VOM–USA Prayer Updates

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VOM–USA Prayer Update for November 26, 2010
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

PAKISTAN — Asia Bibi Appeals Death Sentence — VOM Contacts

Psalm 40:11–13
Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD;
Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.
For innumerable evils have surrounded me;
My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up;
They are more than the hairs of my head;
Therefore my heart fails me.
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me;
O LORD, make haste to help me!

On Nov. 17, Asia Bibi’s attorneys appealed the death sentence she received after being convicted of blasphemy. The governor of the Punjab, Salman Taseer, met with Asia and took her statement for appeal. He will present his report to President Zardari on Wednesday. Radical fundamentalists have planned a procession for Wednesday to speak out against President Zardari’s consideration of Asia’s release. Pray for Asia’s release and for her family. Also pray that Pakistan’s blasphemy law might be amended or repealed.

IRAQ — More Deadly Attacks on Christians — Assyrian International News Agency, Telegraph, CNN

Revelations 2:9–11
“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’
Christians in Iraq have continued to face deadly violence in recent days, including bombings and shootings. On Nov.11, suspected Islamic extremists detonated 11 bombs in Christian suburbs across Baghdad, targeting shops and homes. At least five Christians were killed and approximately 33 injured. Violence erupted again in predominantly Christian areas on Nov. 15. At least one person was killed and seven others injured when two car bombs exploded. Pray that God will comfort those who have lost loved ones in these attacks. Ask God to strengthen Iraqi believers so they can continue to share his love in the face of great persecution.

CHINA — Three Schools Raided — China Aid Association

Romans 8:34–36
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:
“ For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

On Nov. 7, government officials raided three kindergartens in the southern provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan, according to China Aid Association. The schools are led by Sun Haiping, the wife of formerly imprisoned house-church pastor Wang Dao. Haiping was also part of the Chinese delegation that recently visited Washington, D.C., to discuss democracy and religious freedom. During the raids, officials questioned teachers and children about Haiping’s trip to the United States. They also asked if the school owned Bibles or distributed them to students. “If this was a normal school inspection, the PSB (Public Security Bureau) would not have been there, and it would have been led by the Education Bureau,” Haiping told China Aid. “The schools are at risk of being shut down.” Pray that Haiping and her husband, Wang Dao, will persevere in faith. Pray that the children in these schools will continue to receive quality education from equipped and dedicated teachers.

AFGHANISTAN — Christian Worker Remains in Prison — VOM Contacts

Psalm 91:1–5
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:
“ For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

On May 24, Said Musa was arrested by government authorities in Afghanistan following a television broadcast that showed Christian baptisms and worship, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Musa has openly professed his faith, and he was interrogated about his conversion to Christianity on national television in June. Musa’s wife has visited him in prison. “Musa told his wife that he has been under serious pressure to disclose details about people and NGO’s,” VOM contacts said. “During the third week of August he was moved to another prison and interrogated and beaten again.”

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IRAN — Imprisoned Pastor Officially Charged with Apostasy — VOM Contacts

Psalm 62:5–8
My soul, wait silently for God alone,
   For my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
   He is my defense;
   I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory;
   The rock of my strength,
   And my refuge, is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, you people;
   Pour out your heart before Him;
   God is a refuge for us. Selah

The Assize Court of the province of Gilan, Iran, has officially charged Pastor Youcef Nardarkhani with denying that Mohammed was a prophet. The court stated that this resulted in apostasy because Nardarkhani believes in Jesus and has shared his faith with others, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The indictment, which was issued by a public prosecutor in the presence of a jury, stated, “He has frequently denied … the great prophet of Islam and the rule of the sacred religion of Islam. … He has proven his apostasy by organizing evangelistic meetings and inviting others to Christianity, establishing a house church, baptizing people, expressing his faith to others and denying Islamic values.” According to court documents, when Pastor Youcef was asked about his faith, he told authorities, “Since I was born in a Muslim family, I was Muslim until I converted to Christianity at the age of 19.” He openly acknowledged accepting Jesus Christ. The court also stated that the apostasy charge was determined a crime according to Islamic theologians. Pastor Youcef’s defense attorneys have entered a not guilty plea to the charges, arguing that “since there is no punishment specified in the Islamic judicial system of Iran and other penal laws [on apostasy] … their client has not committed a crime to deserve a punishment.” The indictment, however, stated that as an apostate, Pastor Youcef will be executed. His lawyers have 20 days to appeal the indictment. The Voice of the Martyrs encourages you to continue praying for Pastor Youcef and his family. Pray that his appeal will be successful and that he will be released.

CHINA — Church Building Demolished in Jiangsu Province — China Aid Association

Hebrews 10:36–37
For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
“ For yet a little while,
And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
On Nov. 19, the Chengnan Church, which belongs to the government-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement, was destroyed by the local government in Jiangsu province, China, according to China Aid Association. The demolition came as a surprise, especially since registered churches in China do not typically face the same intensity of persecution from the government as non-registered churches. Pray for the members of this church, who are now without a building in which to worship. Pray that despite the loss of their building, they will be reassured of their lasting and more precious inheritance. Pray that God’s Word will continue to be declared with boldness, love and power by all believers in China.

IRAQ — Three Christians Killed in Mosul — Assyrian International News Agency / Cable News Network

2 Corinthians 1:3–4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
On Nov. 22, three more believers were killed in Mosul, Iraq, according to the Assyrian International News Agency and Cable News Network. In this latest attack on the country’s Christian community, assailants entered a shop owned by two Christian brothers, Saad Hanna and Waad Hanna, and shot them. Waad died at the scene, and Saad died from his injuries a few hours later. In a separate incident later in the day, police found an elderly Christian woman strangled in her Mosul home. Pray that God will comfort those mourning the loss of these believers. Also pray that God will strengthen the faith of Iraq’s beleaguered Christians and enable them to persevere in the face of great danger. Pray for peace in Iraq.

