The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Luke 2:1–3
India—Pastor and Seven Converts Arrested
Source: Compass Direct News
2 Corinthians 10:3–4
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
Police in India’s Kashmir Valley recently detained seven Christian converts from Islam and arrested the pastor who baptized them. Police beat the Christians and asked them if they had received money for converting, according to a local Christian. The arrests occurred after police saw a video showing Pastor Chander Khanna baptizing the converts at his church. Kashmir’s grand mufti, the highest religious legal official, accused the church of offering money to young Muslims in exchange for their conversion to Christianity. The mufti said the video provided definitive evidence that the converted Muslims were “lured” to Christianity. However, Pastor Khanna said the seven arrested Christians told police they would sign affidavits saying they willingly converted without duress or allurement. Please pray for the few hundred Christians in this part of India, where tensions remain high between Christians and Muslims.
Pakistan—Christian Shot to Death
Source: Compass Direct News
Psalm 40:13
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me;
O LORD, make haste to help me!
A Christian man was shot to death in Karachi on Nov. 16 in an attack the man’s family believes was related to his Christian faith. Jameel Saawan and a friend were opening the door of their cosmetics shop in a commercial district when Saawan was shot in the neck and face by an unidentified young man. “We firmly believe that my father was killed because of his preaching of the Bible, because there is no other reason,” said Zahid Jameel, Saawan’s 25-year-old son. Despite frequent, serious threats, Saawan had shared the gospel every day after work and talked of setting up an organization to help poor Christians. No witnesses volunteered information about the murder, and it is unlikely that Saawan’s killer will be caught. Although police registered the case, they have made no progress in the investigation. Saawan’s family is reluctant to pursue the case, fearing for their own safety. Please pray for Saawan’s grieving family and for all Pakistani Christians.
Vietnam—Church Leaders Severely Beaten
Source: Compass Direct News
2 Kings 19:19
Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone.”
On Nov. 13, a gang of men attacked members of the Agape Baptist Church during a meeting at an evangelist’s house near Hanoi. More than a dozen church leaders were seriously injured, including a pastor who remained unconscious for hours. A large crowd gathered to watch, and gang members reportedly ran outside during the attack and screamed, “The Christian pastors are savagely beating up people!” The Christians, who belong to an unregistered house church network with about 2,200 members, were punched in the face, chest and back, and some were kicked as they lay on the floor. The evangelist who owned the home suffered a broken pelvis and internal injuries. Local doctors refused to treat the believers, who were later evacuated to a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Showing posts with label persecuted Christians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label persecuted Christians. Show all posts
11/28/11
Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Update for week of Nov. 25, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20
West Bank—Christian Church Fears Shut Down by Palestinian Authority
Source: VOM Contacts
John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
The leaders of First Baptist Church in Bethlehem are becoming increasingly concerned by growing antagonism against them by the Palestinian Authority. First Baptist Church has operated in Muslim-dominated Bethlehem for more than 30 years, and its leaders are no strangers to persecution. The church has been bombed fourteen times and senior pastor Naim Khoury has been shot at several times. This community opposition seems small compared to what the thriving church of 300 now faces. The ruling Palestinian Authority is trying to shut down the church by refusing to recognize it. This position has severe consequences for church members: Parents can’t obtain birth certificates for babies, couples who want to marry cannot get a license, and church members have extreme difficulty in finding employment. Currently, about 70 percent of the congregation is unemployed. A member of a delegation who recently visited the church said, “The intent is obvious: to drive people away from churches in the very city that gave birth to the hope-filled, life-changing message of Jesus Christ.” Please pray for the leaders and members of First Baptist Church.
China—Beijing Church’s Standoff with Authorities in Reaches Week 32
Source: China Aid Association
Lamentations 3:22
Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
One of China’s largest house church groups continues to meet in an outdoor space for worship, in spite a months-long campaign by police to deter them. On Nov. 13, Shouwang Church of Beijing attempted to assemble its members for worship in an outdoor shopping plaza for the 32nd time in as many weeks. The standoff began after the unregistered church was repeatedly forced from indoor meeting spaces and began meeting outdoors in protest. According to information published by the church, at least 27 people headed for the service were arrested, either at the meeting spot or en route. One was sent home, but the remaining 26 believers were taken to 12 different police stations around the city. Fifteen of the arrested were released by midnight that night, while the rest were released slowly throughout the night. The last person was released 48 hours after being arrested. As always, church members waited outside police stations with food and clothing for the detained despite freezing winter temperatures. “We especially give thanks to our God for them; they witnessed the love of being members to each other in the body of Christ. We give thanks to our Lord, for he keeps us and protects us,” church leadership wrote in a statement. Thank God for the church’s faithfulness, and pray they will be able to meet freely soon.
Iran—Resolution Soon for Youcef Nadarkhani?
Sources: Compass Direct, VOM Sources
2 Timothy 4:7–9
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. Be diligent to come to me quickly;
Sources indicate that an Iranian court may make a final ruling in the case of house church pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. Nadarkhani has spent the last 25 months imprisoned in Rasht, Iran, convicted of apostasy for leaving Islam. The standard penalty for this crime is death. A Rasht court was due to make a final decision on his case in September, but instead sent the case on to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. During his trial, the court gave Nadarkhani three opportunities to recant his faith, but he repeatedly refused. Sources close to Nadarkhani indicated that he has undergone physical and psychological torture and that authorities have continued to pressure him to recant. Pray for the upcoming verdict in his trial.
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
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Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20
West Bank—Christian Church Fears Shut Down by Palestinian Authority
Source: VOM Contacts
John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
The leaders of First Baptist Church in Bethlehem are becoming increasingly concerned by growing antagonism against them by the Palestinian Authority. First Baptist Church has operated in Muslim-dominated Bethlehem for more than 30 years, and its leaders are no strangers to persecution. The church has been bombed fourteen times and senior pastor Naim Khoury has been shot at several times. This community opposition seems small compared to what the thriving church of 300 now faces. The ruling Palestinian Authority is trying to shut down the church by refusing to recognize it. This position has severe consequences for church members: Parents can’t obtain birth certificates for babies, couples who want to marry cannot get a license, and church members have extreme difficulty in finding employment. Currently, about 70 percent of the congregation is unemployed. A member of a delegation who recently visited the church said, “The intent is obvious: to drive people away from churches in the very city that gave birth to the hope-filled, life-changing message of Jesus Christ.” Please pray for the leaders and members of First Baptist Church.
China—Beijing Church’s Standoff with Authorities in Reaches Week 32
Source: China Aid Association
Lamentations 3:22
Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
One of China’s largest house church groups continues to meet in an outdoor space for worship, in spite a months-long campaign by police to deter them. On Nov. 13, Shouwang Church of Beijing attempted to assemble its members for worship in an outdoor shopping plaza for the 32nd time in as many weeks. The standoff began after the unregistered church was repeatedly forced from indoor meeting spaces and began meeting outdoors in protest. According to information published by the church, at least 27 people headed for the service were arrested, either at the meeting spot or en route. One was sent home, but the remaining 26 believers were taken to 12 different police stations around the city. Fifteen of the arrested were released by midnight that night, while the rest were released slowly throughout the night. The last person was released 48 hours after being arrested. As always, church members waited outside police stations with food and clothing for the detained despite freezing winter temperatures. “We especially give thanks to our God for them; they witnessed the love of being members to each other in the body of Christ. We give thanks to our Lord, for he keeps us and protects us,” church leadership wrote in a statement. Thank God for the church’s faithfulness, and pray they will be able to meet freely soon.
Iran—Resolution Soon for Youcef Nadarkhani?
