The Voice of the Martyrs

[MMXII]

I receive a prayer request from the VOM each week. I'd like to share them with you. Remember our brothers and sisters all over the world that are tormented, tried and even murdered in the name of Christ.

Lord, you know our hearts and you know our needs even before we ask them. Father, wrap your comforting arms around your children that stand up for you when others would take the easy road and denounce you. Keep them strong in their faith and fill up their lives with your immeasurable love.

Amen

 

[MMXII]

From The Voice of the Martyrs

EGYPT

(ASSIST News Service)
Three people died during a riot outside a Coptic church in Alexandria, Egypt. The riot was in protest of a play accused of offending Islam. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reports police used sticks and tear gas to hold back a crowd of around 5,000 protesters, who marched on St. George's church. Dozens of people were injured in the crush. Police report one man inhaled tear gas, was trampled and later died. October 19th, a nun was stabbed by a Muslim, who protested the sale of a DVD of the play, staged at the church in 2003. The demonstration was the latest in a series of incidents at the church related to the 2003 performance of the play entitled, "I Once Was Blind But Now I See." The drama tells the story of a poor young Copt who is drawn to Islamist militants who then try to kill him. Coptic Christian leaders report the play depicts the dangers of extremism, not of Islam. The church's director, Rev. Augustinous, denied the play was offensive to Islam because its Christian hero is ultimately saved by a Muslim friend. Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's 70 million people. Egypt's majority is Muslim.

Pray the publicity surrounding this event will lead many Muslims to view the DVD and question the tenets of their faith. Pray Coptic Christians will be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit as they deal with fanatic Muslims. Pray the Lord will surround Coptic Christians with His love and mercy and protect them from harm.

NIGERIA

(Compass Direct)
Christians in the rural areas of Kano are afraid to send their children to public schools, fearing they will be forced to convert to Islam. Students are being forced to study Arabic, Islam, and say Islamic prayers. Moreover, Christian leaders report the government refuses to grant churches permission to establish schools in rural areas. "The strategy is to force Christians to send their children to public schools so they can be forced to become Muslims," said Rev. Murtala Marti Dangora, secretary of the Kano district of the Evangelical Church of West Africa. Rev. Dangora, a former Muslim, said there are still numerous cases of persecution in the state; in one case, 15 Christians were forced to flee Banda village because of Muslim antagonism. Another Christian leader noted that Christians in Kano state have lost religious liberty and are seen as second-class citizens.

Pray Christians worldwide will lift these members of the Body of Christ before His Throne. Pray God will hear their cry and work a miracle of His grace to allow believers in Nigeria to worship freely. Pray many Muslim authorities will seek the true God who loves them and grieves for their lost souls.

TURKEY

(VOM sources)
VOM has received word that a high-ranking U.S. official has solidified an agreement for the freedom of the Iranian widow and her children who had been ordered to be deported to Iran where they faced imprisonment and possible execution. The agreement states they "cannot be" deported to Iran. An arrangement is being processed for the necessary paperwork to allow them to leave Turkey very soon.

Join with this family, their friends and intercessors worldwide in praising God for His divine intervention. Pray they will find a good home, Christian friends and suitable employment in the place God has prepared for them. Continue to pray God will move in love and mercy to free Christians suffering from the violent oppression of Islam.

INDIA

(Gospel for Asia)
In another delay, the Indian Supreme Court has withheld its decision on the Dalit civil rights case until November. This delay is a positive development, allowing the Court to take seriously this case of discrimination against Dalit Christians and not rush in judgment. It also allows Christians to have more time to intercede with prayer, asking God to guide the thoughts and decisions of the judges. Under the current law, Dalits lose some of their basic constitutional rights when they become Christians; they are no longer eligible for affirmative action placements in education, employment, government and many other areas-rights granted to Dalits who are Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist. According to a government census, some 20 million Dalits have become Christians. Equally important, there are many Dalits whose only hesitation to becoming Christians is fear of this legalized discrimination.

Pray our merciful Father will lead the Supreme Court of India to correct these injustices. Pray fervently on behalf of these millions of Dalit men, women and children who suffer unjust discrimination. Pray the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of Hindus to see every person is of value and precious in the sight of God.

