Pray for Christians in North Africa

Lot’s of people are worried about and praying for Christians in Egypt. Algeria appears to be starting a slow process of persecuting Christians in their country. Please pray for these innocent people who are caught up in the world’s troubles.

Four Christians were given suspended prison sentences recently for opening a place of worship without a license in the eastern region of Kabylia, Algeria, according to Asia News.

The Christians, a Protestant clergyman and three of his parishioners, were convicted under a controversial 2006 law. The law requires that anyone who wants to set up a place of worship, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, must obtain a permit indicating the name of the place of worship and the name of the pastor. Some believe this law violates Algeria’s constitution, and this is the first time the law has been enforced. Three of the men, Abdenour Raid, Nacer Mokrani and Idir Haoudj, received two-month prison sentences. The fourth, Pastor Mahmoud Yahou, was sentenced to three months in jail and fined almost $3,600 (U.S.) for illegally sheltering a foreigner.

Pray that God will encourage these believers, that the ministry of churches in Algeria will flourish and that the gospel will be preached throughout the nation.

From Persecution.Com

Pray for Pakistan and India

I have a friend who is traveling to India this month. That part of the world is very troubled with religious conflict. Please pray for the Christians in that region who are fearful of attacks from their neighbors.

Here is a story about the murder of a Pakistani Governor who fought for the release of an innocent woman imprisoned for her faith in Jesus.

The governor of Pakistan's Punjab province was assassinated Tuesday by his bodyguard.

Salman Taseer was one of the most vocal advocates for Asia Bibi, a Christian mother sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy, and an opponent of the country's blasphemy laws.

He was shot dead while walking through an Islamabad market by a bodyguard who opposed the governor's position.

http://in.christiantoday.com/articles/pakistan-mourns-slain-governor-who-backed-christian/5922.htm

Pray for Asia Bibi–A Christian Sentenced to Death in Pakistan

On Nov. 8, Asia Bibi was sentenced to death by a judge in Pakistan, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The judge also fined Asia $1,190 (U.S.) and told her she had seven days to appeal the decision. VOM contacts reported that her attorney will appeal the sentence.

Asia was arrested by police on June 19, 2009, and charged with blasphemy after she engaged in a religious discussion with co-workers. Many of the local women, including Asia, worked on the farm of Muslim landowner Muhammad Idrees. During their work, many of the Muslim women had pressured Asia to renounce Christianity and accept Islam. Her family is one of only three Christian families in a village of more than 1,500 families.

On June 19, there was an intense discussion among the women about their faith. The Muslim women told Asia about Islam, and, according to VOM sources, Asia responded by telling the Muslim women that Christ died on the cross for our sins. She told them Jesus is alive. “Our Christ is the true prophet of God,” she reportedly told them.

Upon hearing this response, the Muslim women became angry and began to beat Asia. Then some men took her and locked her in a room. They announced from mosque loudspeakers that she would be punished by having her face blackened and being paraded through the village on a donkey.

Local Christians informed the police, who took Asia into custody before the Muslims could carry out their plan. She is currently being held at the police station in Nankana city. Christians there had urged the police not to file blasphemy charges, but police claimed that they had to go forward because of pressure from local Muslim leaders.

Pray for Asia and her family. Pray that the people of Pakistan will understand God’s love and mercy.

Pray for Aung San Suu Kyi and the People of Burma

Rights groups say Burma has one of the world's most oppressive governments.  There are over 2,000 political prisoners in its jails and the military is accused of systematic forced labor, torture, rape, and murder.

Aung San Suu Kyi says she will continue to push for an end to abuses.

But Case in Hong Hong says if she is too vocally critical of the government she can be easily silenced.
Read the rest of the article from Voice of America.

Christians Murdered in Turkey, Family Forgives Killers

In this video the Family of Christian converts in Turkey publically forgive the murderers of their family members.

Sarah's Trail of Blood

This is a short but powerful video from Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) about a girl named Xianzhi "Sarah" Liu who was tortured for six years in China for being a Christian.

Go to Voice of the Martyrs to find out more about Christian Persecution around the world.

Pray for Persecuted Christians in India and Indonesia

(also look at recent story in the NYTimes about Indonesian Persecution)

Two Christians attacked in Madhya Pradesh


In Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district, suspected Hindu extremists on July 20 accused two Christians of forceful conversion, severely beat them and left them bleeding on the jungle road.

The incident took place when Mahindra Kharoley and Munshi Bahey were bicycling to their home after a prayer meeting when the assailants with their faces covered attacked them in Bhalwa area reported our correspondent.

The attackers accused the Christians of forceful conversion and started hitting and kicking them. Bahey sustained a deep cut on his forehead above his right eye, as well as internal injuries. Kharoley suffered head, chest and body injuries, and his right thumb was nearly fractured.

The Christians lay motionless and pretended to be dead after they were beaten for about 20 minutes, to escape the extremists’ fury. Somehow, the Christians reached their home village. Thereafter, they were rushed to the hospital.

Kirnapur police accepted a complaint about the incident but have yet to investigate.

Church Building Demolished

On July 16, a church building under construction came under attack in Kotri, Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh.

Between midnight and 1 a.m., unidentified assailants demolished the church building, reported Pastor Bikhamp Chaudhary, who has been ministering in the area for 14 years.

The Church construction that started in August 2009 was more than half completed. The walls had been completely constructed and the roof was left to be built.

Pastor Chaudhary lodged a police complaint but the police response has been nil till date.

About 30 men at about the same time, in July 2009, entered the pastor house and dragged him out to beat him. He escaped when villagers heeded his cries and came to his rescue.

Please pray for peace in Madhya Pradesh.

Worship service disrupted in Madhya Pradesh

Alleged Hindu extremists on 18 July disrupted the Christian worship meeting in Barwaha, near Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

On Sunday morning as Pastor Subhash Chauhan of the Indian Evangelical Team was leading the Sunday Worship, a mob of Hindu extremists barged in and terrified the church members.

The extremists stopped the meeting and started firing volley of questions to the pastor. They ordered the pastor to close down his tailoring school and also not to continue Christian activities in the area.

Pastor Chauhan went to the police station but the police told him to stop conducting worship services in the area. In 2007, pastor Chauhan was arrested on false charges of forceful conversion and was jailed for three days. The case is still in court.

Please pray for peace and justice.

For more information about India, click on this link.