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Christian Martyrs
Still Persecuted And Dying Today In Many Countries From Email Received August, 2007 |
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Christian Martyrs
Still Persecuted And Dying Today In Many Countries From Email Received August, 2007 |
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About USA, China, India, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Kashmir Pray for USA USA The Voice of the Martyrs 2008 National Persecution Conference VOM's National Persecution Conference will be held at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, June 20-22 and June 27-29, 2008. Pray for those involved in the planning of the conference. More details will be available in the future. Hebrews 13:3 Pray for CHINA CHINA House Church in Military Area Raided in Xinjiang - China Aid Association On June 1, a military house church was raided and members were detained and abused during their interrogation. According to China Aid Association, a house church at the home of Gao Hongzhi was raided by 10 Public Security Bureau officers. Six believers, including Mr. Gao, were detained for 12 hours until the following morning. One believer was beaten during the detention time. Mr. Gao's house was searched without a search warrant and Bibles, calendars and a blackboard were confiscated as 'illegal religious materials,' without official confiscation papers." Pray for continued protection for Christians in China. Ask God to encourage them and use their testimony to draw their persecutors into the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:19, Psalm 68:19 Pray for INDIA INDIA Christian Leaders Attacked, Christians Openly Persecuted and Stabbed - VOM Sources * RAJASTHAN - On July 25, five men attacked Emmanuel Ministries. According to The Voice of The Martyrs contacts in India, the attackers had two handguns, a sword, a large stick and numerous stones. VOM contacts report, "They started fighting Mr. Jetha, one of the ministry office staff. They shouted that they would kill M.A and Samuel Thomas, the leaders of Emmanuel Ministries, and continuously beat Mr. Jetha. They threatened that they would 'kill and willingly go to prison for six years.' In a separate incident on July 31, members of Believers Assembly Church in Sri Ganga Nagar District, Rajasthan, were summoned by the police for questioning after Hindu fundamentalists complained believers were converting local villagers. VOM contacts report, "The new believers were threatened by police and pressured to leave Christianity and return to Hinduism. They were also warned that if they fail to return to Hinduism the provisions of the Anti-Conversion Act of Rajasthan, would be used to arrest them." Pray for protection for believers in Rajasthan. Ask God to encourage them and for the Holy Spirit to comfort and minister to injured believers. Pray the testimony of believers will draw Hindus into fellowship with Christ. Isaiah 26:3 * KARNATAKA - On July 29, a mob of about 15 Bajrang Dal extremists armed with clubs, cricket bats and knives attacked Believers Church, in Shimoga District, mercilessly beating the pastor. According to VOM contacts, "the attackers barged into the church and abused the Christians, using filthy language and began hitting and stabbing them. They destroyed the pulpit, chairs, musical instruments, furniture, and window panes and damaged the church walls. The pastor was also severely beaten with a cricket bat and his body was swollen." Pray for the speedy recovery of those injured. Ask God to protect Christians in Karnataka. Romans 8:11, Psalm 107:20 Pray for PAKISTAN PAKISTAN Pakistani Jail Officials Beat Christian, Halt Bible Classes – Compass Direct News Pakistani officials have stopped all Bible classes for Christian prisoners in a Punjab jail, isolating an inmate who taught the classes and barring a local pastor from his weekly visits. Compass Direct News reports, "Protestant Pastor Munir Phool has been refused entry to Kasur city's district jail for his weekly visits since June 25, when Catholic prisoner Dil Awaiz was put in a high-security cell and tortured. Awaiz told Phool that Muslim inmates became angry when a Christian prisoner drank from one of their water glasses. The authorities retaliated by forcing the Christian prisoner to drink out of a glass used for cleaning toilets. Later, the authorities had Awaiz beaten and thrown in a high-security cell and deprived contact with other Christian prisoners." Pray for a speedy recovery for Awaiz and for Christians in Pakistan. Exodus 15:26, Isaiah 40:31 Pray for AZERBAIJAN AZERBAIJAN Two-Year Imprisonment for Baptist Pastor - Forum 18 News UPDATE: On August 8, Baptist Pastor Zaur Balaev was sentenced to two years in prison by a court in the Northwestern Regional Center of Zakatala, Azerbaijan. According to Forum 18 News Service, Balaev was convicted of using violence against a state representative. He was accused of holding "illegal meetings under the guise of religious activity without concrete authority and registration." Forum 18 News reported, "He also was accused of attracting young people to worship services and playing loud music at services. Azerbaijan's authorities have changed their accusations since Balaev has been held. Police initially claimed Balaev set a dog on police during a raid on a Sunday worship service. After more than 50 people signed a written statement testifying to Balaev's innocence, the references to the dog disappeared from the authorities' claims. Instead, Balaev was accused of attacking five policemen and damaging a police car door." He was convicted under Article 315, Part 1 of the Criminal Code, which punishes the application of or threat of application of violence, including to a state representative when he or she is carrying out official duties. It carries a maximum sentence of three years. Pray for Pastor Balaev and his family while he is in prison. Ask God to encourage believers in Azerbaijan and for the Holy Spirit to convict the authorities that brought these charges. Psalm 27:1, Isaiah 54:17 Pray for PAKISTAN PAKISTAN Christians Experiencing Hardship After Red Mosque Attack, Christian Attacked - VOM Sources The Voice of the Martyrs has received information that Christians are experiencing increased hardships after the attacks at the Red Mosque last month. In an unrelated incident in July, a VOM contact, who is a Muslim convert; was attacked by three strangers while he was sleeping in a hotel room. Attackers tried to kill him, but God saved his life. He sustained some wounds to his body and they are healing. Pray this believer is protected from future attacks. Ask God to protect believers in Pakistan as they continue sharing the gospel, despite immense challenges. 1 Corinthians 15:57 Pray for INDIA INDIA Pastor Threatened; Pastor and Wife Assaulted, Imprisoned and Later Released - VOM Sources * KASHMIR - On July 29, five men from the Molvis Al-Hadis Mosque in Baramulla threatened Pastor Bashir Masih, and other believers preparing for Sunday worship. According to The Voice of the Martyrs' contacts in India, "The five men threatened the believers and instructed them to vacate the house, which is also used as a house church, within a month since it is located near a mosque." In the past, Muslim extremists have assaulted Pastor Masih's disabled son and Muslim village authorities have allowed extremists to block drinking water to Pastor Masih's home. Pastor Masih was a Muslim who converted to Christianity in 2005. His house church, Shalom Prayer House, was started in 2005. Pray for Pastor Masih's family and Christians in India who remain steadfast in their faith, despite persecution. Hebrews 13:5-6 * KARTANAKA - August 10, Pastor Victor and his wife Glory were released after spending a month in prison. On July 9, the couple was assaulted by a Hindu extremist while they were distributing tracts in the Bijapur District, Karnataka. They were later arrested. According to The Voice of the Martyrs' contacts in India, a grocery store owner invited the pastor and his wife to his home and while they were talking, a man entered the home and attacked them. VOM contacts report, "When the man entered the home, he saw gospel tracts and began cursing at the pastor and slapped him. The grocery owner joined the assault and dragged the pastor out of the home and put him on a rickshaw and took him to the police. The Hindu extremist registered a complaint against the couple for inciting religious disharmony." The couple was arrested under section 296 A of the Indian Penal Code. Pray for Pastor Victor and his family and ask God to protect Christians in India. 2 Timothy 1:7 *****If If you would like to learn more about the free newletter of the Voice of the Martyrs, simply click on the link below. The newsletter reveals some facts about present day persecution of Christians, and highlights many courageous stories you will never read in the press or see on broadcast media. |