Prayers for January 8, 2008
From The Voice of the Martyrs


CHINA UPDATE: Case of Arrested House Church Leader Returned to Public Security Bureau - China Aid Association
On November 22, the case for house church leader Zhou Heng was returned to the Public Security Bureau by the Shayibake District People's Procuratorate of Urumqi city, Xingjiang province, China. According to China Aid Association, "Under heavy pressure from the international community, the prosecutors sent back Zhou's case because of insufficient evidence to indict him." Zhou Heng was arrested in August 2007, for receiving three tons of Bibles donated by South Korean churches. The Bibles were intended for distribution to local believers free of charge. Prior to his arrest, Zhou managed a bookstore, called Yayi Christian Bookroom, and sold religious books. Authorities have closed the bookstore. Pray for the case against Zhou Heng to be dropped. Ask God to protect Christians who live and share their faith under difficult conditions. Isaiah 26: 3, Psalm 23 Psalm 118:17, Psalm 91


NIGERIA Ten Killed, Churches and Homes Burned - Compass Direct News
Ten people were killed, several Christians injured seriously and churches, businesses and homes burned, when Muslim extremists went on a rampage in Yelwa Tudu, Bauchi state, Northern Nigeria on December 11, 2007, According to Compass Direct News, the violence occurred after unidentified people pulled out two bricks from the foundation of a mosque under construction at the Baba Tank Secondary School in Kagadama shortly after construction began on December 2. Compass Direct added, "Muslim extremists believed Christians were responsible for the damage and threatened to attack local believers. Area Muslims joined the attacking students, resulting in the deaths and damages in the city, including the burning of dozens of homes belonging to Christians. The Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Assemblies of God Church and Elim Church were set on fire and damaged. At least a dozen Christian homes were destroyed in the attack." Only one of those killed has been identified as a Christian. The identities of the other nine were reportedly kept a secret by the government and their bodies were hurriedly buried in one grave. Pray the Lord will fill Christians with His peace and strength as they recover from this attack. Ask God to comfort those who have lost loved ones. Pray Christ will be exalted through this tragedy and that people in this area will continue to be drawn to Him. Philippians 1:20, Psalm 107:2


TURKEY Catholic Priest Stabbed - Compass Direct News
On December 16, a 19-year-old Muslim man stabbed a Catholic priest in the stomach outside a Catholic church in Turkey. According to Compass Direct News, Father Adriano Franchini was stabbed near Izmir's St. Anthony Church by a man identified as Ramazan Bay. Although the attacker fled the scene, he was arrested an hour later. Compass Direct reported, "According to the daily Hurriyet newspaper, the arrested assailant admitted in his statement to the police that he had been influenced by a recent episode of the popular television serial drama 'Kurtla Vadisi' (Valley of the Wolves)." The series caricatures Christian missionaries as political "infiltrators" who pay poor families to convert to Christianity. This recent incident is the latest violent attack on Turkey's Christian community. In April 2007, two Turkish converts and a German citizen were tortured and killed at a Christian publishing house in Malatya, Turkey. Five Muslim men confessed to the killings and were arrested. Their trial is currently in progress. Pray for protection for Turkey's Christians. Ask God to give them wisdom as they share the gospel in dangerous situations. Isaiah 54:17, Psalm 91


INDIA Christians Killed, Homes and Churches Burned - VOM Sources
Four Christians were killed, many injured and numerous homes and churches destroyed or damaged in Orissa state in violent clashes that began on Christmas Eve. According to The Voice of the Martyrs sources in India, "Hindu extremists used anti-conversion laws to terrorize Christians. More than 18 churches and prayer houses were ransacked and torched in several areas of Kandhamai district in Orissa. Rev. Basant Diggal, reports that he was assaulted and his motorcycle damaged by a group of miscreants in Minia area where vandals went on a rampage causing damage to another church." VOM sources added Hindu extremists in Orissa have been threatening and terrorizing Christians who are marginalized and are in the minority. VOM sources said, "The attacks took place for the sole reason of terrorizing the Christian community and stopping our missionary work. But the church has always grown in persecution and this will happen again in Orissa. The church which grows in love and unity has as its basis a faith marked by suffering and persecution." Pray for Christians in India who are faced with immense difficulty at this time. Pray for the families of the killed and those whose homes and churches were damaged or destroyed. Ask God to give believers courage to remain faithful despite persecution. Psalm 27:1, Romans 8:31
 