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VOM–USA Prayer Update for January 7, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:1–4

NIGERIA — Christians Killed in Christmas Eve Attacks — VOM Contacts / Compass Direct News

Romans 8:35–39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
On Christmas Eve, five explosions near Jos killed 31 people and severely injured more than 50 others. The explosions occurred in the Christian suburbs of Kadong and Kada Bui as people shopped in outdoor markets. Also on Christmas Eve, a Baptist pastor, the Rev. Bulus Marwa, and five other Christians were killed during attacks on Victory Baptist Church in Alemderi and a Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) congregation in Sinimari. Both churches are in the mostly Muslim Borno state, in northeastern Nigeria. The Islamic extremist group Boko Haram reportedly claimed responsibility for the explosions near Jos as well as the church attacks in Borno state. Tensions remain high in Jos, Plateau state, which lies on the dividing line between the majority Muslim north and mostly Christian south, and in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. Christians in these areas have been under attack for decades. Please pray for the families of those killed in the bombings and church attacks, and pray that God will heal the injured. Pray that the love and grace of Jesus Christ will be evident in the words and actions of Christians living in these troubled areas and that Christians will respond to their Muslim neighbors with love rather than revenge.

BANGLADESH — Christians Threatened Over Christmas Worship — Compass Direct News

2 Corinthians 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
A Buddhist political group, The United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), threatened Christians in the Khagrachari district, about 180 miles southeast of Dhaka, Bangladesh, prohibiting them from holding Christmas services, according to an anonymous source. “They threatened the Christians, telling them not to celebrate Christmas in the village and not to do any other Christian activities,” the source said. “The UPDF members warned the Christians that if they celebrated Christmas, they would be in grave trouble. They warned the pastor not to take care of the congregation and ordered him to go back to his previous religion, Buddhism.” Christian elders told the UPDF leader by telephone that they had arranged food for around 100 people, but the UPDF members allowed them to eat only their rice and curry. “The UPDF leader threatened them, saying, ‘If you worship today, it will land you in unforeseeable consequences,’” the source said. The pastor and some members of nearby Shuknachari Baptist Church have been living like refugees for several months due to threats from the armed UPDF. Of 18 Christian families in the village, only seven or eight families have maintained their faith in Christ in the face of this opposition, with the others returning to Buddhism under compulsion. Pray that God will grant strength and courage to the believers in this part of Bangladesh.

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VOM-USA Prayer Update for January 28, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. 2 Corinthians 1:3–7

INDONESIA — West Java Authorities Try to Prevent Christmas Service — Compass Direct News

Isaiah 59:1
Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened,
   That it cannot save;
   Nor His ear heavy,
   That it cannot hear.
Government officials in West Java tried unsuccessfully to prevent the Indonesian Christian Church, or GKI, in the city of Bogor from holding a Dec. 25 Christmas service. Bona Sigalingging, a spokesperson for the church, said police telephoned church leaders and told them to cancel Christmas services that were scheduled for 7 p.m. Christmas day. The church worshiped anyway, with nearby Muslim demonstrators screaming, “Allahu akbar [God is great]!” and “Break it up!” The next morning, authorities prevented the Christians from holding their regular Sunday service. In a separate incident on Dec. 19, a local hard-line Muslim group persuaded police to remove items such as pews from a Huria Kristan Batak Protestant church in Rancaekek, Bandung. That church had already been closed by authorities. Thank the Lord for the faithfulness of Indonesian Christians who continue to meet in spite of severe opposition. Pray that they will be greatly encouraged by seeing the Lord’s continued work in strengthening the church and adding to its numbers.

ERITREA — Scores of Christians Arrested in Church Raids — Release International

Psalm 119:15–16
I will meditate on Your precepts,
   And contemplate Your ways.
I will delight myself in Your statutes;
   I will not forget Your word.
More than 100 Christians have been detained since Dec. 30 in raids on churches in or near the capital, Asmara, and in the town of Nakfa in eastern Eritrea. In a Dec. 31 raid on the Philadelphia Church in Asmara, all 41 members present were arrested and taken in for questioning. They were also beaten at the police station. On Jan. 1, 27 more Christians belonging to various churches near Asmara were taken into custody and are reportedly still being held by police. On Jan. 9 in Nakfa, 35 believers, including two elderly men in poor health, were arrested during a worship meeting at a private address. The Eritrean church has been further shaken by the news that another Christian has died in custody. Seble Hagos Mebrahtu, who was 27, died at the Sawa military camp on Jan. 1, apparently because she was refused medical treatment for malaria. She is reported to have been tortured after being found reading a Bible at her home. Her death brings to 16 the total number of Christians known to have died in custody since 2002. Pray that Eritrean Christians will persevere in faith and continue to glorify God while enduring this harsh persecution.

PAKISTAN — Turmoil Surrounds Asia Bibi Blasphemy Case — VOM Sources

Psalm 4:8
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
   For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Asia Bibi’s blasphemy conviction has caused turmoil and debate not only over the resulting death sentence but also over the blasphemy law itself. Asia, a poor Christian woman, was accused by her co-workers of blasphemy and sentenced to death by the courts. Her case sparked debate across Pakistan about the validity of the law, which prohibits speaking against the Prophet Muhammad or the Quran. The governor of Punjab province, who supported Asia Bibi and called for repeal of the law, was murdered by his own body guard. Asia’s life is also at risk. The VOM team in Pakistan is concerned for her safety both in prison and also as she moves between the prison and the courthouse for hearings. Asia’s family is in danger, too, and our team helped move them to a safe, secret location. Her husband and children are very worried about her. Pray for Asia’s safety and for the safety of her family. Pray that the blasphemy law, which is often used against Christians in Pakistan, will be repealed.

