Islamic Somali militants confiscate Christian farms

Pray for believers in Somalia today!

Since January 19, members of Al-Shabaab, an Islamic Somali extremist group, have confiscated eight farms from Muslims who showed an interest in Christianity, reported International Christian Concern.

Christian converts from Islam owned five of the farms and three belonged to Muslims who had attended Bible studies in the cities of Afgoye and Baidawa. Most of the landowners have fled their homes and remain in hiding.

There are also unconfirmed reports of additional Christian farm seizures in Dinsor and Burhakaba districts. The confiscated lands were given to businesspersons who regularly donate to Al-Shabaab.

The Islamic group has vowed to cleanse Somalia of any Christian influence. Since January 2009, Al-Shabaab militants have killed 23 Christians, most of whom were church leaders. Militants have also desecrated three Christian cemeteries in Mogadishu and destroyed a Christian library in the Luuq district. Despite intense persecution from Muslim radicals, the Somali Church has demonstrated remarkable growth.

Pray the Lord will provide for those who have lost their land. May His provision be evidence of the Lord's goodness and mercy to those who have yet to put their hope in Christ. Pray the Lord will bring about significant change in the culture and attitudes in the leaders of this nation. Pray His Church will continue to grow in spite of the opposition.

Interested in receiving a weekly prayer alert like this one? You can subscribe to our Persecution & Prayer Alert email that is delivered to inboxes every Thursday afternoon. Subscribe here.

Pastors under attack in Sri Lanka

Pray for believers in Sri Lanka today!

Two pastors were recently attacked in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, reported the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka.

In early January, a man broke into the home of a pastor in Galle district. The pastor and his family came into the house to find the intruder inside. The man shouted threats at the pastor and began to assault him. Neighbours were alerted to the attack when they heard screaming. When the pastor's elderly landlord arrived, the intruder also attacked him. He then fled. The pastor and the landlord lodged a complaint with the local police against the attacker. He was arrested, but later released with a severe warning and only after he apologized to the pastor and the landlord.

Assailants also broke the windows of an Assemblies of God church building in the city of Middeniya, Hambantota district, on January 23. A complaint has reportedly been filed with local police. The pastor and his family, who were inside at the time of attack, were previously targeted in July 2008, when assailants set their house ablaze, following threats to him and his church.

Pray God's enduring grace will drive out any fear in the hearts of these believers in the face of opposition. Pray they will stand firm in their faith, putting on the full armour of God and praying in the Spirit on all occasions (Ephesians 6:13-18). Pray their attackers will repent of their actions and place their faith in Jesus Christ. Pray Sri Lankan Christians will proclaim the love and truth of Christ with courage, wisdom and compassion.

Christians in India fear backlash at massive ‘reconversion’ event

Pray for believers in India today!

Responding to a petition by the state Catholic Bishops Conference, the High Court of Madhya Pradesh directed the state government to ensure the safety of Christians during a massive Hindu nationalist rally scheduled today through Saturday (February 10-12) in Mandla district, India, reported Compass Direct News.

Organizers of the Maa Narmada Samajik Kumbh on the banks of the Narmada River hope to draw 2 million pilgrims to the event. Christian leaders said that the Kumbh is the latest in a series of anti-Christian propaganda events that Hindu nationalist organizations have held in recent years.

A similar event in Dangs district, Gujarat state in 2006 was filled with hate speech against Christians and attempted mass “reconversions.” Area media in Mandla district have already begun carrying false stories of “forced conversion” and other malicious accusations against Christians.

A local tribal party known as the Gond Mahasabha (Great Assembly of the Gonds) has vehemently opposed the Kumbh. The Gonds, whose origins predate Hindu presence in the area, have stated that they are not Hindus and are against the proposed ghar wapasi or “homecoming” ceremony – a “reconversion” drive by the Hindu extremist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The RSS umbrella group of hard-line Hindu extremist groups asserts that all people born in India are Hindus, and that therefore anyone who believes otherwise must be “reconverted” back to Hinduism.

The Gonds have delivered an ultimatum to the RSS, threatening violence should even one case of “reconversion” occur at the Kumbh. They have called for a protest today, and clashes are expected.

Dr. John Dayal, secretary general of the All India Christian Council (AICC), told Compass that the RSS and its affiliates “have left no one in any doubt” that the main reason for the Kumbh “is to purge the region of ‘Christian missionaries’ they accuse of carrying on large-scale conversions of tribals, mostly Gonds, in this part of the country.”

Sources in the region have indicated to Compass that a hate campaign against Christians is already underway, fanned by local-language media reports hostile to Christian workers.

The current Kumbh is a follow-up of the Shabri Kumbh held February 11-13, 2006, in tribal-dominated Dangs district of Gujarat state.

Besides hate speeches before, during and after the event, the Kumbh also led to the beating of Christians, with many abandoning the area, and much loss of Christian property, including graveyards. Christian graves were reportedly dug up and crosses desecrated.

You can read the full report here.

Please pray for believers in India! Stay tuned for our March newsletter about India.

Persecution escalates in Muslim areas of Ethiopia

Pray for Ethiopian believers who are
experiencing an increase in persecution.

The Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (AEA RLC) recently released a Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin about escalating persecution in Ethiopia. Elizabeth Kendal, an international religious liberty analyst and advocate, wrote it.

Here is a brief summary:

When the Ethiopian Government federalised the state in 1996, it devolved power to nine autonomous, ethnic regions. Rather than appeasing and pacifying Ethiopia's diverse peoples, this ethnic federalism only undermined nationhood while magnifying ethnicity and differences. Divisive forces are now stronger than ever.

Ethiopia's traditional Sufi Muslims are being radicalised by Saudi (Wahhabi) entities, inflaming religious tensions. Protestant believer Tamirat Woldegorgis (30s) is in an Islamic prison, having been falsely accused of defacing a Qur’an. Also, Christians in the southern town of Besheno are being told they must convert to Islam, leave or die. Persecution and application of Shariah law are increasing.

Yet, the central Government appears loath to intervene lest self- determination, “harmony” and “national unity” be undermined.