UZBEKISTAN

(Compass Direct)
Christians in a remote village of Uzbekistan are being beaten, publicly humiliated and chased out of their homes and jobs for converting to Christianity. A local strongman is orchestrating harsh opposition to the small congregation in Janbashkala village, near Turtkul in southwestern Uzbekistan. Tokhtabay Sadikov has pressured local police and civic officials, the prosecutor's office, the secret police and Muslim clerics to impose punishing measures against every villager known to have "abandoned the Muslim faith of their parents." The water supply to Christian homes in the village has been cut off, and the church of nearly 100 has dwindled to 20.

Pray God will give Christians in Janbashkala supernatural courage, boldness in their faith and love for their Muslim neighbors. Pray the Lord will honor the commitment of faithful believers with His presence and guidance. Pray this overcoming remnant will lead many to Christ.






www.persecution.com

 

[woman.at.the.well]

I receive a prayer request from the VOM each week. I'd like to share them with you. Remember our brothers and sisters all over the world that are tormented, tried and even murdered in the name of Christ.

Lord, you know our hearts and you know our needs even before we ask them. Father, wrap your comforting arms around your children that stand up for you when others would take the easy road and denounce you. Keep them strong in their faith and fill up their lives with your immeasurable love.

Amen

and Amen!

 

[MMXII]

Prayers for November 08, 2005
From The Voice of the Martyrs

CHINA

(Religion Today)
Although China allows "belief" in a religion, the Chinese constitution does not guarantee the right to practice that religion. Adults often face severe consequences for religious actions but generally are not required to deny their faith. However, officials attempt to weaken children's faith by encouraging them to deny Jesus altogether. According to Open Doors, Public Security Bureau officers recently burst into a Sunday school room and herded 30 children into a van. Despite the scary situation, one child started singing. The van soon was filled with song. Upon arrival at the police station, the children marched bravely into the interrogation room still singing to the Lord. Threatened with having to write "I do not believe in Jesus" 100 times before they would be released, the children instead wrote: "I believe in Jesus today. I will believe in Jesus tomorrow. I will believe in Jesus forever!" Exasperated, officials called the children's parents, some of whom denied Christ. When a widowed believer came to pick up her twin sons, she refused to deny Jesus. The officers threatened her: "If you do not deny Jesus, we will not release your sons!" The widow replied, "Well, I guess you will just have to keep them, because without Jesus, there would be no way for me to take care of them!" With no avenues left open to them, the officials said, "Take your sons and go!"

Give thanks and praise to God for the faithful witness of these children. Pray the light of their faith will brighten the spiritual darkness around them. Pray God will continue to strengthen them as they face the pressures of adulthood.

GUINEA

(ASSIST News Service)
A baptism ceremony in Nzerekore was attacked Wednesday, Ocober 19th, by Muslims. They complained the music from the service disturbed their prayers at a nearby mosque. Ten people were injured, two seriously, and several houses were sacked. The Muslims rioted again that Friday evening and razed a local video store. Elite soldiers had to be deployed to restore order. Several guns were confiscated, and a curfew was imposed. During the weekend some 100 people were arrested, with 56 still detained. Nzerekore is located in the Forest Region of southeastern Guinea, close to adjoining borders of Liberia, Ivory Coast and Guinea. The region is awash with bored ex-soldiers, illegal weapons and illegal immigrants. The wider region, especially neighboring Ivory Coast, is simmering with ethnic and religious tensions. Guinea is 85.4 percent Muslim, 9.7 percent African Traditional Religion (ATR), and 4.7 percent Christian. After decades of Marxist, pro-Islamic persecution of the church, there is now religious freedom in Guinea. The Guinean church has embraced missions, and in the past decade, indigenous workers have begun witnessing cross-culturally to previously unreached people groups. The Guinean church is growing. But in recent years, as Islam has radicalized worldwide, the Christian minority in Guinea has been increasingly on the painful end of a revived Islamic intolerance.

Pray God will protect, preserve and strengthen the Christians of Guinea, blessing their witness for His glory and His eternal Kingdom. Pray the Son will set people free from the spiritual shackles that have kept them in darkness. Pray the Lord will empower pastors, evangelists and all believers with His wisdom, discernment and all-encompassing love as they deal with their Muslim neighbors.

