Zhang Rongliang released from prison!

Praise God!
Zhang Rongliang has been released!
(Photo: ChinaAid)

Zhang Rongliang, a prominent house church leader sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison in 2004, was released nine months early on August 31, reports VOM partner ChinaAid.

Zhang was charged with "attaining a passport through cheating" and "illegal border crossing" after attending several international mission conferences. Before his 2004 arrest, he had spent 12 years in prison on five different occasions during which he suffered severe torture, including electric shocks.

While Zhang was in prison there were serious concerns about his health. In 2007, it was reported that he was near death due to diabetes and high blood pressure (for more, click here). However, his family reports that Zhang is now in good health.

Zhang and his family members thank all those around the world who advocated on his behalf.

To read the full report from ChinaAid, click here.

Three Christians kidnapped in Iraq

Please pray for three kidnapped Christians in Iraq.

Three Christians were kidnapped near Kirkuk on September 21, reports Middle East Concern.

The believers were returning from a hunting trip when their vehicle was stopped by a group of armed men. A fourth person, of Turkoman ethnicity, travelling with them was also kidnapped. The group's burnt-out vehicle was found shortly afterwards, and the remains of their hunting dogs were found inside.

Iraqi Christians fear that this is incident is yet another attack aimed at the Christian presence in Iraq.

Iraqi Christians request our prayers that:

• The kidnapped men will be released unharmed.
• They and their families will know the peace and presence of Jesus.
• The kidnappers will know the Spirit's conviction, the Son's offer of forgiveness and the Father's welcome to relationship with God.

Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani refuses to recant, faces execution

Pastor Youcef and his family. (Photo: Present Truth Ministries)

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian pastor sentenced to death for apostasy in September 2010, refused to recant his faith during four court hearings held on September 25-28. He now faces an imminent verdict of the death sentence, which is expected to be issued within seven days.

"They probably won't kill him today, but they can do it whenever they want," a source said. "Sometimes in Iran they call the family and deliver the body with the verdict."

In July, the Supreme Court instructed the Revolutionary Tribunal of Gilan Province to review Youcef's case to verify whether he was previously a practicing Muslim (for more information, click here). At the recent hearings, the court in Rasht ruled that Pastor Youcef was not a practicing Muslim before becoming a Christian but that he remains guilty of apostasy because of his Muslim ancestry.

Please pray!

• Pray for continued strength and grace for Pastor Youcef. 
• Pray that all charges against him will be dropped. 
• Pray that Pastor Youcef will rely on the Lord to give him the words to say when he stands before accusing authorities (Matthew 10:19). 
• Pray that Iranian authorities will act justly in this case.

Please act!
A source in Iran has shared that it is critical for foreign governments to negotiate and engage in diplomacy with Iranian authorities about Nadarkhani's case, adding that Youcef's predicament could be more hopeful if they intervened. Please raise a voice on Pastor Youcef's behalf by writing Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, your local MP, and the Iranian embassy. For addresses and a sample letter you can use, click here.

(Sources: Compass Direct, Present Truth Ministries, Christian Solidarity Worldwide).

VOM is coming to Winnipeg this weekend

You are invited to join The Voice of the Martyrs in Winnipeg on Saturday, October 1 for a day of hearing and seeing how God is moving in nations where Christians are persecuted for their faith.

Several VOM staff members will be sharing stories from their recent trips to visit Christians from Nigeria, Colombia, Vietnam, North Korea, Indonesia and Iraq. You will learn how VOM comes alongside persecuted believers in these restricted nations and how you can get involved.

As 2011 is also VOM’s 40th year of ministry, our founders, Klaas and Nellie Brobbel, will be on hand to share testimonies of God’s faithfulness over the years.

Event details are as follows:
October 1
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cornerstone Alliance Church
920 Cottonwood Rd.
Winnipeg, MB  R2J 1G2

The conference is free and open to all. Kindly RSVP with your name and the number attending by calling 1-888-298-6423 or emailing rsvp@vomcanada.org. When emailing, please note “Winnipeg Conference” in the subject line. Find out more at www.persecution.net/40th.

We look forward to seeing you there! Please bring your friends and family members!

Raise a voice for Pastor Youcef!

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian pastor sentenced to death for apostasy in September 2010, refused to recant his faith during four court hearings held on September 25-28. He now faces an imminent verdict of the death sentence. "They probably won't kill him today, but they can do it whenever they want," a source said. "Sometimes in Iran they call the family and deliver the body with the verdict."

Please join us in raising a voice on Pastor Youcef’s behalf.

• Write Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Baird. Send him an email today at john.baird@parl.gc.ca. You can also mail him postage-free at:

          The Honourable John Baird
          House of Commons
          Ottawa, ON
          K1A 0A6

• Be sure to copy your local MP on the letter to Mr. Baird. You can locate your MP’s contact information here. 

• Write or fax the Iranian embassy in Canada:

          Mr. Kambiz Sheikh Hassani
          Chargé d'affaires, a.i.
          Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
          245 Metcalfe Street
          Ottawa, ON K2P 2K2
          Fax: (613) 232-5712

Use the sample letter below to guide you as you write. For further guidelines on how to write government officials, click here.

Thank you for raising a voice!

* * *

[Date]

[Government official’s address]

Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. [MP’s surname]  OR  His Excellency Kambiz Sheikh Hassani,

I am writing today to express my concern for Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old pastor from Rasht, Iran, was arrested in October 2009 after he protested a government policy that required children, including his eight- and nine-year-old sons, to study the Qur’an in school. Nadarkhani told school officials that the Iranian constitution allows for freedom of religious practice.

As a result of his protest, secret police called him before a political tribunal and arrested him for protesting. The charges were later amended to apostasy and evangelism of Muslims. Nadarkhani was tried on September 21 and 22, 2010, and sentenced to death for apostasy on November 13.