Please pray specifically that God will:

• Protect Tamirat Woldegorgis and deliver him safely back to his family; may the family all know the sustaining presence of the Lord, their provider.
• Protect the Christians living in restive Oromia and Islamic Somali, particularly the persecuted and threatened Christians in Besheno.
• Grant Christian leaders great wisdom to know how to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16 NKJV).
• Give the Federal Government much wisdom, strength and courage to tackle the issue of constitutional rights and the supremacy of the Federal Constitution over regional Islamic courts.

You can read the full prayer bulletin here.

Reaching the unreachable

Russell Stendal, a Christian worker in Colombia, is headlining VOM Canada’s Prayer Conferences is Edmonton (March 19) and Mississauga (March 26).

Raised on the mission field in Colombia, Russell became a missionary jungle pilot at age 19. In 1983, Marxist rebels kidnapped him and held him hostage for five months. Upon his release, God led him into radio ministry as a unique way to reach the fighting factions of the internal conflict in Colombia with the gospel.

Take a moment to watch this video and find out why he works to reach FARC Guerrillas with the Good News. You’ll be inspired to reach out to someone you may think is unreachable.



Learn more about our upcoming Prayer Conferences here.

Politician under death threat from Taliban thanks Canada

Yesterday, the Toronto Sun published a story about Shahbaz Bhatti, the Pakistani cabinet minister who has spoken out against Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, like the one under which Christian mother Asia Bibi was sentenced to death back in November.

Bhatti met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and several cabinet ministers during his recent visit to Ottawa. They discussed the importance of standing up for the rights of religious minorities. Bhatti thanked Canada for its support of minority rights.

Check out the story here.

Imprisoned Iranian Christian unable to post bail

Because a Christian prisoner’s family is unable to pay a $40,000 bond, he must remain in prison, reported Mohabat News this week.

Ebrahim Firoozi, 26, is a new believer from Robat Karim who was arrested by security forces on January 11. After several interrogations, he was transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison, one of the largest prisons in the Middle East.

In his first court hearing on January 29, the young Christian was charged with evangelism, being in possession of bibles, having a relationship with external forces and apostasy.

A close friend of Ebrahim’s told Mohabat News that Ebrahim could not afford to obtain a lawyer. He said the judge told Ebrahim’s family that Ebrahim might be sentenced to death or serve life in prison because of the apostasy charge against him. The decision would be made in one month’s time. Ebrahim has since been transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison.

During a short phone call to one of his close friends, Ebrahim said he is going through a lot of interrogations that are being recorded and photographed.

Please pray for Ebrahim and his family. Pray Ebrahim will rest in the knowledge that the Good Shepherd walks with him through this difficult time (Psalm 23). Pray he will exemplify the love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who persecute him (Matthew 5:43-48).

Anti-Christian violence risk high during homecoming festival in India

Pray for believers in India today!

A mass religious gathering taking place February 9-13 is causing growing apprehension among Christians living in Madhya Pradesh state, reported Mission Network News today.

Mission Network News and Compass Direct News first reported this story in May 2010. At that time, Hindu nationalists promised to launch a "religious cleansing" of the Christians living in this area in advance of the Narmada Samajik Kumbh.   

At least a million people are expected to attend the homecoming festival that takes place on the Narmada, a river that flows through Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.   

The risk of violence against Christians in the area is high. Already, there are reports of plans for forced conversions of local Christians to Hinduism. Reports indicate that the area is heavily saturated with anti-Christian propaganda.

There is an anti-conversion law on the books in Madhya Pradesh; however, it will be interesting to see if it will be enforced on behalf of the believers who are being targeted during the festival.

According to Gospel For Asia, the believers and pastors struggle with mixed emotions over the intended plans. Some fear they will be harassed, beaten and maybe killed, while others have gathered courage in the Lord to continue sharing the Good News and love of Christ with the people.

Pray for the safety of the Christians and that they will stand firm in the Lord and His promises. Pray also that the religious gathering will not affect Christians and local ministries, but that believers will be a strong witness for Christ and reach many who are lost.

A special on Vietnam, Part 3

The last of 100 Huntley Street’s series on Vietnam is now available. Take a few moments to watch this segment. You won’t be disappointed.

Today, you’ll find out why so many Christians in Vietnam worship in underground churches. Greg Musselman, Todd Nettleton and Denise Lodde speak with men from several tribes, some illiterate and some even former witch doctors. All have a common deep desire to learn more about God and to teach others.



Missed the first two segments? View them here and here.

100 Huntley Street is Canada's longest running daily talk show and a production of Crossroads Christian Communications. It is broadcast live Monday through Friday, reaching nearly every home in Canada.

Iraqi Christians speed exodus to North Iraq

Pray for believers in Iraq!

The Assyrian International News Agency reported yesterday that an exodus of Christians to the autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq's north has accelerated after a spate of attacks against the minority group, according to the International Organization for Migration.

An official from the organisation also spoke Sunday of reports that many Christians were either leaving Iraq, or planning to emigrate.

By the end of January, 1,078 families had moved to the three provinces that comprise Iraqi Kurdistan since an October 31 attack on a church in Baghdad by al-Qaida militants, IOM figures show. A total of 331 families moved in the six weeks immediately following that attack, while a further 747 have left the rest of Iraq for Kurdistan between December 15 and the end of January.

IOM monitoring shows that an average Christian Iraqi family consists of four to five members.

The report noted that "monitors in Baghdad report that Christians continue to face grave threats" and "despite increased security measures an atmosphere of extreme insecurity persists among Christians remaining in Baghdad and many still intend to move or emigrate."

Between 800,000 and 1.2 million Christians lived in Iraq before the U.S.-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein in 2003, but that figure now is estimated by religious leaders at 400,000.

You can read the full report here.

Uzbek prisoner of conscience 'released but not free'

Pastor Dmitry Shestakov was reunited
with his three daughters soon after
his release. He remains under probation.

We shared with you in late January that Uzbek Pastor Dmitry Shestakov was recently released from prison after serving a four-year sentence.

Despite his release, Shestakov remains under the severe restrictions of “administrative supervision,” reported Forum 18 News Service last week.