INDONESIA

(ASSIST News Service)
Reuters news agency reports that Indonesian police have increased patrols in the violence-plagued Poso area of Sulawesi island. Three Christian teenage girls were beheaded by assailants dressed in black on October 29th, as they walked to school. So far no witness has been questioned and no suspect arrested, according to police. One student survived and described the attack. The three headless bodies of the girls, dressed in brown uniforms, were left at the site of the attack. The remainder of their bodies was found at separate locations two hours later by residents. Television news showed wailing and distraught relatives of the students viewing their corpses in coffins. According to Reuters, Muslim-Christian clashes in the Poso area killed 2,000 people from 1998 through 2001, when a peace agreement was reached. About 85 percent of Indonesia's 220 million people are Muslim. But in some eastern parts, Christian and Muslim populations are about equal. Most Indonesian Muslims are moderates, but there has been an increasingly active militant minority in recent years. (Click here)

Pray the gruesome horror of this attack will cause moderate Muslims to question their faith. Pray Jesus will surround the girls' grieving families and friends with His comforting presence. Pray the girl who survived the attack will recognize that God saved her for His purposes.

NIGERIA

(VOM-Canada)
Sardauna Anaruwa Sashi, once a devout Muslim, became a faithful follower of Christ earlier this year. Having learned of his conversion, the police apprehended him on September 21st. According to an October 31st report by Compass Direct, during four days of detention, the 30-year-old resident of Paiko was severely tortured. He claims that at one point police beat him with their batons and almost killed him. It was only through the intervention of his pastor and a lawyer from his church that he was released. Since he has become an "infidel" in the eyes of his Muslim employer, he can no longer care for their cattle. Besides the loss of income he faces, Sashi's pastor has said that the Muslims will also never abandon their resolve to kill him. Sashi has reportedly received death threats since his release. While he fears for his life and the lives of his wife and relatives who have also turned to Christ, he testifies he will never recant. Paiko is located in Niger state, one of Nigeria's Northern states where Shariah Law has been imposed.

Pray the Lord will strengthen Sashi's faith as He provides for his needs. Pray God will help his wife and family members remain true to the Lord. Pray the love and power of the Holy Spirit will take away the resolve in the Muslims' hearts to see Sashi killed.

SOMALIA

(VOM sources)
Dr. Osman Sheik Ahmed, a well-known figure in Somalia's higher education sphere, was shot and killed October 7th, in Northern Mogadishu. Witnesses have confirmed to Dr. Osman's family and members of his house church that he was assassinated by Islamic hit men from Mogadishu's radical Islamic courts. He is survived by his wife, Zahra Ali Hassan and nine children. His wife is in hiding fearing for her life. Reuters reported in 2003, that a top leader of Kulanka Culimada, the Islamic terror group that runs the Islamic courts said: "All Somali Christians must be killed according to the Islamic Law. Such people do not have a place in Somalia and we will never recognize their existence and we will slaughter them." Dr. Osman began assisting a number of Christian NGO's from 1988-1990, as a volunteer. His skills in government relations and pubic service earned him a great deal of respect from Somalis and from the international community he was assisting. It is a tough time for the Christian community in Mogadishu, where three Somali Christians were attacked on October 31st. Rev. Hirsi was shot in the stomach and is in serious condition, hospitalized in a coma. Mr. Nur sustained injury in the arm, and Mr. Mohammed was spared of physical harm.

Pray God will strengthen the suffering Christians in Somalia, making Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. Pray the faithful witness of Somali Christians will bring many Muslims to Christ. Give thanks to God that, contrary to human logic, no amount of persecution can thwart the Christian faith and for church growth in most areas where the blood of the martyrs is shed.






www.persecution.com

 

[mysparrow]

agree with all of these prayers amen and amen

 

[MMXII]

Thank you sparrow, me too

 

[MMXII]

Prayers for November 29, 2005
From The Voice of the Martyrs

CHINA

(ASSIST News Service)
China Aid Association (CAA) reports eight Chinese house-church leaders in Henan province were released early November 19th, after being arrested and imprisoned November 3rd, at midnight. None of the confiscated church property was returned. Among those released were Pastor Huang Hailang (aged 40) and Pastor Wei Lin (20s) who, China Aid Association reports, "were tortured with their legs wounded by the interrogators on November 3rd." According to a CAA field reporter, all of the released are in good spirits with thankful hearts to God and to those who prayed and helped in their release. Meanwhile, CAA learned kidnapped house-church leader, Pastor Zhang Mingxuan, was sent from Beijing to an unknown location in Sheqi county, Henan province November 19th. According to a reliable source, the action to move Pastor Zhang from Beijing was to prevent him from meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush during his visit in China.