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VOM-USA Prayer Update for February 4, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8
AFGHANISTAN—Jailed Christian Refuses to Deny Faith—VOM Contacts

Philippians 1:12–13
But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
Imprisoned Afghan Christian Shoaib Assadullah was recently offered his freedom if he would deny his faith, but Shoaib stood firm, according to VOM contacts. Shoaib has been in prison since Oct. 21, when he was arrested for giving a New Testament to a man in Mazar-e-Sharif, in Northern Afghanistan. Shoaib had expected to receive the death penalty when he was sentenced on Jan. 4, but international pressure forced the attorney general to intervene. The court has stated that Shoaib will be in prison for at least six more months, and some believe doctors are forcing mind-altering drugs on the 26-year-old Christian. Throughout his ordeal, Shoaib’s faith has remained strong. He said he has placed his life completely in the hands of Jesus. “Without my faith, I would not be able to live,” he said. Shoaib has requested prayer for his family’s salvation. Pray also that international pressure will force the Afghan legal system to release Shoaib quickly, along with Said Musa, another Christian imprisoned in Afghanistan. Praise God for Shoaib’s strong faith.

BHUTAN—Possible Status Change for Christians—VOM Canada

Philippians 1:3–5
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now…
At its December meeting, the authority that regulates religious organizations in Bhutan discussed allowing a Christian organization to register in order to represent its community. This would be the first time in history that Bhutan has recognized and given rights to its mostly underground Christian population. Government officials in Bhutan currently recognize only Buddhism and Hinduism as official religions. Therefore, only these two communities have the right to openly practice their beliefs and operate houses of worship. Non-Buddhist and non-Hindu religious practices were banned in 1969 and 1979, respectively. Sources indicate that the government’s willingness to recognize Christians is partly aimed at bringing the Christian community under religious regulation. The government is likely to register only one Christian organization, expecting it to represent all Christians in Bhutan. Thank the Lord for this positive step. Pray that God will move in the hearts of authorities and make them open to hearing the name of Jesus.

NIGERIA—More Killed in Ongoing Plateau Violence—Release International and Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Philippians 1:9–10
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ…
Midnight raids on two villages in Plateau state have claimed the lives of eight people amid continuing religious tension in central Nigeria. Sources report that the raids occurred in the villages of Farin Lamba and Fan. Two men, a woman and a baby were killed in the attack on Farin Lamba. According to villagers, the attackers wore military uniforms. In response, protesters demanded the removal of the Special Task Force charged with keeping peace in the area. The force is accused of either turning a blind eye to attacks on Christians or even instigating the attacks. This is the fifth recorded attack on Christian villages in the area within two weeks. At least 13 people were killed during raids on villages in the area in January. Continue to pray for Christians in Nigeria. Pray that their Muslim neighbors will recognize the difference between followers of Jesus and those who are simply non-Muslims, and that they will want to know Christ, too. Pray that God will move government officials to provide protection and equality for Christians.

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VOM–USA Prayer Update for February 11, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”
But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”
Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?”
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” John 4:31–38

TURKMENISTAN—Christians Fined for Meeting Privately—Forum 18 News Service

Philippians 4:1
Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
A group of Protestant Christians who have been meeting in a private apartment were heavily fined recently, most likely on charges related to unregistered religious activity. The Christians were meeting in Turkmenabad, in eastern Turkmenistan, on Jan. 22 when their meeting was raided by police. Seventeen Christians were fined, and two children who were present were forced to stand in front of their school to face public insult. The group is most likely being charged under the section of Administrative Code that prohibits “support for or participation in the activity of a religious group or religious organization not officially registered in accordance with the legally established procedure.” Locals told Forum 18 that the fines are equal to one or two months’ pay for those in an average state job. “I don’t know how these people are going to pay the fines,” one said. Victims of persecution in this former Soviet republic are often afraid to make their stories known, fearing government reprisal. Pray that these believers will remain firm in their faith. Pray that God will provide them with the funds to pay their fines and that their testimonies will cause the police and the judge in the case to seek after God.

CHINA—Pastor Blocked from Travel—China Aid Association

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Authorities in southwestern China recently prevented a prominent house church leader from traveling to Hong Kong for an evangelical training conference. Wang Yi and three other church members were stopped by plainclothes police at the airport in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on their way to the conference. All four were taken to the police station, but only Wang was detained. The other three were able to continue on to the conference. After Wang was released several hours later, he returned to the airport to continue his trip, but he was again detained. Pray that God would grant boldness and tenacity to Christians in China.

INDIA—Christians Suspect Cover-up in Pastor’s Death—VOM Canada

Philippians 4:7
…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
A pastor whose house was targeted by Hindu militants during anti-Christian violence in 2008 was recently found dead in Kandhamal, Orissa state, India. Police initially claimed that Pastor Saul Pradhan, 45, froze to death, but his relatives suspected murder. Officials have since detained two members of a radical Hindu group, Marda Pradhan and Baiju Mallick, in connection with his death. On the evening of Jan. 10, two Hindu men came to Pastor Pradhan’s house and asked him to come with them. The next day, Pastor Pradhan’s wife and a few villagers found his body lying near a pond in the jungle. His pants were torn, his mouth was bloody and his arms and legs looked twisted. Despite the battered state of Pradhan’s body, police claimed they had little reason to suspect foul play. The officials also claimed that there were no injury marks on Pastor Pradhan’s body. They refused to file a report of suspected murder and accused the pastor’s family members of “spreading rumors about murder in hopes of receiving compensation from the government” for the August 2008 attacks in the region. Praise God for Pastor Pradhan’s life and witness. Ask God to fill his loved ones with the peace that surpasses understanding in the midst of their grief. Pray that those responsible for Pastor Pradhan’s death will be brought to justice and will come to faith in Christ.

