VOICE OF THE MARTYRS BE-A-VOICE

 November 14th, 2012




NIGERIA: Suicide Bombers Attack Churches


The radical Islamist group Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for three Oct. 28 church bombings in the northern Nigerian state of Kaduna that killed 50 people and injured another 145. In an e-mail sent to local media, the group said the suicide bombings were in retaliation for previous Christian "atrocities" against Muslims.


Boko Haram has now carried out church bombings for three consecutive weekends. Two of the most recent bombings occurred in the Wusasa and Sabon-Gari districts of the town of Zaria, and the third was in the nearby city of Kaduna, the state capital.


In the Kaduna bombing, a suicide bomber drove an SUV loaded with explosives to the St. Rita Catholic Church, where he was stopped at a security checkpoint. When he was refused access, he accelerated and rammed the vehicle through the wall of the church, detonating the bomb. 


 Sources: Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin, BBC

Photo: Scene of previous church bombing by Boko Haram


Please Pray!


Please pray for God's healing of the injured and comfort for the families of those killed. Pray that members of Boko Haram will come to know Jesus Christ and that the Nigerian government will take action to stop these attacks on Christians.


"To do evil is like sport to a fool, but a man of understanding has wisdom. The fear of the wicked will come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted. When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation." Prov. 10:23-25


VOM assists hundreds of pastors in Nigeria and also provides food, clothing and medical aid to Nigerian Christians who are attacked.




CHRISTIAN CONVERT PRESSURED TO RENOUNCE FAITH  MARCH 15, 2012

 VOM contacts in Laos have requested prayer for a man who is a new convert to Christianity. We want to share his story with you.

Khamia is an affluent man from a small village in Laos. He and his wife have a young son who had a serious medical condition. Khamia and his wife feared their son would eventually die from his illness because nothing they did seemed to help.

At one point Khamia called in the spirit doctors. They performed their rituals for the boy and had Khamia sacrifice different animals--chickens, a pig and even a water buffalo. There was no improvement in their son, so Khamia and his wife took him to a hospital in the city.

After extensive observation and testing, and after all Khamia's funds had been depleted, the doctors failed to find a cause for the boy's illness. They told Khamia and his wife that there was nothing more they could do, so their only option was to take their son home to die.

Since the journey home would take several days, they stayed in a village with a friend along the way. That night their friend suggested that they ask some Christians to come and pray for the boy. Khamia had known about Christians but had always opposed them. He thought Christians caused problems and were traitors to their country and tribe, but he was out of options and was willing to try anything.

Several Christians came to pray over Khamia's son, praying into the night. The next morning, he seemed slightly better. Khamia and his wife decided to leave their son with their friend while they returned home, so the Christians could continue praying for him. As the days and prayers went by, their son began to get better. Within a few weeks, he seemed completely healthy. Khamia returned to get his son and also decided to follow the God of the Christian faith. Khamia says his son is now healthy, playing and climbing trees.

When officials in Khamia's village found out that he had become a Christian, they pressured him to renounce his faith. Khamia told them, "How can I stop? You all know the situation of my son. What would you do if you were me?"

We recently learned that Khamia has been taken by the police. He is facing threats and pressure to renounce his faith in Jesus. The village officials are afraid that Khamia will bring others to the Christian faith. He is the only one in his family and village who is a believer. From a human perspective, he is standing alone.

VOM contacts are asking that we pray for Khamia's strength and faith. Pray that he will be given the words to speak when he is questioned. Khamia has little knowledge of Christ and has no education in Scripture, but he has seen God at work. Pray that he will persevere in faith.

Thank you for remembering Khamia and his family, and thank you for all you do on behalf of the persecuted church. Please share this testimony with your church and friends, and ask them to pray for Khamia.





Churches Targeted                       
  • Date: September 07, 2011
  • Country: Iraq
The St. Ephraim Syrian Orthodox Church in Kirkuk, was bombed on Aug. 14. No one was hurt, but the damage to the church was substantial. St. Ephraim is just a few hundred yards from the Chaldean Cathedral, in central part of the city. The explosion occurred at 1:30 a.m. This incident is the latest in a string of attacks against Iraqi Christians and their places of worship. On Aug. 2, a car bomb exploded in front of the Holy Family Syrian Catholic Church, wounding at least 19 people. More than 40 homes were damaged by the blast. The bomb had been placed inside a car that was parked near the building.

