Intercessory Saturday

Muslim rioters looted and burned Coptic Christian businesses on Nov. 23 in the village of Abou Shousha, according to Assist News Service (ANS). The Middle East Christian Association (MECA) reported that at least three large Coptic stores and a pharmacy were looted and burned.

According to a story by Mary Abdelmassih for the Assyrian International News Agency, “The terrorized Coptic inhabitants of Abou Shousha have stayed indoors; their shops are closed and their children are being kept out of school. They fear a repeat in their village of the Muslim violence which engulfed the nearby town of Farshoot less than 36 hours earlier. It is estimated that over 80% of Coptic businesses have been destroyed in Farshoot.”

The violence in Farshoot was prompted by reports that a 21-year-old Copt had violated a 12-year-old Muslim girl on Nov. 18. Many Copts believe the incident is being used by Muslims as a pretext for violence against them.

Photo: Assist News Service

Please Pray!

Please ask the Lord to restore peace to this region. Pray that the truth will come to light in the case of the 12-year-old girl and that if a crime was committed, the attacker will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Also pray that the Lord will heal this young girl physically and emotionally.

Pray for the Coptic Christians who have suffered material loss and their means of livelihood in the rioting.

Pray for the salvation of the rioters and that those responsible for looting and burning of Christian property will be brought to justice.

Pray that government forces will intervene immediately to defend the Coptic Christians against further violence.

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

Source: Voice of the Martyrs’ Be-A-Voice Network

Silence

A friend lent me the book Silence by Shusaku Endo (translated by William Johnston).  It’s about a Portuguese missionary priest facing persecution in 17th-century Japan.  If you know me, then you know that this book is right up my alley!

This book asked the hard questions.  One major issue, as evinced by the title, is silence.  Of particular concern is the apparent silence of God while faithful ones scream, moan, and die for Him.  The protagonist questions God again and again about this, and answers to this one just don’t come easy.

Another major issue is that of apostasy, or the denial of faith.  Endo includes a few characters who, in the face of torture or the threat of torture, gave up information about other Christians and apostasized.  Of serious concern, however, is whether one can deny the faith only as a formality.  Is it possible, or acceptable, to deny the faith outwardly to save the lives of others, and then continue secretly to keep the faith?  Does that work, in light of Jesus’ own words?  The book doesn’t take an obvious stance, but it gives serious hints.

While the subject matter reeled me in, the writing style did not.  To be fair, this is a book in translation.  It’s tough to know whether the blame should be laid on the author or on the translator for the sometimes awkward sentence structure and unusual word choice.  Although this book is considered to be the author’s masterpiece, I can’t imagine that.  The content was there, but the mechanics got in the way.  It needs a good polishing.  Perhaps if one could find the work translated by another person, they’d have a different experience.

Overall, I recommend it to the Christian reader.  But, be prepared to get mad!

Intercessory Saturday

Despite widespread protests by religious communities and human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan, unregistered religious activity is now banned under the restrictive new Religion Law which began in January 2009. In addition, minority religious communities have many barriers to gain legal status, Forum 18 News reports. “To register our many unregistered congregations we need to give the names and personal data of 200 members, which we will not do,”

Aleksandr Shumilin of the Baptist Union told Forum 18 earlier this month. In order to protect their congregations, leaders of evangelical churches have decided that registration is not an option.

Two mosques have been registered while Protestant churches and other religious minorities have not obtained legal status. Kyrgyzstan officials stated they will close churches in order to pacify Muslim majorities, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Christians in some villages face physical violence and eviction from ethnic Muslims.

Please Pray!

Pray that God will place a hedge of protection around believers in Kyrgyzstan as persecution increases. Pray that their testimonies would serve to draw many to Christ.

Pray for the government officials of Kyrgyzstan who are blinded to the truth. Ask the Lord to draw them near.

Source: Voice of the Martyrs’ Be-A-Voice Network

Intercessory Saturday

Christian churches in Russia’s North Caucasus region (between the Caspian and Black Seas) are struggling amid the terror and trauma of the Islamic jihad and counterinsurgency, according to reports from Assist News Service (ANS). As the jihad intensifies, the future of the North Caucasus and its tenuous grip on religious freedom hang in the balance. The jihadists are foreign-backed Wahhabists who are linked to al-Qaeda, and many ofthem are foreigners. Fighting under the black flag of the “Caucasus Emirate,” they have escalated their attacks dramatically through the summer of 2009.

