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`The Weekly
Persecution & Prayer Alert
The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada
Thursday, September 15, 2011
"You never know how much you really believe anything
until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to
you."
-- C.S. Lewis
***********************************
In this week's edition: reports from Iran, China and Turkmenistan
***********************************
1. Pastor freed on bail; others remain imprisoned in Iran
(Source: VOM-USA)
A pastor arrested and charged with blasphemy against Islam was
released on bail on August 27. Pastor Matthias Haghnejad was
arrested 10 days earlier while making a pastoral visit in the city
of Rasht, Iran. He was held until his family paid $30,000 in bail.
While Pastor Matthias is currently free, he still faces a trial on
the blasphemy charge.
Earlier this year, Matthias and 10 other church members were
detained and charged with partaking in activities against the
Iranian order. They were later acquitted. At least eight other
Iranian Christian leaders are currently in prison.
Pray that Pastor Matthias will be fully acquitted of the charges.
Pray also for Youcef Nardarkhani, another imprisoned pastor, and
for all Iranian Christians who have faced increased pressure from
the government. Pray that suffering Iranian believers will rejoice
in the opportunity to grow in Christ-likeness through the ongoing
opposition they face (James 1:2-4).
***********************************
2. Update: Church leaders released in China
(Source: ChinaAid)
Several church leaders from the Linfen-Fushan house church in
Shanxi province, China, have been released from detention. The
released Christians were among those arrested following a police
raid on their church's grounds in September 2009. More than 30
believers were seriously injured and 17 buildings were destroyed
in the attack.
Three women -- Gao Fuqin, Zhao Guoai and Yang Hongzhen-- were
released, along with a Christian man, Li Shuangpin. Yang Caizhen,
who was also imprisoned with the women, was released earlier on
medical parole (for more information, go to
www.persecution.net/cn-2011-05-19.htm). All five of these leaders
suffered physical and mental torture while detained at labour
camps.
The released Christians have shared, "We sincerely urge all
brothers and sisters around the world to pray for Linfen
church.... At the same time, we also ask brothers and sisters to
remember in prayer the Linfen leaders who are still suffering in
jail: Brothers Xiao Guang, Yang Xuan and Cui Jiaxing, and sisters
Yang Rongli and Zhang Huamei. May the Lord move the police to
release them early so that they can be reunited with their
families. We who have been released express our most sincere
gratitude to the brothers and sisters around the world who have
been concerned about us and who have helped us. May God remember
your prayers and what you did."
Praise the Lord for the release of these Christians! Pray that the
Lord will heal their hearts and bodies. Pray that the remaining
detained believers will soon be released. Pray that those who
oppress Christians in China may experience repentance and
salvation, just as Paul did (Acts 9:1-19).
***********************************
3. Update: Pastor remains detained in Turkmenistan
(Sources: VOM-USA, Forum 18)
Family and friends of Pastor Ilmurad Nurliev were disappointed in
late August when the president did not include the pastor in what
has become an annual amnesty of prisoners. Pastor Ilmurad was
arrested at his home in Mary in south-eastern Turkmenistan on
August 27, 2010. He was charged with extracting money from three
people -- an accusation his wife, Maya, and fellow church members
strongly deny
A friend of the family told Forum 18 that Maya is "so
disappointed" that her husband was not released and that "she sits
at home and cries." Family and friends were heartened, however, to
hear that the pastor has finally been treated for his diabetes for
the first time since his arrest. Maya has been able to visit her
husband on approved visiting days.
Please continue to pray for Ilmurad's release. Pray for comfort
for Maya while her husband is in prison. Pray that, as they
suffer, they will rely on the Lord's strength and not on their own
(2 Corinthians 1:8-9). Pray that many more in Turkmenistan would
come to faith in Jesus Christ.