Pray believers worldwide will continue to lift the Chinese government before the Throne of the Almighty, pleading with Him to relieve our suffering brothers and sisters. Pray God will help authorities understand they are fighting a Power much greater than they realized. Pray Christians in China will rejoice in their freedom in Christ Jesus.

EGYPT

(Compass Direct)
At the risk of losing family honor, an Egyptian Christian couple went public last week reporting the questionable, sudden disappearance of their daughter. After highlighting 21-year-old Heba Nabil Narouz Ghali in "missing persons" reports in the newspaper and over national television, the Ghali family has identified a Muslim man they are accusing of kidnapping their daughter seven weeks ago. A November 10th article in the weekly El-Wafd newspaper stated the young woman was last seen September 28th leaving work at a local supermarket in Sheikh Zayid, a suburb of Cairo. The Ghali family also released their daughter's picture and a request for information in a November 11th broadcast on TV Channel Three. Athanasius William, the family's attorney, plans to file a kidnapping report next week. He hopes this will obligate the police to produce Nabil Ghali's daughter. However, he said in similar cases in the past, "I only know of one where the girl had the courage to say that she was taken by force."

Pray God will protect Heba Ghali and keep her aware of Jesus' presence with her. Pray the Lord will remove her fear of retaliation and give her courage to admit she was kidnapped. Pray the Holy Spirit will "kidnap" the hearts of Muslim men and bring them to their Savior.

INDIA

(Compass Direct)
Members of the Believers' Church in India (BCI) in Himachal Pradesh state met peacefully on Sunday, despite death and arson threats issued by Hindu extremists November 4th. The extremists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council) and its youth wing, Bajrang Dal, assaulted the pastor and threatened to burn him and his 60 church members if they failed to take part in a November 20th "reconversion" ceremony. The planned reconversion ceremony was apparently dropped due to police intervention. "About 20 people came for the (church) service. This was lower than usual as some villagers were facing opposition, but at least we were able to meet without incident," said Ramesh Masih, son of Pastor Feroz Masih.

Give thanks to God for the testimony of the 20 members of the Believers' Church who trusted their Father enough to attend the service despite Hindu threats. Thank Him the meeting was not hindered by any opposition. Pray for God's grace to Hindus and that He will draw them to Himself.

INDONESIA

(Compass Direct)
Indonesian Christians are in shock as details emerge of two vicious attacks in the town of Palu, Central Sulawesi. On November 19th, motorbike riders shot a man and woman at close range shortly after they left a church service. Palu is near the town of Poso, where machete and shooting attacks have killed four teenage girls and seriously injured two others in the past month. The victims of Saturday's shooting were identified as Novlin Pallinggi, 37, and her husband Pudji Laksono, 45. Pallinggi remains in critical condition, while Laksono is stable. Two women and one man were attacked with machetes, killing one of the women November 18th in the same town. Officials have refused to comment on the religious affiliation of the three victims.(Click here)

Pray God will release His merciful healing power to restore Pallinggi and Laksono to perfect health. Pray Jesus will comfort all whose loved ones have suffered severe attacks because of their faith in Him. Pray Muslims will personally come to know the Lord is God and there is no other.

PAKISTAN

(Religion Today)
Sparked by allegations that a Christian had burned pages from the Koran, an enraged mob of 2,000 men, armed with sticks, hammers and flammable substances, attacked the Catholic parish compound November 12th, in Sangla Hill. Father Samson Dilawar watched from the roof as the crowd destroyed the mission that had taken almost a century to build. They broke into the Church of the Holy Spirit, smashing the marble altar and shattering the stained-glass windows. Father Dilawar's house was set on fire before moving on to St. Anthony's Girls School, where the students had already been sent home. Father Dilawar retreated into the locked room where nuns were praying. The attackers "tried to break the door down, but did not succeed. Otherwise, we could have all been killed." Two other churches-one Presbyterian, one Salvation Army-as well as at least half a dozen houses belonging to Catholic families were also burned. The violence has shocked Pakistan's Christian community and highlighted the failure of authorities to protect religious minorities.

