes happening in the earth. Well, if you've watched this program for any length of time, you know that I have never denied that there are changes taking place. In fact, I've discussed those changes at length. I've shown how the earth has gone through great, sometimes catastrophic, changes throughout its history. And that's the point. The earth has experienced global climate change on numerous occasions and none of it has ever been man-made, as the environmentalists now assert.

And further, not only have I and thousands of reputable scientists and experts been skeptical about the "man-made" aspects of "global warming," but we've been downright opposed to efforts to solve the problem by throwing billions of taxpayer dollars at it while wrecking entire economies in the name of environmentalism.

Students of Bible prophecy and viewers of "The Hal Lindsey Report" know that even Jesus Himself predicted that in the last days there would be tremendous weather events that would cause great fear among men. But He said the signs would be in the heavens, not the exhaust pipe or the smokestack! And most scientists will admit that the sun has a greater impact on earth's weather changes than your SUV!

Well, now that the Brits seem to be grudgingly admitting that maybe the entire "global warming" scam wasn't everything it was cracked up to be, we'll see what scheme the "government-funded-programs-can-solve-any-earthly-dilemma" crowd comes up with next that requires billions of your tax dollars.

And while the earth is apparently cooling down, the Middle East is heating up. Turkey and Syria have been trading artillery fire. Tens of thousands of refugees from Syria are now camping in Turkey. And even though the administration seems slow to acknowledge it, experience in Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia has taught us that, oftentimes, the rebels fighting the regime are as bad (or worse) than the regime itself.

That's why Western leaders are more worried that Bashar al-Assad's stockpile of chemical and biological weapons (one of the largest in the world) will fall into the hands of the rebels than they are that he'll use them on the Syrian population. I'm sure that prospect is keeping Israel's leaders up at night, too.

To complicate matters, Turkey is a member of NATO and, as such, has the right to summon help from her allies in NATO if she feels threatened. And since Syria and her allies, Iran, Lebanon, and Russia, seem unwilling to back down, the members of NATO may possibly have some difficult decisions to make before long.

Meanwhile, the European Union, which has lately come to realize that it might well be an EMP-attack target if Iran succeeds in securing nuclear weapons, has recently imposed a new round of sanctions on Iran. But it's doubtful that sanctions -- any sanctions -- can be ultimately effective in stopping Iran. Like in Iraq, sanctions hurt the common people, not the ones at the top. And certainly not the apparatus of state like the armies and defense forces.

The West is hoping that Joe Iranian will grow tired of the shortages and shake his fist at the Ayatollah for putting the nation in dire straits. But the Iranians are betting that decades of indoctrinating the populace about the evils of the Great and Little Satans will direct their anger at the West, not Tehran. And I think I'll put my money on the Ayatollahs. They obviously know their followers better than we do. Just ask Jimmy Carter.

But that doesn't mean the Iranians are so preoccupied with the sanctions they've time for nothing else. Quite the contrary. Recently, they've been busy trying to disrupt and destroy the US financial system with cyber warfare. They devastated Persian Gulf oil and gas companies during the summer. Now, they're trying to do the same here in the United States.

In fact, they've had enough success that US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta recently told a Senate committee that he feared a "cyber Pearl Harbor" in the near future. One that would cripple our power grid and government and financial systems. Welcome to the computer age!

But I do have some good news this week. The Bible tells us that even IRS agents can find redemption in Christ. In fact, in Luke's Gospel, Jesus said that a tax collector probably has a better chance at being saved than does a sanctimonious religious leader. Why? Because of humility. In His parable, Jesus cited the tax collector who realized he was a sinner and humbly asked forgiveness. Jesus said he went home "justified."

The religious leader, on the other hand, was so puffed up with pride in all of his good deeds and observances, that he made the mistake of believing that he deserved God's acceptance. Let me tell you one thing for certain: God hates arrogance and loves humility. That's why the tax collector went home redeemed and the religious leader when home lost. One was humble, the other arrogant.

If you've never received the forgiveness that Christ died to purchase for you, be honest with God. Admit your failings and your sinfulness. In humility, ask Him to do for you what you cannot do for yourself. God's heart is moved by genuine humbleness and He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness and make you one of His own. From that moment on, you will be part of God's family.

Do it now.


Don't miss this week's Report on TBN, Daystar, Inspiration, CPM Network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com. Please check your local listings.