Sources: Compass Direct, VOM Sources
2 Timothy 4:7–9
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. Be diligent to come to me quickly;
Sources indicate that an Iranian court may make a final ruling in the case of house church pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. Nadarkhani has spent the last 25 months imprisoned in Rasht, Iran, convicted of apostasy for leaving Islam. The standard penalty for this crime is death. A Rasht court was due to make a final decision on his case in September, but instead sent the case on to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. During his trial, the court gave Nadarkhani three opportunities to recant his faith, but he repeatedly refused. Sources close to Nadarkhani indicated that he has undergone physical and psychological torture and that authorities have continued to pressure him to recant. Pray for the upcoming verdict in his trial.
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
11/19/11
Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Update for week of Nov. 18, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
“All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flowers falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” 1 Peter 1:24–25
India—Ten Christians Attacked and Arrested in Karnataka State
Source: VOM Contacts
Luke 12:50–52
But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three.
Activists from a Hindu-nationalist movement attacked members of two Christian communities on Nov. 12 and 13 in Karnataka state, accusing them of forced conversions. Ten Bajrang Dal activists stormed into Pastor H. S. Nagaraj’s Sunday service on Nov. 13, interrupting prayer and tearing a Bible to pieces. When local police arrived, they arrested the pastor and three church members. The men are still in prison. On the previous day, six believers were waiting at the Belur bus station after a prayer service when activists from the same group surrounded them and began beating and insulting them. The activists then took the six Christians to the police station, where they were arrested. Three women and a child were later released, but the two men remain in prison. There have been 40 incidents of violence against Christians in Karnataka this year. Pray that our partners will be able to help these believers and that the charges will be dropped. Pray for all Christians in India who face similar circumstances, especially in the six states that have “anti-conversion” laws.
Nigeria—Two Deadly Days for Nigerian Christians
Source: Compass Direct News
John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will[a] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Christians in northern Nigeria have been besieged by a string of recent attacks, some by the al-Qaida-affiliated Boko Haram extremist group. In the most recent incident, on Nov. 4, extremists stormed the city of Damaturu, Yobe state. One hundred fifty people were killed in the four-hour rampage — 130 of them Christians. Ten church buildings were also destroyed in the attacks, and churches that remained in operation saw a dramatic fall in attendance. On the previous day, bomb blasts in nearby Borno state killed four people. And on the same day in Kaduna state, Muslim extremists fired on a church service, killing two Christian women. The same gang raided the Christian community of Kurmin-Bi on Nov. 4, killing one Christian and injuring another. The extremists employed guerrilla tactics, striking and withdrawing, then striking elsewhere while military personnel respond to the first attack. Pray that Christians in Nigeria will know how to lovingly engage their persecutors and that the extremists will come to know the peace of Jesus Christ.
SRI LANKA—Brutal Attack on Christian Workers
Source: Release International, National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka
Romans 16:19
For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) reports that a staff member and volunteer were attacked by a gang and badly injured last month in the town of Vavuniya in Northern Province. The men were driving through town on their motorbike on the evening of Oct. 19, when they were stopped by about 12 people at a junction. The gang beat them so severely with rods and clubs that a helmet worn by one of the Christian workers was shattered. One believer suffered injuries to his head and arm, while the other suffered a broken right arm and injuries to his head and body. One of the two managed to break free and alert the police, but the gang fled before police arrived. The NCEASL workers were initially taken to a hospital in Vavuniya but were later transferred to Colombo for further treatment. The motive for the attack is uncertain, and locals say this is just the latest in a string of violent attacks on citizens in Vavuniya. Pray that the two will heal quickly and be able to return to their work.
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flowers falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” 1 Peter 1:24–25
India—Ten Christians Attacked and Arrested in Karnataka State
Source: VOM Contacts
Luke 12:50–52
But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three.
Activists from a Hindu-nationalist movement attacked members of two Christian communities on Nov. 12 and 13 in Karnataka state, accusing them of forced conversions. Ten Bajrang Dal activists stormed into Pastor H. S. Nagaraj’s Sunday service on Nov. 13, interrupting prayer and tearing a Bible to pieces. When local police arrived, they arrested the pastor and three church members. The men are still in prison. On the previous day, six believers were waiting at the Belur bus station after a prayer service when activists from the same group surrounded them and began beating and insulting them. The activists then took the six Christians to the police station, where they were arrested. Three women and a child were later released, but the two men remain in prison. There have been 40 incidents of violence against Christians in Karnataka this year. Pray that our partners will be able to help these believers and that the charges will be dropped. Pray for all Christians in India who face similar circumstances, especially in the six states that have “anti-conversion” laws.
Nigeria—Two Deadly Days for Nigerian Christians
Source: Compass Direct News
John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will[a] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Christians in northern Nigeria have been besieged by a string of recent attacks, some by the al-Qaida-affiliated Boko Haram extremist group. In the most recent incident, on Nov. 4, extremists stormed the city of Damaturu, Yobe state. One hundred fifty people were killed in the four-hour rampage — 130 of them Christians. Ten church buildings were also destroyed in the attacks, and churches that remained in operation saw a dramatic fall in attendance. On the previous day, bomb blasts in nearby Borno state killed four people. And on the same day in Kaduna state, Muslim extremists fired on a church service, killing two Christian women. The same gang raided the Christian community of Kurmin-Bi on Nov. 4, killing one Christian and injuring another. The extremists employed guerrilla tactics, striking and withdrawing, then striking elsewhere while military personnel respond to the first attack. Pray that Christians in Nigeria will know how to lovingly engage their persecutors and that the extremists will come to know the peace of Jesus Christ.
SRI LANKA—Brutal Attack on Christian Workers
Source: Release International, National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka
Romans 16:19
For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) reports that a staff member and volunteer were attacked by a gang and badly injured last month in the town of Vavuniya in Northern Province. The men were driving through town on their motorbike on the evening of Oct. 19, when they were stopped by about 12 people at a junction. The gang beat them so severely with rods and clubs that a helmet worn by one of the Christian workers was shattered. One believer suffered injuries to his head and arm, while the other suffered a broken right arm and injuries to his head and body. One of the two managed to break free and alert the police, but the gang fled before police arrived. The NCEASL workers were initially taken to a hospital in Vavuniya but were later transferred to Colombo for further treatment. The motive for the attack is uncertain, and locals say this is just the latest in a string of violent attacks on citizens in Vavuniya. Pray that the two will heal quickly and be able to return to their work.
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Jesus - He Lived Among Us (Trailer)
"In the days of the apostles it was dangerous to follow Jesus. Today that danger remains."
http://www.thejesusmovie.com/
via Voice of the Martyrs e-Letter
This story is a dramatic retelling of the life of Christ as seen through the eyes of the last surviving disciple, John the Beloved.
This feature-length animated film was produced by The Voice of the Martyrs with today's persecuted church in mind. Unlike typical depictions of the life of Jesus, this film highlights the courage, conflict and dangers that were associated with following Christ 2,000 years ago.
JESUS: He Lived Among Us will be available for free distribution in hostile and restricted nations and will be a powerful tool in evangelizing those who need to know the cost of following Christ.
Copies in English and Spanish are available in the United States for $15. Quantity discounts are also available.
You are also invited to help make the first round of translations for hostile and restricted nations possible with a financial contribution.
Click here to learn more.
11/18/11
PrisonerAlert Update: Mehdi “Petros” Foroutan
Arrested: September 2011
Days Imprisoned: 54
Update: Almost immediately after Mehdi "Petros" Foroutan reported to prison for his one-year sentence, authorities transferred him to the ward for recovering drug addicts. In October, one month after arriving at prison, Mehdi was put in solitary confinement. He was not allowed to make any phone calls, and his treatment in solitary was unknown.
Thankfully, he was moved out just a few days ago and is no longer in solitary confinement. Mehdi is in the general area of the prison.
Please pray for him. Diseases are easily transferred among the drug addicts, and Mehdi now lives among them. However, this circumstance is an opportunity for him, who can now witness to others in prison.