On the same day, another bomb also placed in a car parked near a Presbyterian church was defused before it went off.

Islamic fundamentalists, who remain very active, as well as groups involved in local feuds, have targeted Iraqi Christians.

Sources: Asia News & Voice of America

Please Pray!

Please pray for the believers who were injured in the Aug. 2 blast and offer praise to God that no one was killed. Pray for the protection for the churches and the remaining Christians in Iraq. Pray especially for the salvation of their enemies.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Romans 8:35-37

VOM assists Christians in Iraq through its Action Pack program and Families of Martyrs fund, as well as by providing them with Christian literature.


 

 

Church Leaders Detained

Date: August 31, 2011

Country: China

Fifteen house church leaders from two remote regions of China have been detained since mid-July as local police have tried to extort money from their families with promises of their release once the money has been paid and threats of labor camp sentences or criminal prosecution if it is not.

On July 26, local police and state officers burst into a meeting of 21 church leaders in the city of Wuhai, Inner Mongolia. They had gathered to plan summer church activities. Besides apprehending the church leaders the officials also confiscated everything at the meeting site, not just Bibles but even the believers' bamboo mats. The church leaders were later criminally detained on suspicion of "using a cult organization to undermine national law enforcement." The detention center refused to accept six detainees who were very elderly and found to be in poor health. Ultimately, they were released. The remaining 15 are still being held.

Source: ChinaAid Association

Please Pray!

Praise the Lord for the six leaders who were released. Please lift up the remaining 15 and their families in prayer. Pray that they will also be released very soon, and that the Lord will cover and protect them in the prison.

"For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven the LORD viewed the earth, to hear the groaning of the prisoner, to release those appointed to death." Psalm 102:19-20

VOM assists Chinese Christians by providing Bibles, Christian literature, scholarships for training and emergency aid to families of prisoners.

 


Christians on High Alert   

  • Date: June 08, 2011
  • Country: Colombia
Colombian Christians are on high alert as intense and deadly violence continues in the country. On May 12, a bomb exploded in Puerto Lleras, killing several policemen and injuring bystanders.
For several months, members of Colombia's main Marxist rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), have been openly killing individuals in town streets and burning buses throughout the region.

FARC guerillas have also been reportedly killing many of their own men, who they deem as traitors to the communist cause. It is suspected that many of those killed were secret Christians.

"In all our years in Colombia, we have never seen it this unstable," said a VOM contact. "Yet we believe that this is also the most opportune time that we have ever seen for the gospel."

Source: VOM Canada

Please Pray!

Pray for Christians in the areas of violence, for the injured and families of those who lost their lives. Pray for the safety of VOM partners in Colombia. Pray that members of rebel groups tire of the decades old violence and seek a better way--that of following Christ--to bring peace and stability to Colombia.

"... open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." Acts 26:18

VOM provides various means of assistance to Christians in Colombia, including Bible training, assistance to widows and ministry tools.

 

Churches Face Closure

  • Date: June 01, 2011
  • Country: Algeria

 

Seven Protestant churches in Bejaia Province face closure after receiving written notice from the governor on May 22 that they are operating "illegally," because they are not registered churches.

The churches are "illegal," according to Ordinance 06-03, introduced in 2006 to regulate non-Muslim worship. However, Christians report the government refuses to respond to or grant applications for registration.

According to Mustapha Krim, president of the Protestant Church of Algeria, "The churches of Bejaia have submitted the documentation the law requires and the government's unwillingness to give official permission for the churches to operate is a matter for officials, not churches, to resolve."

Asked if he thought this could be the beginning of more closures of churches in Algeria, Krim said, "It is possible they are capable of doing things like this. We have no intention to close, and we have mobilized people to pray so that God can intervene."

Source: Compass Direct News

Please Pray!

Let us join with the Christians in Algeria in praying for God's intervention. May he thwart the attempts by the government to stifle church participation and growth, and grant the Christians grace with the authorities.

Pray for the Algerian authorities, including the governor of Bejaia Province and the Minister of Religious Affairs.

"Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You." Jeremiah 32:17



Shouwang Church

  • Date: May 25, 2011
  • Country: China

Members of the Shouwang congregation in China were arrested on May 15 as they gathered to pray in the commercial area of Zhongguancun in Beijing.

Shouwang Church is the largest unregistered church in Beijing, and its leaders have been in an ongoing battle with authorities since being forced out of their worship space and prevented from renting or buying a new building.

On April 10, police detained 169 members attempting to hold services in a public park. On Easter Sunday, police detained about 34 church members.

Despite the mounting persecution, house church leaders are taking a stand for the Shouwang congregation. Nineteen house church leaders are petitioning China's legislature to resolve the ongoing tensions and to guarantee religious freedom in their country. The full text of the petition is available here.

Sources: Christian Broadcasting Network and ChinaAid
Photo: ChinaAid

Please Pray!

Please pray for house church Christians and leaders in China. Pray that God would grant them favor with the authorities and that His will prevails.

"This You have seen, O LORD; do not keep silence. O Lord, do not be far from me. Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication, to my cause, my God and my Lord. Vindicate me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. Let them not say in their hearts, 'Ah, so we would have it!' Let them not say, 'We have swallowed him up.'" Psalm 35:22-25

VOM assists Chinese Christians by providing Bibles, Christian literature, scholarships for training and emergency aid to families of prisoners.

 

Featured Prisoner - Vahik Abrahamian

  • Location: Iran (Islamic Republic of)
  • Arrested: September 2010
  • Days Imprisoned: 265

 Pastor Vahik Abrahamian and his wife Sonia Keshish-Avanesian were with their friends, Arash Kermanjani, and his wife, Arezo Teymouri, when all four friends were detained on September 4, 2010.

The two couples were arrested at the Abrahamians' home in Hamadan, west Iran, and taken to the Ministry of Islamic Guidance prison.

For the first 40 days, they were held in solitary confinement and reportedly suffered physical abuse and psychological pressure.

The four have been accused of various offenses, including propagating Christianity, opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran, and having contact with exiled opposition figures. They have not yet been charged.

Over six months have passed since the two men and two women were arrested. They are under pressure and intense interrogation, according to Mohabat News. They were transferred from Hamadan prison to Iran’s notorious Evin prison in Tehran.

Their families are concerned for their health, but have not been able to find news of their loved ones. They are also worried about the children of the believers.

Pastor Vahik was arrested once before, on Feb. 20, 2010, on charges of conducting activities among Muslims. He spent two months in prison before being released on bail. Pastor Vahik has dual citizenship in Iran and the Netherlands, but because of his passion for the Iranian people, he chose to live in Iran.

Source: Mohabat News

 

 

 

Coptic Churches Attacked

  • Date: May 18, 2011
  • Country: Egypt
At least 12 people were killed and more than 200 were wounded on May 7, when several hundred ultraconservative Salafist Muslims attacked two churches and surrounding Christian-owned homes and businesses in the Imbaba district, a poor section of Cairo.
The Muslims gathered outside the Coptic St. Mena Church, protesting over the allegation that a Christian woman was being held there against her will because she had married a Muslim man and converted to Islam.

In attempts to dispel the rumor, head clergymen of St. Mina allowed a group of Islamic imams into the church to search for the woman. Violence erupted though, according to witnesses at the scene, the imams declared to the gathering Muslims that the woman wasn't in the building.

After unsuccessfully trying to push through barricades the Christians had managed to erect, the rioters went to the nearby Virgin Mary Church and set it and other homes ablaze.

Sources: BBC News and Compass Direct News
Photo: Compass Direct News

Please Pray!

 

Please pray for the volatile situation in Egypt. Pray for members of the church that was burned and those who were injured in the attacks. Pray that God will comfort the families of those slain. Pray also that God would block the Muslim Brotherhood from coming into power and raise up God-fearing men and women to govern Egypt.

"But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." 1 Peter 5:10

VOM assists Christians in Egypt through its Family of Prisoners Fund, Christian radio broadcasts and discipleship training for Muslim converts.