Once again, remember to keep an eye on my website. You can find the top stories of the week so you can stay informed about what's happening in the world. Also, each week I post brief video commentaries about interesting Bible questions and hot topics. So check out "Hal on the Hot Seat" at www.hallindsey.com . And, of course, you can always find the current edition of "The Hal Lindsey Report," as well as archived editions, on demand. 


God Bless,

Hal Lindsey

mail: HLMM, P.O. Box 470470, Tulsa, OK 74147

email: comments@hallindsey.com

web: http://www.hallindsey.com

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(Blog Disclaimer: I own nothing. All information from Hal Lindsey Media Ministries. Re-posted here for informative purposes only.

These videos can also be found on the official website: http://www.hallindsey.com/archives/videos/
Thanks to OmniChristianVids3 on YouTube for uploading the video to YouTube. 

Manna Fest w/Perry Stone: #628 "Invisible Warfare Part 2" (10-19-2012)


Website: www.voe.org
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/perrystonevoe
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/perrystonevoe
Twitter: http://twitter.com/perrystonevoe

Official video from Perry Stone's YouTube page. Official stream can also be found on his website here: http://media.voe.org/

Thanks to Perry Stone/VOE Ministries.

Manna Fest w/Perry Stone: #627 "Invisible Warfare Part 1" (10-12-12)


Website: www.voe.org
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/perrystonevoe
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/perrystonevoe
Twitter: http://twitter.com/perrystonevoe

Official video from Perry Stone's YouTube page. Official stream can also be found on his website here: http://media.voe.org/

Thanks to Perry Stone/VOE Ministries.

Manna Fest w/Perry Stone: #626 "The Power of the Redemptive Covenant" (10-5-2012)


Website: www.voe.org
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/perrystonevoe
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/perrystonevoe
Twitter: http://twitter.com/perrystonevoe

Official video from Perry Stone's YouTube page. Official stream can also be found on his website here: http://media.voe.org/

Thanks to Perry Stone/VOE Ministries.

Manna Fest w/Perry Stone: #625 "Special Ministry Update" (09-28-2012)


Website: www.voe.org
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/perrystonevoe
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/perrystonevoe
Twitter: http://twitter.com/perrystonevoe

Official video from Perry Stone's YouTube page. Official stream can also be found on his website here: http://media.voe.org/

Thanks to Perry Stone/VOE Ministries.

Jack Van Impe Presents #1242 (10-20-2012)


(c) J.V.I. Ministries - http://www.jvim.com/ - Jack Van Impe Presents #1243 (2012-10-20)

Headlines:
Sky diver makes highest jump ever...
The pension crisis blooms despite cuts...
President Obama downsizing the military...
Current Product Offer: "The President of Change Shortchanges America"; which can be purchased by phoning the telephone number on the video or by going to the JVIM Ministry online store: https://ww2.micahtek.com/nexolive/nJVISelector.cfm?rDATA1=SHOPPING

Thanks to CallOutToJesus on YouTube for uploading the video. 
The official video stream can be found on jvim.com in the section for 'TV Program'

Jack Van Impe Presents #1242 (10-13-2012)


(c) J.V.I. Ministries - http://www.jvim.com/ - Jack Van Impe Presents #1242 (2012-10-13)

Headlines:
British Broadcasting Company cowers to radical Islam...
The British ambassador stands up to the threats...
Islamic extremism: Canada's top security threat...
Current Product Offer: "The President of Change Shortchanges America"; which can be purchased by phoning the telephone number on the video or by going to the JVIM Ministry online store: https://ww2.micahtek.com/nexolive/nJVISelector.cfm?rDATA1=SHOPPING

Thanks to CallOutToJesus on YouTube for uploading the video. 
The official video stream can be found on jvim.com in the section for 'TV Program'

Jack Van Impe Presents #1241 (10-6-12)


(c) J.V.I. Ministries - http://www.jvim.com/ - Jack Van Impe Presents #1241 (2012-10-6)

Headlines:
Decapitations called solution for criticism of Islam...
Obama dismisses Israel's call for a red line on Iran's nuclear program...
Iran: We lie to the international inspectors on our nuke program...
Current Product Offer: "The President of Change Shortchanges America"; which can be purchased by phoning the telephone number on the video or by going to the JVIM Ministry online store: https://ww2.micahtek.com/nexolive/nJVISelector.cfm?rDATA1=SHOPPING

Thanks to CallOutToJesus on YouTube for uploading the video. 
The official video stream can be found on jvim.com in the section for 'TV Program'

Hal Lindsey Report (10-12-2012): Pulpit Freedom Day, "Last Days" Politics, Oxcarts and Ferraris, Ferraris for Everyone!, Preparing for War?, Iran Deploys to Sinai, A Widening Conflict

 
From Hal Lindsey Media Ministries e-Newsletter, october 12, 2012. To subscribe go to the official Hal Lindsey Media Ministry website at: http://www.hallindsey.com/

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On Sunday, October 7, more than 1,500 pastors across America defied the US government.