Give thanks to God no one was killed in these destructive attacks. Pray all those in Pakistan who claim salvation through the blood of Jesus will remember they are ambassadors for Christ. Pray those who attacked these churches will come to repentance and seek forgiveness from our loving and merciful Father.

1INDONESIA
http://www.compassdirect.org/en/newslongen.php?idelement=4087






www.persecution.com

 

[MMXII]

Please remember our brothers and sisters across the world who aren't as fortunate as we to be able to worship when and where they please.

Prayer requests

EGYPT
(Compass Direct)
Hany Samir Tawfik, a 29-year-old Egyptian Copt, has been released from jail after being held without charges for 28 months. He was set free June 28th, from Gharbaliat Prison near Alexandria. His release came seven months after his case was first publicized outside Egypt. He had been arrested by Egypt’s State Security Investigation (SSI) authorities on March 3, 2003. A Coptic Christian who had gone to Saudi Arabia to work, Tawfik was deported back to Egypt in the summer of 2002, after requesting asylum from the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh. He was promptly detained for interrogation at Cairo’s notorious SSI headquarters but released after 52 days. Seven months later, Tawfik was again arrested under unknown accusations.

Thank God for his release. Pray Tawfik will continue to seek a closer walk with Jesus and be the fragrance of Christ to everyone he meets.

INDONESIA
(ASSIST News Service)
VOM recently reported that on November 8th, two girls were attacked on their way to a Christian school. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports Siti Nuraini, 17, a Muslim, died in Poso Kota general hospital November 9th. Her Christian friend Ivon, also 17, remains in critical condition. This incident closely followed the beheading of three Christian schoolgirls on October 29th, and represented a further escalation of violence. The Reverend Rinaldy Damanik, Moderator for the Central Sulawesi Christian Reform Church, and Chairman of the Central Sulawesi Churches Crisis Co-ordination Centre, has been in close contact with Christians and government officials in Sulawesi and has appealed for a stop to the violence. He stressed security officials needed to act promptly to ensure those guilty of the attacks are brought to justice and also to try and prevent further attacks. As reported in the Jakarta Post, Presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said the President had ordered security forces to bring the perpetrators to justice and urged residents not to launch revenge.

Pray the family and friends of Siti Nuraini will long for the love and mercy of Jesus. Pray the Lord Jesus will touch Ivon with His healing power. Pray God will use this attack to build His Kingdom and their suffering will not be in vain.

An international Christian human rights organization is urging the immediate release of three wrongly accused Indonesian Christian Sunday school teachers who have lost their appeal to overturn charges. This means a three-year prison term for the women—Dr. Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun. They are currently serving a three-year prison sentence in the Indramayu district of West Java, having been wrongly convicted of “attempting to coerce children to change their religion” under the Indonesian “Child Protection Act.” Christian Freedom International (CFI), reports that on November 22, 2005, the three Sunday school teachers lost an important appeal to have their sentences reduced or overturned by a higher court.

Pray God will soften the heart of the judge who will hear the next appeal, giving him compassion for these innocent women. Pray they will be comforted and made aware of the many people who are praying for them. Pray the Lord will minister to the children while their teachers are in prison.

IRAN
(VOM-USA)
An Iranian Christian convert was kidnapped from his home in northeastern Iran last week and stabbed to death. His bleeding body was thrown in front of his home a few hours later. Ghorban Tori, 50, was pastoring an independent house church of converted Christians in Gonbad-e-Kavus. Within hours of the November 22nd murder, local secret police arrived at the pastor’s home, searching for Bibles and other banned Christian books written in the Farsi language. According to one source, during the past eight days representatives of the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) have arrested and severely tortured 10 other Christians in several cities, including Tehran. (Click here for original story posted on 12-05-2005, for most recent update, click here.)

Pray the Lord will comfort Tori’s family and friends. Pray Christians in Iran will continue courageously, boldly and lovingly, confident in their Savior. Pray the Holy Spirit will move in victorious power to overcome the forces of evil in Iran.

RUSSIA
(Religion Today)
The Russian government reports that within the coming weeks it may begin tightening control of foreign missionaries and religious organizations. According to reports, the Justice Ministry is considering adopting stricter rules on granting visas to foreign missionaries—an action that, if effective, would lead to the limitation of missionaries to Russia. The government also expressed plans to make the suppression of religious centers easier while causing registration of religious organizations more difficult. “It sounds like it’s all going back like it was during the Soviet time,” commented Sergey Rakhuba, vice president of Russian Ministries. He believes the Russian Orthodox Church is involved in the proposal. Rakhuba states: “Even if restrictions on foreign missionaries are forthcoming, church growth and evangelism in Russia will not be hindered. I don’t think that it will affect evangelism because you cannot stop people from talking about Christ. You cannot stop people talking about their experiences with Jesus. And that’s what Russian Ministries is doing.”

