Prayers for July 1st, 2008 From The Voice of the Martyrs   PAKISTAN Christians Abducted at Gunpoint by Muslim Extremists - VOM Sources On June 21, 16 Christians were abducted by Muslim extremists when they gathered to pray in Academy Town, Peshawar, Pakistan. According to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts in Pakistan, "Salamat Masih and 30 of his family and close friends were gathered to pray and celebrate the birth of his daughter, when 12 Taliban [members] of the Lashka-e-Islam group broke into his house yelling and shouting. They held the believers at gunpoint. The Muslim house-owner, Haji Muhammad Saraj, was also present at the time to collect rent." VOM contacts added, "With machine and automatic guns, they forcibly separated the men from the women and children. Slapping the Christian men, they commanded all 16 men, including Pastor Zulifqar and Haji Muhammad Saraj, to get into the five waiting vehicles." The 16 Christian men were held captive for an hour. "They were beaten and abused, and had all their money and mobile phones stolen from them. During this time, the Taliban attempted to persuade Pastor Zulifqar to convert to Islam, which he unquestionably refused. After sunset the Taliban took them to another place where they were kept in a cave until their release 10 hours later," VOM contacts reported. Pray for believers in Pakistan. Pray God protects them and provides for all their needs. Also pray their courageous testimonies will draw nonbelievers into fellowship with Him. Psalm 91:1-2 EGYPT Christian Homes and Businesses Attacked - VOM Sources On June 19, a mob of local Muslims attacked businesses and homes belonging to Coptic Christians in the village of Al Nazla, Fayoum province. According to VOM contacts, "When a convert from Christianity to Islam left that day on a three-day trip to Cairo, local Muslims concluded that she had gone missing. Rumors circulated that she had been abducted by her Christian family members. A mob of Muslims then went on a rampage in the village, beating and injuring Christians and destroying property." Ask God to strengthen those affected by the mob violence and for them to remain steadfast as they suffer. Pray that the perpetrators of this attack will come to repentance and salvation. Revelation 2:10 INDONESIA Church Closed Again - VOM Sources Recently, Muslims closed a church and blocked Christians from entering and holding services in Jatimula, Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia. According to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts in Indonesia, "Muslims blocked the alley leading to the church building. Pastor Anna and Huta Julu had to lead worship outside their church building and believers had to sit in the dirty alley to pray outside their church." VOM contacts added, "The sign outside the church building stated, ‘This church building is sealed,’ and it was written on a letterhead belonging to the Tambun Selatan district of Bekasi local government." This is the second time Muslims have closed the church in Bekasi. The church was first closed on September 10, 2005, when a mob of 100 Muslims nailed boards over doors and windows and prohibited believers from entering the building. Praise God for the unwavering faith of believers in Indonesia. Ask God to watch over Pastor Anna and Huta Julu as they continue to lead other believers in Indonesia. Pray for protection for believers as they courageously live for Christ in the midst of hardships. John 15: 18-21 AZERBAIJAN Pastor Arrested - Forum 18 News On June 20, Pastor Hamid Shabanov was arrested after police claimed to find an illegal weapon while searching his home in Aliabad. According to Forum 18 News, "Pastor Shabanov's family and congregation insist that police planted the gun they claimed to discover. Shabanov's brother sees the arrest as a direct attack on the pastor's Baptist church and an attempt to halt Christian activity in the area. Shabanov's home was among those searched when another local pastor arrested on fabricated charges, Pastor Zaur Balaev, was detained in May 2007." Pray that the truth of this situation will be made known and that Pastor Shabanov will be released. Pray that Christians in Azerbaijan will be emboldened to follow in their Savior’s footsteps. 1 Corinthians 4:9-16