Backstory:
Mehdi “Petros” Foroutan, a 27-year-old pastor in Iran, was arrested in January 2010 and charged with crimes against national security and blasphemy against Islam. Although acquitted of the blasphemy charge and released on bail a month later, Pastor Foroutan was sentenced to one year in prison. Unlike most people who wait for an arrest warrant, Pastor Foroutan reported to prison on Sept. 25, 2011, to begin serving his sentence.
Almost immediately, Pastor Foroutan was transferred to the area of the prison for recovering drug addicts in Shiraz. It is often called “the end of the road” for addicts and drug dealers. Please pray for Pastor Foroutan’s safety and protection from easily transferred diseases as he lives among drug addicts. Pray that God uses and works through the pastor to free those held captive by addiction.
Please write a letter of encouragement to Pastor Forouton and let him know you are praying for him. Please do not speak negatively of the Iranian government in your letter or mention the name of the organization that provided this information.
http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_217_profile.html
© 2011 The Voice of the Martyrs
http://www.persecution.com/
11/15/11
Voice of the Martyrs/IDOP 2010: Salavat's Testimony
This video, produced for The Voice of the Martyrs, shows the real stories of Christians in Uzbekistan, who suffer hardship and persecution as believers in Jesus Christ.
This video was produced for the International Day of Prayer (IDOP) in 2010. To learn more about the International Day of Prayer, visit http://www.persecution.com/idop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR8aiWuMjjY
http://www.persecution.com/
http://www.prisoneralert.com/
Voice of the Martyrs/IDOP - Padina's Testimony
via http://www.youtube.com/user/VoiceOfTheMartyrsUSA
From the time Padina was 4 years old, she followed every rule of Islam in an attempt to grow closer to Allah. But Padina could never reach Allah. "I never felt peace," she said. "I would cry for hours to Allah, saying, 'I am so far from you. I can never go into your presence.'" She felt depressed and hopeless.
So she made a plan to end her suffering. She and her terminally ill mother would take pills, turn on the gas in the kitchen and enter the presence of Allah as honored Muslims.
As Padina started to turn on the gas, she heard her mother's TV in the living room. The words of a pastor on an illegal Christian satellite program grabbed her attention: "Why do you want to kill yourself tonight? Our God is so powerful that he can change your life. Give Jesus one week!"
Repulsed, Padina came up with a plan. "I will pretend to invite Jesus for one week in my life," Padina thought. "I can embarrass Jesus and embarrass Christianity for the false religion that it is. In one week, I will call this television program and kill myself live on the program. That will disgrace the God of the infidels."
The song featured at the end of this presentation was made specifically for this video. Plans exist to feature it on digital download services some time in the future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz38KW3_wfI
http://www.persecution.com/
http://www.prisoneralert.com/
11/4/11
Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Update for week of Nov. 4, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. Psalm 95:1–2
North Korea—Millions Listen to Illegal Christian Radio—VOM Contacts
1 Kings 19:13
So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Experts on North Korea say that up to 20 percent of the North Korean population listens to illegal foreign radio broadcasts, and an estimated 2 million regularly listen to VOM-sponsored Christian programs, according to VOM’s partners working in North Korea. Radio broadcasting is one of the most effective ways not only to bring the gospel and the voice of true freedom to the people of North Korea but also to communicate with and influence North Koreans. This month on the “Freedom in Christ” program, our partners are sharing stories from the Gospel of Luke as well as eight plays from the “Hardship of Christ.” A special speaker also shared a message of encouragement with North Korean listeners and promised to continue praying for them. “We intentionally focus on broadcasting the biblical gospel through testimonies of believers, leadership training, and equipping resources for this support of the North Korean church,” wrote our partner. The foreign radio broadcasts are understandably hated by the North Korean government. Please pray that the government’s attempts to jam the broadcasts will be futile and that North Koreans who tune in will be sensitive to the truth of the gospel.
Iraq—Christians Murdered in Kirkuk—Release International
Psalm 61:1–3
Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
Two Christians have been murdered recently in Kirkuk, and Iraqi Christians have asked officials to improve security in the area. Thirty-year-old restaurant worker Bassam Isho was shot to death on Sunday, Oct. 2. And one day earlier, the body of 60-year-old Hanna Polos Emmanuel was found by the side of a road on the outskirts of the city. Middle East Concern reports that local Christians interpret the attacks as a deliberate effort to destabilize their community. “The attacks on Christians continue, and the world remains totally silent,” an anonymous Christian told AsiaNews. “It’s as if we’ve been swallowed up by the night.” Tensions in the region have increased as religious and ethnic minorities, especially Christians, have increasingly become targets of kidnapping and extortion. Three Assyrian Christians and a Turkman Muslim were kidnapped as they returned from a hunting trip on Sept. 21. They were released after their ransom was paid. Please pray that authorities will take decisive action to improve security in the area.
Belarus—Pastor Fined for Worshiping in House—Forum 18
Acts 5:42
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Belarusian pastor Aleksei Abramovich was fined an amount equal to several weeks’ wages in September for leading unregistered religious worship. Churches in Belarus are required to register with the state, but Abramovich belongs to a church that refuses to register on principle. “We don’t interfere with state policy,” Abramovich wrote in a letter to Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. “Our worship meetings are purely religious. It’s not a crime if believers worship in my house.” Authorities say the church, in Zhodino, near Belarus’s capital city of Minsk, broke the law. Meanwhile, several independent Protestant churches have given up on trying to gain state registration after their attempts repeatedly failed. Please pray that God will give churches in Belarus the strength needed to overcome these difficulties.
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) is on November 13, 2011. 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/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. Psalm 95:1–2
North Korea—Millions Listen to Illegal Christian Radio—VOM Contacts
1 Kings 19:13
So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Experts on North Korea say that up to 20 percent of the North Korean population listens to illegal foreign radio broadcasts, and an estimated 2 million regularly listen to VOM-sponsored Christian programs, according to VOM’s partners working in North Korea. Radio broadcasting is one of the most effective ways not only to bring the gospel and the voice of true freedom to the people of North Korea but also to communicate with and influence North Koreans. This month on the “Freedom in Christ” program, our partners are sharing stories from the Gospel of Luke as well as eight plays from the “Hardship of Christ.” A special speaker also shared a message of encouragement with North Korean listeners and promised to continue praying for them. “We intentionally focus on broadcasting the biblical gospel through testimonies of believers, leadership training, and equipping resources for this support of the North Korean church,” wrote our partner. The foreign radio broadcasts are understandably hated by the North Korean government. Please pray that the government’s attempts to jam the broadcasts will be futile and that North Koreans who tune in will be sensitive to the truth of the gospel.
Iraq—Christians Murdered in Kirkuk—Release International
Psalm 61:1–3
Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
Two Christians have been murdered recently in Kirkuk, and Iraqi Christians have asked officials to improve security in the area. Thirty-year-old restaurant worker Bassam Isho was shot to death on Sunday, Oct. 2. And one day earlier, the body of 60-year-old Hanna Polos Emmanuel was found by the side of a road on the outskirts of the city. Middle East Concern reports that local Christians interpret the attacks as a deliberate effort to destabilize their community. “The attacks on Christians continue, and the world remains totally silent,” an anonymous Christian told AsiaNews. “It’s as if we’ve been swallowed up by the night.” Tensions in the region have increased as religious and ethnic minorities, especially Christians, have increasingly become targets of kidnapping and extortion. Three Assyrian Christians and a Turkman Muslim were kidnapped as they returned from a hunting trip on Sept. 21. They were released after their ransom was paid. Please pray that authorities will take decisive action to improve security in the area.