In July 2011, the Supreme Court instructed the Revolutionary Tribunal of Gilan Province to review his case to verify whether he was previously a practicing Muslim. During hearings on September 25-28, the court in Rasht ruled that Pastor Nadarkhani was not a practicing Muslim before becoming a Christian but that he remains guilty of apostasy because of his Muslim ancestry. Pastor Nadarkhani now awaits a written verdict of the death sentence, which can be issued at any time.

Pastor Nadarkhani faces the death penalty solely on the basis of his adopting Christianity. As such, the Islamic Republic of Iran is violating its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 18 includes a provision for the right to “have or to adopt” a religion, which has been interpreted authoritatively by the UN Human Rights Committee as including the right to change one’s religion.

Further, Iran’s constitution sanctions Christianity as a legitimate minority faith and asserts that Christians are allowed to freely carry out their religious rites. Article 23 asserts that no one may be “reprimanded simply because of having a certain belief.”

I am very concerned about Pastor Nadarkhani’s welfare and I respectfully request that you give your attention to this urgent matter. Thank you for your time.

Yours sincerely,

[Your name and address]

Conflict continues for Christians in Nigeria

VOM’s Greg Musselman recently spoke with Mission Network News about recent violence between Muslims and Christians in Jos, Nigeria.

You can read the article below:

Nigeria (MNN) ― At least 14 people died in Jos, Nigeria, in a flare up of Christian and Muslim violence. Reprisal clashes heightened fears of larger-scale attacks in the cycle of violence.

Voice of the Martyrs Canada reports that among the dead was a Christian family of eight, two adults, and six children. Spokesman Greg Musselman explains, "You have these radicalized Muslim youth. It was the end of Ramadan, they were celebrating, and again, violence flared up. They were looking for trouble, and they went after some Christian families.”

In the escalating violence, two churches were burnt down. Christian and Muslim religious leaders have appealed for peace. Bombs were placed in front of houses of worship.

In 1999, Sharia law was implemented in 12 northern and central states. The question is: why does Plateau State seemingly crack under tensions more than other states. Again, Mussleman says, "Jos straddles the middle ground in Nigeria between the largely Muslim North and the Christian South. So the city and the nation is divided along religious, tribal and political lines."

Due to violence like this, many Christians have been displaced from Muslim areas, initially in the north, where Sharia -- strict Islamic law -- has been imposed. "There are the Islamic militant groups that have really emboldened since the 9/11 attacks, so even though you have a majority Christian population in Jos, you have the Islamists who want to turn that into a Muslim state."

According to a Reuters timeline of the unrest in the same area, there have been nine major flare-ups of rioting and violence between Christians and Muslims since 2000. In each of these incidents, hundreds lost their lives, churches were burned, and many more injured. "Anything that happens politically or any kind of little flare up is used by these Islamic groups to go after the Christians", explains Musselman. He adds, "That's why so many of them are killed. As much as we pray that it would stop, the current climate shows no sign of that slowing down."

Pray that Christians in Nigeria will demonstrate the love of Christ, in spite of the opposition they face. "This is an ongoing situation. It just seems to pop up every few weeks, and lately it's just becoming more intense," Musselman says.

Lately, however, more churches are throwing off the cloak of silence. "They realize that we really need to share the message, and they crossed the line in the sense of: 'Hey, if I get killed, I get killed, but I'm going to preach Christ.' So the message of the Gospel is going powerfully forward, and many of these Islamists are coming to know Christ."

Voice of the Martyrs Canada teams continue to remain active through their medical work, the aid they give to stranded families persecuted for their faith, and in many ways supportive through the prayer networks around the world.

Iranian pastor refuses to recant during court hearings

Please keep Pastor Youcef in your prayers.
(Photo: Present Truth Ministries)

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian pastor sentenced to death for apostasy in September 2010, refused to recant his Christian faith during two court hearings held on September 25 and 26, reports Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

In July, the Supreme Court instructed the Revolutionary Tribunal of Gilan Province to review his case to verify whether he was previously a practicing Muslim (for more information, click here).

At the recent hearings, the court in Rasht ruled that Pastor Youcef was not a practicing Muslim before becoming a Christian but that he remains guilty of apostasy because of his Muslim ancestry. Further sessions have reportedly been scheduled for September 27 and 28. If Pastor Youcef continues to refuse to recant his faith, it is expected that he will be executed.

For the full report, click here.

Please pray!

• Pray for continued strength and grace for Pastor Youcef. 
• Pray that all charges against him will be dropped. 
• Pray that Pastor Youcef will rely on the Lord to give him the words to say when he stands before accusing authorities (Matthew 10:19). 
• Pray that Iranian authorities will act justly in this case. 

The cost of following Christ in Iran

Mehdi Forootan spent 105 days
in Iran’s Evin Prison.
(Photo: Compass Direct)

Source: Compass Direct

It was early in the morning the day after Christmas. It was cold. Mehdi Forootan sat in the back seat of an undercover police car in front of his house in Tehran, Iran. He was barely awake. An officer pointed a camcorder at him.

The officer had recorded the entire police raid on his house, where he and three other officers claiming to be from the anti-narcotics squad confiscated Forootan’s books, computers and other important documents.

Forootan, 33, wasn’t afraid; he was not guilty of anything. He had heard of Christian friends being arrested and released, and he thought he could manage being in prison as they had. The officers said they wanted to ask him some questions and that they would return him home in a few hours. Forootan thought he might make it back in time for the Christmas sermon he had prepared for a group of Iranian believers who were going to meet in a home that evening. The camera was still on him.

“Do you know why you were arrested?” the officer behind the camcorder asked him calmly.

“No,” Forootan said dryly.

“I’ll ask you a second time,” said the officer with the camera. “Do you know why we took you?”

“No!” Forootan replied. “Why don’t you tell me why you are taking me?”

The officer turned off the camera and looked Forootan in the eyes.

“I can beat you until blood is coming out of your mouth and every part of you. The next time I turn on the camera, you tell me why we are taking you,” the officer said and turned the camera back on.