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VOM-USA Prayer Update for February 18, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1–3

CHINA — Government Plans Increased Regulation of Christian Worship — VOM Sources, China Daily Newspaper

Hebrews 13:18
Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.
The Chinese government is planning to tighten regulations on Christian worship this year, according to a report in an English-language newspaper in China. China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) has announced that it will “guide Protestants worshiping at unregistered churches into worshiping at government-sanctioned ones.” A VOM source in China confirmed that during a detention in 2010, police told him they would stop being “nice” in 2011. The newspaper report also stated that “SARA will strengthen regulation of foreign nationals’ group religious activities in China and resist foreign infiltration under the pretext of religion.” This new policy could mean increased persecution of Christians in China, especially those who worship in unregistered churches. Christians faced similar pressure from the government before the 2008 Olympics, when Christians were detained, forced from their homes and put under house arrest. Pray that Chinese Christians are spiritually prepared for this fresh wave of persecution and that it will not intimidate new believers.

ETHIOPIA — Muslims Warn Christians to Convert, Leave or Die — VOM Canada

1 Timothy 4:10
For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
Muslims in the city of Besheno posted notices on the doors of Christians’ homes warning them to convert to Islam, leave the city or face death. Three Christian leaders were forced to flee the city and two Christians were forced to convert to Islam. Other Christians have been harassed and physically abused since the notices were posted. The Christian community in Besheno consists of only about 30 believers, and Christians there have been targeted by Muslims for many years. Evangelist Kassa Awano remains in critical condition after Muslims attacked him on Nov. 29, 2010. A few days after the attack, nearly 100 Muslims surrounded a vehicle carrying Christian leaders who were on their way to negotiate for peace with Muslim leaders. Two men, Tesema Hirego and Niggusie Denano, were seriously wounded in the attack, and the other Christian leaders suffered minor injuries. On Jan. 2, Muslims assaulted Temesgen Peteros with a knife after he testified against the Muslim attackers in court. Pray that God will enable Christians in Besheno to share the gospel boldly and lovingly. Pray that their persecutors will come to know Christ’s love through the lives of the Christians.

INDONESIA — Mob Attacks Churches Over Court Decision — Release International

Psalm 122:6
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
   “May they prosper who love you.
A Muslim mob in Temanggung, Indonesia, attacked three churches last week after a Christian convicted of blasphemy received a sentence they thought was too lenient. About 1,500 Muslims threw stones at police and chanted “kill, kill” as they broke courthouse windows and burned vehicles. The rioters then targeted several churches in the area. The Indonesia Bethel Church, two kilometers from the courthouse, was badly burned, damaging part of a kindergarten on the property and six motorbikes. The Temanggung Pentecost Church was also burned as the mob chanted “burn, burn!” The Church of St. Peter and Paul was vandalized, and its leader, Pastor Saldhana, was badly beaten, according to Release International. Release also reported that a church-run orphanage and medical center were destroyed in the violence. Pray for the congregations and Christian workers affected by the violence, and pray that peace will be restored in Temanggung, Central Java.

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VOM-USA Prayer Update for February 25, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6
SRI LANKA—Pastors Attacked in Sri Lanka—VOM Canada

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Two pastors were attacked recently in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. In early January, a pastor and his family discovered an intruder in their home in Galle district. The man shouted threats at the pastor and began to assault him. After hearing the screaming, the pastor’s elderly landlord arrived to help. The intruder then attacked the landlord before running away. Later, the pastor and his landlord lodged a complaint against the attacker with local police. The attacker was arrested, but he was later released with a severe warning after apologizing to the pastor and his landlord. On Jan. 23 in the city of Middeniya, Hambantota district, assailants broke the windows of an Assemblies of God church while the pastor and his family were inside. The pastor and his family were previously targeted in July 2008, when assailants set their house ablaze after threatening the pastor and his church. Pray that the witness of pastors and their families in Sri Lanka will draw unbelievers to Christ. Pray that these pastors will look forward to their crown of life in heaven as they persevere in these trials.

LAOS—Christian Widow Evicted by Son—VOM Sources

James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
A 50-year-old Christian widow was evicted from her son’s house recently because she refused to renounce her faith in Christ. The woman and her teenage daughter had lived with her son and his family in a mountain village for many years. The woman’s son is not a Christian, and he told his mother to renounce her faith in Jesus or he would kick her out of the house. When the woman refused, her son forced her and her daughter to leave. They had no possessions and nowhere to go, so they took cover from the chilly weather in the jungle at the edge of their village. Local Christians who learned of the women’s predicament came together to build them a small bamboo hut, but they still lack basic necessities. Thank the Lord for this woman’s faith. Pray that her faith will remain strong while she and her daughter endure this trial. Ask God to provide for her needs and to soften her son’s heart toward the Lord.

CUBA—Persecution Increases on Church Leaders—Christian Solidarity Worldwide

James 1:18
Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
Pastors and Christian leaders in Cuba are reporting a shift in how the government treats Christians. The government appears to have moved away from higher profile forms of oppression, such as threatening to shut down or destroy churches, and is now focusing pressure on church leaders. Church leaders both within and outside of the Cuban Council of Churches (CCC) report receiving frequent visits from state security agents and Cuban Communist Party (CCP) officials. The CCC is an umbrella organization representing Protestant churches. These visits and meetings seem to have the intent of intimidating church leaders and making them aware that they are under close surveillance. Pray that church members will not be intimidated by government informants in their meetings. Pray that those under pressure will not yield to fear and that they will trust the Lord.

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VOM–USA Prayer Update for March 4, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
   Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
   My God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91:1–2

India—Pastor Attacked—Release International

Colossians 4:2
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
Pastor Hari Shankar Ninama, 65, was attacked by at least 10 men in Ambarunda village, Rajasthan, in northwest India. His attackers seized him while he was praying for a sick child in the village. The men, who accused him of forced conversions, stripped him and beat him with wooden clubs and their fists. They told him they would kill him if he continued his evangelism. Then they fled, leaving the pastor to walk naked to the nearest police station, five miles away. Fearing retaliatory attacks, Pastor Ninama’s family asked the police not to investigate the beating. Extremists have threatened to burn down his daughter’s house if the police prosecute. Pastor Ninama’s 40-member house church has not met since the attack, and Christians in the village fear more attacks. Attacks against pastors or church members have also occurred in five other Indian states so far this year. Thank God that Pastor Ninama wants to continue his ministry. Pray that God will use this event to strengthen the faith of the believers in Ambarunda.