Belarus—Pastor Fined for Worshiping in House—Forum 18
Acts 5:42
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Belarusian pastor Aleksei Abramovich was fined an amount equal to several weeks’ wages in September for leading unregistered religious worship. Churches in Belarus are required to register with the state, but Abramovich belongs to a church that refuses to register on principle. “We don’t interfere with state policy,” Abramovich wrote in a letter to Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. “Our worship meetings are purely religious. It’s not a crime if believers worship in my house.” Authorities say the church, in Zhodino, near Belarus’s capital city of Minsk, broke the law. Meanwhile, several independent Protestant churches have given up on trying to gain state registration after their attempts repeatedly failed. Please pray that God will give churches in Belarus the strength needed to overcome these difficulties.
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) is on November 13, 2011. 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/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
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Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
10/29/11
Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Update for week of Oct. 28, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8
Algeria—Authorities Order Church Closed—VOM Contacts
Exodus 34:9
Then he said, “If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”
On Oct. 17, Algerian authorities ordered the closure of a church in the country’s second largest city because the church did not have a registration certificate, according to a VOM worker in the region. The 90-member House of Hope church in Oran runs several ministries in the Ain-Turck neighborhood, including a Bible school, a media studio, a safe house and a network of evangelists. When church representatives visited the state office to inquire about necessary documentation, no one could tell them what was required for church registration. After further inquiries, the minister of the interior told church representatives that he did not know who ordered the church to close. “It looks like an attempt from the authorities to test the church’s reaction,” said a VOM worker. “In Algeria, nothing is guaranteed, so we trust our Lord and move boldly.” House of Hope is continuing its services. Pray for favor from the authorities as well as wisdom and perseverance for the church’s leaders.
Pakistan—Asia Bibi Reportedly Beaten—VOM Contacts, Compass Direct News
Psalm 6:8–10
Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity;
For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.
The LORD has heard my supplication;
The LORD will receive my prayer.
Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled;
Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.
A Pakistani newspaper has reported that Asia Bibi was beaten by a prison guard earlier this month. The guard was reportedly suspended for three months, and a source told Compass Direct News that jail authorities pressured Asia and Ashiq to refrain from reporting the incident. Ashiq told VOM workers that jail management has been good to Asia. He reported that Asia said, “I am not horrified by this incident. God is with me; I have a Bible in my cell. I feel strong and protected.” Asia, who received a death sentence last year after being convicted of blasphemy, has been kept in a high-security cell in Sheikhupura jail because of death threats against her. Continue to pray for Asia’s safety, and pray for VOM staff and friends as they travel to Washington, D.C., in a few weeks to present a petition appealing for mercy in Asia’s case.
Nigeria—Boko Haram Kill Second Christian Leader in Three Months—Compass Direct News
Psalm 146:9
The LORD watches over the strangers;
He relieves the fatherless and widow;
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
A second Nigerian evangelist has been murdered by members of the Islamist group Boko Haram less than three months after the group killed a Maiduguri pastor and church secretary. Mark Ojunta, a 36-year-old evangelist from southern Nigeria, was working with Calvary Ministries (CAPRO) among the Kotoko people in northeastern Nigeria when he was shot on Aug. 27 in Maiduguri. CAPRO had evacuated all staff members working among the Shuwa Arab, Kotoko and Kanuri peoples after learning that they were on a Boko Haram hit list. But Ojunta had returned to teach a class after his family was evacuated. A CAPRO press statement stated that he died “as a martyr on his field among the Kotokos.” Four days before his death, Ojunta reportedly declined an invitation to take a position at CAPRO’s International office in London. He leaves behind his wife, Ema, and two young children. Pray for his family, CAPRO staff and all Christians in Nigeria.
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) is on November 13, 2011. 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/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8
Algeria—Authorities Order Church Closed—VOM Contacts
Exodus 34:9
Then he said, “If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”
On Oct. 17, Algerian authorities ordered the closure of a church in the country’s second largest city because the church did not have a registration certificate, according to a VOM worker in the region. The 90-member House of Hope church in Oran runs several ministries in the Ain-Turck neighborhood, including a Bible school, a media studio, a safe house and a network of evangelists. When church representatives visited the state office to inquire about necessary documentation, no one could tell them what was required for church registration. After further inquiries, the minister of the interior told church representatives that he did not know who ordered the church to close. “It looks like an attempt from the authorities to test the church’s reaction,” said a VOM worker. “In Algeria, nothing is guaranteed, so we trust our Lord and move boldly.” House of Hope is continuing its services. Pray for favor from the authorities as well as wisdom and perseverance for the church’s leaders.
Pakistan—Asia Bibi Reportedly Beaten—VOM Contacts, Compass Direct News
Psalm 6:8–10
Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity;
For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.
The LORD has heard my supplication;
The LORD will receive my prayer.
Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled;
Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.
A Pakistani newspaper has reported that Asia Bibi was beaten by a prison guard earlier this month. The guard was reportedly suspended for three months, and a source told Compass Direct News that jail authorities pressured Asia and Ashiq to refrain from reporting the incident. Ashiq told VOM workers that jail management has been good to Asia. He reported that Asia said, “I am not horrified by this incident. God is with me; I have a Bible in my cell. I feel strong and protected.” Asia, who received a death sentence last year after being convicted of blasphemy, has been kept in a high-security cell in Sheikhupura jail because of death threats against her. Continue to pray for Asia’s safety, and pray for VOM staff and friends as they travel to Washington, D.C., in a few weeks to present a petition appealing for mercy in Asia’s case.
Nigeria—Boko Haram Kill Second Christian Leader in Three Months—Compass Direct News
Psalm 146:9
The LORD watches over the strangers;
He relieves the fatherless and widow;
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
A second Nigerian evangelist has been murdered by members of the Islamist group Boko Haram less than three months after the group killed a Maiduguri pastor and church secretary. Mark Ojunta, a 36-year-old evangelist from southern Nigeria, was working with Calvary Ministries (CAPRO) among the Kotoko people in northeastern Nigeria when he was shot on Aug. 27 in Maiduguri. CAPRO had evacuated all staff members working among the Shuwa Arab, Kotoko and Kanuri peoples after learning that they were on a Boko Haram hit list. But Ojunta had returned to teach a class after his family was evacuated. A CAPRO press statement stated that he died “as a martyr on his field among the Kotokos.” Four days before his death, Ojunta reportedly declined an invitation to take a position at CAPRO’s International office in London. He leaves behind his wife, Ema, and two young children. Pray for his family, CAPRO staff and all Christians in Nigeria.
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) is on November 13, 2011. 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/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
PrisonerAlert Update: Arezo Teymouri
Arrested: September 2010
Update: Arezo Teymouri Released
Here is an update on an Iranian couple many of you prayed for earlier.
Arezo Teymouri and her husband Arash Kermanjani were arrested in 2010 at the home of Vahik Abrahamian. The couple was released from prison in April 2011 and left Iran soon afterward for Turkey. There they received medical treatment.
A VOM contact reports, "The major problem with Arezo's leg - which would have required major surgery - is now gone! She was jumping up and down, to the initial consternation of her husband. It appears that the leg is healed!"
Arezo has been able to pick up Turkish easily, and they were well received there. Arash and Arezo are not in the UN asylum system and are recovering well.
Backstory:
Pastor Vahik Abrahamian and his wife Sonia Keshish-Avanesian were with their friends, Arash Kermanjani, and his wife, Arezo Teymouri, when all four were detained on September 4, 2010.
The two couples, who are close friends, were arrested at the Abrahamians' home in Hamadan, west Iran, and taken to the Ministry of Islamic Guidance prison.
For the first 40 days, they were held in solitary confinement and reportedly suffered physical abuse and psychological pressure. Pastor Vahik's wife Sonia, who was pregnant when she was arrested, is said to have suffered a miscarriage – her fourth.
The four have been accused of various offenses, including propagating Christianity, opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran, and having contact with exiled opposition figures. They have not yet been charged.
Over six months have passed since the two men and two women were arrested. They are under pressure and intense interrogation, according to Mohabat News. They were transferred from Hamadan prison to Iran’s notorious Evin prison in Tehran.