No embassy walls were toppled or flags torn down and burned. No property was damaged and no one was wounded or killed. No troops were called up to restore order.

Yet these pastors openly - and some might say brazenly - defied the government of the United States.

To be accurate, they defied the Internal Revenue Service, which is an arm of the US government. More specifically, they defied an obscure and flawed amendment added to the federal tax code in 1954.

This amendment - promoted by and named for then-Texas Senator Lyndon B. Johnson - declares that an organization that holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status "may not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office."

Since then, atheist organizations and Left-leaning politicians have used the Johnson amendment to selectively intimidate churches, pastors, and ministries into silence on moral and cultural issues that might have any remotely political connection.

In recent years, the atheist group "Americans United for Separation of Church and State" has sent thousands of letters to churches warning them against engaging in "partisan politicking." The letters invoke the specter of the IRS swooping down on the church to revoke its tax-exempt status and, by implication, forcing it to close its doors.

The reality is that in almost 60 years since the insertion of that amendment to the federal tax code, not one church has had its tax-exempt status revoked for "partisan politicking." Yet the Left has used this threat to bludgeon the leaders of an estimated 350,000 congregations into silence on vital moral, cultural, financial, spiritual, and social issues that might be decided at the ballot box.

That's why more than 1,500 pastors participated in the third "Pulpit Freedom Sunday." They preached sermons that dealt directly with issues that will be determined in the next election. They also named candidates, discussed their views on these issues, and made specific recommendations to their congregations about who they should vote for in order to uphold the values of the Bible, the church, and most Americans.

The pastors videotaped or made audio recordings of their messages, then sent them directly to the Internal Revenue Service. This relieved the critics and enemies of the church of the need to send 'spies' to the church to make clandestine recordings and then write letters of complaint to the IRS.

The goal of "Alliance Defending Freedom," the organizers of "Pulpit Freedom Sunday," is to force the hand of the IRS and make it enforce the Johnson Amendment. That will then allow them to bring the case to court and let the courts decide if it is constitutional - which, in my humble opinion, it, most definitely, is not!

Though the constitutionality of the Johnson Amendment has never been tested, for six decades it has been the Left's most reliable weapon for silencing God's voice in the public square. Those who are now defying them firmly believe that it should be the pastor who determines what is preached from the pulpit, not the IRS.

Folks, this is why "Pulpit Freedom Sunday" is so important: As Americans, we believe that freedom of speech is a sacred right. The Declaration of Independence is clear and specific in acknowledging that our inalienable rights do not come from government. It deliberately says that our rights come from God and so they are beyond the reach of government.

That is part of the reason for the Liberals' assault on God in the public square and their near-berserk reaction to any suggestion that America was founded as a Christian country. If God is a myth, then our God-given rights are a myth, too. For how can rights be given or guaranteed by a myth?

The underlying goal is to remove God from our public consciousness by removing the right of His people to speak for Him. To be more specific, they actually want to remove our nation's conscience by silencing the voices of that conscience.

The Apostle Paul wrote that in the last days a strong delusion will overtake the world that will facilitate the rise of the Antichrist. I believe the conditioning process for this strong delusion is well underway.

Revelation 13 also speaks of a marriage between the religious order and the government during the Tribulation. It would seem logical to me that this union must begin by the government being able to dictate what religious leaders can and cannot say. Sound familiar? In fact, Bible prophecy about the politics of the last days is becoming eerily similar to the politics of OUR day, wouldn't you say?

Now, lest you think this is the only thing I discuss on this week's "Hal Lindsey Report," rest assured, it's not.

I'll also report on the unmanned drone that the Israeli Air Force shot down over Israel last week. Coincidentally, that Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), was essentially a copy of the RQ-170. Remember the RQ-170? That's the super-advanced, and highly secret, United States UAV that Iran was mysteriously able to commandeer and capture after it flew into Iranian airspace last December.