Sudan—Islamists Suspected in Girl’s Abduction—Compass Direct News

Ephesians 6:18
…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…
Hiba Abdelfadil Anglo, the 15-year-old daughter of a Christian widow in northern Sudan, was kidnapped by suspected Islamic extremists in Khartoum eight months ago. The girl disappeared while returning from the Ministry of Education on June 27, 2010. Her mother, Ikhlas Anglo, a member of the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church in Khartoum, said her daughter had gone to the education ministry office to get her transcripts for entry to secondary school. Two days after Hiba disappeared, her family received threatening telephone calls and text messages from the kidnappers demanding 1,500 Sudanese pounds ($560) for her return. Ikhlas and others say they believe the kidnappers are Muslim extremists who have targeted them because they are Christians. When Ikhlas tried to report her daughter’s abduction to police, they bluntly told her she must first leave Christianity for Islam. During this ordeal, Ikhlas also lost her job. Christians in northern Sudan fear what the future may hold for them after the Christian majority south secedes to become a new nation in July. Pray for the safe return of Hiba Abdelfadil Anglo, and ask God to take care of her family. Pray for Sudan as its leaders determine how to divide the country.

Afghanistan—Believer Remains in Afghan Prison—VOM Sources

Psalm 66:19
But certainly God has heard me;
   He has attended to the voice of my prayer.
A pastor whose house was targeted by Hindu militants during anti-Christian violence in 2008 was recently found dead in Kandhamal, Orissa state, India. Police initially claimed that Pastor Saul Pradhan, 45, froze to death, but his relatives suspected murder. Officials have since detained two members of a radical Hindu group, Marda Pradhan and Baiju Mallick, in connection with his death. On the evening of Jan. 10, two Hindu men came to Pastor Pradhan’s house and asked him to come with them. The next day, Pastor Pradhan’s wife and a few villagers found his body lying near a pond in the jungle. His pants were torn, his mouth was bloody and his arms and legs looked twisted. Despite the battered state of Pradhan’s body, police claimed they had little reason to suspect foul play. The officials also claimed that there were no injury marks on Pastor Pradhan’s body. They refused to file a report of suspected murder and accused the pastor’s family members of “spreading rumors about murder in hopes of receiving compensation from the government” for the August 2008 attacks in the region. Praise God for Pastor Pradhan’s life and witness. Ask God to fill his loved ones with the peace that surpasses understanding in the midst of their grief. Pray that those responsible for Pastor Pradhan’s death will be brought to justice and will come to faith in Christ.

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VOM-USA Prayer Update for March 11, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. Ephesians 4:1–3

PAKISTAN — Minorities Minister Assassinated — VOM Sources

1 John 5:14
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
Pakistan’s only Christian cabinet member, Shahbaz Bhatti, was assassinated by gunmen on March 2, 2011. Pamphlets attributed to Al-Qaeda and a branch of the Pakistani Taliban were distributed at the scene of the ambush, warning that anyone who supports a repeal of Pakistan’s blasphemy law will be killed. Shahbaz was the only remaining government advocate for Christian Asia Bibi, who was sentenced to death last November under the blasphemy law. “The fanatic Muslims targeted Shahbaz Bhatti because he spoke boldly against the blasphemy law,” said a VOM staff member in Pakistan. Shahbaz was a committed Christian who stood for what he thought was right and trusted the Lord with his life. Pray for those who continue to support Asia Bibi and call for a repeal of the blasphemy law. Ask God to protect them and to strengthen their faith. Pray that the Pakistani government will not yield to extremist pressure and that it will repeal the blasphemy law.

ETHIOPIA — Rioters Burn Churches and Christians’ Homes — VOM Sources

Galatians 6:2
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Muslims in Ethiopia’s southwestern city of Jimma burned two churches and the homes of a pastor and an evangelist on Wednesday, March 3. They also severely beat a Christian convert. In the Asendabo district of Jimma, a Muslim mob burned two churches and a pastor’s house after leaving their daily teaching at the mosque. Local police stood by and watched until federal police arrived to stop the violence. A second mob, in Jimma’s Dido district, left their mosque chanting “Allahu Akbar.” When the mob met Awel Abajebel, a Christian who had converted from Islam, they beat him so severely that he was thought to be dead. In a third attack that day, Muslims in the Kersa district burned the home of evangelist Isa Abagojam. More than 90 percent of the population of Jimma is Muslim. In some districts, Muslims chant “Allahu Akbar” in the evenings to warn Christian converts from Islam that they plan to kill them. A VOM contact reports that Muslims in nearly every district of the city are collecting funds to “protect their religion from the Christians.” Please pray for two Christian workers in the area who minister to more than 5,000 Muslim background believers, and pray for God’s protection of all Christians in Jimma.

SOMALIA — Al-Shabab Kills Christian Convert — International Christian Concern

James 5:16
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Members of the Islamic radical group al-Shabab killed a Christian convert in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Jan. 26. The Islamists murdered Abdirahman Hussein Roble after accusing him of spying and committing fitna. Fitna is an Islamic term used derogatively to describe Christian evangelism among Muslims. Two eyewitnesses notified Abdirahman’s widow and relatives of his death on Feb. 9. Abdirahman, who became a Christian in 2009, was the father of two children. He is the 24th Christian to be killed by the Somali Islamists since 2009. On Jan. 29, another Christian convert escaped from a makeshift detention center run by al-Shabab. “Hassan” is the first Christian to ever escape from the group. He was abducted on Jan. 8 in the Afgoye district, west of Mogadishu, and repeatedly interrogated about his faith and ministry. Hassan escaped while his guards were attending evening prayer. Pray that all Somalis will resist the extremist nature of al-Shabab, and ask God to give Christians living there courage and boldness.

