INDIA Hindu Radicals Turn Church into Hindu Temple - VOM Sources

On August 19, members from the Hindu radical group, Hindu Ikyavedi, attacked a congregation gathered for prayer and vandalized their church building in Bangalore, India. According to The Voice of the Martyrs' contacts in India, prior to the attack, Pastor Koshy Thomas and his family were threatened and told to stop conducting worship services. VOM contacts report, "On August 18, two members of the Hindu radical organization, Hindu Ikyavedi, threatened to burn Pastor Thomas and his family to death if they did not vacate their home and stop worship services. The next day they barged into a prayer meeting, abused the believers using filthy language and assaulted the pastor's wife and another believer. They snatched a Bible from another man's hand and threw it out of the building." After the believers were evicted from the church, the attackers vandalized the building. VOM contacts added, "The radicals vandalized the church building by drawing Hindu symbols, the trishul, swastika, Sanskritic Om and slogans such as 'Jai Shri Ram and Hindu Dharma is ours, who is Yesu?' They also conducted a Hindu religious rite inside the church and locked it." Pastor Thomas has been pastoring the 50-member Indian Pentecostal Church for about a year. Pray God protects and provides for the pastor and believers in this area. Ask God to use the testimonies of Christians in India to draw non-believers into fellowship with Himself. Joshua 1:9; 2 Timothy 1:7

Pray for AFGHANISTAN

AFGHANISTAN Continued Prayer for Kidnapped South Korean Christians - VOM Sources

The Voice of the Martyrs is calling on believers around the world to continue praying for the protection and release of the 19 remaining Korean aid workers still held by the Taliban. Pray God protects the kidnapped aid workers and their families. Ask that the Holy Spirit convict the hearts of the Taliban, and the testimony of these believers draws others into fellowship with Christ. Pray for the two young women who were released a few weeks ago. Psalm 91

Pray for CHINA

CHINA Government Intensifies Campaign against Christians - China Aid Association

* SHANXI PROVINCE - On July 14, Chinese authorities interrupted Bible reading and prayer in the home of Sister Kong Lingrong. While Sister Kong and several children from 10 to 15 years of age were reading the Bible and praying, the authorities stopped the "illegal meeting" and said that children were not allowed to believe in Jesus. As a result of the incident, Sister Kong is being harassed by authorities and the electricity and water to her home has been turned off.

On August 3, prominent Christian businessman, Zhou Heng, was arrested when he attempted to pick up two tons of Bibles at a bus station in Xinjiang. The Bibles were to be distributed to local believers. According to detention papers, Heng was placed on "criminal detention on suspicion of illegal business operations." He could face up to 15 years imprisonment.

* SHANDONG PROVINCE - On August 9, Pastors Du Dafeng, Cheng Zhenan and Yue Ying, were detained for more than 5 days for holding a worship meeting in Yutai Town.

* INNER MONGOLIA - Seven house church leaders have been in prison since August 21. The leaders were arrested when they were worshiping in Kouhe Town. They are currently detained at the Public Security Bureau office. Pray for Christians in China as persecution intensifies. Isaiah 54:14, Romans 8:31

UZBEKISTAN Church to Lose Building and Legal Status - Forum 18 News

Grace Presbyterian Church in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, may lose its church building and legal status after authorities filed a lawsuit aimed at annulling the sale of the building. Forum 18 News reports, "Grace Presbyterian Church, led by Pastor Felix Li, bought a former cinema in Tashkent's Khamza District in April 1999 from the city department of the State Property Committee. However, on July 24, 2007, the same department lodged the complaint to annul the sale. On August 13, 'without warning,' Justice Ministry officials arrived for a check-up on the church's financial activity, and whether its activity as a whole is in accordance with the church's statute. If violations are found, the church could be stripped of legal status and the right to conduct any religious activity." Christians in the area believe the "church check-up" is a step towards revoking legal status. Meanwhile, Forum 18 also reported, "Police in Uzbekistan have launched a manhunt for Pentecostal pastor, Masket Djabbaebergenov, who went into hiding after a criminal case was launched against him in early August to punish him for his religious activity." If convicted, the pastor could spend up to six year in prison. Pray for Christians in Uzbekistan. Ask God to protect and provide for Grace Presbyterian Church and Pastor Masket, who is in hiding. Joshua 1:9, Psalm 91

Pray for INDIA

INDIA Pastor Miraculously Escapes Death - VOM Sources

On August 22, Pastor Mark Jaikumar was kidnapped by Hindu extremists while conducting a prayer meeting at an orphanage in Karnataka. According to The Voice of the Martyrs' contacts, "Pastor Mark, his wife and some believers from Bangalore visited an orphanage in Bangalore for their weekly prayer meeting. While they were praying, five Hindu extremists rushed into the orphanage and kidnapped the pastor after tying his mouth with a piece of cloth. They then stripped his clothes off and beat him severely. One of the attackers picked up a big stone to crush the pastor's head, but stopped when they saw a motorbike near them." As a result, the attackers ran away and left the pastor. Pastor Mark suffered internal injuries which have resulted in swelling. He has reported the attack to the police. Pray for Christians in India as they face difficult challenges because of their faith. Pray Pastor Mark is healed and that his attackers will be arrested. Zephaniah 3:17, Psalm 103:1-5