Pray God will lead the foreign missionaries to begin intensive training and discipling of Russian believers to be pastors and evangelists among their own people. Pray the Holy Spirit will move in power in the Russian Orthodox Church, bringing many to know the joy of their salvation. Pray Russian Christians will be bold and loving as they share with others their experiences with Jesus.

 

[edie19]

I receive a prayer request from the VOM each week. I'd like to share them with you. Remember our brothers and sisters all over the world that are tormented, tried and even murdered in the name of Christ.

Lord, you know our hearts and you know our needs even before we ask them. Father, wrap your comforting arms around your children that stand up for you when others would take the easy road and denounce you. Keep them strong in their faith and fill up their lives with your immeasurable love.

Amen

VOM is the most amazing organization. We put their flyers in our bulletins once a month. I can count on one hand and have several fingers left over the number of times I've been able to read a testimony without crying.

"The typical Christian lives in a developing country,
speaks a non-European language, and exists under the
constant threat of persecution-of murder, imprisonment,
torture, or rape."
from Christianity Today editor David Neff

​

When I read VOM and the above definition of a "typical Christian" my tolerance for the health/wealth/prosperity teaching that passes for Gospel in all too many of our churches drops to zero.

edie

 

[MMXII]

I read at least one of these at our prayer request time in church. I remind people that what they are doing (sitting in church) and what they have on their laps or next to them (Bibles) is a luxury that not many nations have. We have so much to be thankful for.

Thanks for your comments Edie.

 

[MMXII]

Prayers for January 3, 2006
From The Voice of the Martyrs

INDONESIA

(Compass Direct)
Following the closure of scores of churches in the past two years, the Indonesian government is revising a controversial law to regulate places of worship. Christian leaders fear the changes will do little to keep Muslim communities from blocking or shutting down churches. The original 1969 decree requires all religious groups to apply for permits before setting up a place of worship. Neighbors in the immediate vicinity of a proposed church, mosque or Hindu temple must give their consent before a permit is granted. Under proposed revisions, community members will serve as "inter-faith forums" to give approval before a church could even apply for a permit. This will give them even more power in establishing the religious make-up of a village. "If it comes down to a vote, Muslim leaders will influence others to vote against churches," Father Antonius Benny Susetyo, a spokesman for the Indonesian Bishops' Council, told Compass.

Pray God will give Indonesian Christians a spirit of wisdom for the present and great hope for the future. Pray they will draw close to the Lord in worship wherever and whenever they meet. Pray Muslims will be frustrated with their inability to stamp out Christianity and come to realize the eternal authority and love of Jesus Christ.

TURKEY

(Compass Direct)
For the third time in six months, Turkish Christian Yakup Cindilli has failed to appear at court hearings against the ultra-nationalists who beat him into a coma two years ago for distributing New Testaments in his hometown. The clerk of the Orhangazi Criminal Court near Bursa, in northwestern Turkey, confirmed to Compass last week that Cindilli had not attended a December 15th hearing. Partially recovered, Cindilli had left Orhangazi last June, apparently circulating in various areas of Istanbul over the summer months. With his whereabouts unknown, it is presumed he may not have known about the hearings scheduled on his case. Although his assailants were jailed, one was released a month later and the other two granted bail after three months. The Orhangazi judge has postponed the criminal court hearing on Cindilli's case until March 16th.

Pray Cindilli will be able to have another series of medical tests to prove the severity of his injuries. Pray he will be willing and able to attend the March 16th hearing. Pray that as the time for the trial drags on, the Lord will lead his attackers to repentance and faith in Jesus.