For one year, Shestakov must report to police in-person almost every week. He may not be outside his home between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. He may not leave his hometown without written police permission, and he cannot visit public places such as restaurants.

The term of administrative supervision can be extended, and the punishments for breaking the supervision range up to imprisonment for four years.

Shestakov is the pastor of an officially registered Full Gospel Pentecostal Church in the eastern city of Andijan. He was imprisoned for exercising his right to freedom of religion or belief. Uzbek authorities were unwilling to explain to Forum 18 why they have placed Shestakov under these restrictions.

You can read the full report here.

Anti-Christian speeches in Iran led to crackdown, sources say

Pastor Youcef Nardarkhani
was handed the death sentence
on November 13, 2010,
for leaving Islam.

We shared with you in early January that Iran had arrested dozens of Christians, beginning near Christmas, accusing Protestant evangelical groups of causing a cultural invasion.

Earlier this week, Compass Direct News reported that the crackdown was the result of speeches by Iranian religious and political figures between August and October who acknowledged the existence of home fellowships and condemned them as a threat to the state.

Iranian authorities have detained more than 70 Christians in a wave of arrests that began around Christmas, according to a report last week by Elam Ministries. With the release of seven Christians last week after they spent a month in solitary confinement, at least 26 Christians remain incarcerated. Sources said that with arrests across the country continuing, the number of Christians detained since Christmas could be as high as 120.

Though authorities have released most of the Christians after interrogations, many of them are still in prison, especially house group leaders. Many released in the last month had to sign statements saying they would not attend church again.

On October 19, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Iran’s enemies want to shake the country’s religious and societal values through the spread of Baha’ism and a network of Christian house churches. Khamenei’s speech marked the fifth public statement from an Iranian leader condemning Iranian Christians in the three-month period.

“The public statements show that the government acknowledges the presence of the church and considers it a threat,” a regional analyst who requested anonymity told Compass. “It’s striking they have been talking about it publicly in a way they haven’t previously.”

Sources told Compass that Iranian Christians belonging to house churches knew it was a matter of time before the security forces acted on the supreme leader’s condemnation and tightened their grip on house church members.

While persecution against Christians has intensified, it is believed to be part of a wider government campaign to crack down on any group the government considers threatening. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported on January 16 that since the beginning of the year, the government had executed 47 people in a two-week period. Thousands have been sentenced to death since elections in 2009.

The Elam report confirmed that Iranian authorities have arrested more than 200 Christians in 24 cities since June 2010.

You can read the full story here.

A special on Vietnam, Part 2

Pray for believers in Vietnam.

The second part of 100 Huntley Street’s series on Vietnam is now available online. VOM’s Greg Musselman, VOM USA's Todd Nettleton and 100 Huntley Street’s Denise Lodde recently traveled to Vietnam and spoke with several persecuted Christians.

In this segment, you’ll meet women whose husbands have been imprisoned for their faith. You’ll also meet a tribal pastor and his son whose bodies bear the visible marks of persecution. Despite the risk, these believers continue to share the love of Christ with those around them. Their prayer? Strength to stand firm and be faithful. They ask others to pray for them.

Watch the segment here.

100 Huntley Street is Canada's longest running daily talk show and a production of Crossroads Christian Communications. It is broadcast live Monday through Friday, reaching nearly every home in Canada.

Government of Pakistan will not amend blasphemy law

Pakistan's prime minister
said Wednesday the
government will not
amend the blasphemy law.

Christians in Pakistan received a blow yesterday. The government of Pakistan will not be amending the country’s controversial blasphemy law, reported ASSIST News Service.

This decision followed on the heels of massive countrywide protests against the government by Islamic and mainstream opposition parties who had taken to the streets to demand that there be no amendments to the blasphemy law that has been widely criticized around the world.

The protestors demanded that the Pakistani government make clear its stance over the issue of blasphemy law, which uses its Penal Code to prohibit and punish blasphemy against Islam.

The Criminal Code provides penalties for blasphemy ranging from a fine to death. An accusation of blasphemy commonly subjects the accused, police, lawyers and judges to harassment, threats and attacks. An accusation is sometimes the prelude to vigilantism and rioting.

The prime minister told parliament in a speech before the National Assembly in Islamabad, on Wednesday that his government would not touch the legislation, which human rights groups say is routinely abused to persecute minorities and settle personal scores.

The prime minister called upon parliamentarians, media and Islamic scholars to come forward and help the government of Pakistan to introduce a mechanism to stop the misuse of the blasphemy law. He also urged people protesting against the amendments to now “stop their protests as the government has made it clear that there will be no change in the Pakistan Penal Code Section 295 B & C.”

Most recently, the blasphemy law was used against Asia Bibi, a Christian mother, who was found guilty of the alleged crime and sentenced to death by hanging. Her case is currently being appealed.

You can read the full report here.

A special on Vietnam, Part 1

Pastor Quang in Vietnam

VOM’s Greg Musselman recently traveled to Vietnam with Todd Nettleton of VOM USA and Denise Lodde of 100 Huntley Street. They spoke with several Christians about the persecution they have experienced for their witness. Denise produced a series about their travels that began airing this week on 100 Huntley Street.

In the first segment, you’ll meet Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang, a Mennonite pastor who is considered by some to be one of the most hated men among Vietnam’s ruling party. (If you’re a VOM newsletter subscriber, you can read about Pastor Quang in our February 2011 issue.)

A trained lawyer, Pastor Quang has challenged the government repeatedly on its violations of religious freedoms, and he’s helping those around him do the same. In the last 20 years, he has been arrested repeatedly and imprisoned, slandered in newspapers and followed by police. In December, an estimated 500 soldiers and police officers oversaw the demolition of a two-story building that was both Pastor Quang’s home and the headquarters of the Vietnam Mennonite Church.

Watch the first segment here, and discover how recent events are only encouraging Pastor Quang to speak even louder and continue to be a voice for those who have none.

100 Huntley Street is Canada's longest running daily talk show and a production of Crossroads Christian Communications. It is broadcast live Monday through Friday, reaching nearly every home in Canada.

