Anniversary of Dogo Nahauwa massacre in Nigeria comes and goes; no change

Persecution in Dogo Nahauwa
remains unchanged one year
after a massacre.

One year ago this past Monday, armed Fulani men massacred more than 400 Christians in Dogo Nahauwa, Zot and Ratsat villages, in Jos South, Nigeria. Today, women and children continue to be the target of violent attacks, reported Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

Despite a heavy security presence in the area, entire families were murdered on March 7, 2010, using tactics that have since become the hallmark of attacks on non-Muslim villages.

Villagers were awaken in the early hours of the morning by gunfire and shouting, as homes were set on fire and victims hacked with machetes. Women and children in particular were targeted, a trend that has only become more widespread in the past year.

On that occasion, the army was slow to respond with assistance, leading some victims to question their commitment to tackling the violence.

Confidence in the security services has continued to plummet as attacks regularly occur in villages within close proximity to military outposts. Concerns of possible collusion in the violence by some parts of the army have grown, following increasing reports of attackers dressed in military uniform or driving military vehicles, and the discovery of military ID, bullet shells and attire at some of the crime scenes. 

This year alone, violent nighttime attacks on villages and university and college campuses in Plateau State, have left more than 50 people dead.

Pray for Somali believers

Pray for our Somali brothers and
sisters worldwide!

From time to time, we receive prayer requests from other ministries that share our passion for serving the persecuted Church.

Please take some time to stand with VOM and Somali Christian Ministries in praying for Somali Christians worldwide.

Pray specifically for:

• A Somali man who wants to know how to have a tangible experience with God. This man has been searching for God for years and has met with our contact many times in the last 5 years.
• God to continue to draw Somalis to Himself through http://www.somalichristians.org/ and the teaching and preaching found there.
• Christians who have contacted Somali Christian Ministries because they are witnessing to Somalis. Individuals are provided with prayer, counsel and resources to further their evangelism. This is exciting as several people contacted the ministry in February for this purpose.
• That the Spirit of God would reap a harvest in light of the many recent martyrs who have been trying to reach Somalis for Christ. Most recently, the four retired people who were travelling around the world by yacht to hand out Bibles and were murdered by Somali pirates. May God’s Spirit bless their surviving family members and may God hear our cries to change the hearts of Somalis worldwide.

 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down,

shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with

the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke 6:38

 

Shahbaz Bhatti in his own words

Pakistan's Minister of Minority Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, was assassinated on March 2 while on his way to work in Islamabad.

This is the latest attack on a high-profile Pakistani figure who urged reforming harsh blasphemy laws that impose the death penalty for insulting Islam.

In this report from Christian World News, hear Bhatti share in his own words how he was prepared to die serving the Christians of Pakistan. (Length 2:05)



To see more videos like this one, visit Persecution.TV today.

Spate of attacks on Christians erupts in Orissa, India

Pray for believers in Orissa state!

Hindu extremists have attacked Koya tribal Christians in villages in a remote area of Orissa state at least 15 times since December 8, 2010, reported Compass Direct News.

In the latest incident on February 23, about 60 assailants from the Hindu extremist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Murliguda damaged the eardrums of Bhadan Hontal and beat Markari Soma until he fell unconscious, according to a report by the Malkangiri District Christian Manch (MDCM).

Christian women, some pregnant, as well as children were among those injured in the attacks on churches. The spate of attacks began on December 8, in Katanpali village, when about 35 Hindu extremists stormed the house of Pastor Mark Markani and beat him.

On December 25, some 200 extremists barged into a Christmas Day celebration at a church in Koyi Konda village, beat the worshippers and destroyed furniture. About 10 houses belonging to Christians and their crops were destroyed.

The Christians filed a police complaint, but no action was taken.

Christians have suffered midnight raids on prayer meetings in which they have been beaten, resulting in some Christians fleeing their homes and going into hiding. At least four families have left their village and not returned due to extremist warnings, reported the MDCM.

At the same time, Hindu extremists have forced about 25 people to convert to Hinduism in the Mottu area.

Church leaders said increased attacks on Christians are a symptom of fear and envy among Hindu extremists, who perceive that Christianity is spreading in many areas and who mistake Christian social and educational ministries as illegally “luring” people to convert.

The local Christian community has met with various district authorities to address the situation, including the chief minister.

On March 3, area Christian leaders again met with the area district collector, who assured them that immediate action would be taken. Meanwhile, village Christians received rice and some essential items from the administration.

Area Christians fear that Malkangiri may see the same kind of eruption of violence that killed at least 100 people in Kandhamal district. Particularly since the same officials have been transferred from Kandhamal to Malkangiri district.

Nearly 4,000 Muslims attack Christian homes in Egypt

Pray for Egyptian believers!

A mob of nearly 4,000 Muslims attacked Coptic homes on March 5 in the village of Sool, Atfif, in Helwan Governorate, 30 kilometres from Cairo. They also torched the Church of St. Mina and St. George, reported Assyrian International News Agency.

There are conflicting reports about the whereabouts of the Church pastor Father Yosha and three deacons who were at church; some say they died in the fire and some say they are being held captive by the Muslims inside the church.

Witnesses report the mob prevented the fire brigade from entering the village. The army, which was stationed for two days prior in the village of Bromil, 7 kilometres from Sool, initially refused to go into Sool, according to the officer in charge. When the army finally sent three tanks to the village, Muslim elders sent them away, saying that everything was “in order now.”

A curfew was imposed on the 12,000 Christians in the village.

The incident was triggered by a relationship between 40-year-old Copt Ashraf Iskander and a Muslim woman. A "reconciliation" meeting was arranged between the relevant Coptic and Muslim families and together with the Muslim elders it was decided that Ashraf Iskander would have to leave the village because Muslims torched his house.

The father of the Muslim woman was killed by his cousin because he did not kill his daughter to preserve the family's honour, which led the woman's brother to avenge the death of his father by killing the cousin. The village Muslims blamed the Christians.

The Muslim mob attacked the church, exploding five to six gas cylinders inside the church. They pulled down the cross and the domes and burnt everything inside.

The mob reportedly broke into Coptic homes, too.

Pakistan Christians bury murdered leader Shahbaz Bhatti

Pray for Christians in
Pakistan today!

An advocate for Christians in Pakistan was laid to rest today, and the government is observing three days of mourning, reported Mission Network News.

Even as Pakistan's clerics and other senior leaders condemned Wednesday's assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, Christians took to the streets in Lahore, expressing their ire.

Bhatti was the federal minister of minority affairs, as well as the only Christian in the cabinet. Anger stirred over the lack of protection for those championing the cause of the oppressed Christians.

