- Feb 27, 2003
- 8,163
- 445
- 43
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Eastern Orthodox
- Marital Status
- Married
Prayers for August 12, 2003
From The Voice of the Martyrs
EGYPT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(ASSIST News)
Local authorities in Sheikh Zied City, 15 km north of Cairo, are opposing a newly built church and have gone to extreme lengths to disrupt the official opening. Egyptian law requires presidential approval to build a new church. The permission requires many years in the bureaucratic process and does not always result in success. Therefore the congregation had decided to construct a building which looked like an office on the outside, though like a church on the inside. According to Barnabas Fund, on the very day that prayers of dedication for the church were due to be held, authorities cut off the electricity and water to the building and even barricaded all the roads leading to the church. Each road had a deep trench dug across it with a correspondingly high bank alongside.
Pray members of the church will not be deterred in their efforts to meet, either in their homes or at the church even without water or electricity. Pray that publicity surrounding this event will bring swift permission from the president.
Read the compelling testimonies of Egyptian Muslims who came to Christ in the book, Into the Den of Infidels. Click here to find out more.
INDIA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(ASSIST News)
A Methodist minister, the Rev. Suresh Thackaray was arrested on July 3, after a local school bus driver lodged a complaint against him saying that he had damaged a Hindu idol. The All India Christian Council says this was a false complaint and that despite requests for an independent investigation into the charge, the judicial magistrate rejected Thackaray's request for bail. After he refused to pay a bribe of US$1,086, police registered the complaint and arrested him.
Pray the true motivation for the charge will be brought to light and Rev. Thackaray will be released. Pray the light of Christ will penetrate the spiritual darkness among Hindus in India.
PAKISTAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(VOM Source)
The Lahore High Court has upheld the conviction of two Christians accused of committing blasphemy against the Koran. Amjad and Asif Masih were accused of setting fire to a copy of the Koran while detained in a police station in February 1999. When they refused to pay a $300 bribe, the Muslim police officers framed them by setting fire to the Islamic holy book. Click here to read the full story in the VOM Newsroom.
Pray the truth of the situation will come to light and Pakistan's Supreme Court will reverse this decision. Pray that while in custody, God will give these believers opportunities and boldness to draw others into His Kingdom.
SRI LANKA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Compass Direct)
On August 2, mobs attacked five churches in the southern district of Galle. Initial information from the Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka suggests the organized attack on the churches is part of the government's plan to introduce anti-conversion legislation. In November 2002, Mr. Maheshwaran, the Hindu Cultural Affairs Minister, made a visit to Tamil Nadu, an Indian state with anti-conversion laws. On his return, he made a public statement vowing to introduce a bill to curb religious conversions.
Pray moderate Buddhists will speak out against any restrictive anti-conversion legislation. Pray the Christians whose churches were attacked will have the Spirit of Jesus to forgive their enemies and bring glory to God.
TURKMENISTAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(VOM/Canada)
On July 18, Olga Shchedrova was summoned to a court in Turkmenabad and threatened with fines and imprisonment for attending a non-registered Baptist church meeting. According to Forum18, officials took her passport, without her permission, and used it to gain access to her pension. On July 21, another deaf-mute Baptist was also fined. There is no religious freedom in Turkmenistan except the officially sanctioned Muslim Board and the Russian Orthodox Church.
Pray Christian friends of these two believers will give them support and encouragement. Pray God will open the eyes of government officials to His reality and love.
From The Voice of the Martyrs
EGYPT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(ASSIST News)
Local authorities in Sheikh Zied City, 15 km north of Cairo, are opposing a newly built church and have gone to extreme lengths to disrupt the official opening. Egyptian law requires presidential approval to build a new church. The permission requires many years in the bureaucratic process and does not always result in success. Therefore the congregation had decided to construct a building which looked like an office on the outside, though like a church on the inside. According to Barnabas Fund, on the very day that prayers of dedication for the church were due to be held, authorities cut off the electricity and water to the building and even barricaded all the roads leading to the church. Each road had a deep trench dug across it with a correspondingly high bank alongside.
Pray members of the church will not be deterred in their efforts to meet, either in their homes or at the church even without water or electricity. Pray that publicity surrounding this event will bring swift permission from the president.
Read the compelling testimonies of Egyptian Muslims who came to Christ in the book, Into the Den of Infidels. Click here to find out more.
INDIA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(ASSIST News)
A Methodist minister, the Rev. Suresh Thackaray was arrested on July 3, after a local school bus driver lodged a complaint against him saying that he had damaged a Hindu idol. The All India Christian Council says this was a false complaint and that despite requests for an independent investigation into the charge, the judicial magistrate rejected Thackaray's request for bail. After he refused to pay a bribe of US$1,086, police registered the complaint and arrested him.
Pray the true motivation for the charge will be brought to light and Rev. Thackaray will be released. Pray the light of Christ will penetrate the spiritual darkness among Hindus in India.
PAKISTAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(VOM Source)
The Lahore High Court has upheld the conviction of two Christians accused of committing blasphemy against the Koran. Amjad and Asif Masih were accused of setting fire to a copy of the Koran while detained in a police station in February 1999. When they refused to pay a $300 bribe, the Muslim police officers framed them by setting fire to the Islamic holy book. Click here to read the full story in the VOM Newsroom.
Pray the truth of the situation will come to light and Pakistan's Supreme Court will reverse this decision. Pray that while in custody, God will give these believers opportunities and boldness to draw others into His Kingdom.
SRI LANKA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Compass Direct)
On August 2, mobs attacked five churches in the southern district of Galle. Initial information from the Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka suggests the organized attack on the churches is part of the government's plan to introduce anti-conversion legislation. In November 2002, Mr. Maheshwaran, the Hindu Cultural Affairs Minister, made a visit to Tamil Nadu, an Indian state with anti-conversion laws. On his return, he made a public statement vowing to introduce a bill to curb religious conversions.
Pray moderate Buddhists will speak out against any restrictive anti-conversion legislation. Pray the Christians whose churches were attacked will have the Spirit of Jesus to forgive their enemies and bring glory to God.
TURKMENISTAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(VOM/Canada)
On July 18, Olga Shchedrova was summoned to a court in Turkmenabad and threatened with fines and imprisonment for attending a non-registered Baptist church meeting. According to Forum18, officials took her passport, without her permission, and used it to gain access to her pension. On July 21, another deaf-mute Baptist was also fined. There is no religious freedom in Turkmenistan except the officially sanctioned Muslim Board and the Russian Orthodox Church.
Pray Christian friends of these two believers will give them support and encouragement. Pray God will open the eyes of government officials to His reality and love.