Their families are concerned for their health, but have not been able to find news of their loved ones. They are also worried about the children of the believers.
Source: Mohabat News
http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_212_profile.html
© 2011 The Voice of the Martyrs
http://www.persecution.com/
http://www.prisoneralert.com
PrisonerAlert Update: Zhang Rongliang
Arrested: December 2004
Days Imprisoned: 2464
Released Aug. 31, 2011
Update: Pastor Zhang Released
After seven and half years of in prison, Pastor Zhang Rongliang was released. Even though he was tortured and even faced death, Zhang intends to continue ministering and living for the Lord. He has moved to a coastal town to live with a family member, rest, spend quiet time with God and seek his will for future ministry.
Pastor Rongliang thanks the Lord and all those who prayed for him during his time in prison. It is uncertain whether government officials are keeping him under surveillance. Please pray for Zhang as he recovers and continues ministering in China.
Backstory
Pastor Zhang Rongliang was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison. According to China Aid Association the verdict was issued by Zhongmu County People’s Court.
Pastor Zhang Rongliang, a prominent Chinese house church leader, was arrested in a rented apartment at Xuzhai village the afternoon of December 1, 2004. Zhang already had spent 12 years in prison for his faith during five separate detentions. He experienced harsh torture, including electric shock, during his previous prison terms. After being held in prison for a year, officials attempted to transfer him from a prison in Xinmi to one in Zhongmu. Fearing that because of his fragile condition he might die, officials at Zhongmu would not accept him. He was instead taken to a hospital in Xinmi.
Pastor Zhang suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure in addition to other chronic health problems. Later he was transferred to a Zhongmu City hospital where he spent most of February and March 2006.
He appeared in court April 6, 2006, more than 16 months after his arrest, for his third hearing on charges of “attaining a passport through cheating” and “illegal border crossing.” At this hearing the court acknowledged there was insufficient evidence for the case and asked for legal advice from a higher court.
http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_165_profile.html
© 2011 The Voice of the Martyrs
http://www.persecution.com/
http://www.prisoneralert.com
PrisonerAlert: Mehdi “Petros” Foroutan
Arrested: September 2011
Days Imprisoned: 35
Mehdi “Petros” Foroutan, a 27-year-old pastor in Iran, was arrested in January 2010 and charged with crimes against national security and blasphemy against Islam. Although acquitted of the blasphemy charge and released on bail a month later, Pastor Foroutan was sentenced to one year in prison. Unlike most people who wait for an arrest warrant, Pastor Foroutan reported to prison on Sept. 25, 2011, to begin serving his sentence.
Almost immediately, Pastor Foroutan was transferred to the area of the prison for recovering drug addicts in Shiraz. It is often called “the end of the road” for addicts and drug dealers. Please pray for Pastor Foroutan’s safety and protection from easily transferred diseases as he lives among drug addicts. Pray that God uses and works through the pastor to free those held captive by addiction.
Please write a letter of encouragement to Pastor Forouton and let him know you are praying for him. Please do not speak negatively of the Iranian government in your letter or mention the name of the organization that provided this information.
http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_217_profile.html
© 2011 The Voice of the Martyrs
http://www.persecution.com/
http://www.prisoneralert.com
10/21/11
Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Update for week of oct. 21, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Iran—Crackdown on Satellite Dishes—Mohabat News
Luke 12:26
If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?
Police officers from Iran’s security forces are now authorized to enter private residences to confiscate satellite dishes, and Tehran’s police commissioner declared that authorities intend to seize every dish. Police already confiscate satellite dishes installed in plain view, but with a judicial warrant they can now enter homes to search for hidden dishes. Hossein Sajedinia, Tehran’s police chief, said that although the plan is not meant to be carried out with hostility, nothing will prevent its completion. Eyewitnesses have already reported seeing security officers in various cities enter homes without warrants and seize satellite dishes, according to reports from Mohabat News.
India—Students Must Pay Idol-Worship Fee—Compass Direct News
Psalm 25:2
O my God, I trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.
Christian orphans in West Bengal, India, must pay a fee for idol worship in order to gain admission to a high school. The fee is charged at government and government-aided schools. Subimal Dutta, director general of the society that operates the Gilgal Children’s Home, has received threats for opposing the fee. In early September, extremists threatened to shut down the mission if Dutta did not stop all Christian activities at the society within seven days. They also warned him not to contact police or administrative officials. On Sept. 23, Dutta made an agreement with the village head, local political party and the Ambassadors Service Society that students would pay the idol‐worship fee without complaint. Pray that God will give Dutta wisdom in this situation.
Mexico—Evangelicals Expelled from Village—Worthy News
Isaiah 58:7
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
At least 70 evangelical Christians are homeless after being expelled by local authorities from the village of San Rafael, Tlanalapan. Local traditionalist Catholic leaders ordered 50 Protestant families to leave the village in Puebla state by Sept. 12, but some were allowed to stay under the condition that they worship outside the area. The traditionalist Catholics, a sect that blends Roman Catholicism with indigenous spiritualism, reportedly threatened to “crucify or lynch” the evangelicals. A regional government official, Roberto Solano Pineda, told La Jornada news agency that “local authorities agreed that evangelicals who are not originally from the area must leave, as the state government cannot guarantee their safety.” The village mayor feared that he, too, would be expelled by the traditionalists if he tried to stop the expulsions, according to Mexican media reports. A few residents reportedly expressed regret that authorities did not pressure the local priest to halt the expulsions. Pray that God will provide a place for these newly homeless Christians.
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
PrisonerAlert.com Persecuted Christians around the world, profiles, contact prisoners and their governments.
© 2011 The Voice of the Martyrs
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Iran—Crackdown on Satellite Dishes—Mohabat News
Luke 12:26
If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?
Police officers from Iran’s security forces are now authorized to enter private residences to confiscate satellite dishes, and Tehran’s police commissioner declared that authorities intend to seize every dish. Police already confiscate satellite dishes installed in plain view, but with a judicial warrant they can now enter homes to search for hidden dishes. Hossein Sajedinia, Tehran’s police chief, said that although the plan is not meant to be carried out with hostility, nothing will prevent its completion. Eyewitnesses have already reported seeing security officers in various cities enter homes without warrants and seize satellite dishes, according to reports from Mohabat News.
India—Students Must Pay Idol-Worship Fee—Compass Direct News
Psalm 25:2
O my God, I trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.
Christian orphans in West Bengal, India, must pay a fee for idol worship in order to gain admission to a high school. The fee is charged at government and government-aided schools. Subimal Dutta, director general of the society that operates the Gilgal Children’s Home, has received threats for opposing the fee. In early September, extremists threatened to shut down the mission if Dutta did not stop all Christian activities at the society within seven days. They also warned him not to contact police or administrative officials. On Sept. 23, Dutta made an agreement with the village head, local political party and the Ambassadors Service Society that students would pay the idol‐worship fee without complaint. Pray that God will give Dutta wisdom in this situation.
Mexico—Evangelicals Expelled from Village—Worthy News
Isaiah 58:7
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
At least 70 evangelical Christians are homeless after being expelled by local authorities from the village of San Rafael, Tlanalapan. Local traditionalist Catholic leaders ordered 50 Protestant families to leave the village in Puebla state by Sept. 12, but some were allowed to stay under the condition that they worship outside the area. The traditionalist Catholics, a sect that blends Roman Catholicism with indigenous spiritualism, reportedly threatened to “crucify or lynch” the evangelicals. A regional government official, Roberto Solano Pineda, told La Jornada news agency that “local authorities agreed that evangelicals who are not originally from the area must leave, as the state government cannot guarantee their safety.” The village mayor feared that he, too, would be expelled by the traditionalists if he tried to stop the expulsions, according to Mexican media reports. A few residents reportedly expressed regret that authorities did not pressure the local priest to halt the expulsions. Pray that God will provide a place for these newly homeless Christians.