By Thursday, demonstrations were held across Punjab, where Governor Salman Taseer was murdered in January. Both were outspoken opponents of the controversial blasphemy law, and both had faced down death threats to keep speaking out about the injustices of the law.

However, other politicians may be afraid of speaking out on the blasphemy law, which is now politically toxic and potentially life-threatening.

Other reports to take a look at:

The Christian Post:
“Pakistan's President, Opposition Leaders Absent at Bhatti's Memorial”

Charisma:
“Uproar follows Assassination of Christian Minister in Pakistan”

Christian Today India:
“Pakistan’s Christians fear for safety after Shahbaz Bhatti’s assassination”

BBC News:
“Pakistan Christians bury murdered leader Shahbaz Bhatti”

Murder of Chaldean man in Iraq raises fears

A group of armed men burst into the home of an elderly believer, stabbing him to death in Iraq, reported AsiaNews.

Youssif Isho, a 70-year-old Chaldean Christian, lived alone in Karrad, central Baghdad. According to information obtained by AsiaNews, Youssif Isho's death was a targeted killing by extremist groups.

Sources warned AsiaNews that other attacks against Christians are possible in the capital. "The faithful continue to suffer," a Christian leader said, "and people are scared, moving cautiously out of fear of more violence." Street demonstrations were scheduled in Iraq's main cities in the wake of the attack.

Pray for all those grieving the loss of this Christian man. Pray the Lord will strengthen the faith of believers in Iraq and take away all fear. Pray the Lord will strengthen and grow the Church in spite of the ongoing violence towards Christians.

Pakistan’s sole Christian minister assassinated

Shahbaz Bhatti was
murdered today.

VOM sources in Pakistan learned today that Pakistan’s Minister of Minority Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, was assassinated Wednesday while on his way to work in Islamabad.

This is the latest attack on a high-profile Pakistani figure who had urged reforming harsh blasphemy laws that impose the death penalty for insulting Islam.

Bhatti was on his way to work when unknown gunmen riddled his car with bullets. The minister arrived dead at Shifa Hospital.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but private Pakistani TV channels showed pamphlets at the scene of the killing that were attributed to the Pakistani Taliban warning of the same fate for anyone opposing the blasphemy laws.

An eyewitness saw three gunmen open fire on Bhatti’s car as he left his house. The gunmen then sped away in a car. It was not immediately clear why Bhatti, a member of the ruling Pakistani People’s Party, did not have bodyguards with him.

Pakistani government leaders condemned the attack.

“This is concerted campaign to slaughter every liberal, progressive and humanist voice in Pakistan,” said Farahnaz Ispahani, an aide to President Asif Ali Zardari. “The time has come for the federal government and provincial governments to speak out and to take a strong stand against these murderers to save the very essence of Pakistan.”

In recent months, Bhatti boldly defended Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy. After the killing of Salman Taseer, Governor of Punjab, whom Islamic fundamentalists blamed for having defended Asia Bibi, Bhatti became the radicals’ “top target.”

Bhatti was in Canada just last month, meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and several cabinet ministers during his visit to Ottawa. According to a spokeman for the prime minister, the men discussed the importance of standing up for the rights of religious minorities.

Thank the Lord for the life of Shahbaz Bhatti and his attempts to change Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Pray the Lord will bring comfort to his family in their time of sorrow. Pray the Lord will not allow Pakistani believers to be discouraged, but to be emboldened in their faith, putting their trust in the everlasting God.

Christian students attacked by Muslim mob in Ethiopia

Pray for Christian college students
attacked in Ethiopia.

A Muslim mob assaulted and wounded 17 Christian college students on a mission trip in Oma village, Ethiopia, on February 26, reported International Christian Concern (ICC).

The mob overwhelmed the government militia who attempted to protect the students. When the Christians fled the village, the mob unsuccessfully attempted to set fire to their car.

The students, who were from Meda Welabu University, went to the Muslim village in Bale province on a short-term mission trip. After the students started to distribute Bibles and speak with the Muslims, one of the villagers angrily argued with them, inciting a mob to attack the students. The Muslims hurled stones at the Christians and beat them with rods.

Speaking with ICC, one of the victims who wanted to remain anonymous said, “We thank God that no one was killed. It’s sad that we suffered the attacks despite the Ethiopian laws which say there is freedom of religion and equality in the country.”

While Ethiopia’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, Muslims occasionally attack Christians living in Muslim-majority areas.

Please pray for believers in Ethiopia today!

Pray for those imprisoned in Iran

Sam Yeghnazar, director of Elam Ministries, recently shared a letter on how to pray specifically for those currently imprisoned in Iran.

Dear friends,

Last week I had a very strong leading to pray specifically for the prisons in Iran. Prison is a place that people dread. This is where our brothers and sisters are suffering. It is where they win victories or suffer defeat. So it would be good to start from prison. I felt that in our intercession we should gain victory over the prisons and spiritually plunder them.

How should we pray?

Pray for the Christian prisoners:

• That they put on the whole "Armour of God" and are alert and ready for any attack. 
• Are mentally prepared that the interrogators will tell them lies, accuse them and their friends of things they have NOT said or done.
• Put their trust wholly in the Lord. And in no way give room to fear—knowing that God’s promises are true and He will never leave nor forsake them. Pray they will see miracles.
• That the Lord will give them compassion towards their persecutors.
• That they will be given the right words to speak and receive words of knowledge.
• That they will be able to place into the Lord’s hands their families and loved ones, also any church members for whom they have been responsible.
• That they will witness to other prisoners.

Pray for their persecutors:

• That God will revive their consciences, so they will be convicted of wrongdoing. That they will not harm the prisoners.
• That they will be fear stricken and dread will cover them, so they will dread to harm the prisoners.
• That their reasoning with the prisoners becomes impaired and that they will realize what they are doing is wrong.
• That they will call upon the Lord to forgive them and like the jailor in Philippi ask, “What shall I do to be saved?”

Pray for other Prisoners:

• That they will hear the message of salvation clearly.
• That the Holy Spirit will convict them that they are sinners too.
• That they will repent and receive salvation.

Thank you for praying.

Sam Yeghnazar

Director

Please pray with us for our brothers and sisters in Iran!

Monk, workers shot in attack on monastery in Egypt

Pray for those attacked at an
Egyptian monastery last week.

One monk and six church workers were shot and wounded last week when the Egyptian Army attacked a Coptic Orthodox monastery in order to destroy a wall monks had built to defend their property from raiders, sources told Compass Direct News.