“Ok, I guess you arrested me for Christianity and my faith in Jesus Christ,” Forootan said.

The officer turned off the camera and asked: “Do you want to come back to Islam?”

“No,” Forootan said.

“We want to take you to a bad place,” the officer said. “Do you know anything about Evin?”

Forootan’s heart sank at the mention of the ill-famed prison, though he tried not to show it. “Yes, I know.”

On December 26, 2010, authorities had arrested Forootan in a wave of persecution against Iran’s underground church movement. It is estimated that Iranian authorities arrested over 120 Christians in a two-month period. Most of them were released within days, but Forootan was among a small group who were not. Without explanation, authorities freed him on April 9.

Read the rest of Forootan’s account of imprisonment here.

Story from church history: R.J. Thomas' deadly mission in Korea

The following was excerpted from an article by Dan Graves for www.Christianity.com.

Robert J. Thomas was haunted by the thought of Korea. A Welsh missionary to China, he knew that the people of the "Hermit Kingdom" needed the gospel. But Korea, observing how westerners had mistreated China, closed its doors to foreigners. Burning with evangelistic zeal, Robert felt he must do something about the people's ignorance of eternal life.

On September 13, 1865, he arrived on the coast of Korea and began to learn what he could about the people and their language. By his action, Robert became the first Protestant missionary to the ancient land, whose name means "chosen."

Lacking Korean language material, Robert handed out tracts and New Testaments in Chinese. He soon had to return to China, where, the following year, his wife died.

In 1866, Robert learned that an American boat, the General Sherman, was going to try to establish trade relations between Korea and the United States. He offered to accompany the boat as an interpreter in exchange for a chance to spread the gospel.

That August, the General Sherman sailed up the Taedong River toward Pyongyang. Robert tossed gospel tracts onto the river bank as the ship proceeded.

Korean officials ordered the American boat to leave at once. The Americans defied the warning. They paid for their arrogance with their lives. The schooner ran aground and stuck fast in the muddy bottom.

The Governor of the province, Pak Kyu Su, attacked the ship. When the Koreans tried to board, waving machetes, the Americans opened fire. Over the next two weeks, the Americans held the Koreans off, killing twenty and wounding many more. By September 3, the Koreans were fed up. They launched a burning boat down river at the General Sherman to set it afire. Now the Americans had to dash ashore or burn to death.

As the sailors fled from the boat, the Koreans killed them. Robert had to flee with the rest. True to his mission, he leaped from the boat carrying a Bible. "Jesus, Jesus!" he cried in Korean to the attackers, offering them the Bible. His head was whacked off with a stroke of a machete according to one account, but others think he pleaded for his life and was beaten to death.

But God worked in the heart of the man who killed Robert. Convinced by Robert's beaming face that he had killed a good man, he kept one of the Bibles, wallpapering his house with it. People came from far and near to read its words. A church grew. A nephew of Robert's killer became a pastor.

Today 40% of South Koreans are Christians and the nation has some of the largest congregations in the world but the North remains largely closed to the gospel.

To learn more about the struggles Christians in North Korea endure, check out Restricted Nations: North Korea. This book shares a brief overview of North Korea’s rich spiritual heritage and what the steadfast faith of believers costs them. You can order a copy from our online catalogue.

First hearing scheduled for Iranian pastor Youcef Nardarkhani

Please pray for Youcef Nardarkhani!
(Photo: Present Truth Ministries)

The first hearing for Youcef Nardarkhani, an Iranian pastor who received a death sentence for apostasy, has been scheduled for September 25, reports Middle East Concern.

In July, the Supreme Court instructed the Revolutionary Tribunal of Gilan Province to review Youcef's case to verify whether he was previously a practicing Muslim (for more information, click here). Youcef claims that, although raised in a Muslim home, he was never a Muslim by choice, conviction, belief or consistent practice, and that he should therefore not be regarded as an apostate.

If the Tribunal concludes that Youcef was previously a Muslim and so is now an apostate, the Supreme Court's ruling makes clear that he should then be executed unless he recants his faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord.

You can help by praying!

• Pray that Youcef will not be declared an apostate.
• Pray that he will remain firm in his faith and know the presence and peace of Jesus each day.
• Pray that his wife, Fatemeh, and their two sons will know the comfort and hope of Jesus, and that the family will be reunited soon.
• Pray that all officials involved will act justly in this case.

Police admit extremist group behind Shahbaz Bhatti’s murder

Police admit the assassination
of Pakistan’s Minister of Minority Affairs
was an act of terrorism by the Taliban.

Last month, we reported that Christian leaders in Punjab province, Pakistan, rejected claims by investigators that the murder of Pakistan’s Minister of Minority Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, was in relation to a land dispute with family.

Pakistan’s The Express Tribune reports that Islamabad’s senior police officer, Bani Amin Khan, has admitted that Bhatti was assassinated by Islamic extremist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Khan told the Senate standing committee that the TTP is indeed responsible for the “act of terrorism.”

Bhatti had criticized the country’s controversial blasphemy laws in relation to many cases of Christians being falsely accused of blaspheming Muhammad or the Qur’an, including the highly publicized case of Asia Bibi. Under the law, blasphemy is punishable with death.

Bhatti had received various threats from al-Qaida and the Taliban, but said in a video shortly before he died that he would continue standing up for the minorities.

“I’m ready to die for a cause. I’m living for my community and suffering people and I will die to defend their rights. These threats and these warnings cannot change my opinion and principles,” said Bhatti.

At the scene of his murder, pamphlets were found attributing the murder to the Pakistani Taliban. They warned of the same fate for others opposing the blasphemy laws.

Protests and appeals by Christian leaders in Pakistan are seeing fruit as the police change directions and are now turning their attention to seek out the real culprits.

Read The Express Tribune’s full article here. You can hear Bhatti’s comments regarding the threats he received here.