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VOM-USA Prayer Update for March 18, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” Mark 13:32–37
INDIA—Attacks Against Christians Continue in Orissa State—Compass Direct News

Proverbs 13:16–17
Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
 But a fool lays open his folly.
   A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
 But a faithful ambassador brings health.
Hindu extremists continue their attacks against ethnic minority Christians in Orissa state. In the latest incident, about 60 members of the Hindu nationalist RSS group beat one Christian unconscious and destroyed the eardrums of another. The extremists have raided prayer meetings and attacked churches, beating the Christians in attendance. Their victims have included women, including some who were pregnant, and children. Fearing more attacks, at least four families have left their village and not returned. Orissa was the scene of widespread attacks against Christians in 2008. Since Dec. 8, 2010, Christians in the Malkangiri district have been attacked 15 times. One of the worst raids was on Christmas day, when about 200 extremists burst into a church in Kovi Konda and seriously injured several Christians. Pray for all Christians in the district. Pray that they will remain strong in their faith, and ask God to heal the injured. Also pray that their persecutors will come to Christ.

IRAN—New Convert Detained in Widespread Arrests—Mohabat News

Psalm 44:22–26
Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long;
   We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord?
   Arise! Do not cast us off forever.
Why do You hide Your face,
   And forget our affliction and our oppression?
For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
   Our body clings to the ground.
Arise for our help,
   And redeem us for Your mercies’ sake.

A new convert to Christianity was among the more than 20 Christians arrested over the past few months in Iran. Khalil Yarali, a new believer, was arrested Jan. 15, 2011, in Ahwaz, Iran. Ahwaz is in southwestern Iran, about 500 miles from Tehran. Khalil had reported to the headquarters of the intelligence office in Ahwaz several times over the course of three weeks, after being summoned by security police. When he reported on Jan. 15, he was detained. After his arrest, security personnel went to Khalil’s house and confiscated some of his belongings. Khalil was held in solitary confinement for 28 days before being transferred to Karoon Prison. He has undergone intense interrogation but has not been charged. Authorities have given no explanation for his arrest. Please pray for Khalil and his family. Pray also for the other Iranian believers who were arrested in the mass sweep during December and January.

VIETNAM—Families of Prisoners Suffering and Waiting—VOM Sources

Jeremiah 49:11
Leave your fatherless children,
   I will preserve them alive;
   And let your widows trust in Me.”
The families of Christian prisoners in Vietnam face many difficulties, including financial hardship and sickness. In addition, wives are left without husbands and children without fathers. Families are rarely able to visit their imprisoned family member, and children can’t afford to go to school because the family has no income. A VOM worker in Vietnam recently sent reports on 51 families of prisoners. The wife of one Christian prisoner said, “In the prison camp, my husband has not enough food to eat but has to work hard.” Another wife of a prisoner said, “Our family keeps faithful to God, although sometimes we are weak.” The workers who visit the families of prisoners have a difficult and dangerous job bringing encouragement to the families. They travel to many villages to meet the families and help arrange visits to the prisons, which are often far away. “Thank you for helping us,” wrote one family member. “May God give you and your family his abundant blessings.” Pray for the release of Christians in Vietnam. Pray also for the families of prisoners, that their physical needs will be met and that they will be encouraged through the Holy Spirit.

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VOM–USA Prayer Update for March 25, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Malaysia—Impounded Bibles Released—VOM Sources, Compass Direct News

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Two shipments of Bibles that had been impounded by Malaysian port authorities were finally released in March, according to VOM sources. In January, authorities at Malaysia’s Kuching Port impounded 30,000 copies of the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs in the Malay language. The Bibles were imported by a local branch of Gideons International for distribution in schools, churches and communities. An earlier shipment of 5,100 Bibles was detained in Port Klang in March 2009. Officials said the Bibles could not be distributed because they “contained words which are also found in the Quran.” Christians saw the impoundments as a systematic plan to deny Christians in Malaysia access to the Bible in Malay. Hundreds had called for the Bibles to be released, and, thanks to God, all 35,000 have now been released. Under current law, they must be stamped “For Christians Only.”Because of the requirement to add the stamp, the receiving organization is refusing to take the books. Praise God for the release of these Bibles and ask for the situation to be resolved soon.

China—Christian Publisher Doing Well After Release—China Aid Association

Isaiah 61:1
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
   Because the LORD has anointed Me
   To preach good tidings to the poor;
   He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
   To proclaim liberty to the captives,
   And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
Shi Weihan is back with his wife and two children after three years in prison. He was released Feb. 9, 2011, and is in a stable condition both mentally and physically. Shi Weihan led a house church in Beijing and also published Christian literature. He was arrested on Nov. 28, 2007, as he collected a shipment of Bibles. He was released on Jan. 4, 2008, but was re-arrested on March 9, 2008. More than a year later, he was sentenced to three years in prison and fined 150,000 yuan on a charge of “illegal business operation.” Praise God for his release and good health. Continue to pray for him as he re-adjusts to life with his family. Also pray for other imprisoned Chinese Christians, such as Yang Rongli, Alimujiang Yimiti, and Li Ying.