Imprisoned Chinese Christian's case up for review

Alimujiang Yimiti and his family
(Photo by China Aid)

China Aid reported this week that the People's High Court of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Urumqi, China, accepted the appeal of an imprisoned Uyghur house church leader, Alimujiang Yimiti, to have his case reviewed.

Alimujiang was arrested in January 2008 and sentenced in 2009 to 15 years' imprisonment for "providing state secrets to overseas organizations" (read more here).

Since his arrest, Alimujiang has had extremely limited contact with his family. In December, his wife, Gulinuer, and lawyer, together with a lawyer who understood the Uyghur language (in which Alimujiang's case files are written), prepared an appeal. The judge, however, informed them that the collegiate bench had already studied the case and allegedly made a decision.

Although authorities initially claimed that Alimujiang's lawyer and family would be able to meet with him, they have repeatedly denied them visits. At last report, neither Alimujiang's family nor his lawyer had received any further information on his case.

Pray for Alimujiang's freedom and complete exoneration. Pray the re-opening and review of his case will expose the injustice of the situation. Pray those responsible for creating a false case against him will repent of their unjust actions. Pray Chinese authorities will uphold the rights of ethnic and religious minorities. Pray the Church in China will continue to grow in strength and resilience amid suffering and adversity.

What if persecution came to the Church in Canada?

Take a minute to watch VOM's Greg Musselman answer the question, "What if persecution came to the Church in Canada?"

What do you think would happen?

Vietnam’s stance on religious freedom improving?

Vietnamese believers continue to
suffer persecution. Pray!

Wikileaks recently published a U.S. Embassy cable revealing what appears to be indifference about religious persecution, reported Mission Network News today.

According to a related report from International Christian Concern (ICC), the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam is dismissing recent attacks on Christians in Vietnam as “land disputes.” The ICC report calls this document proof of "the State Department being lax in its assessment of religious persecution in Vietnam."

In the cable, the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam determined that the situations (over Christmas) did not “meet the threshold of religious persecution” and should not distract the U.S. from “the significant gains in expanding religious freedom that Vietnam has made since the lifting of  CPC (Countries of Particular Concern) designation in November 2006.”

Mission Network News spoke with Todd Nettleton of VOM USA. He recently travelled to Vietnam with Greg Musselman of VOM Canada and Denise Lodde of 100 Huntley Street, a Christian television program. Nettleton says, "It is better. Things have improved. There is less persecution than there was five or 10 years ago,” however, “we did hear stories of Christians being harassed, so persecution is still very much a part of following Christ in Vietnam."

There are many reports that seem to conflict with the strides the Vietnamese government is making for its image. “The Vietnamese government has given more churches registration; they've given permission to operate. But even one of the pastors that we talked to very clearly made the statement, ‘Registration is not the same as religious freedom.’”

Church registrations are often tools used by governments to keep an eye on what's going on with Christians. This has proven true for believers in Vietnam, too. Nettleton explains that “those churches now have to do some things to answer to the government. They have some pressure and some control that the government exerts on them that they didn't have before. One of the places where persecution is still going on at a fairly intense level is among the tribal minority groups in the Highlands.”

Reports of persecution have not stopped VOM partners from evangelising. Rather, it seems to have had a galvanising effect. “We talked to several tribal pastors who are leading unregistered churches amongst those tribal groups, and even doing missionary work, reaching out to other tribal groups.”

In the coming days, 100 Huntley Street will release a three-part series on VOM's recent travels in Vietnam. Stay tuned to this blog for details or check with 100 Huntley Street online.

Survival, faith and courage in North Korea

In our February 2011 newsletter, we introduced you to Yang, a North Korean defector living in South Korea. Now you can watch a video about her!

Yang, a follower of Jesus, has known much pain and suffering in her life, both physically and emotionally. She says life in North Korea was unbearable and brutal, but she has overcome much and looks to the future with hope and faith.

Watch as Yang almost meets death, but finds Jesus Christ instead. You will truly be inspired! (Length 8:05)



For more videos like this one, visit Persecution.TV.

Unrest in Egypt signals danger for Christians

Pray for Egypt today!

As growing unrest in Egypt leaves the country on the brink of revolution, there are fears that radical Islamists may capitalise on the crisis to seize power, signalling danger for the Christian community, reported Barnabas Aid today.

Protests against President Hosni Mubarak's regime have been gathering momentum throughout this week. Off the back of the Tunisian uprising, which resulted in the ousting of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, there is the mood and momentum for radical change in Egypt.

The unrest gained new impetus when the largest opposition movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, said it would back demonstrations. The banned Islamist group demanded that Mubarak dissolve the nation's recently formed parliament and hold a new election, threatening in a statement on its website that if the Egyptian government "does not move fast and shoulder responsibility to start a serious reform process, stability might not last for long.”

Many commentators have warned of a domino effect from Tunisia across the Arab world, as instability grows in Algeria, Lebanon, Yemen and Jordan. If Egypt is taken over by Islamists, the consequences for the region could be very serious.

“An Islamist Egypt would give dramatic impetus to radical Islam throughout the Arab world,” warned Global intelligence analyst George Friedman of Stratfor. “The transformation of Egypt into an Islamist country would be the single most significant event we could imagine in the Islamic world, beyond an Iranian bomb.”

Barnabas Aid said the protests in Egypt follow targeted attacks against the country's Christians, most notably the suicide bombing at a church in Alexandria on New Year's Day that killed at least 21 worshippers. Egyptian Christians are already second-class citizens in their own country. They suffer severe discrimination in many areas of life, such as in education and employment. If the Muslim Brotherhood were to seize power, they could rapidly be subjected to even more humiliating regulations, designed to exclude and degrade them further.

Please pray for believers in Egypt!

House church in Jiangsu province raided, shut down

Pray for believers in China today!

On Sunday, local religious affairs officials raided a house church in coastal Jiangsu province that has met for years and forced it to shut down, China Aid reported today.

The church in Zhongzhuang, Jianhu county, is pastored by Zeng Zhengliang, who used to be one of the leaders of the Chinese House Church Alliance.

Last weekend, the county Religious Affairs Bureau and the Public Security Bureau summoned Pastor Zeng and told him that if he dared to enter the church on the coming Sunday, he would be arrested.