At the time, the administration's spinmeisters assured us that the RQ-170 was much too advanced to be of any use to Iran. In fact, one analyst said that losing the RQ-170 to Iran was a bit like "dropping a Ferrari into an oxcart culture."

Well, apparently the bumpkins didn't try to hitch an ox to it! Taking a cue from their friends the Russians and Chinese (who paid dearly to get a look at the technology), they reverse-engineered it and now they (or their proxy, Hezbollah) are flying it over Israel to get a closer look.

This apparent miscalculation by some of our defense and intelligence communities' experts makes me a little nervous about some of their other evaluations. For instance, last week The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) released a report that estimates that Iran will produce enough weapons-grade uranium to arm a nuclear weapon in the next "two to four months." That's 120 days!

But the report drew a "clear distinction" between Tehran's ability to actually produce a viable warhead and its ability to make the fissile core of a warhead by producing 55 pounds of weapons-grade uranium from its large lesser-enriched stockpiles.

Isn't that sort of like assuming that if one drops "a Ferrari into an oxcart culture," the bumpkins will try to hitch an ox to it? The Iranians proved the administration's experts wrong on that assumption, didn't they! So why should we think they will not surprise us again with how quickly they can produce a working nuclear missile?

On the other hand, that may be why the United States, NATO, and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council just completed the largest naval exercise ever conducted in the Persian Gulf. They were demonstrating our mine-sweeping prowess and how quickly we can take command of the Strait of Hormuz if Iran decides to try and close it.

And there's even more on this week's show, including Iran in the Sinai and the widening conflict between Syria and Turkey.

But, most importantly, this week I'm going to discuss one of the most wonderful and moving passages in all of God's Word - the two views of humanity expressed by the two violent thieves who hung on the crosses beside our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you have ever wondered if there is hope for you; if you have ever thought you were too far gone to find your way home; if you have ever despaired that you could never clean up your life enough to be accepted by Jesus, you MUST hear this touching story. You will find hope for your life and your future. You'll see how easy it is to become a part of God's forever family... today!


Don't miss this week's Report on TBN, Daystar, Inspiration, CPM Network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com. Please check your local listings.

Once again, remember to keep an eye on my website. You can find the top stories of the week so you can stay informed about what's happening in the world. Also, each week I post brief video commentaries about interesting Bible questions and hot topics. So check out "Hal on the Hot Seat" at www.hallindsey.com . And, of course, you can always find the current edition of "The Hal Lindsey Report," as well as archived editions, on demand. 


God Bless,

Hal Lindsey

mail: HLMM, P.O. Box 470470, Tulsa, OK 74147

email: comments@hallindsey.com

web: http://www.hallindsey.com

********************************************************************************

(Blog Disclaimer: I own nothing. All information from Hal Lindsey Media Ministries. Re-posted here for informative purposes only.

These videos can also be found on the official website:

http://www.hallindsey.com/archives/videos/

10/13/12

PrisonerAlert Update: Young Woman in Tanzania Accused of quran Desecration

 Eva Abdullah, 17, welcomed Christ into her life three years ago, though she grew up Muslim. After her conversion, her parents disowned her. Her father is a district Islamic leader. She lived with a Christian pastor until she was arrested.

A group of radicals in her hometown of Bagamoyo on Tanzania’s coast sought to convince her to give up her new Christian faith. When she refused, they falsely accused her of urinating on a Quran, Islam’s holy book. Eva was arrested and put in prison and many Christian leaders were too afraid to get involved in her case because of Muslim dominance in the district. At her trial on July 23, the judge, who was allegedly bribed by the Islamic militants who accused her, sentenced Eva to two years imprisonment.

