_The Weekly
Persecution & Prayer Alert_
The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada
Thursday, March 29, 2012
"The true calling of a Christian is not to do extraordinary
things,
but to do ordinary things in an extraordinary way."
A. P. Stanley
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In this week's edition: reports from Morocco, China, Iran and
India
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1. Three secret believers arrested in Morocco
(Sources: VOM-USA, Mission Network News)
Three Christian men were arrested in a city café on March 1 in
Morocco. During the arrest, police apparently gained information
about other secret believers in the country. The arrest involved
two young men who were meeting with an older believer from another
city. While the two young men were released later that night, the
older believer remains in custody. The families of the two young
men did not know the men were following Christ. One of them was no
longer welcome in his home once his beliefs were discovered.
Many foreign Christians were expelled from Morocco two years ago,
and this had a significant impact on the Church as anti-Christian
sentiment seems to be growing in the country. Moroccan believers
now meet in small groups for fear of persecution. While becoming a
Christian in Morocco is not actually illegal, it is forbidden to
share the gospel with non-Christians.
Please pray that Moroccan Christians will continue to gather
despite the threats of reprisals. Pray that the believer in prison
will remain strong in his faith and will be freed. Pray that
Moroccan Christians' passion for Christ will be the light that
draws others to Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16).
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2. House church raided, believers detained in China
(Source: China Aid Association)
More than 70 Christians were taken into custody when a house
church, which had been meeting for more than two decades, was
raided in western China. The church, located in the region of
Xinjiang, was stormed by police on March 18. About a dozen
policemen and Domestic Security Protection agents burst into
Pastor He Enjun's home, and authorities on the scene declared it
was an "unapproved, illegal meeting" and ordered an immediate end
to the meeting. Each Christian present was photographed by force
and was taken for questioning. Some believers were not released
for two days. Bibles, hymnals, notebooks, Christian education DVDs
and other materials were confiscated without a receipt, even
though a receipt is required by law. The pastor and his wife were
later called back into the local police station for further
questioning. They were threatened and ordered to stop hosting
meetings in their home.
Please pray that the Lord will reward the faithfulness of these
believers by using them to lead even more people to the King of
Kings. Pray that these believers will echo Peter's sentiment to
obey God regardless of what man says (Acts 5:29). Pray that God
will work powerfully in the hearts of the authorities in Xinjiang.
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3. Twenty-seven believers remain detained in Iran
(Source: Middle East Concern)
There are calls for both praise and petition in Iran as some
formerly imprisoned believers have been released while others
remain jailed for their faith. Davoud Alijani was arrested in
Ahvaz last December and was released on March 8. Sharifeh Dookh,
Masoud Golrooyan and Nima Shokouhi arrested in Shiraz last
February were released after 36 days in custody. And Giti
Hakimpour, a 78-year old detained for three days in February,
received all the property back that was confiscated when she was
arrested including her passport, pension book, computer, mobile
phone and Bibles and other religious materials.
However, at least 27 believers remain detained across Iran because
of their Christian faith. Following a series of raids in February
and early March, five believers remain detained in Shiraz, three
in Kermanshah and at least seven in Isfahan. Among those detained
for more than one year are Youcef Nadarkhani, Noorallah Qabitizade
and Farshid Fathi. Several believers who have been released on
bail await court hearings. Alireza Akhavan, a Christian who was
released on bail in 2010 but was convicted in November 2011 of
"actions against national security," was re-arrested on March 14
while attempting to flee from Iran.
Please pray that each of those detained or facing court hearings
will know the presence and peace of Jesus. Please pray that
believers across Iran will know the Lord's wisdom and protection
while meeting together, and so will be enabled to live without
fear.
.
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4. Hostility for believers increasing in India
(Source: VOM-USA)
Three vicious attacks against Christians in India in recent months
reflect a growing anti-Christian sentiment.
A pastor and his children were attacked last February in Kerala
state. Pastor Titus Ignatius Kapan and his family were eating
dinner in the home of a convert to Christianity from Hinduism when
Hindu extremists stormed in. They abused the pastor and his
children and then dropped large boulders on the pastor's car.
Days earlier, Hindu extremists disrupted a prayer service in
Pandhi village in Chhattisgarh state. For two days the attackers
threatened and assaulted attendees with their fists and leather
belts. They also tore down the believers' tent.
Finally, a group of Christians in Haibasa district in Jharkhand
state were forced to leave their village after a series of attacks
by local villagers. The Christians took refuge at a local church
but at last report are living without necessities. In the last of
the attacks, the violent mob shut down all exit points to the
village before assaulting Christians with iron rods, axes, arrows
and other sharp weapons, severely beating four Christians. Other
believers, including children, were locked in a room where the
assailants attempted to burn them alive. Thankfully police arrived
before they could carry out the murders.
Please pray that Christians in India will find strength in Christ
to bear the persecution and to continue to proclaim the Kingdom.
Please pray that God will soften the hearts of the persecutors and
draw them to repentance. Pray that our suffering brothers and
sisters in India will trust God to enable them to proclaim the
gospel even while suffering (2 Timothy 4:16-18).
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