The remnant Russian Orthodox Church has ethnic ties and is closely associated with Moscow and the Russian army. The Protestants are mostly Baptist and Pentecostal. In some places, particularly in Chechnya, jihadists have totally eliminated the Christian presence. President Ramzan Kadyrov’s heavy hand in Chechnya has forced the terrorists to shift the focus of their jihad to neighboring Ingushetia.

Please Pray!

Experts project that if current trends continue, Russia will be majority Muslim by 2050 and Russia’s largely conscript army will be majority Muslim by 2015, according to ANS.

Pray that God will extend his mighty hand over the North Caucasus and thwart the plans of the jihadists to Islamize this province in Southern Russia.

Pray for the salvation of Muslims in Russia and elsewhere who are blinded to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pray also for the protection of believers in the North Caucasus. In the midst of the terror and turmoil, pray that they will be filled with peace and that their faith in Christ will not falter. Pray that they will sense God’s loving presence and not become dismayed.

Source: Voice of the Martyrs’ Be-A-Voice Network

Released!

I am so incredibly excited to share with you, in case you haven’t heard, that Maryam and Marzieh have been released!  While I do pray for the persecuted church regularly and provide you with updates on Christians around the world, these two have particularly touched my heart.  I have been praying for them by name daily since I learned their story.

These young women have remained faithful in the face of ridicule, neglect, and abuse.  What the Iranian government meant for harm, God used for good!  Maryam and Marzieh’s unjust treatment resulted in global awareness of the struggle of Christians in many parts of the world.  By imprisoning these remarkable women for their faith, their captors actually accomplished exactly what they were trying to prevent; they preached the Gospel all over the world!  Praise God!

Beyond that, I have personally been encouraged by their faithfulness and by Christian intercession on their behalf worldwide.  We are one Body, one Church.  Thank you, Father.  Thank you, Maryam and Marzieh.  My God bind up your wounds and ready you to keep preaching!

Intercessory Saturday

Three masked members of a militant Islamic group shot to death a Somali Christian who declined to wear a veil as prescribed by Muslim custom, according to a Compass News Direct source in Somalia.

Members of the Suna Waljameca group killed Amina Muse Ali, 45, on Oct. 19 at 9:30 p.m. in her home in Somalia’s autonomous Puntland region, according to the source.

Ali had told Christian leaders she had received several threats from members of Suna Waljameca for not wearing a veil, symbolic of adherence to Islam. She said members of the group had long monitored her movements because they suspected she was a Christian.

The source said Ali called him on Oct. 4 saying, “My life is in danger. I am warned of dire consequences if I continue to live without putting on the veil. I need prayers from the fellowship.”

“I was shocked beyond words when I received the news that she had been shot dead,” the source in Somalia told Compass by telephone.

Please Pray!

The slaying of Amina Muse Ali adds one more name to the list of Christians murdered in Somalia at the hands of Islamic extremists in recent months. Pray God will comfort their grieving families and bring them peace that passes understanding.

Pray the Holy Spirit will touch the hearts and minds of Muslims in Somalia to bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

It is unknown how many secret Christians there are in Somalia. Compass sources indicate there are no more than 75, while The Economist magazine hedges its estimate at “no more than” 1,000. What is certain is that they are in danger from both extremist groups and Somali law. While proclaiming himself a moderate, President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has embraced a version of Shariah that mandates the death penalty for those who leave Islam.

 

Source: Voice of the Martyrs’ Be-A-Voice Network

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

Sunday, November 8, 2009.  International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.  The least and the most you can do is intercede for our brothers and sisters who are bleeding, burning, and dying every day in the name of our Precious Savior.  Praise be to God for their devastating faithfulness.

 

Intercessory Saturday

On Sept. 21, Pastor Manuel was shot and killed by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas in San Jose del Guaviare, Colombia, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. FARC guerrillas made an appointment with Pastor Manuel and his family. “He thought they were going to authorize him to have an official church, which he had requested before,” said VOM contacts. The guerrillas came and shot Pastor Manuel five times outside his home. A FARC guerrilla who was in the house with the rest of the family yelled, “Make sure that dog stays dead,” referring to the pastor. The pastor was shot once more, in the neck.

