Doctors attempt to save eye of injured pastor in Uganda

Pray that Bishop Umar will retain sight in his left eye.
Photo: Compass Direct News

A church leader in Uganda who was targeted in an acid attack in December 2011 is currently receiving treatment in Israel to retain vision in his remaining eye, reports Compass Direct News.

Doctors at Sheba Hospital in Tel-Aviv are still not sure what chemicals Muslim extremists threw on Bishop Umar Mulinde, but they know that the acid is threatening the vision in his left eye. Mulinde said his left eye has been getting better under the specialized treatment he has been able to receive. However, Mulinde also said that "the damaged right eye is somehow affecting the left eye. The doctors are thinking of removing the right eye with hope of saving the left eye."

Mulinde said he was encouraged that ministry is continuing at his church in Namasuba, though his friend Zachariah Serwadda was ambushed on February 4 after an evangelistic outreach in the predominantly Muslim town of Mbale. "I only heard several voices as I dropped down when the windshield of my vehicle got broken," said Serwadda, who was unhurt in the attack. "It could be the same group. It seems it's the same network, because after attacking Bishop Mulinde they threw down letters at the ... threatening to attack other preachers like him."

Please pray!

• Pray that Mulinde will retain his sight. 
• Thank the Lord for the faithfulness of Mulinde and his friend Serwadda. 
• Pray that the Lord will bless their efforts to spread the gospel. 
• Pray that the perpetrators of these attacks will repent and come to know Jesus Christ. 
• Please pray that increased persecution in Uganda will result in increased boldness among believers (Acts 4:29-31).

To post a prayer of support and encouragement for Mulinde and Serwadda, visit our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall.

Ugandan convert to Christianity flees country

A convert to Christianity who was formerly a member of a Muslim extremist group has fled Uganda and is in hiding in Kenya, reports Compass Direct News. Hassan Sharif Lubenga, 54, was a sheikh and a member of a violent Islamist group. In June 2011, after dreams and visions in which Jesus appeared to him, Hassan made a full commitment to follow Christ.

Extremists have been threatening Hassan since 2007, when he first began to speak of dreams and visions of Christ. Dangers peaked when Muslims saw him visiting a church. By April 2010, one of his four wives poisoned him because of his budding faith in Christ, leaving him unconscious. Due to increasing hostility, Hassan fled to Kenya in July 2011. Upon returning to Uganda in September, he learned that extremists and his former colleagues were threatening to kill him.

When Hassan felt like giving up on his new faith, he received a call from Bishop Umar Mulinde, his former pastor who was later attacked by Muslim militants (for more on Umar's attack, click here). Umar told him the church was praying for him, and Hassan was deeply heartened. Hassan has since fled again to Kenya, where his movements are severely restricted.

You can help by praying.

• Ask the Lord to continue to strengthen Hassan – may God use his testimony to encourage the faith of other Christians in Uganda and Kenya. 
• Pray that Hassan's conviction will also cause many of his former friends and contacts to question their Islamic faith. 
• Ask the Lord to provide for Hassan's every need. 
• Praise the Lord for the way He touches people through dreams and visions.

To share a prayer for Christians suffering in Uganda, visit our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall.

The Overcomers: Uganda

Islamic extremists threw acid on a church leader on Christmas Eve, leaving him with severe burns that have blinded one eye and threaten his sight in the other. Find out more by watching this one minute video clip.


For other videos with stories of persecuted Christians, visit our multimedia site.

Ugandan girl tortured by her father for her faith walks again

Susan Ithungu is slowly regaining the use of her legs
after being locked in a room for six months.
Photo: Compass Direct News

A 15-year-old Christian girl in Uganda is slowly regaining the use of her legs after her father, in an attempt to make her convert back to Islam, confined her in a small room and deprived her of adequate food and water, reports Compass Direct News.

Susan Ithungu was locked in a room for six months after accepting Christ as her Saviour in 2010 (for more information, click here). She weighed just 20 kilograms when she was finally rescued after her brother informed neighbours of his sister's life-threatening condition.

