Saudi Arabian Christian attacked on social networks

Hamoud Bin Saleh

Muslim social network users are calling for the arrest and even for the death of a Saudi Arabian Christian convert they say has insulted the Muslim prophet Muhammad via Twitter, reports American Thinker.

Hamoud Bin Saleh, who has been imprisoned three times in eight years, was first arrested for "attacks against Islam" in 2004 and spent nine months in jail after blogging about his conversion from Islam to Christianity.

In 2008, he was again arrested after writing about religious matters and his conversion. He was detained for a month and during that time he was tortured with sleep deprivation, solitary confinement and physical and psychological abuse.

His most recent arrest was in 2009. He was released on the condition that he not travel outside the country or appear in the media.

Please pray.

• Please pray that Hamoud's voice for Christ will not be silenced by the authorities or by those who oppose his Christian faith. 
• Please pray that Hamoud will not fear despite his past suffering (1 Peter 3:14).

For more on the persecuted Church in Saudi Arabia, please visit the Saudi Arabia Country Report.

Pastor discusses Christianity with Pakistani teacher

(Source: VOM-USA) 

An Arabic-language teacher at a government school in Pakistan has been meeting with a VOM-supported pastor to learn more about Christianity.

The encounters began after the teacher learned that one of his students was a Christian. "I've never met a Christian in my life," he told the young man. "How do you Christians pray?" The student invited him to speak with his pastor.

At first the discussions were difficult because the teacher didn't feel he could speak openly. But last month, the pastor visited the teacher's school and brought pencils and notebooks for the students. That day, the pastor and the teacher spoke for two hours, and the teacher requested a Bible so he could look up some of the verses the pastor cited.

The Pakistani teacher suggested they discuss the topic of whether Jesus is the Son of God the next time they meet.

The pastor asks for our prayers. "Please pray for me, when I have this meeting, that God will protect me and the Holy Spirit will guide me and save the soul of [this teacher], so he can accept Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour."

Extreme Turnaround

China: Chang Shen

Before his conversion, Chang Shen had been known as a gambler, womanizer, and thief. When he was stricken blind in midlife, neighbours said it was the judgement of the gods for his evildoings. 

In 1886, Chang travelled hundreds of miles to a missionary hospital where people were receiving sight. His eyesight was partially restored, and he also heard about Christ for the first time. "Never had we a patient who received the gospel with such joy," reported the doctor.

When Chang asked to be baptized, missionary James Webster replied, "Go home and tell your neighbours that you have changed. If you are still following Jesus, when I visit you later, then I will baptize you." Five months later, Webster arrived and found hundreds of believers. He baptized the new evangelist with great joy.

Later, a clumsy, native doctor robbed Chang of the partial eyesight he had, buy Chang continued his travels to different villages. Though some spat on him and rejected him, he still won hundreds more to Christ.

When the Boxer Rebellion arose, Christians led Chang to a cave in the mountains for safety. The Boxers rounded up fifty Christians for execution in a nearby town but promised to spare them all if Chang came forward. When news reached Chang, he said, "I'll gladly die for them."

Chang was beheaded three days later, and the remaining local Christians were spared.

The great exchange is the message of the great gospel. Jesus offers the opportunity to exchange our old life for a new start. Look how he changed Chang, from one living for self to a person sold out completely for Christ. No matter how much ruin we have caused in our former life, we can be restored to a right relationship with God. This is why our personal testimony is such a powerful witness. A changed life presents strong evidence for the fact of salvation. We don't talk like we used to talk. We don't walk like we used to walk. Who needs to hear about the difference Christ has made in your life?

Excerpted from Extreme Devotion, a book of 365 true accounts of men and women who totally sold out for Jesus. You can order a copy of this book from our online catalogue or by contacting our office.

Christian convert sentenced to two years in prison in Iran

Women pictured inside the Evin Prison
Photo: Mohabat NEWS

Leila Mohammadi, a Christian convert from Islam, has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment after enduring five months of uncertainty in Iran's notorious Evin prison, reports Mohabat News.

Leila’s trial was held on January 18, where she was charged with "collaboration with foreign-dependent groups, broad anti-Islamic propaganda, deceiving citizens by formation of what is called a house church, insulting sacred figures and action against national security." She was acquitted only of collaboration with foreign-dependent groups because the judge believed she had done that unintentionally.