Following the shooting, Pastor Manuel’s wife, Gloria, ran outside and cleaned his face. With the help of her children, she dragged his body under a tree. “She ran and got her Bible and, shaking with tears, preached to all those who got near,” VOM contacts said. “Her 10-year-old son said to her, ‘Don’t worry, Dad died for Christ and now he is with Christ.’”

Please Pray!

Please pray that God will bring peace and comfort to Pastor Manuel’s family. Also pray for the protection of other pastors who are under threat in Colombia. Pray that they will not be hindered in their ministries but will continue their faithful witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray for a spiritual awakening that will overcome and bind the powers of darkness that have such a stronghold in Colombia.

VOM assists Christians in Colombia by providing ministry tools and training, Action Packs and prayer ministry to widows of Christian martyrs.

Source: Voice of the Martyrs’ Be-A-Voice Network

The Semantics of Persecution

I’m going to have to go with Amanda on this.  You’re wrong.
~My darling husband.

Let me back up a little.  I recently did a book review of sorts where I told everyone to read Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand.  (You can read that post here.)  In the comments, some readers and I got onto the subject of persecution in America.  I boldly claimed that Christian Americans are not persecuted and that it’s disrespectful to say so.  I still stand by my words, but I want to make some clarifications.

Amanda disagreed with me.  She even busted out her fancy lexicon to prove me wrong.  Persecution is:

1. to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away
2. to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after
1. to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal
2. to pursue (in a hostile manner)
3. in any way whatever to harass, trouble, molest one
1. to persecute
2. to be mistreated, suffer persecution on account of something
4. without the idea of hostility, to run after, follow after: someone
5. metaph., to pursue
1. to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire

I will completely concede that, when looking solely at the definition, she and my husband are correct.  But, I’m looking at context, too, so that makes me shy away from reaching the same conclusion.

A definition doesn’t always communicate the full weight of the word.  When hearing a story about someone being religiously persecuted, most of us probably don’t imagine a suburban housewife with a big, silver cross around her neck tearing up at a snide remark about her outdated and unscientific beliefs.  Rather, the word “persecution” carries with it a certain weightiness, seriousness, or painfulness.  There is a connotation that the word carries which should not be ignored.  Another example would be the word “bastard.”  Technically, it means one thing.  In usage, however, it carries with it a more serious meaning.

I just have a hard time saying that Americans — who have the legal right to religious freedom and who can win cases in a federal court of law to protect and defend those freedoms — are persecuted.  Especially in light of the fact that people in other parts of the world are having their flesh ripped off and their children murdered because they dared to own a few lines of Scripture, and then when they go to court, their testimony is worthless because they’re Christian.

Does that mean Christians in America don’t suffer?  Of course not.  Sometimes we get overlooked as ignorant.  Sometimes we are called judgmental.  (By the way, there’s no argument for those things being persecution if they’re true!)  There is a subtle, yet steady, climate change going on in America.  It’s no longer in fashion to go to church or to uphold traditional values, much less to actually devote oneself to Christ.  As a result, people mock what they don’t understand.  There is a growing hostility toward those who hold firm in the faith.  But our little hurt feelings over people’s opinions are petty compared to what’s going on out there.   It’s not appropriate to use the same term to describe both situations.

In America, people have the right to express displeasure or disagreement about anything.  In America, if those opinions cross the line and infringe upon the rights of another, all parties have equal say in court.  And rights are protected.  We pay a price for the freedom we all enjoy; sometimes people laugh at us.  We get offended, and then we go to church in front of God and everyone, because we can.

To me, that’s not persecution.

Intercessory Saturday

UPDATE: VOM has learned a judge is dropping charges of anti-state activities against the two Christian Iranian women, Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh, who have been imprisoned in the notorious Evin prison since March 5.

Maryam and Marzieh will be charged with apostasy and propagation of the gospel instead. If convicted on these new charges the women could spend the rest of their lives in prison. Sources have informed VOM that Maryam and Marzieh are in poor health and in desperate need of medical attention. In August, the pair was summoned to appear before the court and told to recant their faith, but they refused to deny Christ.

Please Pray!

Praise the Lord the charges have been lessened, but we still need to pray for these courageous women, Maryam and Marzieh. Pray the Lord will sustain their minds and their bodies with the right hand of his righteousness while they are in prison. Pray the Lord will touch the heart of the judge and move him to release these young women.

Photo: Farsi Christian News Network

Source: Voice of the Martyrs’ Be-A-Voice Network