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
PrisonerAlert.com Persecuted Christians around the world, profiles, contact prisoners and their governments.
© 2011 The Voice of the Martyrs
10/17/11
PrisonerAlert Update: Asia Bibi
Petition to free Asia Bibi: http://www.callformercy.com/
Asia is Well Cared For in Prison
A Pakistani newspaper reported Asia Bibi was "tortured" in prison last week, but her husband Ashiq says it's not true. Asia is detained in a special high security cell that only jail management can access.
A new female prison officer got angry with Asia, but others intervened before the officer could beat Asia. The woman was suspended for three months by jail management.
Through Ashiq, Asia said, "The jail management is good to me." One of the officers is particularly caring toward Asia.
Thank the Lord that he is caring for Asia, even in prison. Continue to ask for her release.
Back Story
Asia Bibi, a 37-year-old Pakistani woman from the village of Ittanwali, was arrested by police on Friday, June 19, 2009. Asia (also called Asia Noreen) is the wife of 50-year-old Ashiq Masih, and their family is one of only three Christian families in a village of 1,500 families.
Many of the local women, including Asia, work on the farm of Muslim landowner Muhammad Idrees. During their work, many of the Muslim women have pressured Asia to renounce Christianity and accept Islam. In June, the pressure became especially strong.
On Friday, June 19, there was an intense discussion among the women about their faith. The Muslim women told Asia about Islam. Asia responded by telling them about her faith in Christ. Asia told the Muslim women Christ had died on the cross for sins, then asked them what Mohammad had done for them, according to VOM sources. She told them Jesus is alive, but Mohammad is dead. “Our Christ is the true prophet of God,” she reportedly told them, “and yours is not true.”
Upon hearing this, the Muslim women became angry and began to beat Asia. Then some men took her and locked her in a room. They announced from the mosque loudspeakers that she would be punished by having her face blackened and being paraded through the village on a donkey. Local Christians informed the police, who took Asia into custody before the Muslims could carry out their plan. She was held at the police station in Nankana city. Christians there urged the police not to file blasphemy charges, but police claimed they were under pressure from local Muslim leaders.
Seventeen months after Asia’s arrest, she was convicted of violating subsection C of Pakistan’s 295 blasphemy law - blasphemy against the prophet Muhammad - and was sentenced to death. No Christian in Pakistan has ever been executed under the blasphemy law, but in several cases,extremists have murdered Christians after their release from prison. Asia’s conviction and death sentence have brought international attention to the country’s blasphemy laws. Christians have called for Asia’s release and for a repeal of the laws, while extremists in Pakistan continue to demand that she be executed.
The Voice of the Martyrs urges Christians around the world to pray for Asia Bibi and her family.
http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_197_profile.html
Petition to Free Asia Bibi: http://www.callformercy.com/
© 2011 The Voice of the Martyrs
www.persecution.com
A Pakistani newspaper reported Asia Bibi was "tortured" in prison last week, but her husband Ashiq says it's not true. Asia is detained in a special high security cell that only jail management can access.
A new female prison officer got angry with Asia, but others intervened before the officer could beat Asia. The woman was suspended for three months by jail management.
Through Ashiq, Asia said, "The jail management is good to me." One of the officers is particularly caring toward Asia.
Thank the Lord that he is caring for Asia, even in prison. Continue to ask for her release.
Back Story
Asia Bibi, a 37-year-old Pakistani woman from the village of Ittanwali, was arrested by police on Friday, June 19, 2009. Asia (also called Asia Noreen) is the wife of 50-year-old Ashiq Masih, and their family is one of only three Christian families in a village of 1,500 families.
Many of the local women, including Asia, work on the farm of Muslim landowner Muhammad Idrees. During their work, many of the Muslim women have pressured Asia to renounce Christianity and accept Islam. In June, the pressure became especially strong.
On Friday, June 19, there was an intense discussion among the women about their faith. The Muslim women told Asia about Islam. Asia responded by telling them about her faith in Christ. Asia told the Muslim women Christ had died on the cross for sins, then asked them what Mohammad had done for them, according to VOM sources. She told them Jesus is alive, but Mohammad is dead. “Our Christ is the true prophet of God,” she reportedly told them, “and yours is not true.”
Upon hearing this, the Muslim women became angry and began to beat Asia. Then some men took her and locked her in a room. They announced from the mosque loudspeakers that she would be punished by having her face blackened and being paraded through the village on a donkey. Local Christians informed the police, who took Asia into custody before the Muslims could carry out their plan. She was held at the police station in Nankana city. Christians there urged the police not to file blasphemy charges, but police claimed they were under pressure from local Muslim leaders.
Seventeen months after Asia’s arrest, she was convicted of violating subsection C of Pakistan’s 295 blasphemy law - blasphemy against the prophet Muhammad - and was sentenced to death. No Christian in Pakistan has ever been executed under the blasphemy law, but in several cases,extremists have murdered Christians after their release from prison. Asia’s conviction and death sentence have brought international attention to the country’s blasphemy laws. Christians have called for Asia’s release and for a repeal of the laws, while extremists in Pakistan continue to demand that she be executed.
The Voice of the Martyrs urges Christians around the world to pray for Asia Bibi and her family.
http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_197_profile.html
Petition to Free Asia Bibi: http://www.callformercy.com/
© 2011 The Voice of the Martyrs
www.persecution.com
10/14/11
Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Update for week of oct. 14, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Philippians 2:3
Iran—Pastors Receive Death Threats—ASSIST News Service, Christian Solidarity Worldwide
Romans 15:30
Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,
On Sept. 14, 11 pastors who recently fled Iran received e-mail death threats from a group calling itself “the unknown soldiers of the Hidden Imam.” Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that the e-mails threatened the pastors with extra-judicial execution, stating that although the pastors managed to flee Iran, they are not hidden from the “acute eyes of the unknown soldiers.” The e-mails stated that if the pastors do not repent and ask forgiveness, they will be killed. Pastors in the Iranian house church movement are taking the threats very seriously and believe they may be linked to Iranian security forces. Pray for God’s protection of these pastors and Christians throughout Iran.
Egypt—Violent Clashes Leave 25 Dead—Release International, VOM Contacts, Associated Press
Psalm 31:14
But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD;
I say, “You are my God.”
At least 25 people were killed Sunday evening during a demonstration in Cairo by Christians protesting the Sept. 30 destruction of a church building in Aswan Province. The protest, which started at about 4 p.m., occurred in front of the Radio and Television building, the site of earlier Christian protests near Tahrir Square. The protesters were met by thugs who attacked them with stones and sticks. When some of the protesters threw stones at their attackers, the army intervened with live ammunition. National television cameras showed an Egyptian Army armored vehicle drive into the crowd and run over at least 10 people. There were additional reports of violence against Christian-owned businesses and fighting close to the Coptic Hospital, where most of the dead and wounded had been taken. The official death toll is currently 25, and some members of the security forces were reportedly among those killed. More than 200 others were injured, and Christians are alarmed at the disproportionate use of force by the Egyptian Army. Pray that God will give them strength and that they will remember that he is in control.
Laos—Christian Children Barred from School—VOM Contacts
1 Corinthians 12:25
that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
Six children from five Christian families were prevented from paying tuition and attending classes when school started in September. VOM sources said the head of the village, the police and Communist party members refused to let teachers accept the children back into school. Christians in another village have invited the children into their homes so the children can attend school in their village. They are providing the children with clothing, food, blankets and medicine, and they are paying the children’s tuition and transfer fees as well as a fee to stay in the village. The children’s parents have only been asked to provide rice for their children. When the five families converted to Christianity in 2007, they received threats and pressure to recant, but they remain strong in their faith. Continue to pray for these families, as they trust God in the face of discrimination.