IRAN House Church Leader Arrested – Compass Direct News On May 31, house church leader Mohsen Namvar was arrested by eight police officers in his home in Tehran, Iran. According to Compass Direct News, "The officers confiscated a number of Namvar's personal belongings including his computer, printer, CDs, books and money. He was given no official explanation for the arrest, and his current location is unknown." Compass Direct added, "According to an Iranian pastor residing outside the country, Namvar had anticipated that police would come for him since hearing that he had been implicated during police interrogations of Christians in the city of Amol in April. He had been warned by a friend that authorities were keeping him under close watch. Namvar was previously held and tortured for baptizing Muslim converts to Christianity in the spring of 2007." Pray for Namvar's release. Pray that he will act as a faithful witness for Christ during his detention. Pray that his wife and children will rely on the Lord for comfort and strength. Matthew 5:14-16 INDIA Christians Attacked at Vacation Bible School – VOM Sources On April 25, Pastor Mohan Babu and two other believers were severely beaten by 35 Hindu extremists for holding a Vacation Bible School (VBS) near Bangalore City, in Karnataka State. According to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts in India, the three-day VBS was organized by Ragigudda Baptist Church. VOM sources said, "Around 60 children from different backgrounds were attending the VBS. As they were worshiping, about 35 people belonging to a Hindu extremist group forcefully entered the hut chanting slogans and demolished the hut. The extremists mercilessly beat Mohan, Samuel and Krishna, alleging forceful conversion. The perpetrators chased the children without any courtesy and tore the Bibles. Mohan was severely injured on his lips and was profusely bleeding. The believers are living in fear and did not lodge complaint with the police." Pray for healing for all those injured in this attack. Pray they forgive their attackers and for the children who were attending VBS to continue growing in their faith despite the attack. Psalm 140:1-8 Psalm 140:1-8 TURKEY Murder Suspects Accuse Each Other in Trial in Turkey – Compass Direct News On June 9, seven suspects on trial for the brutal murder of three Christians in Turkey appeared in court – each one protesting his innocence and incriminating one or more of the others. According to Compass Direct News, "The hearing in eastern Turkey marked the first time the five jailed murderers and two accused accomplices have appeared together in court to be cross-examined over contradictions in their individual court testimonies." Compass Direct added, "In addition to the five accused murderers – Hamit Ceker, Cuma Ozdemir, Abuzer Yildirim, Salih Gurler and Emre Gunaydin – two others, Kursat Kocadag and Mehmet Gokce, face charges as accomplices." Turkish Christians Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel and German Christian Tilmann Geske were brutally killed on April 18, 2007, at Zirve Publishing offices in Malatya. Keep the families of those killed in your prayers as the trial continues. Ask God to make the truth known to authorities as they prosecute this trial. Also pray for protection for the families of those killed and for believers in Turkey who serve Christ in the midst of persecution. Psalm 91 UZBEKISTAN Government Airs Television Program Aimed to Incite Muslims Against Christians – Forum 18 News Earlier this week, Uzbekistan's state-run TV station showed a film which Christians and other religious minorities believe will incite religious hatred. According to Forum 18 News, the film entitled "In the clutches of ignorance," was shown before live coverage of the Euro 2008 football championship, to attract the largest possible audience. Forum 18 News reported, "The first broadcast of the film made some members of religious minorities 'afraid to go out on the street where they live for fear of being persecuted.' A member of a religious organization not attacked in the film stressed that members of their community are disturbed 'that members of religious minorities are cast in such a negative perspective.'" A Protestant attacked in the film told Forum 18 after the second showing, "The government is trying to stir up Muslims against Christians." Forum 18 News added, "Following the first showing, a Baptist congregation which has been attacked elsewhere in the state-run mass media was raided and banned from meeting. One Baptist complained that 'broadcasting such a film amounts to incitement of religious hatred in our country.'" Pray God protects Christians in Uzbekistan. Ask God to stop any attacks that the enemy has planned against believers as a result of this film. Pray Christians in Uzbekistan will show their persecutors the love of Christ. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

 

 

 

 

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