Convert to Christianity beheaded in Somalia

A kidnapped Christian convert from Islam was found decapitated on September 2 on the outskirts of Hudur City in Bakool region, in south-western Somalia, reports Compass Direct News.

Juma Nuradin Kamil, who embraced Christianity about three years ago, was kidnapped on August 21 by three suspected Islamic extremists from the al Shabaab terrorist group. Muslim extremists from al Shabaab, a militant group with ties to al Qaeda, have vowed to rid Somalia of Christianity.

Sources believe the kidnapping and subsequent manner of murder suggest that al Shabaab militants had been monitoring him. “It is usual for the al Shabaab to decapitate those they suspect to have embraced the Christian faith, or sympathisers of western ideals,” a Christian leader said. “Our brother ... was determined in his faith in God. We greatly miss him.”

The community did not initially bury Juma’s body out of fear that al Shabaab extremists would associate them with the newly discovered convert. “The community feared burying him, and his body lay in the open for two days before unknown people buried him secretly,” a Christian shared.

Please pray!

• Pray for Juma’s family and the grieving Christian community. May they rest in the knowledge that the Good Shepherd walks with them through this difficult time.
• Ask the Lord to protect believers in Somalia and deliver them from harm.
• Pray that the perpetrators will repent and turn to Jesus Christ.

Please visit our Somalia Country Report for more information on our suffering brothers and sisters in Somalia.

Prisoner of faith: Youcef Nadarkhani

Please write to Pastor Youcef!
(Photo: Present Truth Ministries)

Youcef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old pastor from Rasht, Iran, was arrested in October 2009 after he protested a government policy that required children, including his eight- and nine-year-old sons, to study the Qur’an in school. Youcef told school officials that the Iranian constitution allows for freedom of religious practice.

As a result of his protest, secret police called him before a political tribunal and arrested him for protesting. The charges were later amended to apostasy and evangelism of Muslims. Youcef was tried on September 21–22, 2010, and sentenced to death for apostasy on November 13.

At last report, Iran's Supreme Court sent the case back to a lower court. The judges are reportedly seeking clarification as to whether Pastor Youcef was truly a Muslim prior to becoming a Christian. If Pastor Youcef is determined to have been a "true" Muslim and does not recant his Christian faith the death sentence will stand. It is also feared that Pastor Youcef could be executed before the court re-examines the case.

Youcef’s lawyer has also been sentenced to nine years in jail and a 10-year ban on practicing law or teaching at university for "actions and propaganda against the Islamic regime.”

Please encourage Youcef by writing him a letter!

Your letter will testify to the love and unity found among followers of Jesus Christ throughout the world. It will also serve as a witness to both your imprisoned family and to the authorities who may censor the letter.

Please note: When writing a letter, never mention the name of the source of your information or the name of any organization such as Voice of the Martyrs or Prisoner Alert. It is not dangerous for a prisoner to receive letters from individuals, but if an organization is mentioned they may be accused of links with “foreign organizations” and receive harsher sentences. Also, please do not state anything negative about their government. For more information on letter writing, please visit www.persecution.net/write.htm. To create a letter using phrases in Youcef’s own language, please visit www.PrisonerAlert.com.

Please send your letters to:
Youcef Nadarkhani
Lakan Prison
Rasht
Islamic Republic of Iran

Imprisoned priest in Vietnam remains seriously ill

Please pray for Father Ly!

Father Nguyen Van Ly, 65, a Catholic priest sentenced to eight years in prison in 2007, remains seriously ill, reports Human Rights Watch.

In March 2010, Father Ly was released from prison on a temporary medical parole after suffering three strokes in prison. He was returned to jail on July 25, 2011, to serve the remainder of his sentence (for more information, click here).

Since 1977, Father Ly has spent a total of 15 years in prison for his work in advocating religious freedom, democracy and human rights in Vietnam.

“Father Ly was convicted solely for expressing peaceful political beliefs and he should never have been imprisoned in the first place,” Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said. “We are concerned that his return to prison when he is so ill is putting his life at grave risk.”

You can help by praying!

• Pray that Father Ly will know the Lord’s care and provision in his life. 
• Pray that the charges against Father Ly will be dropped. Pray for his healing. 
• Pray that Father Ly’s testimony will embolden other Vietnamese Christians.
• Pray that religious freedom and human rights will be respected in Vietnam.

Please remember Father Ly in your personal prayers as well as in prayers with your family, prayer group or congregation. You can also post your prayers in the comments section below. 

Words from our founder: Let us draw water

Hagar and Ishamel in the wilderness.
(By Gustave Doré)

Hagar was sent away by Abraham into the wilderness. After travelling a long way with her son, Ishmael, she found that the contents of her only bottle of water were depleted.

She was in a desert place. There was no hope. She sat the child under a shrub and then sat down across from him at a distance and wept. It seemed that the child was lost. A thirsty child, empty bottle, a scorching sun. She expected him to die.

But there was one factor she had forgotten to take into account. We also tend to forget this when we pass through difficulties. There is a God. He revealed a well of water to the woman who went about with an empty bottle. God may have deprived you of small possibilities in order to give you great ones.

We carry bottles; God has wells. Let us draw water from the wells of salvation.

Excerpted from Richard Wurmbrand’s book, Reaching Toward the Heights. You can order this book on our online catalogue or by contacting our office.

The Voice of the Martyrs was founded in the mid-1960s by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who was imprisoned and tortured by Communist authorities in his native Romania for 14 years. While still in prison, Pastor Wurmbrand envisioned a ministry that would focus on the plight of the persecuted Church, raise a voice on their behalf, and provide encouragement and assistance to them. For more information, please visit our website.

Coming up: Theology of persecution seminar

Dr. Sudhakar Mondithoka

VOM Canada, along with The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC), is pleased to announce a two-day seminar on the theology of persecution.

The seminar, led by Dr. Sudhakar Mondithoka, will focus on religious freedom and the global persecution of Christians.