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) is on November 13, 2011. 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/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
© 2011 The Voice of the Martyrs
www.persecution.com
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Philippians 2:3
Iran—Pastors Receive Death Threats—ASSIST News Service, Christian Solidarity Worldwide
Romans 15:30
Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,
On Sept. 14, 11 pastors who recently fled Iran received e-mail death threats from a group calling itself “the unknown soldiers of the Hidden Imam.” Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that the e-mails threatened the pastors with extra-judicial execution, stating that although the pastors managed to flee Iran, they are not hidden from the “acute eyes of the unknown soldiers.” The e-mails stated that if the pastors do not repent and ask forgiveness, they will be killed. Pastors in the Iranian house church movement are taking the threats very seriously and believe they may be linked to Iranian security forces. Pray for God’s protection of these pastors and Christians throughout Iran.
Egypt—Violent Clashes Leave 25 Dead—Release International, VOM Contacts, Associated Press
Psalm 31:14
But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD;
I say, “You are my God.”
At least 25 people were killed Sunday evening during a demonstration in Cairo by Christians protesting the Sept. 30 destruction of a church building in Aswan Province. The protest, which started at about 4 p.m., occurred in front of the Radio and Television building, the site of earlier Christian protests near Tahrir Square. The protesters were met by thugs who attacked them with stones and sticks. When some of the protesters threw stones at their attackers, the army intervened with live ammunition. National television cameras showed an Egyptian Army armored vehicle drive into the crowd and run over at least 10 people. There were additional reports of violence against Christian-owned businesses and fighting close to the Coptic Hospital, where most of the dead and wounded had been taken. The official death toll is currently 25, and some members of the security forces were reportedly among those killed. More than 200 others were injured, and Christians are alarmed at the disproportionate use of force by the Egyptian Army. Pray that God will give them strength and that they will remember that he is in control.
Laos—Christian Children Barred from School—VOM Contacts
1 Corinthians 12:25
that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
Six children from five Christian families were prevented from paying tuition and attending classes when school started in September. VOM sources said the head of the village, the police and Communist party members refused to let teachers accept the children back into school. Christians in another village have invited the children into their homes so the children can attend school in their village. They are providing the children with clothing, food, blankets and medicine, and they are paying the children’s tuition and transfer fees as well as a fee to stay in the village. The children’s parents have only been asked to provide rice for their children. When the five families converted to Christianity in 2007, they received threats and pressure to recant, but they remain strong in their faith. Continue to pray for these families, as they trust God in the face of discrimination.
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) is on November 13, 2011. 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/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
© 2011 The Voice of the Martyrs
www.persecution.com
PrisonerAlert Update: Youcef Nadarkhani
VOM contacts report that Pastor Nadarkhani's verdict has been delayed again by the court in Gilan province. The reason for the delay, according to his attorney, is that they have referred the case to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It is highly unusual for the court to ask for the legal opinion of the Supreme Leader.
Please continue to pray that Youcef will be pardoned. Pray also for his wife, family and those supporting him.
Prisoner Alert users have reported receiving a letter from the Iranian government renouncing published news about Nadarkhani's case. This is positive! Your voices have been heard and the government of Iran feels the pressure. Please continue to stand with our brother.
http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_214_profile.html
10/7/11
Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Update for week of Oct 7, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
www.prisoneralert.com
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Ephesians 6:10
Laos—Officials Seize Church Buildings—VOM Contacts, ASSIST News Service, Compass Direct News
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.
Authorities in Laos seized a church building on Sept. 14 because the church had not applied for a building permit, according to Compass Direct News. The Christians chose not to apply for a permit because applications are routinely denied, draw unwanted attention and often undermine any chance of building. The Christians now meet in houses, and they are planning to contest the church seizure through a local petition drive. In a separate incident, 10 Christians were recently evicted from temporary shelters they had built on their rice paddies. Authorities told the Christian families they could return to their homes or rice paddies if they would give up their Christian faith, but they refused. VOM is helping these Christians as they discuss relocating to another village. Please pray for Christians in Laos, who experience ongoing persecution through government pressure.
Pakistan—Christian Student Expelled for Misspelling a Word—Compass Direct News
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
An eighth-grade Pakistani student was expelled from school and her family forced to relocate after the student misspelled an Urdu word, leading to accusations of blasphemy. On Sept. 22, Faryal Bhatti misspelled a word while answering a question about a poem praising the prophet Muhammad. When Bhatti’s teacher saw the mistake, she scolded and beat the 13-year-old girl. The next day, male students as well as school and Muslim representatives staged a demonstration. Although the girl and her mother apologized, the school expelled the girl. “The military swung into action soon after protests broke out calling for a blasphemy case against the teenager,” a Christian lawyer told Compass Direct News. “They bundled the family in an ambulance and took them away before the situation could turn violent.” Pray for God’s protection of Bhatti and her family during this time.
Iran—Pastor Awaits Written Verdict—Compass Direct News, Present Truth Ministries, ASSIST News Service
2 Corinthians 4:11
For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani awaits the written verdict from last week’s lower-court review of his apostasy conviction and death sentence. Before each hearing, judges demanded that Nadarkhani recant his faith and return to Islam. The pastor refused each time. In recent days, conflicting information has been circulated by Iran’s unofficial FARS News Agency suggesting that Pastor Nadarkhani was found guilty of rape rather than apostasy and that he has been charged with additional “security related” crimes. Jason DeMars of Present Truth Ministries told ASSIST News Service that the report circulated by FARS is inaccurate. “They were definitely told that by the government,” he said, “but [the verdict] doesn’t say rape. It’s a lie to portray their government in a better light to their citizens.” Within the past week, pastor Nadarkhani’s case has gained the attention of the U.S. State Department and high-profile media personalities. Iranian law states that courts must issue a verdict within a week of a hearing. Please continue to pray for Pastor Nadarkhani and his family as well as all Christians in Iran.
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
www.prisoneralert.com
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Ephesians 6:10
Laos—Officials Seize Church Buildings—VOM Contacts, ASSIST News Service, Compass Direct News
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.
Authorities in Laos seized a church building on Sept. 14 because the church had not applied for a building permit, according to Compass Direct News. The Christians chose not to apply for a permit because applications are routinely denied, draw unwanted attention and often undermine any chance of building. The Christians now meet in houses, and they are planning to contest the church seizure through a local petition drive. In a separate incident, 10 Christians were recently evicted from temporary shelters they had built on their rice paddies. Authorities told the Christian families they could return to their homes or rice paddies if they would give up their Christian faith, but they refused. VOM is helping these Christians as they discuss relocating to another village. Please pray for Christians in Laos, who experience ongoing persecution through government pressure.
Pakistan—Christian Student Expelled for Misspelling a Word—Compass Direct News
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
An eighth-grade Pakistani student was expelled from school and her family forced to relocate after the student misspelled an Urdu word, leading to accusations of blasphemy. On Sept. 22, Faryal Bhatti misspelled a word while answering a question about a poem praising the prophet Muhammad. When Bhatti’s teacher saw the mistake, she scolded and beat the 13-year-old girl. The next day, male students as well as school and Muslim representatives staged a demonstration. Although the girl and her mother apologized, the school expelled the girl. “The military swung into action soon after protests broke out calling for a blasphemy case against the teenager,” a Christian lawyer told Compass Direct News. “They bundled the family in an ambulance and took them away before the situation could turn violent.” Pray for God’s protection of Bhatti and her family during this time.