CHINA
Forty House Church Leaders Arrested - China Aid Association
On November 18, 40 leaders of the China Gospel Fellowship (CGF) were arrested. According to a November 27 press release from China Aid Association, eyewitnesses reported Public Security Bureau officers raided a leadership meeting in Fanhu, Hunan, and arrested those present. Within a week, 21 were released, but the remaining detainees are being held at the county detention center. Family members have been told to bring blankets and money to cover their living expenses while detained. All those arrested are senior leaders of the CGF, including its founder, Pastor Shen Yiping. Pray for these detained leaders during this time. Pray that all will be released soon. Pray for the families as they not only deal with the absence of their loved ones, but also face this financial burden forced upon them. Psalm 91, Joshua 1:9

EGYPT
Woman Sentenced for Professing Christianity - VOM Sources
In 1962, Nagui Ibrahim left his home and family and converted to Islam. His identity card was changed to indicate that he was officially a Muslim. At the time, his daughter, Shadia, was two years old. Three years later, he reconciled with his wife, moved home and reconverted to Christianity. Unable to legally change his identity card back to say he was a Christian, Nagui had someone forge his documents. In 1996, the forger was arrested and confessed that he had forged documents for Nagui. Police detained Nagui and told him that he was still legally a Muslim. Children in Egypt automatically take their father's religion, so Shadia was officially considered a Muslim, also. Since she had given her religion as "Christian" when she married in 1982, the courts began proceedings against her. On November 21, 2007, she was sentenced to three years in prison for "providing false information on official documents." Pray Egyptian authorities reverse this unfair decision and allow true freedom of religion in Egypt. Psalm 21:1; 2 Timothy 1:7

INDIA
Church Building Demolished, Young Man Killed - Compass Direct News
On November 19, Hindu militants beat a pastor and others and demolished a house church in Mandwa village, Chhattisgarh. According to a Compass Direct News report, members of the Bajrang Dal extremist group, together with local villagers, surrounded the church, tied up Pastor Suduru Kashyap and his associates and severely beat them. The church building was also destroyed. Reports indicate they tried to kill Pastor Suduru by throwing a large stone at his head. The pastor and his associates went to the local police station where they were detained for 24 hours without food and water. They were finally released without an official complaint being registered. The following day, the body of 21-year-old Aayatu Kashyap, a distant relative of the church's pastor, was found 15 kilometers from the village. The police superintendent claims the killing was a separate incident, but told Compass Direct that villagers were angry with the pastor because he used to criticize other gods. Pray for the family of Aayatu Kashyap as they mourn his death. Pray for a full recovery of those injured in this attack. Pray for the continued ministry of this church despite the ongoing opposition they face. 3 John 2; Psalm 118:17

INDONESIA
Christian Churches Attacked - Christian World News
Recently, a mob of Muslim extremists attacked a house church outside Jakarta, Indonesia, smashing glass windows and destroying property. The extremists threw bricks and stones at Christians. According to Christian World News (CWN), "Church members were hurt, including the head pastor, Lau Doloksaribu, who received two stitches in his temple." Speaking to CWN News, Doloksaribu, who heads Protestant Batak Church, said the attack was not just on his body, but the extremists had assaulted his God-given rights. He added, "The freedom to worship is a basic human right. It is not given by government or the authorities, but it is a free gift from God that should be respected by everyone. And actually, the freedom to worship is guaranteed by the law." The CWN News report stated, "Victims of the attacks say the Indonesian government is doing little to protect their right to worship without interference. Houses of worship are required to have a minimum of 90 members. They must also receive the approval of at least 60 neighbors before they legally hold services." Pray for Christians wounded in the attack and ask God to protect them. Isaiah 40:31, Romans 8:11

____________________________________________________