Indonesia—Persecutors Receive Light Sentences—Compass Direct News

Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the LORD,
   And He shall sustain you;
   He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
Christians in Indonesia were disappointed this week by the light sentences given to Islamic extremists who injured two church leaders. A court in West Java issued sentences ranging from just five to seven months to those involved in the Sept. 12, 2010, clubbing of Rev. Luspida Simanjuntak and stabbing of elder Hasian Lumbantoruan Sihombing of the Batak Christian Protestant Church. An attorney for the church said the planner of the attack, who is head of a chapter of the Islamic Defenders Front, received a sentence of only five months and 15 days for “disorderly conduct,” even though he could have been prosecuted for incitement and joint assault. The man who stabbed a church elder was given a seven-month sentence, and a man who clubbed Pastor Simanjuntak received a six-month sentence. In response to the sentences, Pastor Simanjuntak said, “With heavy hearts, we accept the verdict.” Pray that Christians in Indonesia will remain strong in faith even when they aren’t supported by their community.

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VOM-USA Prayer Update for April 1, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. Revelation 6:9–11

North Korea—Gospel Balloon Launches Threatened—VOM Sources, AFP

John 17:18
As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
In February, North Korea warned the South Korean government to stop allowing the launch of balloons that drop “propaganda” leaflets into its country. North Korea even threatened to open fire on locations in South Korea from which the balloons are launched. Some activists use balloon launches to drop political leaflets in North Korea, but VOM uses similar methods to send the gospel into North Korea. Because of North Korea’s threats, some South Koreans are now refusing to allow VOM partners to launch balloons from their neighborhoods. “We’ve decided to prevent the leaflet launch as it would make our hard life harder,” one of the district chiefs told AFP news agency. The balloon team asks for prayer that they will reflect Christ well as they continue to seek ways to send Christ’s message of hope into North Korea

Pakistan—Cause of Christian Prisoner’s Death Questioned—VOM Canada, VOM Sources

Isaiah 61:1
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
   Because the LORD has anointed Me
   To preach good tidings to the poor;
   He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
   To proclaim liberty to the captives,
   And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
A Christian serving a life sentence on blasphemy charges has died under suspicious circumstances in Lahore. Qamar David, who was imprisoned in June 2006 after a business rival accused him of insulting the Prophet Muhammad, died on March 14, 2011. Initial autopsy reports seemed to confirm prison authorities’ claims that he died of a heart attack, but Qamar’s family believes he was killed. He was reportedly threatened and beaten regularly by prison guards and inmates during his almost five years in prison. Qamar’s son told VOM contacts that the family was too scared to attend the hearing at which the medical reports were announced.

Also in Lahore, 40-year-old Shaheen Bibi, a Christian mother of seven, was recently freed from her Muslim captors after being kidnapped last August. Shaheen had been drugged, raped, sold into marriage, and threatened with death if she did not convert to Islam. On March 6, a team managed to rescue Shaheen from her captors. She reported that at least 10 other women were in captivity with her. Thank God for her release. Pray that God will equip Pakistani Christians to be bold and gracious witnesses in an environment of severe opposition. Also pray for the repeal of Pakistan’s blasphemy law, which is often used against Christians.

Sudan—Violence Precedes South Sudan’s Secession—Assist News Service

Isaiah 66:12
“Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,
   And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.
   Then you shall feed;
   On her sides shall you be carried,
   And be dandled on her knees.
Violence has increased in south Sudan since the Jan. 9, 2011, Referendum on Southern Self-Determination. In February, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) clashed with forces of northern opposition figure Gen. Akhor, leaving 200 dead. Another 50 were killed in fighting between the SPLA and forces of Gabriel Tanginya, who is backed by Islamic Khartoum. In the north-south border region of Abyei, 100 Misseriya Arab militiamen and other Khartoum-backed forces massacred police and civilians. On March 2, 1,000 members of the militia attacked another Abyei village, killing 33. The violence has caused the displacement of 45,000 southern Sudanese — mostly women and children. Both the north and south are preparing for conflict. Please pray for the war-ravaged, predominantly Christian people of south Sudan.

VOM-USA Prayer Update for April 8, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:10–11
Saudi Arabia—Eritrean Believer Faces Possible Death Sentence—Release Eritrea

Psalm 5:11
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
   Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
   Let those also who love Your name
   Be joyful in You.
An Eritrean Christian faces a possible death sentence after being accused of preaching to Muslims outside a mosque in Saudi Arabia. Mussie Eyob, who converted to Christianity two years ago, was arrested at a mosque in the Haya Roda area on Feb. 12 and is being held at a high-security prison in Jeddah. Officials initially thought Mussie was mentally ill, but a medical examination found him to be in good mental health. Mussie’s family visited him on March 20 and found that although he had lost weight, he was being treated well and was in good spirits. Mussie began preaching at the Eritrean Embassy on Feb. 9 before moving on to the local mosque days later. Pray that God will soften the hearts of Saudi officials toward Mussie and that he will not be sentenced to death. Praise God for Mussie’s boldness.

Egypt—Christian Convert Escapes Egypt—VOM Canada

2 Corinthians 1:8–9
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.
An Egyptian man who has been in hiding for two-and-a-half years fled the country recently with his daughter. Maher El-Gohary, 58, had been in hiding since August 2008, when he filed a suit requesting to change the religious status on his ID card from Muslim to Christian. He and his daughter, Dina Mo’otahssem, 17, flew from Cairo to Syria in February. Maher had hoped to obtain a visa to the United States, where his wife lives, but he tried for one week and was unsuccessful. He then sought assistance at a U.N. office in Syria and was granted an appointment for late April. Although Maher and Dina are safer in Syria than they were in Egypt, they still spend much of their time in their apartment because converts from Islam to Christianity are persecuted in Syria. Maher has no income, so he and his daughter have difficulty obtaining basic necessities. During this time of struggle, Maher continues to acknowledge God’s enduring care. “Without God’s love, we would have been dead by now,” he said. Thank the Lord for the ways in which he has provided for Maher and Dina. Pray that they will continue to rely on his strength and not on their own.