Sudhakar Mondithoka is the Director of the Hyderabad Institute of Theology and Apologetics, located in Hyderabad, India. Ordained in the North American Baptist Conference and published in several journals and texts on missiology, Sudhakar served with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries from 1994 to 2006. Sudhakar also pastors the English congregation of Centenary Baptist Church in Secunderabad, India.

The Theology of Persecution Seminar 

Tuesday, September 27 & Wednesday, September 28

Cost:

$60.00 for registrations received before September 16

$80.00 for late registrations

Location:

The Life Centre

2214 Innes Road

Ottawa, ON  K1B 4C4

All recipients will receive a copy the book In the Shadow of the Cross by former VOM Canada CEO Glenn Penner and a DVD copy of the teaching as recorded at these seminars. Breaks and lunches are included in registration cost.

To register or for more information, please visit EFC’s website.

Church construction hindered by Muslims in Egypt

Egyptian Christians have requested prayers for an incident concerning the renovation of a church building in the village of Merinab in Aswan province, reports Middle East Concern.

The church of St George is being renovated, with all necessary building permits in place. However, on August 26 there was a confrontation between local Muslims and Christian residents. In subsequent days a mob of Muslims blocked all roads into the village, demanding that work on the church building be stopped.

On September 2 a meeting was held involving the church leaders, local Muslim leaders and representatives of the security forces. The church leaders agreed to forgo the construction of the spire and external cross on the building in order to maintain communal harmony.

However, the following week there were further threats against the church as mobs of Muslims demanded that the domes be removed from the church building's roof structure. A further meeting failed to agree a way forward.

Muslims have stated that the whole church building will be dismantled following noon prayers on Friday, September 16, unless the domes are taken down. Community leaders are pleased that the security forces are present and endeavouring to maintain law and order. However, they are concerned that they will have insufficient resources to handle the large crowds of Muslims expected to be present in the area on Friday.

Please pray!

• Pray that the situation in Merinab will be defused and the church building work continue as planned. 
• Pray that Christians in Merinab will know the presence and peace of Jesus, and the daily guiding wisdom of the Spirit. 
• Pray there will be effective government action to address sectarian pressures against church building projects. 
• Ask the Lord that all officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him.

Check out our redesigned website!

Our website has a new look! With its fresh design, easier navigation and several new features, www.persecution.net will help grow your understanding of the persecuted Church and how you can remember those suffering for their faith.

Visit our new site today!

We’d love to hear what you think about the new site! Please leave your comments below.

Christian killed in the Philippines

A Christian man, Clarito dela Cruz, was recently murdered by Muslims in the region of Mindanao in the Philippines, reports our sister mission, VOM-USA.

On July 26, a Muslim couple pretending to be husband and wife hired Clarito to drive them to a remote village near the town of Linamon. It is then believed that the couple, likely assisted by a companion, tortured and strangled Clarito with an electrical wire. They also shot him twice and stole his motorbike, which belonged to his father-in-law and was the family's means of earning a living.

Clarito leaves behind a wife named Leodel, who is pregnant, and their three-year-old son. Clarito's parents oversee their church's evangelism program, and his pastor told a VOM worker that Muslims in the area had tried to convert church members to Islam. Muslims attacked Christians in Linamon several years ago, burning homes and stealing livestock.

Please pray!

• Pray that Clarito's loved ones will find strength, courage and peace in Christ as they grieve his loss. 
• Pray for special provision for his wife and children as they face life without him. 
• Pray that God will continue to embolden Christians in the Philippines to be imitators of Christ and his steadfast faithfulness at great cost (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Prison Inmates

Excerpted from Extreme Devotion, a book of 365 true accounts of men and women who totally sold out for Jesus.

The preacher was only making his first point when the prison guards burst into the room, grabbing him and slamming everyone else on the floor.

“You know this preaching is forbidden,” one of them growled. “Now you will face the punishment.” The husky guards dragged him out of the cell and down the hall. The other prisoners knew that the Eastern European Communist guards were taking their friend to the “beating room.” They heard the door of that terrible room slam and then the muffled shouts and cries as the guards ruthlessly beat their friend.

Almost an hour had passed before the guards threw open the cell door and shoved in the man who had been preaching. The other prisoners saw that his clothes were now bloody and his face bore the marks of the beatings. He looked around at his cell mates almost as if taking attendance.

“Now, my brothers,” he said, “Where did I leave off when we were so rudely interrupted?” And the sermon continued. Christians in prison knew the price they would pay to deliver a sermon, and yet many preached. Some, with no theological training or ministry experience, would preach passionately and eloquently in prison.

“It was a deal,” wrote one prisoner later. “We preached, and they beat. We were happy preaching, and they were happy beating – so everyone was happy.”

In a world where a contract is no longer binding, a family is dissoluble, and divorces outnumber marriages, Christians must reinstate the meaning of commitment – at all costs. What is the value of a promise if it does not mean anything? However, the consequences of our commitment to Christ are not cheap. It may cost us a chance at being very successful according to the world’s standards. It may cost us friends and popularity. It may cost us our family. Our security. And for some, even our lives. Commitment must have a price. The prisoners understood that full well. Yet Christ’s reward is also part of the bargain. Are you holding up your end of the deal?

You can order a copy of this book from our online catalogue or by contacting our office. 

Please join us!

VOM is coming to Ottawa on September 24.
Please join us!

You are invited to join The Voice of the Martyrs in Ottawa on September 24 for a day of hearing and seeing how God is moving in nations where Christians are persecuted for their faith.

We will be joined by a special guest, Rev. Sudhakar Mondithoka, director of the Hyderabad Institute of Theology and Apologetics and former India director for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. He will share a report from the persecuted Church in India. Rev. Mondithoka, a gifted communicator, will bless and challenge you.

In addition, several VOM staff members will share stories from recent trips to visit Christians from Nigeria, Colombia, Vietnam, North Korea, Indonesia and Iraq. You will learn how VOM comes alongside persecuted believers in these restricted nations and how you can get involved.