The attack with small arms, heavy machine guns and armoured personnel carriers happened February 23 at the Anba Bishoy Monastery in Wadi Al-Natroun, 110 kilometres north of Cairo. The soldiers used armoured personnel carriers to bulldoze the wall, sources said, as the monks sang a prayer in unison, declaring, “God is merciful.” A monk who witnessed the attack said on condition of anonymity that the scene resembled “a war zone.”

As of yesterday, seven people remained in the Anglo American Hospital in Cairo, two of them in critical condition.

The attack took place in the wake of the political riots that swept through Egypt beginning January 25, culminating in the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak on February 11.

As security diminished, the Anba Bishoy Monastery had come under increasing attacks from raiders and criminals set free from prisons. The military had denied a request for protection from the monks, who then built a brick wall with a metal gate to control access. The army later claimed the monastery had not acquired the proper permits and issued a deadline for the wall to be torn down.

The monks refused to demolish the wall, and the army moved in. The attack followed other anti-Christian incidents throughout Egypt.

You can read the full report here.

Turmoil spreads to Iraq

Pray for believers in Iraq today!

Todd Nettleton with our sister-mission VOM USA recently spoke with Mission Network News about the turmoil in Northern Africa and the Middle East spreading to Iraq.

Take a few moments to read the story below.

Turmoil spreads to Iraq

Iraq (MNN) ― Tunisia. Libya. Egypt. Bahrain. Jordan. Most of the Arab world seems to be in an uproar. Now Iraq has thrown its hat into the ring.

“It seems that this same spirit of protest—‘Hey, our lives are not how we want them to be. The government is holding us back. Let's do something about it!’—is now spreading to Iraq as well,” says Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs.

On Friday, Iraqi protestors from every corner of the country flooded the streets to demand their leaders provide more opportunities, better jobs, and better infrastructure. Small level protests had occurred before Friday, but the “Day of Rage” resulted in lives lost and large-scale protests all over—even in Iraq's more peaceful north.

The question is why has unrest spread to Iraq? Many other uproarious countries were dictatorships before the people revolted, but Iraq, after all, is a democracy with elected officials. Nettleton says the answer lies in a lack of results.

“We [in the West] think of Iraq right now as liberated Iraq: Saddam’s gone, this is liberated Iraq. But to the people on the ground who see corruption in their government, they see infrastructure that is still not working properly, electricity that’s only on for a couple hours a day. And they say, ‘We want more than this. We want a better life than this.’... They also would identify the corruption of ‘Hey, these government leaders are making millions of dollars on different deals, and yet my electricity still doesn’t work.’”

Because Iraq is a democracy, however, responding well to the demands of the people could be tricky. “If you kick out these leaders, then who’s next in line? Because they did have elections, these are the people that a majority of the citizens voted for and chose to be in power,” Nettleton points out.
At this point, what this will mean for the country is unknown.

What this will mean for believers, though, could be progress. “I think obviously it means danger, because any time there’s upheaval, anytime there’s this type of situation, there’s danger there. But the other thing that I think it means is opportunity,” says Nettleton.

Nearly 100 percent of Iraq’s leaders are devout Muslims. Since the majority of Iraqis are upset with their leaders, this could mean that people turn a cold shoulder to Islam as a whole.

“If you see these leaders as good Muslims, it makes you open to other ideas or another religion,” explains Nettleton. “So this is an opportunity to share the Gospel. There’s an opportunity to present an alternative to Islam, which is the love of Jesus Christ.”

Pray that whatever happens, believers in Iraq would take every opportunity they have to share the love and peace of Christ with troubled neighbors. Pray for peace in the country and growth in the church.

Vietnamese priest facing imprisonment again

Father Nguyen Van Ly

Father Nguyen Van Ly, a Vietnamese priest who has spent more than 15 years in prison, including time in solitary confinement, could soon be imprisoned again.

The 64-year-old's last arrest was in February 2007, when he was detained for distributing material "harmful to the state." In March 2010, he was released to undergo a year's medical treatment after suffering two serious strokes that left him partially paralyzed.

During his medical leave, authorities prevented him from giving interviews or meeting with activists. Police reportedly roughed up a U.S. diplomat who attempted to visit with him.

Father Nguyen is scheduled to be re-admitted to prison on March 15. He has said that if he is indeed forced to return to prison, he will go on a hunger strike and refuse medical treatment as a means of protesting the injustice.

Pray authorities will not send Father Nguyen back to prison. Pray for continued healing for him. Ask God to equip him to stand firm in his faith in the face of oppression and to demonstrate unfailing trust in his Saviour. Pray he and Vietnamese believers facing similar trials will rest in the knowledge that the Good Shepherd walks with them at all times (Psalm 23).

Persecution is not a social justice issue, Part 5

Today is the final part of VOM Australia and Thirteen Three's series on persecution and social justice.

A FINAL WORD: Are we against Social Justice?

We want to be clear that we are not against social justice. The Bible has so much to say about God’s concern for the poor, the widow and the orphan. And caring for the poor is a crucial sign that we believe the Gospel. We are all for this as a real way of living out our faith!

We also don’t want to be fatalistic, “Oh, persecution is going to happen. There’s nothing we can do about it.” It is right that persecution makes us angry, and that it drives us to prayer and action on behalf of our persecuted family. It is right that we work to support them and care for them in their suffering and need.

We are not against equality, justice or freedom—but we understand there is a cost to discipleship and mission. And our call is not to stop discipleship and mission, rather our call is to unity, solidarity and partnership in discipleship and mission.

Our call is to be BOUND WITH THEM!

Thirteen Three (13:3) is a youth initiative of Voice of the Martyrs Australia. We are committed to mobilising a generation of passionate youth to be bound with their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. Find out more here.

Chinese government planning increased regulations on Christian worship in 2011

Pray for believers in China today!

The Chinese government is reportedly planning to tighten regulations on Christian worship this year, according to a report in an English-language newspaper in China.

China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) has announced that it will “guide Protestants worshiping at unregistered churches into worshiping at government-sanctioned ones.” A VOM source in China confirmed that during a detention in 2010, police told him they would stop being “nice” in 2011.

The report also stated, “SARA will strengthen regulation of foreign nationals’ group religious activities in China and resist foreign infiltration under the pretext of religion.” This new policy could mean increased persecution of Christians in China, especially those who worship in unregistered churches. Christians faced similar pressure from the government before the 2008 Olympics, when several Christians were detained, forced from their homes and put under house arrest.

Pray Chinese Christians will continue to look to their God, knowing that He will give them courage and resolution in trial and opposition. Pray a new wave of intense pressure will not deter followers of Christ in China from proclaiming God's Word. Pray believers unjustly imprisoned will persevere in faith.