Iran—Pastor Awaits Written Verdict—Compass Direct News, Present Truth Ministries, ASSIST News Service
2 Corinthians 4:11
For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani awaits the written verdict from last week’s lower-court review of his apostasy conviction and death sentence. Before each hearing, judges demanded that Nadarkhani recant his faith and return to Islam. The pastor refused each time. In recent days, conflicting information has been circulated by Iran’s unofficial FARS News Agency suggesting that Pastor Nadarkhani was found guilty of rape rather than apostasy and that he has been charged with additional “security related” crimes. Jason DeMars of Present Truth Ministries told ASSIST News Service that the report circulated by FARS is inaccurate. “They were definitely told that by the government,” he said, “but [the verdict] doesn’t say rape. It’s a lie to portray their government in a better light to their citizens.” Within the past week, pastor Nadarkhani’s case has gained the attention of the U.S. State Department and high-profile media personalities. Iranian law states that courts must issue a verdict within a week of a hearing. Please continue to pray for Pastor Nadarkhani and his family as well as all Christians in Iran.
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
10/1/11
Pastor Guilty Of Being 'Zionist Traitor'
October 1, 2011
from www.hallindsey.com via Google via AFP via Fars news agency
Iranian pastor Yusef Nadarkhani should face the death penalty for being a traitorous 'Zionist' and committing 'security crimes,' not for apostasy, an Iran official said, amid a Western outcry over his sentence.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jLno1h_o5lTAgFTrDIWaMC0lCmyg?docId=CNG.ef9852b3bf30a3a9a6e5f826fa351e18.341
from www.hallindsey.com via Google via AFP via Fars news agency
Iranian pastor Yusef Nadarkhani should face the death penalty for being a traitorous 'Zionist' and committing 'security crimes,' not for apostasy, an Iran official said, amid a Western outcry over his sentence.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jLno1h_o5lTAgFTrDIWaMC0lCmyg?docId=CNG.ef9852b3bf30a3a9a6e5f826fa351e18.341
9/30/11
Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Update for week of Sept. 30, 2011
VOM-USA Prayer Update for September 30, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:14–19
Iran—Pastor Youcef Confirmed to Be Apostate—Assist News
Proverbs 21:1
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD,
Like the rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
After being ordered by the Iranian Supreme Court to review the apostasy charge against Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, the 11th branch of the Gilan Provincial Court has confirmed his conviction and again ordered him to recant his faith in Jesus Christ. On Monday, Sept. 26, the court ruled that because Pastor Youcef has Muslim ancestors, his faith in Christ makes him an apostate from Islam. When the judges asked Pastor Youcef to “repent,” he replied, “Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?” The judges said, “To the religion of your ancestors, Islam.” Pastor Youcef then replied, “I can not.” Pastor Youcef will be brought before the court two more times, on Sept. 27 and 28, and ordered to recant his Christian faith. Sources in Iran report that although they have been told the case will return to the Supreme Court, they fear that the lower court may act on a law that would allow them to carry out Pastor Youcef’s execution. Please pray that God might turn the hearts of the Iranian judges in Pastor Youcef’s favor, and pray for his family.
Nigeria—More than 100 Killed in Extremist Attacks—Compass Direct News
Isaiah 40:29
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
More than 100 Christians have been killed in recent attacks on villages in Nigeria’s Plateau state, according to Compass Direct News. On Sept. 10, 2011, Muslim extremists stormed Vwang Fwil village at 3 a.m., killing 13 Christians. Attackers killed 14 more Christians, including a pregnant woman, when they attacked the Christian community of Vwang Kogot on Sept. 9. And on Sept. 8, 10 Christians from one family were killed in an attack on Tsohom Foron village. Compass Direct reports that some of the attackers were wearing Nigerian Army military uniforms. Please pray for the Christians in Plateau state who have lost family members. Pray that government officials will protect Christians rather than aid their persecutors.
Myanmar—Family Refuses to Support Young Christian—VOM Contacts
Matthew 19:29
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.
A student at an underground seminary in Myanmar has chosen to give up a comfortable life with her aunt and two stepsisters in order to follow Christ. The young girl, Ying, became a believer two years ago and began attending seminary immediately after her conversion. Recently, Ying’s relatives locked her in the house while she was preparing to leave for seminary. They threatened to disown her, beat her and withdraw all support, including food, if she continued to attend a seminary or church. In addition, her aunt and two stepsisters said they would send her to a remote village with no known Christians unless she recanted her faith. But instead of denying Christ, Ying ran away and left her family behind. Ying’s mother is deceased, and her father disappeared after leaving her with her aunt. Please pray for Ying. She has lost all support by leaving her family, and she has no one to provide for her needs as she continues in seminary.
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:14–19
Iran—Pastor Youcef Confirmed to Be Apostate—Assist News
Proverbs 21:1
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD,
Like the rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
After being ordered by the Iranian Supreme Court to review the apostasy charge against Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, the 11th branch of the Gilan Provincial Court has confirmed his conviction and again ordered him to recant his faith in Jesus Christ. On Monday, Sept. 26, the court ruled that because Pastor Youcef has Muslim ancestors, his faith in Christ makes him an apostate from Islam. When the judges asked Pastor Youcef to “repent,” he replied, “Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?” The judges said, “To the religion of your ancestors, Islam.” Pastor Youcef then replied, “I can not.” Pastor Youcef will be brought before the court two more times, on Sept. 27 and 28, and ordered to recant his Christian faith. Sources in Iran report that although they have been told the case will return to the Supreme Court, they fear that the lower court may act on a law that would allow them to carry out Pastor Youcef’s execution. Please pray that God might turn the hearts of the Iranian judges in Pastor Youcef’s favor, and pray for his family.
Nigeria—More than 100 Killed in Extremist Attacks—Compass Direct News
Isaiah 40:29
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
More than 100 Christians have been killed in recent attacks on villages in Nigeria’s Plateau state, according to Compass Direct News. On Sept. 10, 2011, Muslim extremists stormed Vwang Fwil village at 3 a.m., killing 13 Christians. Attackers killed 14 more Christians, including a pregnant woman, when they attacked the Christian community of Vwang Kogot on Sept. 9. And on Sept. 8, 10 Christians from one family were killed in an attack on Tsohom Foron village. Compass Direct reports that some of the attackers were wearing Nigerian Army military uniforms. Please pray for the Christians in Plateau state who have lost family members. Pray that government officials will protect Christians rather than aid their persecutors.
Myanmar—Family Refuses to Support Young Christian—VOM Contacts
Matthew 19:29
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.
A student at an underground seminary in Myanmar has chosen to give up a comfortable life with her aunt and two stepsisters in order to follow Christ. The young girl, Ying, became a believer two years ago and began attending seminary immediately after her conversion. Recently, Ying’s relatives locked her in the house while she was preparing to leave for seminary. They threatened to disown her, beat her and withdraw all support, including food, if she continued to attend a seminary or church. In addition, her aunt and two stepsisters said they would send her to a remote village with no known Christians unless she recanted her faith. But instead of denying Christ, Ying ran away and left her family behind. Ying’s mother is deceased, and her father disappeared after leaving her with her aunt. Please pray for Ying. She has lost all support by leaving her family, and she has no one to provide for her needs as she continues in seminary.
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
9/29/11
PrisonerAlert Update: Zhang Rongliang
from PrisonerAlert (www.prisoneralert.com)
Pastor Zhang Rongliang, a prominent Chinese house church leader, was released on Aug. 31, 2011, after serving nearly 7 years in prison. In 2004, Rongliang was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months for "attaining a passport through cheating" and "illegal border crossing" in connection with travel to international missions conferences.
While imprisoned, Rongliang suffered from severe diabetes. He was transferred to a civilian hospital for nearly 2 months, where he was handcuffed to his hospital bed. Zhang and his family thank everyone who worked on his behalf, making phone calls and praying for him. Please pray for him, his health and his leadership in the house church movement.
Source: CHINAaid
While imprisoned, Rongliang suffered from severe diabetes. He was transferred to a civilian hospital for nearly 2 months, where he was handcuffed to his hospital bed. Zhang and his family thank everyone who worked on his behalf, making phone calls and praying for him. Please pray for him, his health and his leadership in the house church movement.
Source: CHINAaid
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