TURKMENISTAN

(ASSIST News Services)
After four weeks of holding services in a rented hall in the capital Ashgabad (Ashgabat), the registered Greater Grace Protestant church was banned in late November from holding meetings in publicly owned premises. Registered religious communities cannot rent publicly owned premises or meet in private homes. Obstruction to finding places they were allowed to use for worship was one of the major complaints from registered religious communities at a government-sponsored roundtable meeting in Ashgabad in late October. Greater Grace church signed a rental contract with a geological institution in Ashgabad to hold services there on Sundays. "It was a good hall," church members report. "We invited officials from the city's Religious Affairs Office and they came to the services-it was all done officially and openly." Then, after the fourth service, an official of the city administration's Religious Affairs Office told the church it could not continue meeting in the state-owned hall. The church believes the decision originated with the MSS secret police. The church is planning to write to the Adalat (Fairness or Justice) Ministry to seek clarification. "Other people who want to rent state facilities can do so, but not religious communities it seems," church members complained. "I don't know why-there's no law which forbids this." The Greater Grace church gained official registration from the Adalat Ministry at the end of August after a year of foot-dragging.

Pray the Lord will soften the hearts of officials in the Adalat Ministry and allow this church to continue renting a hall for worship. Pray the healing power of Jesus will bring His life and love into the hearts of everyone in the region.

(VOM-Canada)
Seven Christians in Turkmenistan were gathered for prayer in a home when government officials and a Muslim imam raided their meeting. The home belonged to a recent convert named Oguldurdy. The attack took place on December 17th, in the northeastern town of Deynau, according to a report from Forum 18. During the raid, officials searched the home for Christian literature and confiscated two Bibles. The seven were then taken to the Public Prosecutor's office where they were threatened and insulted. They were told they should be publicly denounced as traitors. One woman was threatened with expulsion from her rented apartment.

Pray the Lord will grace His people with the quiet joy that comes from knowing they are falsely accused for Christ's sake. Pray their trust in Christ will overshadow any fear they might face. Ask God to restore the Bibles and Christian literature taken from them.

RUSSIA

(ASSIST News Service)
Russia is currently experiencing a resurgence of religious repression similar to that of an earlier period in the country's history. "Our country, Russia, experiences a very difficult time now. In many respects it is very similar to the 1920-1930 period in Russian history," writes Isabel Du Toit, Head of Prayer Ministry for the TBN and Association of Christian Churches "Union of Christians," in an e-mail obtained by ASSIST News Service (ANS). "Today we face a new wave of slander against Christian leaders in Russia. There are waves of gossip to discredit Russian main Christian leaders, i.e. Bishop Sergey Ryahovsky (head of the Russian Pentecostal Union), Bishop Paul Okara (head of the Russian Evangelical Church) and Bishop Igor 'Nikki' Nikitin (head of the Association of Christian Churches' Union of Christians)." Du Toit asks concerned Christians in the United States to "please stand with us in prayer to end this tendency and prevent the repetition of these happenings."

Pray the Spirit of Christ will fill Russian churches and their leaders. Pray God will protect His Body from splits and destruction. Pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit throughout Russia.

INDIA

(Compass Direct)
From setting fire to churches to force "reconversion" to Hinduism, extremists persecuted Roman Catholics throughout 2005. In several cases of religiously motivated violence this year, police refused to file charges, leaving the victims with no legal means to pursue their complaints. In other cases desecration of religious objects was recorded only as petty crime or theft. Christian leaders may disagree on whether persecution has increased in India this year, but undisputed are the scars many Catholics bear for the Savior whose birth they are celebrating. (Click here)

Pray the Catholics under attack will draw close to Jesus, their Protector. Pray the suffering of all Christians in India will bring unity to the Body of Christ. Pray the Holy Spirit will draw Hindus to seek TRUTH.

1INDIA
http://www.compassdirect.org/en/newslongen.php?idelement=4134






www.persecution.com

 

[MMXII]

Prayers for January 17, 2006
From The Voice of the Martyrs

CUBA

(ASSIST News Service)
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reported that at least three Protestant churches have been forcibly closed in Cuba since harsh legislation on house churches was announced in 2005. Two of the churches, located in the western provinces of Guantanamo and Holguin, were forcibly closed. The first was confiscated by local authorities in August and the other threatened with demolition at the end of last year. A third church, in a suburb of Havana, was demolished at the end of last year while church members looked on. To justify their closure, all of the churches were targeted by the authorities as being "illegal constructions." When the new legislation was announced in April, requiring all house churches to register with authorities, church leaders expressed concern the registration process was so complicated it was practically impossible. CSW reported many church leaders believed this was really an attempt to shut down the house-church movement across Cuba. Because many churches have grown in the last decade, most existing church buildings are too small to accommodate all their members. The logical alternative for many of these churches has been the establishment of house churches that explains, in part, the expansion of the house-church movement across Cuba. There are now an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 house churches across the island, with each accommodating somewhere between 30 and 200 worshippers who meet weekly.