VOM's April newsletter will provide a special focus on China. If you do not already subscribe to our newsletter, you may do so by visiting our subscription page or calling our office at 1-888-298-6423.

Persecution is not a social justice issue, Part 4

We've been following along with VOM Australia's youth initiative, Thirteen Three, and its definition of social justice.

Some of you might be thinking, "Huh? Christians are being killed! Of course, that's a social justice issue!" Here is our final reason why it is not.

4. We are not trying to stop persecution

One of the first things persecuted Christians ask us is, “Will you pray for me?” But they don’t want us to pray that persecution will stop. They ask us to pray that God will give them strength to keep going, courage to share the Gospel and that through God’s power He would continue to grow the church.

This is also how we should pray for our persecuted family.

We’re not putting out the battle cry “Let’s stop persecution!” We’re putting out the battle cry “Let’s follow Jesus! Let’s see God’s kingdom grow in our local communities and all around the world.” There’s going to be opposition and rejection when you’re on the frontlines, so now is the time for us to learn how to prepare to be brave soldiers for Christ.

And we believe that there’s no better way to learn than by connecting with persecuted Christians who are living a faith worth dying for.

Will you be BOUND WITH THEM?

Thirteen Three (13:3) is a youth initiative of Voice of the Martyrs Australia. We are committed to mobilising a generation of passionate youth to be bound with their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. Find out more here.

Review of the movie Iranium

Written by Riley K. Smith

From sending children onto the battlefield to detonate mines to reports of being a state sponsor of terrorism, Iran’s militant regime rightfully earned its reputation as an “axis of evil.” Yet despite the reports, Iran resumed its nuclear program, and many legitimately wonder, “Why now?”

The Clarion Fund’s recent DVD release, Iranium, explores Iran’s nuclear intentions and discusses theories behind the “Why now?” question. Though Iran claims its nuclear plans are purely to generate other forms of energy for its populous country, evidence suggests otherwise, as Iran sits on the world’s second largest, natural gas reserve.

Iran’s intentions rightfully come into question when coupled with President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad’s prayers, hastening the return of the Mahdi, Islam’s end times' redeemer. It is this apocalyptic worldview that Iranium explores and exposes.

Anyone wishing to view this DVD need not have much knowledge of Iran’s history. The producers skillfully recap the last several decades, from the ousting of the Shah to the arrival of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to the present-day protests against the regime. The question of who exactly is in charge in Iran is discussed—the Ayotallah, the Guardian Council of Mullahs, the basij, the Revolutionary Guard or the president?

What I found most poignant was the documentary’s comparison of the Cold War’s nuclear arms race between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union and the current hostility between Iran and the West, as well as Israel. This comparison takes the viewer back to the apocalyptic worldview and Iran’s promotion of martyrdom, making its intentions that much more of a concern. But the question remains: How long will the regime last given the numerous uprisings protesting the leadership?

Iranium is recommended for anyone interested in understanding the Iranian regime’s apocalyptic perspective and the potential danger it poses to the West and Israel. With respect to Christians in Iran, this film provides the political context to what believers are facing and gives substance to inspire prayers, especially for those believers currently in prison for their faith.

Riley K. Smith is the author of four books in VOM’s Restricted Nations series, including Iran, India, China and soon-to-be-released Pakistan.

Afghan convert Said Musa released!

Said Musa has been released!

After intense diplomatic pressure, authorities released Afghan Christian Said Musa, who had been in prison for nearly nine months on charges of apostasy (leaving Islam), punishable by death under Islamic law, reports Compass Direct News.

VOM sources have confirmed Said’s freedom. Praise the Lord!

A source in Afghanistan told Compass that the 46-year-old Musa (alternately spelled Sayyed Mussa) was released last week and had left the country on February 21, but the date of his release was not clear.

Musa had written a series of letters from his prison cell, the last one dated February 13, according to Compass sources. In that letter Musa, an amputee and a father of six, said that representatives of embassies in Kabul visited him and offered him asylum.

After the representatives left, according to the letter, Musa was taken to another room where three Afghan officials tried to convince him to recant his faith. They promised to release him from prison within 24 hours if he would do so. He refused and was sent back to his cell.

“I told them I cannot [follow] Islam,” he wrote in his letter. “I am Jesus Christ’s servant. They pushed me much and much. I refused their demands.”

Details of Musa’s release remained confidential in order to protect him and his family, who still remain in danger, sources said.

Praise God for Said’s release! Pray the Lord will swiftly reconnect him with his family. Pray for their safety and well-being and that Said would be encouraged to continue standing up for his faith in Jesus Christ.

Also, continue praying for fellow Afghan Christian Shoaib Assadullah, who has been in a holding jail in a district of Mazar-e-Sharif, in northern Afghanistan, since October. A recent letter from him suggests that his life is in danger. Assadullah was arrested on October 21 for giving a New Testament to a man who then reportedly turned him in to authorities.

Compass Direct reports that Assadullah, who has no legal representation, has also been pushed to recant his faith. Authorities have tried to build a case that he is insane in order to explain his change of faith and possibly to justify a more lenient sentence for him, sources have said. Sources said that there are diplomatic efforts underway for the secure release of Assadullah.

Persecution is not a social justice issue, Part 3

So far, we've learned that following Jesus is about dying, and that Jesus promises His followers that they will be persecuted. So, what's the third reason why persecution is not a social justice issue?

3. God grows His church through persecution

God’s ways are upside-down to the rest of the world. The world looks up to the powerful, the rich, the beautiful. It tells us success comes by getting ahead of everyone else, making sure you are number one and that no-one can tear you down.

But it’s a different story for Christians. God’s power is seen in weakness, His wisdom in foolishness. Those who want to be great among us will be the servants. Life comes through death.  And growth often comes through hardship, persistently obeying Christ even though it costs you.

“Consider it pure joy my brothers when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” James 1:2-3

“We...glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” Romans 5:3-4

Look back on some of the difficult times in your life and reflect on the lessons God taught you. What is he teaching you right now?

Thirteen Three (13:3) is a youth initiative of Voice of the Martyrs Australia. We are committed to mobilising a generation of passionate youth to be bound with their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. Find out more here.

North Korean Christian to be released in China; sent back to North Korea; pray!

Kim Kyung Il

North Korean Christian Kim Kyung Il has been in prison for 10 years. Just a few days ago, VOM contacts received word that his sentence is expected to be commuted in March and he may be free in September.