The two children lived alone with their father who was arrested last fall when the girl was removed from the home by police and hospitalized for more than a month. Susan's father was quickly released, however, and remains unapologetic for the abuse. Susan now lives in a rented house in an undisclosed location.

"Well-wishers have been paying the house rent and buying me food and clothing," said Susan, who added that she has forgiven her father. A church member, Biira Dreda, left her own four children with family to care for Susan.

Susan has begun to walk with support, but cannot squat or stand upright due to the amount of time she spent immobilized. She hopes to return to school soon, but remains in very fragile condition.

Please pray!

• Please pray that Susan will continue to make progress in her physical and emotional healing. 
• Pray that she will regain full use of her legs and will be strong enough to continue in her studies. 
• Pray that her brother and her father will see Christ's love in Susan and that they will be brought to salvation. 
• Please pray for Biira; pray that her love and compassion for Susan will be rewarded with abundant blessings.

Muslim extremists in Uganda throw acid on church leader

Muslim extremists threw acid on Bishop Umar Mulinde
outside his church near Kampala.
Photo: Compass Direct News

Islamic extremists threw acid on a church leader on Christmas Eve, leaving him with severe burns that have blinded one eye and threaten his sight in the other, reports Compass Direct News.

Bishop Umar Mulinde, 37, who was previously a sheikh (Islamic teacher), was attacked when a man who claimed to be a Christian approached him.

"I heard him say in a loud voice, 'Pastor, pastor,' and as I made a turn and looked at him, he poured the liquid onto my face as others poured more liquid on my back and then fled away shouting, 'Allahu akbar,'" Mulinde said.

At last report, his face, neck and arms bore deep black scars from the acid and his lips were swollen. The wounds are so severe that he may need plastic surgery. Police have reportedly arrested one suspect.

Mulinde is married and has six children. He has faced several injuries and attacks from Muslims since his conversion to Christianity in 1993.

Please pray!

• Pray the Lord will heal Mulinde's physical and emotional wounds. 
• Pray that he will receive all the treatment he needs. 
• Pray he will remain steadfast in the faith (1 Peter 5:8-10).
• Pray that the perpetrators will repent and turn to Christ. 
• Pray for those in authority who are dealing with this case.

Everywhere The Voice of the Martyrs ministers, the first request of persecuted Christians is often: "Pray for us." You can help answer that request by joining VOM in praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. Sign up today to receive specific, up-to-date prayer requests by email every Thursday through the Persecution and Prayer Alert.

Ugandan Christian brutally imprisoned by Muslim father

A 14-year-old girl in western Uganda remains in frail health 10 months after her father tortured her for leaving Islam for Christianity, reports Compass Direct News.

In March 2010, Susan Ithungu came to faith in Christ after an evangelist spoke at her school. A month later, news reached Susan's father that she had converted to Christianity. He warned her and her brother against attending church or listening to the gospel message, threatening to kill them in broad daylight if they embraced Christianity.

Susan was then locked in a room with no sunlight. Her brother was warned against telling anyone of her imprisonment, but would secretly bring her food and water.

In October 2010, Susan’s brother finally told the neighbours about his sister's situation. They then reported the case to the authorities, and police freed her. Susan was extremely weak and unable to walk or talk.

“Her hair had turned yellow, she had long fingernails and sunken eyes, and she looked very slim, less than 20 kilograms,” said one pastor. Her father was arrested shortly afterward but quickly released.

At last report, Susan is still struggling with her health—unable to walk, but able to talk and eat soft foods.

“The great news is that Susan is still strong in the Lord Jesus Christ,” the pastor said. “She needs prayers and support, so that she can resume her education soon.”

You can help by praying!

• Thank God for Susan's rescue and pray for her continued healing.
• Pray many Christians will be emboldened by her story of persevering faith and confidence in Christ (Hebrews 10:32-39).
• Pray for safety for her brother.
• Ask God to bring her father to repentance and that he, too, will come to know Christ as Lord.