 

Persecution of Activists    

  • Date: May 04, 2011
  • Country: China

Two days after US-China human rights talks concluded on Apr. 29, human rights lawyer, Teng Biao, was freed by Chinese authorities after 70 days of detention without charge. At the news of his release, many expressed the hope that there would be an easing of the persecution taking place, perhaps as a result of two days of talks between China and the United States on human rights held in Beijing last week.

However, the same day Teng was released, an "unknown" group kidnapped the lawyer Li Fangping. Teng and Li are Christians and known defenders of human rights activists, both members of the China Christian Association for the Defense of Rights.

Since mid-February the authorities have unleashed the worst crackdown since 1998 against rights activists and dissidents, also for fear of protests inspired by the 2011 Tunisian revolution (Jasmine revolution). The persecution also affects the Christian groups, because many of these activists are practicing Christians.

Source: Asia News

Please Pray!

Offer praise to God that Teng Biao was released and pray for the well-being and release of other Christians, like Li Fangping and many others, who are being held by the Chinese government. Pray that God will strengthen them and their families, and bring them comfort that only He can provide. Pray that God would purge the evil from the hearts of Chinese authorities and draw them to Himself.

"Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help." Psalm 35:1-2

VOM assists Chinese Christians by providing Bibles, Christian literature, scholarships for training and emergency aid to families of prisoners.








Location: Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Arrested: September 2010


Pastor Vahik Abrahamian and his wife Sonia Keshish-Avanesian were with their friends, Arash Kermanjani, and his wife, Arezo Teymouri, when all four were detained on September 4, 2010. The two couples, who are close friends, were arrested at the Abrahamians' home in Hamadan, west Iran, and taken to the Ministry of Islamic Guidance prison.

For the first 40 days, they were held in solitary confinement and reportedly suffered physical abuse and psychological pressure. Pastor Vahik's wife, Sonia, who was pregnant when she was arrested, is said to have suffered a miscarriage – her fourth.

The four have been accused of various offenses, including propagating Christianity, opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran, and having contact with exiled opposition figures. They have not yet been charged.

Over six months have passed since the two men and two women were arrested. They are under pressure and intense interrogation, according to Mohabat News. They were transferred from
Hamadan prison to Iran’s notorious Evin prison in Tehran.

Their families are concerned for their health, but have not been able to find news of their loved ones. They are also worried about the children of the believers.

Source: Mohabat News



 

Location: Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Arrested: October 2009
Days Imprisoned: 570

Recently, Pastor Youcef Nardarkhani was reportedly sentenced to death for apostasy. VOM contacts confirm that the pastor’s trial was held in recent weeks in the 11th Chamber of The Assize Court of the province of Gilan.

Pastor Youcef is one of several members of his church who have been imprisoned. In the past, the Iranian government has also imprisoned and released his wife. Pastor Youcef was arrested in October 2009 after protesting a decision by the government requiring that his son study the Quran.

Media reports suggest that Pastor Youcef was transferred to Lakan prison, which is supervised by the Political Police of the Islamic Republic. If a death sentence is officially handed down by the court and Pastor Youcef is executed, his would be the first judicial execution of a Christian in
Iran in two decades.

Pastor Youcef is a leader in the Full Gospel “
Church of Iran” network, a group that stands apart from most house church groups in Iran.

Still Waiting
Pastor Youcef remains in the custody of the Islamic government of
Iran under a death sentence at Lakan prison in Gilan province in northern Iran. He is being held in the main part of the prison with drug dealers and murderers. He is waiting for the Supreme Court to review his case and render a judgment on whether or not the death sentence will be carried out.

The situation is very difficult for his wife and children.


 

Location: Pakistan
Arrested: July 2009
Days Imprisoned: 673

On Jan. 11, 2010, Imran Ghafur Masih was sentenced to life in prison and fined 100,000 rupees ($1,155 U.S.), according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. His family has appealed the decision to the Pakistan High Court and is awaiting a hearing date.

On
July 1, 2009, Pakistani police arrested Imran Ghafur in Punjab province after Muslims accused him of burning pages of the Quran. While cleaning his brother’s retail shop, Imran removed the trash he had collected, intending to burn some of it. While burning the trash, pages of an Islamic book flew into the fire and burned. Imran’s neighbor, Haji Liaqat, saw the burned pages of the Islamic book and alerted other Muslims in the area. “Haji Liaqat saw the burned pages, and he aggressively told all resident people and travelers that Imran burnt the pages of a Quran also,” a VOM contact said. “He was telling everybody that Imran Ghafur is burning the Quran … he should be killed.”