Leila was arrested after a number of security agents raided her home on July 30, 2011, in Kianshahr town, east of Tehran. The agents thoroughly searched her house and also confiscated some of her belongings.

Another Christian, Parviz G, was freed after spending three days in the Evin custody centre. Apparently his arrest was related to the Christian activities of his wife, who was linked to the case of Leila.

Please pray!

• Please pray Leila will be released from prison.
• Ask the Lord to strengthen, protect and sustain her and all those in Iranian prisons for their faith in Christ.
• Pray that God will provide opportunities in prison for Leila to clearly share the gospel for which she suffers (Colossians 4:2-3).

To learn more about persecution in Iran, go to the Iran Country Report. To post a prayer of solidarity with Leila, please visit our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall.

Muslims strip, beat, threaten Christian convert in India

A recently converted Christian woman
was stripped and beaten for her faith.

A Christian woman in West Bengal, India has been beaten and threatened by Muslims, reports Compass Direct News (CDN).

Selina Bibi converted to Christianity from Islam about four months ago. Muslim extremists told her she must return to Islam or leave her village of Motijil. They said if she refused, she would see her house burned to the ground.

At Selina’s baptism in late March, a large group of Muslim extremists came to disrupt the service. The local pastor, Bashir, asked the Muslims if he could at least finish the service.

In early April, two Muslim women and members of the extremist group called Selina to one of their homes. They forcibly stripped her naked and searched for “Christian marks” on her body, believing that Christians receive markings upon conversion. When they realized she had no such marks, they beat her.

The Muslim extremists have resolved to ostracize Selina and her two teenage sons. She has been denied access to the local well, and disallowed from buying goods from the store or selling produce.

Despite the threats and her scars, Selina recently started a weekly Bible study.

For the full report, click here.

Pray for Selina Bibi!

• Pray Selina’s faith would be strengthened, even as she faces beatings and threats.
• Pray her sons would see Christ through her example.
• Pray the Muslims abusing Selina would also see Christ as their Saviour.

Justice for family of martyred Christian in Pakistan

Rasheed Masih's family mourned his death
at his funeral last year. (Photo: Compass Direct) 

The Pakistani court has sentenced three Muslims to life imprisonment for the murder of a Christian they killed for refusing to convert to Islam, reports the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ).

Over a year ago, in March 2010, we reported about the murder of 36-year-old Rasheed Masih. Rasheed, a successful potato merchant, reportedly went to the home of one of the defendants to make a business deal. During the meeting, Rasheed was asked to convert to Islam.

Rasheed refused so the four men gathered there beat him with iron rods. Rasheed’s brother and the police found his bloodied body and rushed him to hospital. He succumbed to his injuries on the way, but not before stating who had tortured him.

The police denied that Rasheed had made such statements and refused to arrest the four Muslims. A large group of Christians demanded the arrest of the killers and blocked a major highway in protest. After five hours, the police conceded and the arrests were made.

Ghulam Rasool, Amjad Iqbal, and Kashir Saleem have been sentenced to life imprisonment. Muhammad Asif, the fourth Muslim, was acquitted by police. The three convicts have been further ordered to each pay Rasheed’s family 100,000 rupees (approximately $1,100 CAD) as compensation.

The ECLJ plans on filing an appeal to the Lahore High Court regarding the acquittal of Asif.

For the full report, click here.

Iranian Christian convert temporarily released

Masoud Delijani was arrested at a house church in March.
He has been released temporarily on bail. (Photo: Mohabat News)

An Iranian Christian convert who was arrested during a house church meeting has been released after 114 days in prison. Mohabat News reports that Masoud Delijani was temporarily released on bail on Saturday, July 9.

Masoud was arrested on March 18 in a raid by Intelligence Ministry security forces on a house church in Kermanshah. The believers were meeting in the private home since Iran’s theocratic government does not allow Farsi speaking Christians to have church buildings in which to meet.

It is likely that Masoud along with nine other believers were arrested for their faith in Christ and their participation in Christian gatherings. At the time of the arrest, the home was searched and items like Christian paintings, Bibles, and DVDs were confiscated.