Update
A VOM contact visited Eva in October. He brought paperwork for Eva to sign in order for her appeal to be filed in the capital. Some sympathetic attorneys are handling her case and deferring payment. The VOM contact wrote that he was greeted by two Christian female guards who are caring for Eva. They both promised to help keep her safe. Since it was not a day for regularly scheduled prison visits, our contact instead had to hand the paperwork through the thick iron bars and exchange a quick handshake with Eva. "She thanked Jehovah God a lot for our visits," he wrote.

www.prisoneralert.com
www.persecution.com

PrisonerAlert Update: Iranian Prisoner Out of Appeals

Farshid Fathi was arrested on Dec. 26, 2010 in a wave of arrests of believers in Tehran and other areas. Of the 22 believers arrested by security forces in Tehran, 10 were released after intense questioning and after they signed agreements to refrain from Christian activities. Eleven others were also later released. By the end of April, 2010, only Farshid remained in prison, though his family had paid an enormous bail sum. He spent nearly a year in solitary confinement. Farshid, a Christian convert from Islam, was charged with "acting against national security through membership of a Christian organization, collection of funds, propaganda against the Islamic Regime by helping spread Christianity in the country,” and sentenced to six years of imprisonment on March 5, 2012. Though the charge is for his Christian work, authorities tried to cast his activities as political offenses.

Farshid’s appeal against the charges was rejected in June 2012. He is due to serve the rest of his sentence in Evin Prison.

According to Elam Ministries, Farshid is a shining beacon for Christ in Evin, so much so that the son of an Iranian ayatollah commented on Farshid's sweet nature in a YouTube video. The two shared a cell. The man remarked on how beloved Farshid is among the inmates. Elam described Farshid as “a man after God’s own heart.”

Farshid is married to Leila, and has two children, Rosana and Bardia. Pray that they will be comforted during this time. Pray for steadfast endurance, deep Godly peace and for protection for Farshid in prison. Pray he will remain a shining light in prison and pray for his release."

www.prisoneralert.com
www.persecution.com

PrisonerAlert Update: Eritrean Pastors Remain in Prison

Three Eritrean pastors remain in dire conditions in prison in Eritrea, along with about 2,000 other Christians. Dr. Kiflu Geremeskel, Kidane Weldou and Haile Nayzgi remain in prison and believers in Eritrea have heard nothing from the three men recently.

However, one of Dr. Kiflu's church members glimpsed her pastor from a distance during a medical check-up at the hospital. She reported that he had lost a lot of weight and looked frail. She was unable to get closer because of the security detail that accompanied him. Please continue to pray for these men and the other Eritrean believers in prison. Pray that they know they are not forgotten.

www.prisoneralert.com
www.persecution.com

PrisonerAlert Update: Youcef Nadarkhani Released!

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was released Saturday, Sept. 8, after a trial where he was found guilty of evangelizing Muslims. Youcef was not charged with apostasy, or leaving Islam. He was sentenced to three years, which he's already served. Youcef is free, praise God.

Backstory:
Youcef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old pastor from Rasht, about 750 miles northwest of Tehran, was arrested in October 2009 after he protested a government policy that required children, including his 8- and 9-year-old sons, to study the Quran in school. Youcef told school officials that the Iranian constitution allows for freedom of religious practice. As a result of his protest, secret police called him before a political tribunal and arrested him for protesting. The charges were later amended to apostasy and evangelism of Muslims. Youcef was tried on Sept. 21–22, 2010 by the 1st Court of the Revolutionary Tribunal and sentenced to death on Nov. 13 for apostasy.

The pastor is imprisoned in Lakan prison, where authorities have used various methods, including medication, to convert him back to Islam.

After Youcef refused to convert to Islam, his wife was arrested, put on trial without an attorney and sentenced to life in prison. She was later released after an attorney appealed her sentence. The Nadarkhanis’ children were cared for by a relative while they were both in prison.

www.prisoneralert.com
www.persecution.com

Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Alert, Week of 10-12-12

Central Asia--Sewing Machines Help Make Gospel Outreach Possible
Source: VOM Contacts

James 1:17

Ten Christian women in a Central Asian country received sewing machines that will help them generate an income for their families. "Thank you for your blessing," wrote one of the sewing machine recipients. "We wanted to buy a good sewing machine for a long time, but we didn't have funds. It will help us to earn money and to bless other church members." Nearly all the sewing machine recipients mentioned that they will also use the machines to bless other church members with clothing and linens. These families live in an area where potential employers first ask if job applicants are Christians. If the job applicants say they are, they will not be hired. Each of these families is involved in ministry. The sewing businesses will also allow them to be flexible with their work hours so they have more opportunity for ministry. One mother of four who received a sewing machine wrote, "I will teach my children, and we will serve our church and neighbors with a practical gospel." Thank you for your part in blessing these women with sewing machines. Praise God for his work in Central Asia.