Imran and his father were severely beaten before police arrested Imran. Following the arrest, news of the incident spread throughout the city, and angry Muslims threw stones at the police station where Imran was being held. “Give the death sentence to him who disgraces the Holy Quran, and hang him who disgraces the Holy Quran,” the Muslims said. “Christians are dogs; Imran is a dog,” they shouted.

On
July 2, 2009, Imran was moved to a jail. “The situation is very tense in Hajwari town, where the Christian families live,” the VOM contact said. “Haji Liaqat and his friends are saying that they will not allow Imran’s family to live in the colony or run their business.”

Imran and his family have been managing businesses in the area and are actively involved with other Christians in the area.


 
Location: Vietnam
Arrested: August 2004
Days Imprisoned: 2451

Pastor Y Wo Nie was arrested August 18, 2004, for leading a demonstration demanding more religious freedom and the release of property confiscated by the Vietnamese government. He received a nine-year sentence. His family has not been able to visit him.

Write a letter of encouragement. Let Pastor Nie know you are praying for him and the believers in
Vietnam. Let your friends know about persecution in Vietnam; encourage them to pray and write. Also, write Vietnamese officials requesting Nie’s release. Your letters make a difference.

Get involved! Pray for and write to Nie today.



 

 

 

 

Muslims Target Christians        

  • Date: April 27, 2011
  • Country: Nigeria
Muslim protestors went on a murdering rampage throughout northern Nigeria following the presidential elections on Apr. 16, in which the Muslim candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, was defeated by Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian. According to VOM contacts the election was deemed transparent, free, fair and credible.

Though the crisis started as a political protest, it rapidly escalated into anti-Christian violence. Numerous churches, Christian businesses, homes and cars were burned and destroyed. Thousands of Christians are now trapped and spread throughout military and security barracks.

VOM contacts state they have never seen anything like this in northern Nigeria before. One VOM contact wrote, "The state governorship election [is] still to come. We only pray that things will be under control. We call on brothers and sisters all around the world to pray, for God to take control."

Please Pray!

Please pray for the families of the slain Christians and those who have lost property and businesses. Pray for a hedge of protection around President Goodluck Jonathan and other Christians who are now refugees. Pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Nigeria that will bring even the most hardened of criminals to faith in Jesus Christ.

"And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it..." 2 Corinthians 12:26a

VOM supports hundreds of Nigerian pastors who have been persecuted but continue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our ministry also provides food, clothing and medical aid to Nigerian Christians who are attacked by Muslim extremists.








Christians Under Pressure

  • Date: April 20, 2011
  • Country: Iran

Following the recent wave of aggressive intimidation and imprisonment of Christians in Iran, the intelligence gathering arm of its Revolutionary Guard has been collecting information from Iranian Christians who have escaped to Turkey. The ranks of fleeing Christians have been infiltrated by the Iranian agents posing as refugees. They try to elicit names and addresses of other Christians or family members still under the yoke of the Islamic Republic to later be used in TV confessions, show trials, and kangaroo courts. This information is used to manipulate, accuse and denounce the helpless ones languishing inside Iran's notorious prisons.

According to reports received, detainees are under immense physical and psychological pressure to appear on TV and admit to criminal activities against the Islamic republic, as well as personal misconduct within the underground church.

Source: Farsi Christian News Network

Please Pray!

Pray for strength and resistance for Iranian Christians who are being pressured and coerced into making false confessions. Pray that God will give them discernment in disclosing potentially harmful information to others. Ask God to thwart the evil schemes of the Iranian leaders and comfort the Christians whom they have imprisoned.

"Having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." 1 Peter 3:16-17

The Voice of the Martyrs assists Christians in Iran by providing Farsi Bibles and by supporting Christian satellite broadcasts.