Masoud is said to have spent most of his detention in solitary confinement. The arduous conditions of his imprisonment, including spiritual pressure, have weakened him physically. He has been temporarily released after posting a bail of $100,000 USD.

He awaits a court date at which he will answer to charges regarding his Christian faith.

To read the full report, click here.

Pray for Masoud Delijani!

• Pray God will strengthen Masoud and heal his physical conditions.
• Pray the charges brought against him will be dropped.
• Pray those who have witnessed Masoud’s testimony will come to see his Saviour.

Christian man in India accused of forced conversion

A Christian man in India has been accused
of forcibly converting a 14-year-old boy.

A Christian man from Alagandi (Putturtaluk, Karnataka) has been accused of forcing a 14-year-old boy to convert to Christianity, reports the Global Council of Indian Christians.

Militants went to the house of Praveen Lancy D’Souza, 29, to arrest him for allegedly forcing the conversion of Karthik, a boy who had come to Praveen seeking refuge and shelter from his abusive step-mother.

During Karthik’s three-month stay in Praveen’s home, he observed Praveen’s parents and four siblings praying together as a small group. Karthik, grateful for the D’Souza’s generosity, found work nearby to help support himself.

Extremists in the area heard about the situation from Karthik’s parents and, along with several police, searched for Praveen at the D’Souza’s house. Not finding Praveen, who was at work at the time, the officers arrested his younger brother, Melwin. They warned Mr. and Mrs. D’Souza that unless Praveen surrendered himself, Melwin would not be released.

Praveen surrendered himself to police on Saturday, July 2. He remains in prison until a hearing is scheduled to deal with charges of kidnapping and forced conversion.

You can read the full article here.

India has recently faced many bouts of Christian persecution. Learn more about the trials Christians have endured in India and how they have stood firm by checking out the India edition of our Restricted Nations series, Restricted Nations: India. Click here to order your copy today for $7.

Christian couple accused of converting a minor in Israel

A neighbour confronts 16-year-old
Donna Lubofsky about her faith.
(Photo: Compass Direct)

A Jewish Christian couple in Israel has been targeted by an ultra-Orthodox group for allegedly manipulating minors into converting to Christianity, reports Compass Direct News.

The Jewish extremist group, Yad L’Achim, recently lost a court case against Serge and Naama Kogen in which they accused the couple of proselytizing minors. Since then, a full-page ad in the local newspaper told residents that the Kogens were part of a missionary group that was “targeting” the community. The ad also disclosed the Kogen’s address and invited residents to protest outside their home on Sunday, June 26. Approximately 20 people attended the demonstration, denouncing the Kogens over megaphones for over an hour and a half.

Donna Lubofsky, 16, the alleged target of the couple’s “missionary efforts,” said all of Yad L’Achim’s claims were false and attempted to speak out during the protest.

Donna maintains that she has not converted to Christianity and the Kogens have also emphasized the fact that they never discussed religion with her. Donna expressed interest on her own to attend the Kogen’s congregational worship and received permission from her mother to attend religious meetings with the Kogens for two months.

Around the time of her attendance, Donna faced a family spat and spent the night at the Kogen’s. Donna’s family then brought charges against the couple. Police investigated the charges, found nothing illegal, and dropped the case.

To read the full report, click here.

Please pray for this situation.

• Pray Donna will see where the Kogen’s kindness comes from - the Saviour whom they serve.
• Pray the Kogens will have the courage to continue to serve Christ despite the opposition from Yad L’Achim.
• Pray the community will see Christ through this situation.

Christian girls kidnapped in Egypt

Nancy and Christine
were recently kidnapped by Muslims.
(Photo: FrontPage Magazine)

Two Coptic Christian girls were on their way to church in Minya, Egypt on Sunday, June 12, when they were abducted by Muslim kidnappers, reports FrontPage Magazine. The cousins, Christine Azat, 16, and Nancy Magdi, 14, were held for a ransom of 200,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately $33,015 CAD).

Christine’s father immediately went to the police when he discovered the abduction and has continued to seek their help to no avail.

The people of Christine and Nancy’s region began gathering as much money as they could. They came up with the ransom money, but when they tried to make the exchange with the kidnappers, they were told the girls had already been sold to another group that was asking for 12 million pounds in payment (approximately $2 million CAD).

