The Weekly
Persecution & Prayer Alert
The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada
Thursday, February 9, 2012
"In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who
loved us."
-- Romans 8:37 (NASB)
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In this week's edition: reports from Sudan, China, Algeria, Egypt
and Nigeria
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1. Bible college bombed in Sudan
(Source: Samaritan's Purse)
A Bible school supported by Samaritan's Purse was destroyed on
February 1 in the latest bombing raid to hit South Kordofan, a
Sudanese province that borders the newly created independent
country of South Sudan. Eight bombs were dropped in the area of
Heiban Bible College during the school's first day of classes.
According to eyewitness accounts, the bombing required a sustained
effort with at least four flyover passes.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported. "We have been working for
years in Sudan," Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham said
after the attack. "Today our Bible school in Heiban in the Nuba
Mountains was bombed by the Sudanese Air Force. No one was killed
or hurt, but buildings were destroyed. Please pray for the safety
of believers, and that God would intervene." Since early August,
at least four churches built by Samaritan's Purse have been
destroyed by bombing or burning.
Thank the Lord no one was injured or killed. Pray the Lord will
strengthen the faith of the students and other believers after
this attack and ask Him to provide for them. Pray the Holy Spirit
will bring new life and faith to the people around the Nuba
Mountains. Pray for those behind these attacks.
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2. Government persecution of Christians in China worsened in 2011
(Source: ChinaAid Assocation)
Government persecution of Christians and churches in China
worsened significantly in 2011. From 2010 to 2011, the total
number of people persecuted, detained, sentenced, or abused jumped
42.5 per cent. Compared with the statistics in past ChinaAid
annual reports, the trend of worsening persecution has persisted
for the past six years, with an average annual increase of 33.1
per cent.
Two major cases are representative of the 2011 practise of
targeting influential house churches for persecution: the
large-scale suppression of Beijing Shouwang Church for 38
continuous weeks , and the continued strict surveillance and
suppression of the Linfen church in Shanxi province since it was
banned in 2009
ChinaAid founder and president Bob Fu said, "House churches in
China which are committed to the sole headship of Christ in the
church and to evangelism must operate as illegal groups conducting
so-called 'illegal religious activities,' and consequently must be
ready to suffer the administrative penalties inflicted by the
state."
Thank the Lord for the extraordinary faithfulness of Christians in
China who continue to serve the Lord though they face
intimidation, threats and arrest. Pray they will exemplify the
love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who
persecute them (Matthew 5:43-48). Ask the Lord to continue to grow
His church in China.
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3. Church ransacked in eastern Algeria
(Source: International Christian Concern)
The Protestant Church of Ouargla in eastern Algeria was vandalized
by an unknown number of armed men on the evening of February 1.
After the assailants broke through the gate, they ransacked the
church building. "We heard noises on the terrace, but we could not
get out because the threat was real. They could kill us," said
Pastor Mourad, who was inside the building with his wife and
children.
The Church of Ouargla is the only church in the region and has
been recognized by the government since its establishment in 1958.
Pastor Mourad has been repeatedly threatened and attacked since
being ordained as pastor in 2007. In the summer of 2009, his wife
was beaten and seriously injured by a group of unknown men. Then,
in late 2011, rubbish was thrown over the compound walls while an
angry mob shouted death threats at Pastor Mourad.
Pray the Lord will protect Pastor Mourad, his family and church
members. Pray the believers will take heart and place their hope
in Him. Ask the Lord to grow the Church in Algeria, in number and
in faithfulness.
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4. Christian teenager abducted in Egypt
(Source: Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty
Commission)
Amira Gamal Saber, a 16-year-old Egyptian Christian, was abducted
in early December 2011 from Saft-el-Khamar village, Minya
Province. The head of security in Minya confirmed her kidnapping
but failed to act. A few weeks later, a man phoned Amira's family
demanding a ransom. The family travelled to Giza with the ransom
money, but once they arrived they were directed to the police
station and informed that government prosecutors were handling the
case. In court, a prosecutor backed by 12 lawyers told Amira's
parents that their daughter wanted to convert to Islam. He ruled
therefore, that Amira be sent to a state-run care facility in Giza
until she turns 18 and may legally profess Islam for herself. Her
father is appealing to the Attorney General.
Please pray the Lord will intervene in Amira's situation. Ask Him
to give her and her family the strength to endure this current
hardship. Pray for all believers in Egypt; may they keep their
eyes on Jesus, persevere in their faith, and not grow weary or
lose heart (Hebrews 10:32-39; 12:1-3).
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5. Update: Attack sparks revival in Nigeria
(Source: The Voice of the Martyrs)
Increasing violence in Nigeria has only strengthened local
Christians' faith, even sparking a revival at the Deeper Life
Bible Church in Gombe, where nine Christians were martyred in a
January 5 attack.
During a funeral service on January 19 for those killed, many
believers rededicated their lives to Christ, and others came to
faith in Christ for the first time. Weeping and singing while on
their knees, a choir led about 500 attendees and 50 pastors in
worship. The martyrs' relatives and other dignitaries -- including
the deputy governor speaking on behalf of the state's governor --
spoke about each murdered Christian. The four-hour service then
moved on to intercessory prayer for the Church in Nigeria, the
nation at large, Muslims in Nigeria, and the Muslim extremist
group Boko Haram.
"The leader of the prayers based most of the prayers from the book
of Isaiah 61:1–4, among other scriptures, which strengthen and
encourage the Church. He encouraged the Church to be more
prayerful than complaining," said a VOM worker. "He said the Lord
knows how to fight His own battle in His own way, and we should
not revenge whatsoever."
Pray that the Lord will continue to comfort and provide for those
mourning. Pray that He will sustain the faith of believers in
Nigeria during these difficult trials. Pray that Christians in
Nigeria will receive a crown of beauty, the oil of joy and the
garment of praise from the Lord (Isaiah 61:3).
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