Normally this would be cause for rejoicing, but as soon as Kim Kyung Il is released, he'll face deportation to North Korea. There, he will almost certainly be executed. Our contact writes, "The only hope he may have is a huge outpouring of public awareness on this issue, which might at least delay his execution once he's returned."

Friends are working frantically to help Kim Kyung Il, but it's not easy. Please pray with us for a solution, and take action by writing the Chinese Embassy officials in Canada today.

His Excellency Junsai Zhang
Ambassador
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
515 St. Patrick Street
Ottawa, ON K1N 5H3

Address for Kim Kyung Il
#104-1004 Mailbox Tiebei Prison
Changchun City
Jilin Province
People’s Republic of China

Kim Kyung Il’s story from PrisonerAlert.com:

During early 1997, Kim Kyung Il and his brother crossed the border from North Korea into China. The following year he met a pastor, became a Christian and joined a Bible study group. Under the leadership of this pastor, Kyung Il served refugees from North Korea and started Bible studies in the Chengdoo region. He later became involved with sending refugees to South Korea.

Kyung Il was overseer of a safe house that discipled over 70 refugees. When a large number from the group were arrested by the Chinese police, he fled with some of the remaining refugees to the China-Mongolian border. He and his wife were captured, but the rest of the group continued their journey in the desert. Without their leader, they wandered for two days and finally crossed the border into Mongolia, where they reached the South Korean embassy and received passage to South Korea.

Kyung Il and his wife were sent back to North Korea and placed in prison. His pregnant wife was hit in the stomach with a stick, forcing an abortion. In the prison, many inmates knew Kim well, but they protected him by pretending not to know him. Thus, the authorities did not realize how involved he was with helping refugees escape from North Korea. He was released after serving only a short sentence. He remembers that those who protected his identity while in prison had asked him to work harder to let the world know about their situation.

Kim’s wife was released from prison shortly after the forced abortion. She escaped to South Korea with other family members. After his release, Kyung Il fled to China and worked at another safe house. He continued to disciple refugees and assisted them in escaping to South Korea.

In April 2002, Kyung Il was caught by the Chinese police. Since his arrest, he has been held in prison in China. He is scheduled to be sent back to North Korea when released from prison in China. All of his family now live in South Korea.

Please pray Kim Kyung Il will not be sent back to North Korea, where he will surely be executed.

Persecution is not a social justice issue, Part 2

This week, we’re following along with a series of posts by our sister-mission VOM Australia and thinking through why persecution is not a social justice issue. In yesterday's post, we saw that following Jesus is about dying.

Persecution is Not a Social Issue, Part 2

2. Jesus promises that His followers will be persecuted

The reality of persecution shouldn’t surprise us. We live as Christians in a world that is hostile to the Gospel, and Jesus promises us that persecution will come:

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first...If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” John 15:18, 20

As we call people out of the kingdom of darkness into God’s light, there is going to be rejection because people don’t want their sin to be exposed. Many will reject the message and the messenger.

But God will still grow His Kingdom!

Today, LIFT UP your prayers today for Christians suffering for their allegiance to Christ.

Thirteen Three (13:3) is a youth initiative of Voice of the Martyrs Australia. We are committed to mobilising a generation of passionate youth to be bound with their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. Find out more here.

Christian villagers driven from homes in Laos face starvation

Pray God would move in the hearts of
authorities who are preventing food from
reaching Christians in Laos.

A group of approximately 65 villagers, who were driven from their village at gunpoint for refusing to give up Christianity, are facing starvation as local authorities in Laos destroy crops and prevent food from reaching the group, reported Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) on Tuesday.

The 18 families have been living in a temporary camp outside Katin village, Ta-Oyl district, Saravan province, since they were marched from their village at gunpoint in two separate incidents in 2010 for refusing to give up their Christian faith.

A report received from a CSW source this week said that village officials are refusing to allow the Christians to enter the village to farm their land. An area that had been farmed around the camp has been destroyed. Village officials have instructed families in surrounding villages not to help or provide food for the group, who lack access to adequate food, water and sanitation facilities, and medical treatment.

It is reported that the villagers believe these tactics are an attempt to starve them in order that they give up their Christian faith.

At first, 11 families were driven from the village at gunpoint during a worship service in January 2010, before a further seven families of new converts to Christianity were driven out in December 2010. Despite international advocacy on the case, the dire situation has not improved. One man from the group has died during this time.

In March 2010, the district head of Ta-Oyl, Mr Bounma, met with the group and urged them to reconsider their decision to follow the Christian faith, encouraging them to renounce their Christian beliefs. The group refused, and on hearing this, Mr Bounma reportedly stated that while the Lao Constitution provided protection for freedom of religion and belief, he did not allow Christianity in his district. He threatened the group with expulsion from the district if they refused to renounce their faith.

The Laos Constitution provides protection for its people to practise a religion of their choice without discrimination. However, legislative protection is weak and implementation at a local level can be arbitrary. Theravada Buddhism is the dominant religion in Laos. Religious minorities, including Christians, can face harassment. 

Please pray for believers in Laos today!

Persecution is not a social justice issue, Part 1

Our sister-mission VOM Australia has launched a youth initiative called Thirteen Three. The name refers to Hebrews 13:3 and the words “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.”

Recently, Thirteen Three ran a series of blog posts about how persecution is not a social justice issue.

We’d like to share the 5-part series with you here.

Persecution is Not a Social Justice Issue, Part 1

“We are the generation that can end poverty!” Have you heard someone say this before?

Our generation loves social justice, doesn’t it? We genuinely believe that we can make an impact by righting some of the wrongs we see in the world today. As Christians, we are called to work for equality, freedom and justice in the face of oppression, evil and corruption, to care for the poor, the oppressed and the needy.

You might assume that persecution falls into the poverty/justice category. But persecution is not a social justice issue. Let me tell you why.

1. Following Jesus is about dying

“As a pastor, I believe Christians shouldn’t have to die for their faith.”

I read this quote from a well-known Australian pastor recently, and I immediately thought, “This guy has missed the whole point of following Jesus.”

Compare this with Pastor Trung who I met in Vietnam. Trung had been in prison for six years for sharing the Gospel and he told me, “I die with Christ every day!”

By definition, being a Christian is about dying—dying with Christ, dying to sin, dying to self, dying for Christ. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor-theologian who was killed by the Nazis, said it best, “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.”

There is a cross to carry, but this pastor missed it. He’s missed Jesus’ call for His followers to deny themselves and take up their cross.

Over the next week we’re going to be looking at three more reasons why persecution is not a social justice issue. I hope you can join me for the ride!