Belarus—Pastor Charged After Church Raid—Forum 18 News

1 Peter 5:10
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
On Feb. 13, police raided a Baptist church in Gomel, Belarus, and charged the pastor with “holding an unauthorized religious service.” The pastor, Nikolai Varushin, faces a fine of up to $345 if found guilty. The police major in charge of the raid said police had received repeated complaints about the church from nearby residents. Police officers filmed the worship service and confiscated CDs, audio cassettes of sermons and religious literature. In January 2008, Pastor Varushin was fined for leading an unregistered religious organization. Pray that the congregation will remain steadfast in faith as they undergo this trial.

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VOM-USA Prayer Update for April 15, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. John 15:9

China—Police Break Up Outdoor Worship in Beijing
China Aid Association / Los Angeles Times

Hebrews 5:7
Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,
Police detained and fingerprinted more than 100 members of an unregistered Beijing church on April 10 after the church gathered for worship at an outdoor location near the city’s university neighborhood. The Shouwang Church, which has a congregation of about 1,000, was forced to meet outdoors after being repeatedly denied access to rented space. The church has faced difficulties with three separate spaces it has tried to use for worship since 2009. During that time, local authorities pressured the management of two hotels and one building developer to deny the Shouwang Church worship space, leaving them nowhere to meet. In March, the church made the difficult decision to meet outdoors. They understood that because of the public nature of their protest, they would likely suffer as a congregation and as individuals. Please pray for the Shouwang Church as they stand before man and God with clear consciences. “Pray for us in a loud voice, and raise up hands and pray vigilantly!”

Israel—Pressure Increasing on Messianic Jews
VOM Sources

Hosea 3:5
Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days.
VOM sources say Messianic Jews in Israel are facing increased pressure from groups opposed to freedom of religion. One of these groups, Yad L’Achim, staged a demonstration against a Messianic congregation of 150 in Ashdod. “The speech against the believers was slanderous and vicious,” said a VOM source. An Israeli television station that recently profiled Yad L’Achim described the organization as a militia that goes outside the law to carry out its agenda. Many Messianic Jews have had residency visas and even their citizenship revoked once their faith in Jesus was discovered. Others face constant harassment at their homes and businesses. “It is very important for you who pray for the Messianic body in Israel to … understand the depth of the paranoia and the hatred for the name of the true Messiah of Israel,” the VOM source said. Pray that Jesus will reveal himself to all those in Israel.

India—Eighteen Indian Christians Arrested
VOM Canada

Psalm 109:20–21
Let this be the LORD’s reward to my accusers,
   And to those who speak evil against my person.
But You, O GOD the Lord,
   Deal with me for Your name’s sake;
   Because Your mercy is good, deliver me.

Eighteen Christians in Odisha state (formerly called Orissa), including two pastors, were arrested on March 28 for converting to Christianity without an official permit. The two pastors and 16 newly converted Christians were arrested after a police complaint was filed against them in Mayurbhanj district. The Christians were brought before the sub-divisional judicial magistrate at Baripada and charged under the “Orissa Freedom of Religion Act,” which bans any conversion lacking a permit issued by authorities. All of the Christians were released on bail within three days. Pray that all charges against them will be dropped. Ask the Lord to minister to the new converts and deepen their faith through this persecution.

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"Prayer is the pulse of life; by it the doctor can tell what is the condition of the heart. The sin of prayerlessness is a proof for the ordinary Christian or minister that the life of God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness." - Andrew Murray

"praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:18


VOM-USA Prayer Update for April 22, 2011
On Thu. Apr 21 2011 at 04:03 PM Moderator wrote:
AZERBAIJAN--Unregistered Churches Banned from Worship
VOM Canada

Hebrews 5:7

Three religious communities in Gyanja, Azerbaijan, have been banned from meeting for worship. The worship bans were imposed in mid-March because the communities do not have state registration. Local sources said one of the religious communities was warned that "if they met for worship on the following Sunday or at any future date they would all be arrested." Two buses full of police and riot police later arrived to prevent them from worshiping, but the church had already reluctantly canceled the Sunday service that day. The government, however, continues to deny its involvement in religious oppression. Babek Sadykov of the Gyanja Police said, "No one is being prevented from worshiping." And President Ilham Aliev told a government-initiated World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue that "freedom of religion and freedom of conscience have been fully established in Azerbaijan." Pray that believers will be encouraged to continue worshiping together despite opposition.

EGYPT--Copts "Terrorized" by Gang
Release International

1 Samuel 14:6

Since late January, Copts in Minya province have suffered repeated attacks from a large gang of thugs who target Christians. The first attack on a Coptic family occurred on Jan. 28. The family reported the assault to police but withdrew their allegations after receiving death threats from the gang. Then, on Jan. 29, the gang leader raped two Coptic women, threatening to kill their children if they took the matter to police. In another assault, gang members kidnapped a 30-year-old man and a 12-year-old boy; their families were forced to pay ransoms to secure their release. The gang has also reportedly imposed a nighttime curfew on Copts. Copts in Minya are dismayed that the police and army have not taken more decisive steps to detain gang members and their leader. Pray that authorities will take action to apprehend the gang members in Minya province.

CHINA--Pastor Arrested in Inner Mongolia
VOM Sources

Joshua 1:5-7

VOM contacts in China report that one of their dear friends, a pastor, was arrested in Inner Mongolia Tuesday, April 12. The pastor, Jesse, was arrested along with four other leaders. His "offense" is that 1,000 university students attend his church. About 100 of the university students are also Bible school students who are taught by a VOM worker. Police have detained Jesse five times over the last year, and they had warned him and let him know they were watching him. Pastor Jesse and the four others are being held in a detention center where prisoners are usually held for at least 30 days. It’s not known whether he will be formally sentenced. A friend wrote, "We sent some clothes [to Jesse] but were not able to meet and talk to him. Please pray. The situation here is so bad." Ask the Lord to encourage Pastor Jesse, and pray for his release. Pray that his church members will not falter in their faith but will grow stronger.