Kenya--Boy Dies in Al-Shabaab Attack on Church
Sources: VOM Contacts, Release International

1 Peter 1:6–7

A grenade tossed near the Sunday school area of ACK Polycarp Church in Nairobi on Sunday, Sept. 30 took the life of a 9-year-old boy and injured several more severely. John Ian Maina suffered fatal injuries in the explosion that happened as he waited around 10:25 a.m. with a group of other children for Sunday school to start. Police had just warned the previous day that al-Shabaab was planning retaliatory attacks in the country following the capture of Kismayu port by the Kenya Defense Forces in southern Somalia. St. Polycarp's is near Eastleigh, a district of Nairobi popularly known as "Little Mogadishu" due to its many Somali immigrants. The bomb left a six-inch deep, 12-inch wide hole in the floor. Pray for Christians in Kenya, who are increasingly subject to harm at the hands of al-Shabaab militants from Somalia.

Nigeria--Students Shot to Death in Apparent Boko Haram Attack
Source: BBC News, Release International

Mark 13:24

Twenty-two students were shot dead or stabbed at a Federal Polytechnic University in northeastern Nigeria in Adamawa state Oct. 2 by suspected Boko Haram militants. Just after midnight, men in military uniform entered a residence hall and called some students by name. The students were marched out of their rooms and lined up outside the building. Some were shot, and others were knifed. Their bodies were left lying in lines. Some of the dead were Muslims, while others were Christians. Police aren't sure why the 22 students and three security guards were killed, though the military arrested dozens of people suspected of Boko Haram links days earlier. Cell towers in the area were recently attacked by Boko Haram, making getting information out of the area difficult. One of the students told BBC News, "Everybody is scared." Pray God will show his power in defeating Boko Haram and that members of the group will turn to Christ.

China--VOM Project

Pray for those involved in a digital Bible project. Digital music players are loaded with audio New Testaments, portions of the Old Testament, VOM books and hymns.


www.persecution.com
www.prisoneralert.com 

Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Alert, Week of 10-05-12

Iran--Friend and Ministry Partner Passes Away
Source: VOM Sources

Revelation 21:3-5

A VOM partner reported last week that a dear friend and important Christian leader in Iran has died after a long illness. "Glory be to God because [my friend] is now in His arms and without pain," wrote the VOM partner. The man who died leaves behind a wife of just a few years. "Please pray for us," the VOM partner asked, "because he was our best friend, confidant and co-worker. I have personally known him for almost eight years, and for all of us it's very difficult. In Iran, church is more of a family than a place we meet, and we really feel that we have lost our brother. His place is so empty without him." Praise God for this man's life, and thank God for the people he touched through his work for Christ. Please lift up the Christian leader's wife, our partner in Iran and all believers who share Christ in Iran.

Tanzania--Muslim Radicals Burn Christians' Homes and Livestock
Source: VOM Sources

1 Peter 4:12-13

Extremists in Tunduru District in southwestern Tanzania burned the homes and livestock of several Christians on Sept. 17. One home was burned to the ground, but bystanders managed to save five others from complete destruction by dousing them with water. The Muslim extremists also burned more than 60 pigs belonging to Christians. In another recent incident in the region, the cars of a Pentecostal pastor and another believer were burned on the night of Sept. 25. "It's unfortunate to say that even though all these incidents were duly reported to the nearby police stations, no one has been arrested so far," a VOM contact said. He explained that 80 percent of the region is Muslim. "Please do pray with us against this demonic spirit of attacks on Christians and their properties!" he added.

China--Shouwang Believers Rejoice During Hardship
Sources: China Aid, VOM Canada

Psalm 33:22

Believers at Beijing's Shouwang Church in China are full of joy despite 17 months of outdoor worship and continual arrests. The believers have been meeting outdoors ever since the government began blocking their efforts to rent or purchase worship space. During their 38th worship service of the year, 22 believers were arrested. Ten were quickly released, but the others were detained at a local police station until afternoon. Shouwang Church has submitted an application for an official administrative review in response to the harassment and continual arrests by authorities. Please pray that the administrative review will recognize the persecution these believers face and help prompt more freedoms in China. Pray that God will use the faithfulness of the believers at Shouwang Church to draw others to himself.

Lebanon
VOM Project

Pray for a bold evangelist who works among radical Muslims. Pray for his family and for fruitful outreach work.


www.persecution.com
www.prisoneralert.com