Thirteen Three (13:3) is a youth initiative of Voice of the Martyrs Australia. We are committed to mobilising a generation of passionate youth to be bound with their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. Find out more here.

Conditional release of Christian couple in Iran after bail bond is posted

Hassan Razavi Derakhshan and Parya Jamali

A Christian couple who were arrested by secret security police on charges of “belief in the Christian faith” and “organizing and participating at a home-based church” were allowed to post bail and be temporarily released from the detention centre in Mashhad, reported Mohabat News.

Hassan Razavi Derakhshan and his wife, Parya Jamali, were arrested on December 27 and detained for 35 days. Allegedly, the couple organized a Christmas celebration in their home on December 22 (see more details here).

The couple was transferred to the Vakil-Abad Prison in Mashhad and subjected to ongoing and harsh interrogations. The harsh treatment was prolonged despite both husband and wife suffering from various ailments.

The couple must now await their upcoming court hearing.

Praise the Lord for Razavi and Parya’s release. Pray for their complete exoneration and freedom. Pray for their safety and well-being. Pray for all believers in Iran today!

Uzbek Christians facing prosecution after police raid

Pray for believers in Uzbekistan today!

Authorities who raided a Christian meeting in Syrdarya Region, central Uzbekistan, in January, are reportedly preparing to prosecute several of the Christians present, reported Forum 18 News.

On January 6, 12 police officials broke into the home of Pastor Andrey Shevchenko, where approximately 25 members of an unregistered local Baptist church were gathered to celebrate the baptism of Christ. The officials confiscated DVDs, CDs and Christian books. They also forced some of the believers to write statements.

Pastor Andrey showed the police documents proving that the materials had been purchased from the officially registered Bible Society of Uzbekistan. However, police told him that the literature would be sent to the State Religious Affairs Committee in the capital Tashkent for "expert analysis."

In early February, police reported that they are planning to prosecute Pastor Andrey and other local Christians under the code of Administrative Offences for "violation of the law on religious organisations" and "illegal storage, production, import or distribution of religious materials."

Please pray for believers in Uzbekistan. Pray for strength of faith for these Christians as they face opposition. Pray they will not face charges or fines. Pray they will bear witness to the love and grace of Christ, even to their persecutors. Pray Uzbek authorities will treat all of their citizens with true justice.

The essence of martyrdom

Ever wonder if the word "martyr" is relevant in this day and age? Take a few moments, and read the following, which is excerpted from Eberhard Arnold’s The Early Christians: In Their Own Words.

The early Christians were revolutionaries of the Spirit, heralds of the last judgment and the coming transformation; they had to be ready for martyrdom at any moment. Their witness meant they had to reckon with being sentenced to death by state and society.

Therefore, “martyrs” were those witnesses ready to die for their faith, those who bore this testimony before kings and judges with the steadfastness of soldiers of God. They were martyrs, that is “confessors,” even if they did not have to die.

To give witness is the essence of martyrdom. Martyrs uphold the truth of their testimony as eyewitnesses of the Lord and his resurrection. They see Christ and become his prophetic spirit-bearers. Through the Spirit, the blood-witness of the martyrs becomes part of the decisive battle waged by Jesus, the battle in which he himself died as a champion and leader of the future.

By dying, [Jesus] finally judged and routed the hostile powers of the present age. Put to death by the most devout Jewish people and the Roman state, Christ fettered and disarmed the demons and their darkness through his cross. Since then, each new martyrdom—each new dying with Christ—becomes a celebration of victory over the forces of Satan.

Martyrs aren't simply individuals who choose death over renouncing their beliefs. Martyrs are individuals who make great sacrifices or suffer much in order to further a belief, cause or principle. Martyrs are individuals like our brothers and sisters around the world, making a stand for Jesus Christ in the midst of persecution.

Pray for our family today!

Being God's instrument

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's
"St. Francis of Assisi at Prayer"
oil on canvas

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so
Much seek to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

St. Francis of Assisi

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

Church constructions in India halted by opposition

Pray for believers in India today!

Anti-Christian extremists put a halt to church construction work in two states of India, reported Gospel for Asia.

In one of these states, Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Rahman Mukopadhyay has seen God do miraculous work in the village he was serving. When he first came to this village, Rahman faced a lot of opposition while sharing the Good News, but God touched people’s hearts, and eventually a good number chose to follow Christ.

As the congregation of believers grew, they no longer had sufficient room to worship the Lord together. So they began praying for a piece of land.

God answered their prayers, blessing them with property for the church building. They dedicated the construction to the Lord and laid the foundation for the building.

However, a group of anti-Christian extremists demanded the believers to stop immediately.

Pastor Rahman requests prayers for the church building’s construction to continue and for its timely completion. Please pray for him and his congregation to remain strong in the Lord in the midst of this opposition.

In another state of India, one village was about to receive a new church building, but some villagers and local officials opposed the work.

The village leader gave permission for the building to be erected, but when the believers had completed the first floor, the opponents told the believers to stop building.

GFA-supported leaders in the area desire prayer for God to change the hearts of those opposing the construction. Please intercede for this church building to be completed without any more hindrances.

Seven Iranian Christians released

Pray for Iranian believers today!

Seven Iranian Christians who were arrested on December 26, along with 31 other believers, were recently released from prison on bail, reported our sister-mission VOM USA. Praise God!

On January 26, two men and a woman were released in Isfahan. Three days later, four women were released from Tehran's notoriously brutal Evin prison.

The release of one of the women, Sara Akhaven, involved her family giving up their trade license in exchange for her bail. If authorities decide Sara has broken bail, however, the family's livelihood will be gone. Sadly, the trade license was not valuable enough to secure bail for Sara's sister, Leila, who remains in prison.

Some of the original 31 Christians who were arrested have reportedly been released.

The recently released believers reported that they spent more than a month in solitary confinement and endured hours of interrogation and torture. It is likely that those who remain detained continue to face the same brutal treatment.

Among those who remain in prison is a couple with two children. Although their mother, Maryam, has been able to phone her children from prison, they have not heard from their father, Rasool, in over a month. All of the other prisoners have reportedly been able to call their families, so there is great concern for Rasool's condition.

Please pray for Iranian believers today. Thank the Lord for the release of these believers. Pray that they will remain faithful in witnessing about Christ. Pray all imprisoned Christians in Iran will be released. Pray they will be emboldened and equipped by God's grace as they suffer. Pray for Iranian Christians who face extreme pressure and opposition under the government's new policy of "religious cleansing."

Christian Convert from Islam facing execution in Afghanistan

Pray for Said Musa's release.