Before 7 a.m. Sunday, Zhang Yuchun, head of the county office of the China Christian Council and the Three Self-Patriotic Association, showed up at the church door with two other officials to prevent the Sunday morning worship service from taking place.

Pastor Zeng and his church members went into the church as planned for the Sunday worship service. The local religious affairs officials sent one person by force to the pulpit to deliver a sermon, but the congregation refused to listen to him and drove him out of the pulpit. He again went to the pulpit and again he was driven off. Finally, he gave up.

After the service, church workers bought a padlock and locked the main door of the church building. When Zhang saw this, he also locked the church door to prevent the church members from gaining access to the building. Several hours later, Zhang drove back to the church and smashed the padlock the church workers had put on the door, thus ensuring that only he could enter the building.

Please pray for our brothers and sisters in China. Pray especially for house church leaders and members, that God would lead them, guide them and protect them. Pray that the opposition would be blinded to the whereabouts and activities of believers and that, ultimately, God would do a work in the hearts of those who do not currently believe.

Church spreads gospel after pastor’s martyrdom in Philippines

On the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, a 50-year-old female pastor was brutally murdered while ministering in her Muslim neighbourhood. Editha Junio is still in shock over the horrific murder of her pastor, Juliet Catalan, and Catalan’s 10-year-old daughter.

Watch the segment, and learn about Pastor Catalan’s brutal murder, how those closest to her are healing and how the Church in the Philippines continues to grow.

***WARNING: This story contains some graphic images and is not suitable for children.***



From Christian World News (Length 2:50)

To view more videos like this, visit Persecution.TV.

South Sudan referendum: 99% vote for independence

South Sudan looks to split from the North.

BBC News said yesterday that 99 percent of South Sudanese voted to secede from the north, according to the first complete results of the region’s independence referendum, reported the Assyrian International News Agency.

The referendum commission said that 99.57 percent of those polled voted for independence.

Final results from the January 9-15 vote are expected next month. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has said he will accept the results.

If the result is confirmed, the new country will formally declare its independence on July 9.

You can read the full BBC News report here.

Continue to pray for believers in Sudan. Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio, in the southern region of Sudan, says his people have strong "expectations of change for the better" and urged continued prayers worldwide for "permanent peace in Sudan." Many Christians have reportedly left the North and capital city of Khartoum for the South out of fear that President Bashir's regime will shift toward "radical Islamization" in the wake of the referendum.

Thank the Lord for a peaceful voting process. Pray for the shalom of God to reign throughout Sudan. Pray Sudanese Christians will continue to courageously proclaim Christ's way of compassion and love, even to those who seek to oppress them.

In mailboxes this week

The February issue of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter is hitting mailboxes this week. This month, we’re exploring survival, courage and faith in North Korea.

Inside this issue:

• Meet a North Korean defector who almost met death as she sought to provide for her children but found Jesus Christ instead.
• Learn how VOM is helping North Korean believers.
• Read about a Vietnamese pastor who was beaten and detained after his home and school were destroyed in December.
• Find out how Canadians like you are serving today’s persecuted Church and how you can get involved doing the same.
• Hear how God heard (and answered!) the prayer of a prisoner in a solitary cell where no shred of human decency was witnessed.

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

You can subscribe online here.

Christianity in Iran increases despite persecution

Lisa Daftari with Frontpage Magazine wrote an article last week about how an increasing number of Iranians are turning to Christianity and other religions, even as they face intensified persecution, arrest and potential execution.

Why? Iranians are looking for a distraction from harsh governmental restrictions. They are opting to experiment with different ideologies and religions to find release.

Obviously, this trend is not sitting well with the regime. Daftari said, “For a government that has often claimed that it has tolerance for different religions, and that even has provisions in its Constitution protecting minority groups, the recent crackdowns on Iranian Christians demonstrate the inability of the Islamic Republic to make space for differing ideologies.

Since Christmas, more than 70 Iranian Christians have been detained. Tehran’s governor, Morteza Tamadon, confirmed more arrests would be made.

Though the Iranian constitution grants protection to religious minorities born into religions such as Christians, Zoroastrians and Jews, namely religions who have a sacred scripture, over the last year and a half, individuals in these minority communities have reported increased pressure and clashes with government officials and Revolutionary Guards as their influence continues to mount throughout the country.

Take a few minutes to read Daftari’s full story here, and continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Iran.

An extreme volunteer

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

Day 117: Sister Kwang
China

After requiring many hours of hard labour and offering a near-starvation diet, the Chinese prison guards demanded that someone volunteer to clean the bathrooms daily. None of the women prisoners spoke up.

Finally, Sister Kwang stepped forward and volunteered to do the rotten task. She saw it as the ultimate opportunity to share her faith with women in the prison whom she would otherwise never see. During her time in that prison, she led hundreds of women to Christ.

Kwang’s devotion was evident to all who knew her, but it came through much suffering. Before her imprisonment, she and her husband had volunteered to organize groups of evangelists who traveled around China, forming small house churches.

When Communist officials discovered Kwang’s activities, they beat her 12-year-old son to death. Still, she refused to deny Christ and even continued to build the house-church movement after her release.

Finally, in 1974, the Communists decided to make an example of “Mother Kwang,” as her church members now knew her. She was sentenced to life in prison, put in an underground cell with a bucket for sanitary needs, and fed only dirty rice.

She was miraculously released after 10 years and always looked back on her prison time as a gift—a special opportunity to share the love of Christ with people who might never have heard otherwise.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the

Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

Volunteerism is almost a professional occupation for some people. They volunteer at their children’s school, help with parent/teacher nights and help coach their children’s soccer teams. Volunteering for the not-so-popular opportunities can be more of a challenge. Often the volunteer spirit is nowhere to be found. Nursing homes, orphanages and shelters are the last places many people want to spend their time. The smell, depressing environment or other discomforts drive them away. But, where do you suppose Jesus would spend most of his time? Nearly any volunteer position involves necessary and admirable work, but listen carefully for the opportunities less travelled and with those less fortunate. Try being the first to volunteer the next time one comes you way.