Nancy’s father laments the kidnapping of his daughter, saying she’s still only a child.

“She is only 14 years old, the youngest in the family, our baby… .Since her disappearance my household has been living in continuous depression, misery, and weeping,” he said.

It is not probable that the 12 million pound ransom will be raised. Christine and Nancy will likely face rape and enslavement if they are not killed.

The usual rumour that the girls willingly left their families and converted to Islam is being circulated. However, even Al Azhar, the institution that formally recognizes conversions to Islam, has not acknowledged the conversion of the girls.

The kidnappings add to an already long list of attacks on Christians in Minya. In April, we reported violence against Coptic Christians by a gang of thugs. The assaults began in January when two Coptic women were raped while a 30-year-old man and a 12-year-old boy were held for ransom.

Please pray for Christians in Egypt:

• Pray that Christine and Nancy’s families will continue to trust in God as they seek wisdom in the next steps they should take.
• Pray the police will recognize the kidnappings and take action.
• Pray that those who kidnap Christians will see the love of Christ displayed in the lives of their victims.

New Christian convert beaten, tortured in Iran

Karaj is about 25 km from Tehran.

A newly converted Iranian Christian and active member of a house church in Karaj was arrested in September 2010 and beaten and tortured during his interrogation at the Shahryar detention center, reports Mohabat News, the Iranian Christian News Agency.

Alireza Najafzadeh, a 23-year-old new father and resident of Sharhyar, was arrested on the charge of Christian activism. He was severely beaten and tortured physically and psychologically for three days.

While in custody, Alireza was asked about his house church activities, the names of its members and leaders and which foreign Christian networks and affiliations he was associated with. He had water poured over his hooded head, and he was kicked and beaten. On more than one occasion, he was hung from a hook and whipped with a cable or water hose. All the while, his assailants insulted him, his family, his faith and Jesus Christ.

After three days of nonstop torture, Alireza’s family was able to find someone to post bail for him. The security officers agreed to release Alireza on the condition that he not seek any medical treatment from any doctor.

“The told me if I talk about my interrogation or torture or continue my Christian activities, I would face severe consequences such as being killed intentionally by a car that would look like an accident or my family would find my dead body in a farm field outside of the town with no reasonable explanation as to the cause of death,” Alireza told a Mohabat News reporter more than two months after his release.

Alireza and his family have since fled the country. They have become refugees, losing everything because of their faith in Christ.

To hear Alireza describe his arrest and torturous experience in his own words and to see images of his wounds, click here.

Please pray for Alireza and his family. Pray for their safety, well-being and health. Pray they would be encouraged to continue standing up for their faith in the midst of trials. Pray all Iranian believers would be filled with the peace of God.

Christians in Karachi under fire

Pray for our Christian
family in Pakistan.

ASSIST News Service (ANS) is reporting local Pakistani Christians and the family of a Christian youth are receiving death threats, following the elopement and marriage of a young Christian man who converted to Islam and his young Muslim bride.

Recently in Baldia Town (located in the western part of Karachi) and Saeedabad (also in Karachi), the homes of local Christians were attacked, women were abused and household items vandalized by Muslim fanatics under the guise of “searching for a Christian youth.”

Sources say they attacked because a 20-year-old Christian man recanted his Christianity and converted to Islam to elope with an 18-year-old Muslim girl in Baldia on November 20.

Elvis Steven, a Christian lawyer and minority rights advocate, said that, although the Christian youth had contracted a court marriage and had become a Muslim, the people of the Hazara tribe “harboured a grudge against the local Christian family in particular and against all Christians of Baldia town generally.”

The father of the converted young man said that instead of protecting the Christians from Muslim fanatics, Saeedabad Police Officers launched a case against the young man and his family for allegedly abducting the young woman.

Steven said local police are “reluctant to provide security to Christians.” He also said that the Saeedabad Police and Rangers Police came forward to take security measures against Muslim radical groups only after police informers told them that radical Islamist militants were planning a massive armed attack against local Christians.

Many Christians in the area have fled from their homes to save their lives.

You can read the full report here.

Please pray for strength and courage for our brothers and sisters in Pakistan. Pray that God will make a way for them where there seems to be no way. Pray the young Pakistani man will be drawn back to Christ and that his young bride will have her heart drawn to Christ also.