Said Musa, who was imprisoned in Afghanistan for converting from Islam to Christianity, is reportedly facing execution.

In the second week of February, an Afghan judge allegedly informed Said that he would be hanged within days if he did not renounce his faith in Christ and reconvert to Islam.

A 15-year employee of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Kabul, Afghanistan, Said was arrested on May 31, 2010, after a television station in Kabul broadcast images that allegedly showed Western Christians baptizing Afghans. Since his arrest, he has remained in Kabul Detention Center, where he has reportedly suffered sexual assault and torture and been denied access to a lawyer.

Godfrey Yogarajah, the Executive Director of The Religious Liberty Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance, recently called attention to the illegal and unjust treatment of Said. "The arrest of Said in the first place and the subsequent demands for death for apostasy violate at least three provisions of the Constitution of Afghanistan," he said.

Said's trial is reportedly the first for apostasy that has reached near execution since the Taliban's fall.

Pray for God's enduring comfort and peace for Said in prison. Pray that, even in chains, he will exalt and praise the Lord. Pray for his release. Pray also for Said's wife and six children, who fled to Pakistan after his arrest, that they, too, will continue to find strength in Christ.

Cuban church leader denounces persecution

Pray for religious liberty in Cuba.

A respected Baptist pastor in Cuba has published an open letter denouncing government persecution targeting him and his church, reported Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) today.

Pastor Homero Carbonell, long-time leader of La Trinidad First Baptist Church in Santa Clara, and a high-level denominational leader, says he has been forced to retire due to prolonged government pressure and threats made against his church.

The 12-page letter, sent by Pastor Carbonell to CSW, gives details of the Religious Affairs Office’s treatment of Pastor Carbonell and his church over the past three years. Spurious accusations against Pastor Carbonell, including allegations that he is associated with the counterrevolution and is tied to unspecified “illegalities” culminated in a series of penalties being applied to his church. While Pastor Carbonell finally stepped down from his role as leader of the church in October 2010, the sanctions have not been lifted.

Numerous requests for clarification on the part of church leaders went unanswered and a series of meetings with officials from the Religious Affairs Office, headed by Caridad Diego, failed to rectify the situation. In one meeting, government officials concluded the meeting by telling Pastor Carbonell to behave himself.

In the open letter, Pastor Carbonell echoes calls by other religious leaders in Cuba for legislation regulating religious practice. Such a law “would not only regulate believers, but would also regulate the government, and would give believers a legal instrument to deal with any legal dispute to support their claims and not leave them subject to political decisions emanating from groups in power, who can take coercive, wrong, or privileged decisions in matters of conscience.”

The government’s focus on Pastor Carbonell and his church appears to be driven by the church’s consistent refusal to expel family members of political prisoners and members of the human rights or pro-democracy groups from the congregation. The Cuban government has long heavily pressured church leaders of all denominations to shun anyone linked to human rights or pro-democracy activism.

Pastor Carbonell’s experience is in line with the conclusions by a 2010 CSW report which found that while overt forms of persecution such as the destruction of unauthorized churches had diminished somewhat, government pressure on individual church leaders had reached unprecedented levels. One church leader told CSW that government persecution had not been as subtle or as effective since the 1980s.

CSW’s Advocacy Director Andrew Johnston said, “We are deeply concerned and stand in solidarity with Pastor Carbonell and the entire La Trinidad Baptist Church. While the Cuban government has implemented some economic reforms over the past year, there appears to be little official will to consider reforms that would protect basic human rights like religious freedom. It is troubling that the situation for many church leaders across the island appears to be growing steadily worse. We call on the Cuban government to cease its harassment of Pastor Carbonell and his family, to remove the sanctions against La Trinidad First Baptist Church, and back his call for new legislation that would establish clear legal parameters and recourse for appeal regarding all religious activity.”

Church attacked in northern Nigeria

Pray for believers in Nigeria today!

Gunmen attacked a church Tuesday in northern Nigeria, but it was unclear if there were casualties in the latest such incident in the region where dozens have been killed in recent months, reported Agence France-Presse.

Police Commissioner Mohammed Jinjiri Abubakar said there was an attack on a church around the Gomari area of Maiduguri, and soldiers stationed there fired back. It is unclear who the attackers were.

Previous such incidents have been blamed on an Islamist sect known as Boko Haram that launched an uprising in 2009 put down by a brutal military assault.

Three churches were attacked on Christmas Eve in Maiduguri, killing six people. The sect has also claimed responsibility for the recent assassination of a high-profile candidate for governor.

Dozens of people have been left dead in Nigeria's north in recent months in hit-and-run shootings blamed on the sect, though police say politics may have also played a role in certain killings ahead of April elections.

Please pray for believers in Nigeria today. Pray those who suffer tremendous physical pain and trials will be strengthened and delivered by the Lord (2 Corinthians 1:9-11). Pray they will trust God to enable them to proclaim the gospel even while suffering (2 Timothy 4:16-18).

Egypt's military has anti-Christian history

Pray for believers in Egypt today!

VOM USA’s Todd Nettleton recently spoke with Mission Network News about the history between Egypt’s military and its Christian population.

Take a look:

Egypt's military has anti-Christian history

Egypt (MNN) ― The pictures and reports appear to be positive in Egypt. There's relative calm, but the organization in power doesn't have a good track record when it comes to Christians.

With the military in control and the constitution set aside, many are wondering what will happen in the next six months. The constitution is expected to be revised, followed by national elections.

Todd Nettleton with VOM USA says while the military has done well so far, they don't have a very good track record. He says an Egyptian Christian did not fare well under their watch. "When his unit members and his commander found out that he was a Christian, they made his life miserable and ultimately beat him to the point that he died."

While this may have been an isolated incident, Nettleton says it's still a concern.

However, there are other issues, too. While democracy is good, it's not always good for those in the minority. "What happens in a country that's majority rule? If there a genuine election and yet we know that almost 87 percent of the people are Muslim, what religious freedoms will be protected, as that majority begins to vote and begins to make decisions?"

A lot hinges on hope. Nettleton says, "We hope that freedoms are protected. We hope that Egypt's people get to choose their leadership. That's really the hard work that has to be done by the Egyptian people and by the government."

That hope is also infused with the reality that Christians number 13 percent of the population. Nettleton believes they'll have at least a voice in the political process.

He also agrees that there is a spiritual awakening in Egypt. "People [are] coming to a more personal faith from an Orthodox background. People are coming to faith out of an Islamic background. There is definitely a move of God in the country."

There's also another bright spot. "There were stories of Christians and Muslims standing side-by-side, praying together for their country and working together to have a voice in this amazing process. We hope that this is a sign of good things, and we pray that the revival that we've heard about continues."