As 2011 is also VOM’s 40th year of ministry, our founders, Klaas and Nellie Brobbel, will be on hand to share testimonies of God’s faithfulness over the years.

Event details are as follows:

September 24
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Grace Presbyterian Church
1220 Old Tenth Line Road
Orleans (Ottawa), ON K1E 3W7

The conference is free and open to all. Kindly RSVP with your name and the number attending by calling 1-888-298-6423 or emailing rsvp@vomcanada.org. When emailing, please note “Ottawa Conference” in the subject line. Find out more at www.persecution.net/40th.

We look forward to seeing you there! Please feel free to invite your friends and family members!

Government overturns religious property seizures in Turkey

The Turkish government made an historic U-turn in state policy recently, issuing an official decree inviting Turkey's Christian and Jewish communities to reclaim their long-confiscated religious properties, reports Compass Direct.

The decree comes 75 years after the Turkish government seized hundreds of lands and buildings owned by its Greek, Armenian, Syriac and Jewish communities.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the surprise decision on August 28 in Istanbul, addressing a large gathering of Istanbul's non-Muslim religious leaders who represent 161 minority foundations.
The landmark decree is a significant step toward eliminating decades of unfair practices imposed by the Turkish state against its non-Muslim citizens.

Their former holdings include schools, churches, cemeteries, stores, hospitals, orphanages, houses, apartment buildings and factories that were seized by the Turkish state and re-registered as public or foundation properties. A number were later sold to third parties. The new decree states that owners of properties sold by the state to third parties will be reimbursed at market value.

The return of these extensive properties to their rightful owners has been a key demand of the European Union, to which Turkey is applying for full membership.

For the full report, click here.

Thank the Lord for this development!

• Pray the transition will go smoothly and there will be no resistance or negative reaction in response. 
• Pray this will provide great encouragement to Christians in Turkey. 
• Pray that believers in Turkey will be a light for Christ in all their thoughts, words and deeds.

Christians slaughtered in Nigeria; army accused of aiding militants

A doctor tends to one of the victims
of an Islamist attack.
(Photo: Compass Direct)

Muslim extremists, with the alleged help of Nigerian army personnel, killed 24 Christians last month in central Nigeria's Plateau state, reports Compass Direct.

The attacks started on August 11 in Ratsa Foron village and continued there on August 15, leaving six Christians dead. Also on August 15 in Heipang village, Muslim extremists killed nine members of one Christian family along with another believer. "I can swear to God Almighty that the attack was carried out with the support of the soldiers; I saw them," said a tearful Nnaji John, who lost her family in the attack.

On August 14, in the community of Chwelnyap in Jos, Muslim extremists killed two Christians and injured one woman. A few days later, on August 21, assaults in Kwi, Loton and Jwol villages resulted in the deaths of six more Christians. Sources added that Nigerian army soldiers participated in the assaults or at least accompanied the assailants.

Plateau Governor Jonah Jang called for immediate withdrawal of the Nigerian army because he believed Muslims in the army had taken sides with Islamist assailants. "I am convinced that the armed forces are being polluted with the religious crisis in the country," Jang said. "Before now, the military personnel used to stay in the barracks, but today the armed forces have started taking sides in this religious crisis, and if they are not called to order it will be dangerous for the country."

For the full report, click here.

You can help by praying!

• Please pray the Lord will have mercy on this nation, pour out His Spirit and loosen the hold the enemy has over many of its people; for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). 
• Pray the Lord will give wisdom and strength to those in authority. 
• Ask Him to comfort those who have suffered as a result of ongoing violent attacks. 

Please also consider sharing your responses and prayers in the comments section below.

Christian woman escapes kidnapper in Pakistan

In 2009, Arifa Alfred was kidnapped in Quetta, Pakistan after drinking tea that had been drugged, reports the Pakistan Christian Post.

When she awoke, she found herself in the home of Mohammad Amjad, a Muslim man who told her that she was now his wife and that she had converted to Islam. Arifa's parents reported her kidnapping to the police, but the police did nothing to help.

During her captivity, Arifa was drugged and physically and mentally tortured. She attempted to flee the house many times, but without success until August 1, when she found the house unlocked for the first time in two years. Despite her many internal injuries due to the torture she had endured, Arifa escaped and fled to the hospital. She then found her brother Adnan, who reported the situation to police.

At last report, the police had done nothing to bring justice; one police inspector even stated he was happy that she had converted to Islam. However, Arifa has shared, "I am a Christian and have stood always steadfast in my Christian faith." Arifa and her family have since gone into hiding due to threats on their lives.

For the full report, click here.

You can help by praying!

• Pray that God will bring about justice for Arifa (Psalm 140). 
• Pray the Lord will protect Arifa, her family and the Christian community. 
• Pray He will minister to her and heal her completely. 
• Pray that her kidnapper will repent and come to know the Lord. 
• Pray for other Christian women in Pakistan who are facing similar struggles.

Church building in ruins; hostilities grow in Sudan

Please continue to pray for our
brothers and sisters in Sudan! 

More than seven months after Muslim extremists burned its church building, a Presbyterian Church of the Sudan (PCOS) congregation is still afraid to meet for worship, reports Compass Direct.

The Rev. Maubark Hamad said his church in Wad Madani has not been able to rebuild since the January 15 devastation due to the congregation's meagre resources. The congregation's building was burned after a series of threats against its members by Muslims extremists. When church leaders reported the case to police, they were surprised to find officers reluctant to investigate.

Christians in Sudan are living beneath a blanket of fear since South Sudan seceded on July 9 (for more information, click here). Just one month after the south voted for independence from the predominantly Islamic north, pressures on churches and Christians have increased, with Muslim groups threatening to destroy churches, kill Christians and purge the country of Christianity.

Please pray with us!