Scars in Nigeria

It is clear that violence toward Christians in Nigeria is escalating.

Bukar Samson's scared face and body are the result of a brutal attack by militant Muslims that claimed the lives of dozens of Christians in the town of Yelwa in Plateau State, Nigeria. The town was burned and several churches were destroyed, including the Church of Christ where Bukar's father was pastor.

Watch this video, and find out how Bukar went from wanting revenge to being filled with forgiveness (Length 4:30).



To view more videos like this one, visit Persecution.TV.

Further deaths as Nigeria violence continues

Pray for believers in Nigeria today.

Midnight raids on two villages in Plateau state are reported to have claimed the lives of eight people, amid continuing religious tension in central Nigeria, said Release International on Wednesday.

Sources report that the victims, who included a woman and her daughter, were killed in the villages of Farin Lamba and Fan, which are in the Riyom and Barkin Ladi local government areas respectively.

This is the fifth recorded attack on Christian villages in this area in a fortnight. At least 13 people were killed during raids on several remote villages in the area earlier this month.

According to sources, many women recently joined a protest in Vom in Jos, South local government area, demanding the removal of the Special Task Force charged with keeping peace in the area. This force is facing mounting allegations that it is either turning a blind eye to attacks on Christian communities or may even be complicit in them.

Meanwhile, Reuters reports that a soldier guarding a church in Maiduguri, Borno state, was shot dead at his post on Sunday. This incident follows bomb attacks on three churches in the city last month.

Please pray for an end to the cycle of violence that continues to claim lives in Plateau state. Pray particularly that officials will do more to ensure that effective security measures are in place to avert further bloodshed.

Anti-Christian extremists in South Asia use religious festivals to harass Christians

In one South Asian state, Christians in two different villages have been harassed and intimidated by anti-Christian extremists, who are using their religious festivals as opportunities to humiliate the believers, reported Gospel for Asia.

People in Pastor Jakson Kinar’s village erected a statue of a local goddess directly in front of the place where his small congregation meets. They then sang loudly in front of the idol to disturb services. When an annual religious festival was underway, the villagers put up a stage with loudspeakers and increased their harassment of Christians.

Bagirathi Singh, who is pastor of a church in another part of the state, said his congregation of 34 believers is experiencing similar difficulties. Political leaders from the village have threatened believers, warning them not to attend services. Government services are also being withheld from some believers.

During local religious festivals, villagers often demand believers continue contributing money to pay for the religious festival, even after they choose to follow Jesus. Some of the believers have paid the money out of fear.

You can read the full Gospel for Asia report here.

"This is truly a time we need to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our brothers and sisters, holding them up in prayer before God's throne of grace. Please pray with me for our faithful workers and believers in this area, and for those who oppose them, that they will be transformed by the power of God's love." — GFA President K.P. Yohannan

Eritrea’s prisons claim two more believers

Pray for believers in Eritrea today.

Open Doors is reporting the deaths of two Christians in Eritrea's infamous detention centres, said Mission Network News yesterday.

Seble Hagos Mebrahtu, 27, died in the military training centre in Sawa on January 1. According to reliable sources, Mebrahtu was apparently refused medical treatment for malaria and died soon after.

Mehari Gebreneguse Asgedom, 42, was also denied medical treatment for complications from diabetes and injuries sustained from torture. He died on January 16, 2009, at the Mitire Military Confinement Centre.

These deaths come as the Eritrea government’s campaign against Christians escalates. Several large groups of believers—members of the underground church—have been arrested since the end of December. We shared with you on January 7 that 30 Christians were arrested for praying.

More than 3,000 Christians have been detained for their faith in Christ, since Eritrea’s government banned and criminalized dozens of churches outside of Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran and Islamic traditions in 2002. Most prisoners are kept in underground dungeons, metal shipping containers and military barracks. Several Christians have died while imprisoned due to torture and lack of medical attention. Too often, families wait years to hear any news of their loved ones' welfare.

Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Eritrea. Pray the newly arrested would remain firm in the faith. Pray God would use their testimonies of faithfulness to convict their persecutors of their need for salvation in Christ.

Uzbek Pastor Dmitry Shestakov released from prison!

Pastor Dmitry Shestakov

We received a report this week that Uzbek Pastor Dmitry Shestakov was released from prison last Friday. Praise God!

VOM sources report that Pastor Shestakov was released at 3 p.m. local time on January 21. No official church representatives went to meet him—only two courageous elders from the Andijan Church.

Shestakov is the pastor of the officially registered Full Gospel Church. He was taken into custody by secret service officials on January 21, 2007, and accused of “incitement of national, racial and religious enmity” under Article 156 of Uzbekistan's penal code. He had been serving a four-year, work camp sentence.

Praise the Lord for Pastor Shestakov's release! Pray for the Shestakovs, as they adjust back to life together. Pray also that the church in Andijan will be strengthened. Pray the Holy Spirit will use Shestakov's faithful witness to bring many of his neighbours, friends and even persecutors to Christ (Romans 12:14, 21).

Stay tuned to future issues of The Voice of the Martyrs newsletter for more on Pastor Shestakov.

You can listen to a video testimony from the Shestakov family filmed during his imprisonment here.

Iranian Christian pastor detained

Pastor Benham Irani with his wife and one
of his children
(Photo: Present Truth Ministries)

An Iranian Christian pastor has been detained by Iranian authorities, reported ASSIST News yesterday.

According to Jason DeMars of Present Truth Ministries, Pastor Behnam Irani has been convicted of “actions against the Order.” DeMars said this means Irani’s organized house-church meetings and other Christian activities.

Pastor Behnam is a husband and father of two children.

You can read the full report here.

Please pray for Pastor Irani’s release. Pray he will be filled with strength to endure for Jesus and for peace for his family. Pray God will work in the hearts of the Iranian authorities who have detained him.

Who were Phoebe, Dorcas and Lydia?

The following is excerpted from Christianity.com.

January 27, 60 A.D.
Commemoration of New Testament Women

By Dan Graves, MSL

The woman walking up the Roman Road hugged a secret. Hidden beneath her robe was the future of Christian theology. For she bore with her a letter to the church in Rome that would spell out, like no other document ever written, the implications and significance of the gospel.