Give thanks to God that Christian faith is growing in Cuba despite government attempts to stop it. Pray those who are being harassed by authorities will have the mind of Christ as they deal with officials. Pray that as faithful Christians respond in love to their enemies, the Spirit of God will soften hearts and many will accept Jesus and the forgiveness of their sins through His blood.

ETHIOPIA

(VOM-Canada)
Aman, an evangelist, was returning from a church service in Meki, 134 kilometers south of Addis Ababa, on January 1st, when a group of Muslims surrounded him. According to VOMC sources in Ethiopia, one member of the group began hitting Aman with a large stick and continued to pound on his body until people passing by intervened. Aman was taken to a hospital in Shashemene, where he remained unconscious for two days. At last report Aman was still in intensive care.

Pray Aman's mind and body will be fully restored so he can continue to share Christ with his friends and neighbors. Pray the attackers will recognize their guilt and turn to Christ for forgiveness. Ask God to comfort Aman and those who are close to him.

INDIA

(Compass Direct)
A number of key Christian leaders recently called on the Indian government to ban or strictly supervise a massive Hindu "reawakening" event to be held in the tribal district of Dangs, Gujarat state, February 11th -13th. At least 500,000 Hindus are expected to attend. The Christian leaders fear the event may unleash a wave of violence against tribal Christians and animists. Hindu extremist groups have organized the event and expect it to generate enough momentum to trigger thousands of Christians to turn "back to the Hindu fold." They have also published materials calling for the destruction of the Christian faith in the same way the Hindu god Ram destroyed the demon Ravana in the Hindu scriptures.

Pray the Holy Spirit will move in power to prevent this demonstration from becoming violent. Pray Christians in the area will live in courageous faith and love toward their Hindu neighbors. Pray God will lead many Hindus to forsake the hundreds of gods they fear and turn to the One who loves them.

INDONESIA

(Compass Direct)
The Indonesian government has established a new Security Operation Command to investigate violence in Central Sulawesi following a New Year's Eve bomb explosion in Palu that killed eight people and injured 56 others. The bombing is the latest in a string of violent incidents in the past two years, repeating the conflict between Muslims and Christians that claimed over 1,000 lives between 1998 and 2001. The bomb exploded in a marketplace in a Christian area at 6:30 a.m., as residents were buying pork for their festive meals. Pork is offensive to Muslims, and the bombing of what locals call a "Christian market" where the meat is sold may point to Islamic terrorists. Human rights groups immediately called for an independent investigation, but the government responded with the new Security Operation Command, which planned to send 1,100 police reinforcements and an unspecified number of soldiers to Poso and Palu. A member of the Regional Representatives Council who has studied the violence in Palu and Poso said religious sentiment is not the main problem in the area because the bombing of Christian markets and the earlier beheading of Christian schoolgirls "failed to provoke violence" from the Christian community.

Praise God the Christians under attack did not respond with violence. Pray the example of Christian love will cause nominal Muslims to seek the God of peace. Pray our omnipotent God will move to display His glory throughout all the islands of Indonesia.

PAKISTAN

(Compass Direct)
Last week in the Punjabi town of Sangla Hill, a Pakistani Muslim dropped formal charges against a Christian he had accused of setting fire pages of the Koran. Last November Mohammed Saleem's accusation triggered a violent reprisal from local Muslims, destroying four churches and landing Yousaf Masih in jail for allegedly desecrating the Koran. As part of a reconciliation agreement reached by local Muslim and Christian leaders on January 5th, Saleem signed an affidavit declaring Masih innocent. Local Christian leaders agreed not to press charges against the mob of 2,000 Muslims who attacked the town's Christian community. Police have held 88 rioters in custody since the assault. It is not yet clear how the agreement will affect legal proceedings. Bail has been denied to the 88 rioters, and Masih also remains under arrest.

Offer praises and thanksgiving for this answer to prayer. Pray Masih will soon be released. Pray the Muslim who made the unfounded charges that caused all the destruction will be led to repent and receive forgiveness from Jesus.




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