• Pray the Lord will strengthen His Church in Sudan. May He protect believers from harm and grow the Church in faithfulness and in number. 
• Ask Him to give them the grace to overcome their loss and their current fears. 
• Pray they will have the desire to meet with one another for mutual encouragement and to act as witnesses for the gospel.

Please consider sharing the prayer needs of our brothers and sisters in Sudan with your friends and family members. Also, please feel free to add your prayers for this situation in the comments section below.

Christian worshippers brutally beaten by police in Vietnam

Sixteen Christians were recently attacked
and seriously injured in Vietnam. 

A violent attack against minority Degar Montagnard Christians in the central highlands of Vietnam took place in July, leaving 16 Christians severely injured, reports International Christian Concern. One Christian man remains under arrest, his condition unknown.

On July 7, at approximately 8 p.m., Vietnamese security forces and police descended upon a worship service in the village of Buon Kret Krot, Gai Lai Province, and began kicking and beating the attendees. Security forces threatened the villagers, stating: "If anyone worships like this way, we will return to arrest you all and put you in prison for five years." Of the Christians attacked, 10 men and two women were beaten to the point of unconsciousness.

You can help by praying!

• Pray the Lord will bring swift and complete healing to those who were injured. 
• Pray for the release of the believer who was arrested. 
• Ask the Lord to strengthen the faith of these believers. 
• Pray Christians in Vietnam will continue to meet together in spite of the opposition. 
• Pray for the perpetrators of this attack. 

Please consider adding your prayers in the comments section!

Investigation requested for missing human rights lawyer in China

Gao last seen with his family in January 2009.
(Photo: ChinaAid) 

VOM partner ChinaAid formally requested a special UN investigation into the torture of missing Christian lawyer Gao Zhisheng on August 15, the five-year anniversary of his first kidnapping by police. The request was submitted by ChinaAid's legal counsel and was filed with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture.

Human rights lawyer Gao was taken by police on August 15, 2006, from his sister's home and held incommunicado until the Chinese government announced on September 21 that he was being charged with inciting subversion (for more information, click here).

In March 2010, a group of human rights specialists filed a petition before the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which resulted in the discovery of serious wrongdoing by the Chinese government. However, Chinese authorities failed to even reply to the UN enquiry. Those involved were told that Gao's case is a matter of China's internal affairs, adding that the country is under rule of law.

ChinaAid founder and president, Bob Fu, and the organization's legal counsel, David E. Taylor, expect that China is likely to respond similarly to this request for a special UN investigation. "Nonetheless, we believe it is important for the international community to see again how the Chinese Communist Party responds with arrogance and recalcitrance to the UN, and to show the world, especially Gao's family and the Chinese government, that Gao has not been forgotten for even one second and never will be," Taylor said.

Please pray for Gao and his family!

• Pray that Gao and his family members remain steadfast in the faith (1 Peter 5:8-10). 
• Ask the Lord to use this current investigation request for His glory and for the benefit of Gao and other Chinese believers who are currently in prison for their faith in Christ.
• Pray that many more in China will come to know Christ as their Lord and Saviour. 

Watch VOM's September Persecution Report

In the September edition of the Persecution Report, you'll meet a former colonel in the Venezuelan army who is warning of increased persecution of Christians in his country. Also, a former medical doctor in Indonesia who spent over two years in prison for teaching Muslim children about Jesus shares her story. You will also learn about how the imprisonment of Christians continues in the African nation of Eritrea and about two Christians who were recently killed by members of an Islamist sect in Nigeria. (Length: 11:11)



You can watch more videos like this one at www.persecution.tv.

Extreme Thoughts

Excerpted from Extreme Devotion, a book of 365 true accounts of men and women who totally sold out for Jesus.

Russia: Prince Vladmir

“Move it, Prince!” laughed the guard, grabbing the young man’s arm. “Let’s see how you like your new accommodations.” The guards shoved Prince Vladmir from the royal house of Ghica into the harsh prison cell. In one corner, he could see prisoners taking clothes and blankets from a thin, dead prisoner. In the back he could hear the screams of a prisoner being tortured.

This place was a long way from the life of luxury he had known at home. Yet Prince Vladmir survived the dehumanizing conditions in prison by holding on to his faith in Christ who comforted him and guided him. A cell mate of Vladmir once said, “Nowhere have I heard purer prayers and more thoughts of eternal value than in Communist prisons.”

Vladmir’s eternal thoughts from this time were published in a powerful book. He wrote, “Blessed are those who spread joy that arises out of their own suffering. He who denies himself for others clothes himself with Christ. Seek one who does not dare approach you. Give to the one who does not ask. Love the one who pushes you away. May my joys never come through the sufferings of others. May my suffering bring some joy to others.”

Who would dream that such “pure prayers and thoughts of eternal value” would come from a dethroned prince who survived the dungeons of communist cruelty?

Negative thoughts can affect us profoundly. If we focus our minds on our sufferings, we can grow bitter and resentful as a result. If we choose to think positively in the midst of a crisis, however, then we can lift ourselves above our circumstances. Not only can we save ourselves from discouragement and despair, but we can also help others. Vladmir experienced joy in his sufferings. Are you prone to negativity when you are going through trials? Remember, you cannot control what happens in life. But you can control your attitude. Refuse to be negative. Ask God to give you a positive perspective on your trials, and open your eyes to help others.

Vahik Abrahamian released from prison in Iran!

Pastor Vahik has been released!
(Photo: Middle East Concern)

Pastor Vahik Abrahamian, a 45-year-old Armenian Christian, was released from prison on the morning of August 29, reports Farsi Christian News Network.

Pastor Vahik and his wife, Sonia Keshish Avanesian, were arrested in Hamedan along with another Christian couple in September 2010.

Sonia and the other couple were released from prison in April 2011. Officials told Sonia they would release her husband 10 days later, but Vahik continued to be detained at Iran's notorious Evin prison in Tehran.

The couples had been accused of various offences, including propagating Christianity, opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran, and having contact with exiled opposition figures (for more information, click here).