   WORSHIP BANNED
  • Date: April 13, 2011
  • Country: Azerbaijan



The government has forbidden three Protestant groups in Gyanja to have worship meetings, according to an Apr. 8 report by Forum 18 News Service. Locals, who spoke anonymously for fear of state reprisals, informed Forum 18 that authorities warned one group, "If they met for worship on the following Sunday or at any future date they will all be arrested." The following Sunday, local and riot police arrived at the church in two buses to stop any worship. Protestants told Forum 18 that church officials reluctantly decided not to hold a Sunday service. "People are now very afraid."

Many religious groups have told Forum 18 that registering for legal status is "a torturous process," and complaints to officials about slowness and hostility are dismissed.
Ironically, President Ilham Aliev said recently that "freedom of religion and freedom of conscience have been fully established in Azerbaijan."

Please Pray!

 

Though evil men seek to stop the spread of Christianity through threats and intimidation pray that believers in Azerbaijan will not lose heart, but become more emboldened and persistent in their faith. Pray for their protection and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that brings many to salvation in Christ.

"Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained." 2 Timothy 2:8-9





NEW EMAIL UPDATE APRIL 9, 2011 FROM 





Help Provide for the Needs of the Families of Christians in Prison


Dear Friends:                                         
Your prayers and actions are making a difference! In recent weeks we have received good news about several of the prisoners we've featured on www.prisoneralert.com

, where we invited you to pray for them and to write encouraging letters to them in prison.                                         

                                        
THANK YOU for your prayers and actions on behalf of these and other prisoners for Christ around the world.
                                        
BUT MANY OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS REMAIN IN RISON.
                   
If you haven't yet written an encouraging letter, visit www.prisoneralert.com

today and click on "write an encouraging letter." The web site will walk you through the process, even translating your letter into the language of the prisoner!                    

You can also register on the site to receive an E-MAIL UPDATE each time a new prisoner is posted. Visit www.prisoneralert.com
today to encourage imprisoned Christians.
                   
VOM actively ministers to prisoners for Christ around the world. We also minister to their FAMILIES, offering encouragement and financial help as they suffer through weeks and months separated from their loved ones by iron bars and prison walls. CLICK HERE
if you'd like to make a gift to support these families through VOM'S FAMILIES OF PRISONERS FUND.
                   
Thank you for standing with us as we serve with those in chains for Christ.
                   
                       
                        Tom White
                        Executive Director                    




Montagnards Targeted

  • Date: April 06, 2011
  • Country: Vietnam
According to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), the Vietnamese government has intensified its repression of the Montagnards (mountain people), the indigenous minority Christian community in the Central Highland provinces. According to the report, the crackdown came in response to the Montagnards' calls for religious freedom and land rights.
The Vietnamese government does not regard the Montagnards as a legitimate religious group but rather as a cover for an independence movement.
Montagnards who have fled Vietnam told HRW of arrests, imprisonments, torture and severe beatings.
HRW's deputy Asia director, Phil Robertson, said, "Montagnards face harsh persecution in Vietnam, particularly those who worship in independent house churches, because the authorities don't tolerate religious activity outside their sight or control."

Source: Christian Today

Please Pray!

Please pray for God's protection of the Montagnard Christians. Pray that the harassment and repression inflicted on them by the government will increase their boldness rather than cause them to become fearful. Pray that the government leaders will come to trust in Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." Romans 8:16-17

VOM provides assistance to Vietnamese believers by providing Bibles, shortwave radios, Christian literature and support for families of prisoners.





Christians Face Charges

Two Indian Christian men working in the state of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were recently arrested and sentenced to 45 days in prison. On Mar. 11, Vasantha Sekhar and Nese Yohan were beaten and arrested in the city of Batha on accusations of "proselytizing." Their apartment was ransacked after they were imprisoned, and local Christians believe they were arrested to keep them from practicing Christianity privately in their home.
An employer has returned the passport of one of the Christians, making it clear that his job is no longer available and he will be expelled. The other Christian awaits information regarding his legal status and job.
According to the report, numerous Indian Christians residing in Saudi Arabia have been arrested and deported within the last few years.

Source: VOM Australia and International Christian Concern

Please Pray!

Please pray that the Lord will protect and comfort these Christians during their imprisonment and that they will be lights shining in the darkness to those around them. Pray that God will grant them favor with those in authority and that they will be released without delay. Pray for the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ to touch the hearts and lives of unbelievers in Saudi Arabia.

"Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested..." Revelation 2:10a

 

China Raid

  • Date: March 23, 2011
  • Country: China

On Feb. 23 around 20 Christians gathered for a lecture on their church's legal rights in Yangdang Town, Zaoyang City of Hubei. Police raided the meeting, confiscated property, beat several of the attendees and took all of them to the police station.

The victims described the terrifying ordeal: "[The police] smashed the door open...without presenting any legal documents or going through any legally required procedures. They shot tear gas at our group.... Many police officers and plainclothes agents beat two sisters to the floor.... They passed out on the spot with foam coming from their mouths and [convulsing]. ...they destroyed any evidence of their illegal law enforcement.... Many camcorders, cameras and cell phones were confiscated by force and destroyed."

View government's explanation about raid.

Source/Photo: ChinaAid

Please Pray!

Offer praise to God that despite persecution Christianity is growing in China! Pray for healing for the believers who were injured in the raid. Pray that God will calm their fears and restore peace and joy in their hearts. Pray for President Hu Jintao and other government officials to find salvation in Christ.

"So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name." Acts 5:41

VOM assists Chinese Christians by providing Bibles, Christian literature, scholarships for training and emergency aid to families of prisoners.




Prisoner Profile 



PRISONER NAME LOCATION ARRESTED REVISED
Vahik Abrahamian
Iran (Islamic
Republic of)
September 2010 March 20, 2011

Pastor Vahik Abrahamian and his wife Sonia Keshish-Avanesian were with their friends,
Arash Kermanjani and his wife Arezo Teymouri, when all four were detained on
September 4, 2010.

The two couples, who are close friends, were arrested at the Abrahamians' home in
Hamadan, west Iran, and taken initially to the Ministry of Islamic Guidance prison.
For the first 40 days, they were held in solitary confinement and reportedly suffered
physical abuse and psychological pressure. Pastor Vahik's wife Sonia, who was
pregnant when she was arrested, is said to have suffered a miscarriage  her fourth.

The couples, who are now being held in Hamadan prison, have been accused of various
offenses, including propagating Christianity, opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran, and
having contact with exiled opposition figures.

Release contacts have expressed concern about the couples' well-being  and about their prospects for justice.

Source: Release contacts

Post this PrisonerAlert.com Prisoner Profile on the bulletin board in your church, Sunday School class or Christian school. Share a copy with your pastor, members of your Bible study group or other Christian friends.

Address for Vahik Abrahamian
Tehran/Hamadan road
5th km to Hamadan
Voroudi Bahram Abad
Islamic Republic of Iran

Circulation To Date for Vahik Abrahamian

Prisoner Alerts Sent
107063

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25775

Government Officials Emailed
366

Encouraging Letters Written
972

Please note
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Excerpt from an actual letter created on PrisonerAlert.com
I gave thanks for you when I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray the eyes, ears and hearts of those who persecute you may open to Jesus. Philippians 1:29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

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BELIEVERS UNDER ATTACK:

March 16th, 2011

ETHIOPIA: Radical Muslims Attack Christians and Churches A string of attacks on Christians by radical Muslims have left at least two dead and thousands homeless in western Ethiopia. Reports say Islamic extremists set fire to 59 church buildings and 28 Christian homes in Asendabo.

"One Orthodox believer, whose daughter is a member of Mekane Yesus Church, has been killed,"
an Ethiopian church leader told Compass Direct News. "Ministers were injured, and many more
believers have been displaced."

The violence spread to outlaying towns and now more than 4,000 Christians have been forced to
flee for their lives.

It began when Muslims accused a Christian of desecrating a Quran by ripping out the pages of
the Islamic holy book. Security forces were sent to the area, but they were overwhelmed by the
enraged mob.

Reports indicate the attacks upon Christians in the African country continue.

Source: Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) News


Please Pray!


Pray for God's intervention and that Ethiopian believers find refuge and safety from these attacks.
Pray for the injured and the families of those who have lost their lives. Pray that the attackers will
be delivered from the deception of Islam and seek salvation that only faith in Christ offers.

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some
strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings,
that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." 1 Peter 4:12-13



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