Prayers for the persecuted church (7/2/2010)

06/23/2010 Pakistan (ICC) Use of Blasphemy Laws In Order To Make Christian Leave Land— Rehmat Masih currently resides in prison and faces the death penalty because he has been falsely accused of blaspheming Mohammad, a crime punishable by death. Masih’s family has stated that the accusation was made because the Muslims were having a land dispute with Masih. Full Story.

Pray that Masih will be released from prison and that the charges will be dropped.
Pray that Masih’s family will remain safe and be able to keep their land.
Pray that other Christians will not be wrongly accused of Blasphemy Laws to solve vendettas.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Pakistan.

06/22/2010 Pakistan (CDN) Christian Child Kidnapped and Forced into Cruel Labor— An 11-year-old should never work 11 hours a day, however Danish Masih is forced to toil over farmland in chains. Fed only half a loaf of bread per day, Danish is now weak and ill from working in these conditions for the last one-and-a-half years. The landowner has invited the boy to convert to Islam and promised in return that he "will be freed from the iron chains, and his work will be eased and he will be served better meals." He also suggested that his family's debt might be forgiven if he converted. Full Story

Pray that Danish Masih will be reunited with his family.
Pray that strength would be given to Masih.
Pray that the Muslim landowner will find Christ through Masih.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Pakistan.

06/22/2010 Kyrgyzstan (Christian today) No End to the Violence in Krygystan— Imagine whole streets in your neighborhood burnt to the ground. This is the reality in Osh, Kyrgyzstan where fierce fighting is still occuring between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks. There are riots, killings, and pillaging. Humanitarian help has been limited and food supplies are diminishing. Full Story .

Pray that the Kyrgyzstan violence will cease.
Pray that Christians will be safe especially when aiding people.
Pray that more food and water will be given out by humanitarian organizations.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website.

06/21/2010 Vietnam (Open Doors) Vietnamese Pastor and Believer Cruelly Targeted — Pastor Du was not taken to prison in a car, but rather was dragged by his own motorcycle. He is a prisoner who refuses to denounce his faith. Another family (Po) has had their food supply and motor bike stolen by their neighbors because they refused to pay homage to ancestors. The family is now forced to live in a forest with their three children. Full Story

Pray that Pastor Du will be released from prison.
Pray that the Po family will find adequate shelter and food.
Pray that the Po family's Vietnamese neighbors will be intrigued by Christians rather then exploiting them.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Vietnam.

06/21/2010 Morocco (Christian Today) Two Christians Deported Without Children— Eddie and Lyn Padilla were punished for taking in unwanted children. The Padillas were forced to leave the country, charged with proselytizing children living at the Village of Hope, a place for orphaned children. Within two hours, the Padillas had to pack and to say goodbye to their children. The family has appeared on Capitol Hill for help. Full Story

Pray that the Moroccan government will let the Padillas take back their children.
Pray that other Christian organizations will remain safe in Morocco.
Pray that there will be greater religious freedom in Morocco.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Morocco.

06/19/2010 United States (ANS) Son of Hamas In Danger of Being Assassinated if Deported to West Bank— Mosab Hassan Yousef will be appearing in front of Congress on June 30 to see if he will be sent back to the West Bank. Mosab, the son of one of Hamas' founders, converted to Christianity after spending time spying for Israel. His work for Israel and his book that exposed Islam and Hamas would put him in serious danger if he is forced to return to the West Bank. Full Story

Praise God that Mosab has decided to follow Jesus Christ.
Pray that other Muslims will be inspired to convert.
Pray that Congress will intervene in Mosab's situation.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website.

06/23/2010 United States (ANS) Four Christians arrested for Proselytizing at Arab Festival— On Friday, police arrested four Christians for sharing their faith with Muslims during the Arab International Festival in Dearborn, Michigan. A visiting resident of Toronto, who observed the incident, said the Christians were engaged in intense, but respectful dialogue when they were arrested. He also reported that when one of the men, Dr. Nabeel Qureshi, was arrested, people were clapping and shouting "Allahu Akbar." Full Story.

Pray that Christians will have good relationships with Muslim communities.
Pray that the court hears both cases without bias.
Pray that churches will find unique ways to share gospel.

For more general information, please go to ICC’s website.

Underground Reality: Vietnam

From Voice of the Martyrs comes this story that spotlights the persecution facing Christians in Vietnam. It doesn't seem to be that much different than what is going on in China or North Korea. It just doesn't get the same attention. Here's the story:

American Teens Find Persecution In Vietnam
June 20, 2007


(BARTLESVILLE, Okla.) As Vietnam’s president, Nguyen Minh Triet, comes to the United States this week, his focus will be on advancing trade and technology between his country and the U.S. Nguyen will try to avoid discussing human rights and religious freedom in his country.

But eight teens—six Americans and two Australians—discovered that persecution in Vietnam is real for Christians. The teens interviewed a pastor whose house church has been repeatedly torn down by the police. They were forced to flee from a Christian youth camp when police suddenly arrived.

Their adventure—Underground Reality: Vietnam—was captured on film last year and is now available on DVD from The Voice of the Martyrs, a ministry dedicated to helping persecuted Christians in nations like Vietnam.

“The president of Vietnam calls evangelical Christians law-breakers and says they should be punished,” says Todd Nettleton, spokesperson for VOM. “But the reality is these are simply Christians who want the freedom to worship God according to their conscience. They love their country; they pray for their government leaders. These aren’t trouble-makers or rebels, yet they are arrested, beaten and imprisoned. We’ve received a list of more than 100 Christians currently held in Vietnamese prisons.”

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) listed Vietnam in its May, 2007, report as a “Country of Particular Concern” in regards to religious freedom.

Underground Reality: Vietnam, which was released on DVD this month, documents first hand the reality of persecution in Vietnam as it was encountered by the teens. One teen interviewed a young girl who had been abused by Vietnamese police. The group met with the children of a Vietnamese pastor who has spent years under house arrest because of his Christian activities. A face-to-face interview with a formerly-imprisoned pastor was a highlight for some of the teens.

“We talk a lot today about reality TV,” says Nettleton. “Well, this is the ultimate reality; the reality of life and death for Christians in Vietnam. The reality of how much they are willing to pay in order to live out their convictions and serve God in the way they feel called to serve Him. What could be more real?”

“We are pleased that Vietnam’s president will be visiting the United States,” says Nettleton. “We call on leaders within the U.S. government to ask President Nguyen hard questions about religious freedom and the way our Christian brothers and sisters are being treated in Vietnam. Good trade relations, and high profits, aren’t enough to ignore the mistreatment of people of faith in Vietnam.”

To order your copy of Underground Reality: Vietnam, please click here.