Paul had turned to her out of need. While in Corinth, he had written a letter to the distant Roman church. He could not slip the letter into an envelope, lick a couple stamps and drop it into a mailbox; there was no postal service. Instead, he must find someone to carry the letter. As F. W. Boreham points out, Paul could write the letter but at that time could not carry it. Phoebe could not have written the letter, but she could carry it. As Christians, we need one another.

What do we know about Phoebe? Not much. Paul mentions her in just one place (Romans 16:1, 2): "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchrea [the port of Corinth], that you may receive her in the Lord as befits the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself as well."

This day, January 27th, is remembered in honour of Phoebe and two other early Christian women, Dorcas and Lydia. All three shared one pre-eminent quality: they helped others.

Dorcas was known for her assistance to the poor. So highly regarded was she, that when she died, the saints of Joppa appealed to Peter. He prayed over her and God raised her from the dead.

Lydia was a seller of purple cloth. After Paul shared the gospel with her, Lydia and her entire household were baptized--his first convert in Europe. She insisted Luke and Paul stay at her house. Her prosperous home became the original church at Philippi.

As these three individuals of the New Testament show, middle-class women were already beginning to play an important role in the Christian world.

Ethiopian Muslims warn Christians to convert, leave city or face death

Pray for believers in Ethiopia today.

International Christian Concern has learned that Christians in the Ethiopian city of Besheno are being harassed and physically abused after Muslims posted notices on the doors of Christian homes, warning them to convert, leave the city or face death, reported the Assyrian International News Agency.

Three Christian leaders were forced to flee the city and two Christians have been forced to convert to Islam. In the Muslim majority city, the entire evangelical Christian community consists of about 30 believers.

Evangelist Kassa Awano remains in critical condition after Muslims attacked him on November 29, 2010. A few days after the attack, nearly 100 Muslims surrounded a vehicle carrying Christian leaders on their way to negotiate for peace with Muslim leaders. Two men, Tesema Hirego and Niggusie Denano, were seriously wounded, and the other leaders suffered minor injuries. On January 2, Muslims assaulted Temesgen Peteros with a knife after he testified about the attacks on these Christians in court.

Christians in Besheno have been targeted by Muslims for many years. Unfortunately, the local Muslim officials of the city refuse to protect the Christians. The officials ignore their appeals for justice, declining repeated requests for the building of a place of worship and a cemetery.

Besheno is a city located in the province of Alaba in Southern Ethiopia. According to the 2007 national census, 93.84 percent of the population of the province is Muslim. Christians make up 5.82 percent of the population.

You can read the full report here.

Nigerian army implicated in attacks on villages in Jos

Members of the Nigerian Army have been implicated in an attack on a village in Plateau state, reports Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).

On January 23, two men, one woman and a baby were killed in an attack in Farin Lamba. Villagers reported that the attackers wore military uniforms.

The villagers shot one of the attackers in the arm; he reportedly turned out to be a solider from a nearby security post. They pursued the men, who fled in a military vehicle. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the soldiers belong to a team led by Captain Zakari. The army has refused to comment on the allegations.

The latest attack follows the controversial introduction of a shoot-to-kill policy by the Nigerian army, reported BBC News.

On January 18, Military spokesman Captain Charles Ekeocha told the BBC that soldiers had been given permission to shoot-to-kill to retain order in Jos following outbreaks of violence over the Christmas period and the alleged murder of an election official at a polling station in Tina Junction on January 17.  However, continuing discrepancies in reports of this incident, coupled with persistent allegations of military complicity in violence, have forced a reappraisal of the policy.

You can read the full report here.

Orissa government fails to uphold the law; anti-Christian violence continues

Orissa Christians suffer much
persecution.

In Orissa state, India, Christians continue to be killed, fall victims to act of violence and endure discrimination, this more than two years after the pogroms that took the lives of 75 people, reported Asia News today.

Last year, Christians and Dalits were victims in 62 cases of human rights violations, this according to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

On January 18, NHRC chairman K. G. Balakrishnan arrived in Bhubaneswar where he urged local authorities to stop religious and caste intolerance, especially in Kandhamal district.

Fr. Ajaya Kumar Singh, social service director of Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, told Asia News that the Orissa government could do more against human rights violations in Kandhamal. It could start by providing adequate and faster compensation to families who lost members during the 2008 Hindu pogroms.

In recent years, more than 50,000 people have been forced to flee their homes.

You can read the full report here.

Save the date!

Russell Stendal will share his experiences in
Colombia during VOM's Prayer Conferences
in March. You won't want to miss it!

The Voice of the Martyrs’ annual Prayer Conferences are coming in March!

Saturday, March 19

West Meadows Baptist Church

Edmonton, Alberta

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, March 26

City Centre Baptist Church

Mississauga, Ontario

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year, our special guest is Russell Stendal.

Russell Stendal was raised on the mission field in Colombia. He became a missionary jungle pilot at age 19. In 1983, Marxist rebels kidnapped him and held him hostage for five months. His book, Rescue the Captors, relates his experience, including how God worked in the hearts of the rebels.

Upon his release, God led Russell into radio ministry as a unique way to reach the fighting factions of the internal conflict in Colombia with the gospel. In partnership with Galcom, more than 88,000 radios have been deployed in violent areas of Colombia.

Today, Russell heads up the work of Colombia Para Cristo, which operates 12 radio stations that cover much of Latin America with the gospel. Tens of thousands of people listen to radio broadcasts, as terrorists have banned church buildings, meetings and many ministries in the past 30 years. A thriving underground church continues to develop in remote jungle areas of Colombia.

In addition to our special guest, you will hear from the following individuals:

• Klaas Brobbel, VOM’s Co-founder and Finance Administrator
• Corey Odden, VOM’s CEO
• Floyd Brobbel, VOM’s VP of Operations
• Greg Musselman, VOM’s VP of Outreach

Make plans to join us for an incredible day of raising awareness for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world!

Download a PDF flyer to share with you church, family and friends here.

Pray for Tajikistan

Pray for believers in Tajikistan.

