Afghanistan--Christians Gain Confidence and Faith
Source: VOM Sources
1 Timothy 2:8
Christians in Afghanistan are less
fearful than they were a couple of years ago,
and many are dedicated to witnessing and growing in their faith. "The
fear that gripped the believers in 2010 is gone," wrote a VOM contact.
That year,
two Christian men,
Said Musa and Shoaib Assadullah,
were imprisoned for their faith,
and a parliamentary leader called for the execution of Christians. But
since then,
some believers have become more open about their faith and several small
groups have started meeting again. The Afghan Christians "see that God
has kept them," the contact wrote. He said one group of believers has
drafted a statement committing themselves to evangelism and
discipleship. Today,
persecution comes mainly from family and communities,
rather than the government. Among the ongoing difficulties facing
believers in Afghanistan are ridicule in the workplace,
dismissal from jobs for being non-Muslim and the inability to find a
Christian marriage partner. Thank God for his work among the Afghan
people,
and pray that their witness will bear much fruit.
Russia--Moscow Authorities Destroy Church Building
Sources: VOM Sources,
Forum 18 News
1 John 5:14
Unidentified workers,
backed by police and civil volunteers,
tore down the Holy Trinity Pentecostal Church in east Moscow in the
early morning hours of Sept. 6. The workers arrived at midnight with
bulldozers and diggers,
looting the building of sound equipment,
musical instruments,
service books and Communion materials before using heavy equipment to
demolish the structure. A church caretaker was taken to the police
station and prevented from contacting church members for three hours. By
morning,
the church building was a pile of rubble. The church held a service on
Sept. 8 at the site of the destroyed church,
using chairs and other materials salvaged from the rubble. Authorities
later threatened to punish Pastor Vasili Romanyuk for holding an
"unapproved religious meeting." Pray that authorities and the church
will come to an agreement about where the church can worship.
Laos--Young Pastor Killed
Source: VOM Sources
Jeremiah 33:3
A 24-year-old Lao pastor was found dead
in the forest in July,
and Christians believe he was murdered. Thong Hak,
of the Khmu tribe,
left his village on a Friday to go hunting. When he didn't show up to
preach in his church on Sunday,
believers began to search for him and soon found his body in the forest
covered in blood. Thong Hak attended Bible school in the Laotian capital
of Vientiane. Pray for his parents,
siblings and the church he served. Also pray that his church members
will remain faithful and will continue to depend on God.
Armenia--VOM Project
Pray for those translating and printing Tortured for Christ in Armenian.
www.persecution.com
www.prisoneralert.com
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