During his one year imprisonment, Pastor Vahik suffered from poor health and the prison's deplorable conditions.

A member of Pastor Vahik's family has shared that the whole family is "rejoicing" and "expressed their gratitude first to God for His gracious protection and intervention and secondly to the Christian family worldwide who have not ceased praying and advocating on their behalf."

For the full report, click here.

Thank the Lord for this wonderful answer to prayer! 

• Ask the Lord to give Vahik and Sonia the grace and strength they need to overcome this trial. 
• Pray also for their protection. 
• Pray this news will serve as an encouragement to all Christian believers in Iran.

Iranian Christian website targeted by government

The Iranian government has been targeting Farsi-language websites for being "anti-Islamic," including a news site dedicated to exposing the systematic persecution of Iranian Christians, reports Beliefnet and Mohabat News.

The number of Internet users in Iran has risen sharply in recent years, threatening the government's grip on information and causing officials to form a special committee to monitor web access. More than 5 million so-called "immoral" and "anti-Islamic" sites have reportedly been blocked. The government has also stated their plan to intensify the filtering of various sites.

Mohabat News, which serves Persian Christians in Iran and surrounding countries, has been shut down repeatedly in the past year. In February, cyber-attacks shut down the site for two days.

On August 19, attackers overloaded the server and forced the site down for three days. Managers of Mohabat News were eventually able to transfer the website onto a more secure server operating outside the country. Other such sites, however, are not able to operate from an outside server, raising fears that they will continue to be vulnerable to attacks.

Please join us in praying!

• Pray that the attacks on Mohabat News and other such sites will cease. 
• Pray for courage and wisdom for those involved in raising a voice online for suffering Iranian Christians. 
• Pray that a spirit of unity and faithfulness will govern the Church in Iran as believers face opposition. 
• Pray that the Word of the Lord will continue to touch many hearts in Iran.

Church leaders released in China

Five Christians have been released from
prison. Praise God! (Photo: ChinaAid) 

Back in May, we shared that Yang Caizhen, a member of the Linfen-Fushan house church in Shanxi province, was released from detention on medical parole (click here for more).

We are pleased to report that three women detained with her – Gao Fuqin, Zhao Guoai and Yang Hongzhen – have also been released. A Christian man, Li Shuangpin, was also freed. Praise God!

All five of these leaders suffered physical and mental torture while detained at labour camps.

The Christians were arrested following a police raid on their church’s grounds in September 2009. More than 30 believers were seriously injured and 17 buildings were destroyed in the attack (click here more information).

The released Christians have shared, “We sincerely urge all brothers and sisters around the world to pray for Linfen church.... At the same time, we also ask brothers and sisters to remember in prayer the Linfen leaders who are still suffering in jail: Brothers Xiao Guang, Yang Xuan and Cui Jiaxing, and sisters Yang Rongli and Zhang Huamei. May the Lord move the police to release them early so that they can be reunited with their families. We who have been released express our most sincere gratitude to the brothers and sisters around the world who have been concerned about us and who have helped us. May God remember your prayers and what you did. God is with as all!”

You can read the full report from ChinaAid here.

The October edition of The Voice of the Martyrs newsletter will include updates on other house churches in China facing opposition from authorities. You can subscribe to this free resource online.

In mailboxes this week!

The September issue of The Voice of the Martyrs newsletter is hitting mailboxes this week and next.

Here's your sneak peak!

• Persecution has a face:In more than 50 nations, Christians are persecuted for their faith. Each individual has a face and a story. Learn how VOM is bringing help, love and encouragement to these individuals as they persevere in their gospel efforts.
• Help: Neeladri once belonged to a militant Hindu group that attacked believers in India. Then he became a Christian and was persecuted. Through practical help, VOM comes alongside persecuted Christians like Neeladri, letting them know they are not alone.
• Love: Somchi’s neighbours couldn’t understand why she followed Jesus. When her mother became ill, villagers blamed Somchi’s faith and tried to destroy her Bible. Still, Somchi forgave them. Read how VOM helps Christians like Somchi who are loving those who oppose them.
• Encourage: Dmitry, Maryam, Marzieh and Rebecca have several things in common: they went to prison for their faith and received letters from Christians around the globe. Learn how you can get involved in encouraging our persecuted family.
• History of persecution: Jesus said, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). History proves these words to be true. Yet, despite opposition and persecution, the gospel is spreading!

The Voice of the Martyrs newsletter is the flagship publication of The Voice of the Martyrs Canada. Published monthly, it is available free of charge to anyone in Canada who requests it.

You can subscribe online here.

Church bombed in Iraq

A bomb blast in Kirkuk, Iraq damaged a church building.

A wave of violence hit 17 cities in Iraq, claiming about 70 lives. Included in the attacks was the bombing of a church building in Kirkuk, reports Compass Direct News. This is the second round of attacks against the city’s Christian community in two weeks.

On August 15 at 1:20 a.m., an explosive device tore through one of the walls of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mar Afram. Photos show bricks from the wall strewn across the church floor. One of the metal doors has been twisted open.

Thankfully, no Christians were killed in the attack, but police have announced higher protective measures for Kirkuk’s churches.

Abuna Gourgis Alyes, a priest from Mar Afram church, said that this attack was the third assault on his church in the past five years. There were minor attacks in 2006 and 2008, but this last one has been the most devastating.

Another pastor visiting the church was overwhelmed by the destruction.

“Now I am here and seeing it with my own eyes.... They have to demolish the church and rebuild it,” said the pastor.

Abuna Alyes said the incident’s worst repercussion is that many will view this attack as the final straw that leads them to leave Kirkuk. Since January, 10 families from Mar Afram have already fled the area.

About 334,000 Christians remain in Iraq, less than half of their number in 1991. The violence has caused hundreds of thousands of Iraqi people, both Muslim and Christian, to leave the country, and many more are displaced inside Iraq, particularly in Kurdistan.

For the full report, click here.