God can fill our empty bottles

“The water in the skin was used up...Then God opened

[Hagar’s] eyes, and she saw a well of water.”
Genesis 21:15, 19

Hagar was sent away by Abraham into the wilderness. After traveling 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, an 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 from the wells of salvation.

Excerpted from Reaching Toward the Heights by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, VOM’s founder.

Want to read more? Reaching Toward the Heights is a 365-day devotional in which Pastor Wurmbrand draws upon his own experience in prison and the testimonies of other persecuted Christians to encourage us to elevate our relationship with the Lord. Find out more here.

Execution trial of Afghan convert is illegal

Said Musa's arrest violates
Afghanistan Constitution says
WEA-RLC.

In early December 2010, we introduced you to Said Musa, an Afghan citizen and 15-year employee of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Kabul, Afghanistan. Said was arrested on May 31, 2010, for converting to Christianity from Islam and has been imprisoned ever since.

Said, 45, was arrested after a television station in the capital city of Kabul broadcast images that allegedly showed Westerner Christians baptizing Afghans. Since the May 2010 telecast, Said has remained in Kabul Detention Center and suffered sexual assault and torture with apparently no access to a lawyer to defend him.

Last week, an Afghan judge told Said he had days to reconvert to Islam or be executed.

On Saturday, The Religious Liberty Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance reported that Said’s trial violates the Constitution of Afghanistan (2004) and must be stopped.

“The arrest of Said in the first place and the subsequent demands for death for apostasy violate at least three provisions of the Constitution of Afghanistan, leave aside the illegality of the inhuman treatment meted out to him in the prison,” said WEA-RLC Executive Director Godfrey Yogarajah.

Article 130 of the Constitution states that courts can rely on the Shariah law as per the Hanafi jurisprudence only within the limits of the Constitution and only if a “pending” case does not relate to any provisions in the Constitution or any other law, Yogarajah said.

A case can be pending only is it is first registered under a law, but apostasy is not a crime recognized in the Constitution or any other statutory law, Yogarajah pointed out.

Additionally, Afghanistan is a signatory (1983) to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The three clauses under Article 18 of the ICCPR state:

1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
2. No one shall be subject to coercion, which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.
3. Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.

While Article 3 of the Constitution says that no law can be contrary to “the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam,” this is a contradiction the earlier constitutions of the country had since 1923. But after the inclusion of Article 7, which carries a pledge to abide by international conventions, in the 2004 Constitution, the interpretation of Article 3 needs to be reformulated in light of the glaring contradiction, said Yogarajah.

The addition of the provision of Article 7 in the 2004 Constitution was surely not without a purpose, and nor was it an oversight. It was indisputably added to increase the nation’s commitment and compliance to international standards of civil rights.

“Calls for the death of an alleged apostate by extremist elements are understandable, but when the administration seeks death penalty for a convert by the misuse of the vagueness in laws, it raises serious concerns,” said Yogarajah.

Said, whose wife and six children fled to Pakistan after his arrest, is the first trial for apostasy that has reached near execution since the Taliban’s fall. But it is hoped and prayed that the administration of Afghanistan will do nothing that will denote an utter failure of the new regime as well as the international community.

Please pray for Said Musa and his family!

Ever wonder about the origin of Valentine’s Day?

“And walk in love, as Christ also has
loved us and given Himself for us,
an offering and a sacrifice to God
for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
Ephesians 5:1-2

This story of Valentinus (ca. 269 AD) is excerpted from Foxe: Voices of the Martyrs, which was written by John Foxe and The Voices of the Martyrs and published in 2007.

The story goes like this:

Three 3rd-century martyrs all carry the name Valentinus. One was a priest in Rome, one a bishop of Interamna and one a Christian in the Roman province of Africa. About the lives of these three, we know nothing. About the death of Valentinus at the decree of Claudius II, we think the story hinges on soldiering, marriages and a cold-hearted emperor—all the ingredients of passion and power that prompted Pope Gelasius in 496 to declare St. Valentine’s Day as a replacement for the Roman pagan holiday of Lupercalia.

Apparently, recruits for Claudius’s army were complaining about their long separations from wives and lovers, for the edict went forth that no soldier of Rome—may their hearts grow bloodlessly cold—could weaken his will or soften his courage in marriage. Of course, edicts do not command passions, so marriages simply went underground with an assist from the sympathetic priest Valentinus, to whom soldiers and their betrothed surreptitiously fled.

In time, the priest was caught and his treasonous disobedience duly sentenced by the Prefect of Rome. He was beaten by clubs and beheaded on February 14, in either 269 or 270 AD.

It’s an unlikely subplot, but nonetheless another story is told that during his imprisonment, Valentinus tutored his jailor’s daughter, Julia, who was blind from birth. On the eve of his martyrdom, Valentinus sent her a note of encouragement and faith, including on it a yellow crocus. When Julia opened the note, the story goes, her blind eyes fixed on the flower and she was healed. In gratitude, Julia planted an almond tree near Valentinus’s grave. Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship.

This Valentine’s Day, consider Valentinus and others whose faith caused them to give the ultimate sacrifice: their lives.

Angry Muslim crowd attacks churches in Indonesia

Pray for believers in Indonesia today!

More than 1,000 Muslim protesters stormed a courthouse and burned churches in central Java, Indonesia, on February 8, reported VOM sources.

The attacks in Temanggung happened after Antonius Richmond Bawengan, a Christian man, was sentenced to five years in jail for distributing leaflets deemed insulting to Islam.

BBC News reported that Indonesian police said the crowd considered the sentence too lenient and were demanding the death penalty. A police spokesperson told BBC that the angry crowd began attacking the court building after the verdict was read.

At least three church buildings were vandalised. Indonesia Bethel Church was set ablaze. Part of the school building inside the church's property was burned, along with six motorbikes. Arsonists also burned Temanggung Pentecost Church. The extent of the damage has not yet been reported. Santo Petrus Catholic Church and Santo Paulus Catholic Church received damage to their doors and windows as the mob threw stones at them.

In early October 2010, Antonius handed out books and tracts with writings that are considered an insult to Muslims. He was arrested on October 26. He was found guilty of violating the Criminal Code on insulting Islam and received the maximum sentence for the offense—five years in jail.

Pray for the Lord's protection to be upon Antonius while he is in prison. Thank the Lord for his efforts in spreading the gospel. Pray he will have opportunities to be a witness for Christ even while in prison. Pray the Christian population in Indonesia continues to grow and unite in their love for Christ.