A January 19 Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin reported there have been many answers to prayer for the Church in Central Asia:

• Unity among Protestant churches is growing.
• There are many testimonies of a growing interest in the Good News among Muslims.
• Many churches have a missionary vision for reaching out to the neighbouring Muslim countries.

However, much prayer is still needed.

Today, please consider praying for believers in Tajikistan.

• Almost all registered churches in Tajikistan were able to re-register in accordance with the legal requirements. However, the Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists was denied registration as a union of churches. That limits their rights, e.g. to open new churches. Also some smaller new churches faced problems with registration.
• The majority of the population continue to live in conditions of extreme poverty, unemployment and frequent electricity blackouts.
• Many labour migrants from Tajikistan and elsewhere in Central Asia live and work in Russia and become more open to the gospel there than in their home countries.

Death sentence for perpetrator of attack on Egyptian Christians a year ago

Christian leaders are hopeful
the government will take effective
action to address violence
against Christians.

Middle East Concern shared a prayer request with us for Egyptian Christians today.

On January 6, 2010, six Christians and a Muslim security guard were killed in a drive-by shooting as worshippers left a Christmas Eve service in Nag Hammadi. Three men were arrested shortly afterwards. On January 16, 2011, they were convicted. The man convicted of firing the shots was convicted of first-degree murder and "intimidating citizens,” and given the death penalty. The sentences for the two accomplices are scheduled to be announced on February 20.

These verdicts come in the same month as the deadly attacks on Christians on January 1, in Alexandria, and January 11, on a train in Minya province. Egyptian Christian leaders hope that the severity of the sentence imposed is a sign that the judiciary and government will start to take effective action to address violence against Christians.

In the week prior to the January 16 hearing, Egypt's President Mubarak reportedly urged senior judges to speed up trials because "slow justice" breeds bitterness.

Please continue to pray for Egyptian Christians:

• Pray those bereaved, wounded and traumatised in attacks on Christians will know the comfort, presence, peace and healing of Jesus.
• Pray the justice system will consistently apply due process in investigating attacks, prosecuting those charged and imposing effective sentences of those convicted.
• Pray that the perpetrators of violence against Christians will know the Spirit's conviction of sin and the Father's offer of forgiveness and life
• Pray all officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him.

 

Pakistani government to ‘protect minorities at all costs’ says the country’s president

ASSIST News reported yesterday that the Pakistani government will protect the country’s minorities at all costs in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah—the founder of Pakistan—and the constitution of Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari has said.

According to Asian News International (ANI), Zardari made these comments while talking to the Federal Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, who called on him at the presidential palace on January 20.

“No one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands nor will anyone be allowed to misuse the country's laws,” the president was quoted as saying.

The president also asked Bhatti to continue the consultations with scholars and ulema (legal scholars) of different faiths and denominations with a view to building consensus against the misuse of Pakistani laws against the minorities and vulnerable groups in the country.

“The case of Pakistani-Christian woman Asia Bibi, who has been sentenced to death on blasphemy charges, has drawn huge attention in the media, and there is deep sympathy for her,” said the news story. “Several NGOs have called for repealing Pakistan’s blasphemy law because it was ‘being used by illiterate masses in rural areas to hoodwink the minorities.’”

Pray for Kazakhstan

Pray for believers in Kazakhstan.

A January 19 Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin reported there have been many answers to prayer for the Church in Central Asia:

• Unity among Protestant churches is growing.
• There are many testimonies of a growing interest in the Good News among Muslims.
• Many churches have a missionary vision for reaching out to the neighbouring Muslim countries.

However, much prayer is still needed.

Today, please consider praying for believers in Kazakhstan.

• Kazakhstan currently chairs the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and proclaims religious tolerance.
• The Christian community is concerned that after 2010 the legislation will be changed imposing more restrictions on religious activities.
• While the majority of religious groups worship without government interference, the activities of unregistered minority groups, including some evangelical churches, are considered illegal. Some pastors and church members were fined for unregistered 'missionary' activities.
• In March 2010, new missionary visa regulations came into force that caused growing difficulties for some religious communities.

Pray for Kyrgyzstan

Pray for believers in Kyrgyzstan.

A January 19 Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin reported there have been many answers to prayer for the Church in Central Asia:

• Unity among Protestant churches is growing.
• There are many testimonies of a growing interest in the Good News among Muslims.
• Many churches have a missionary vision for reaching out to the neighbouring Muslim countries.

However, much prayer is still needed.

Today, please consider praying for believers in Kyrgyzstan.

• In Kyrgyzstan, 2010 was a year of political riots and ethnic clashes, which affected the church as well.
• The church leaders hope that the highly restrictive religious law brought in by former president Bakiev will be radically changed under the new government and restored at least to the level the country had before Bakiev.
• The churches are actively participating in helping those who lost their homes and businesses because of ethnic clashes between Kyrgyzs and Uzbeks in Osh.

Being an everyday Christian

You do not have to try to lead a heroic Christian life. It is futile to try to be a hero as it is futile to try to be an elephant. Most heroes are average individuals who are placed in extreme circumstances. Very few of us have the stuff of which great saints and martyrs are made.

It is good for Christians to know that in the Roman, medieval, Nazi and Communist persecution, the majority of Christians were not ready to suffer and die for their faith. Perhaps only a minority faced torture and death with courage. But the others were also Christians. God saw how sorry they were for their weakness and how eagerly they returned to faith when the immediate danger had passed.

It is a miracle that Jesus can make at least some sheep lie down in green pastures (Psalm 32:2). Normally, a sheep does not lie down. It will graze for hours, even if it is not hungry. How can you lie down with so much green grass around? How can you renounce the world when it offers you so many pleasures?

But among the saints are reckoned not only a St. Anthonie or a St. Paphnutius, or others who have been canonized, or those who have died in prison for their faith. An average Christian life is also a Christian life. An everyday Christian is also a saint.

This passage is excerpted from Victorious Faith by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, VOM’s founder. Victorious Faith is a collection of stories, anecdotes and insights that sustained Pastor Wurmbrand while he was imprisoned in a Romanian Communist prison.