.The Weekly Persecution & Prayer Alert

[-Pastor-Dale-Morgan-]

.The Weekly Persecution & Prayer Alert

The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada

Thursday, April 12, 2012

"Princes, kings, and other rulers of the world have used all their strength and cunning against the Church, yet it continues to endure and hold its own."
-- John Foxe

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In this week's edition: reports from Nigeria, Pakistan, Egypt and China.
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2. Suicide bomber targets churches in Kaduna, Nigeria
(Source: Compass Direct News)

Churches celebrating Easter services were the targets of a suicide bomber who killed at least 38 people on April 8 in Kaduna city in northern Nigeria. Security personnel at one of the church buildings blocked the bomber, believed to belong to the Boko Haram Islamic sect, who then detonated his explosives in the street. Dozens of people were injured in addition to those killed. The bombs damaged the buildings of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Good News church and the All Nations Christian Assembly, besides blasting off roofs from homes and hotels and destroying vehicles. Located on the same street, Gwari Road, are the Redeemed Christian Church of God and an Assemblies of God church.

Luka Binniyat, a Christian resident of the city, told Compass that law enforcement agents believed the ECWA church was the primary target. "Richard Markus, a detective, mentioned that the bomber's main target was the ECWA Good News church a few metres from the scene of the bomb blast," Binniyat said. "He tried forcing his way past, but the security man stood in between him and the blockade. He even pushed him a ways before some policemen manning the gate of the church rushed down to the scene."

Boko Haram has targeted state offices, law enforcement sites and some moderate mosques in its effort to destabilize the government and impose a strict version of sharia (Islamic law) on all of Nigeria, but Kaduna resident Stanley Yakubu said that Christians are one of its main targets. "The truth is that there is a deliberate effort to silence or eliminate the Christians in the north," he said.

Please pray for those who are grieving. Pray that, as sufferings overflow, their comfort in Christ will be more than enough for them (2 Corinthians 1:5). Pray God will provide medical assistance to the injured and give them the grace to overcome their physical and emotional afflictions. Pray for members of Boko Haram; may the Holy Spirit convict them of sin and guilt and bring them to full repentance.


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3. Pastor discusses Christianity with Pakistani teacher
(Source: VOM-USA)

An Arabic-language teacher at a government school in Pakistan has been meeting with a VOM-supported pastor to learn more about Christianity.

The encounters began after the teacher learned that one of his students was a Christian. "I've never met a Christian in my life," he told the young man. "How do you Christians pray?" The student invited him to speak with his pastor.

At first the discussions were difficult because the teacher didn't feel he could speak openly. But last month, the pastor visited the teacher's school and brought pencils and notebooks for the students. That day, the pastor and the teacher spoke for two hours, and the teacher requested a Bible so he could look up some of the verses the pastor cited.

The Pakistani teacher suggested they discuss the topic of whether Jesus is the Son of God the next time they meet.

The pastor asks for our prayers: "Please pray for me, when I have this meeting, that God will protect me and the Holy Spirit will guide me and save the soul of , so he can accept Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour." Please also pray for those in Pakistan who are facing persecution because of their faith in Jesus. Pray that their passion for Christ will be the light that draws others to Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16).

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4. Christian teen given jail term for insulting Islam in Egypt
(Source: International Christian Concern)

On  April 4, Gamal Abdou Massoud, 17, was convicted in an Egyptian court for posting cartoons on Facebook deemed offensive to Muslims and distributing them to friends at school in the Upper Egypt province of Assiut. The cartoons, published in December, led to violent Muslim protests in neighbouring villages that lasted for two days. Several Christian houses were burned and several Christians were injured during the protests.

"Assiut child's court ordered the jailing of Gamal Abdou Massoud ... for three years after he insulted Islam and published and distributed pictures that insulted Islam and its Prophet," the court said in a statement seen by Reuters. Human rights lawyer Negad al-Borai said the jail sentence was the maximum penalty under Egyptian law for such a crime.

Christians, who make up about 10 per cent of the country's 80 million population, have long had a difficult relationship with Egypt's overwhelmingly Muslim majority. Tension between Muslims and Christians has simmered for years but has gotten worse since the revolt that toppled Hosni Mubarak. Christians have become increasingly worried by a surge in attacks on churches, which they blame on hardline Islamists, though experts say local disputes are often to blame as well.

Pray for Gamal's release. Ask the Lord to minister to him while in prison. Pray Gamal's faith will grow stronger during this trial. Pray for all Christians in Egypt, that they will exemplify the love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:43-48). Pray that God will grant wisdom and grace to Christians during this time of increased tension in Egypt.


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5. Update: Gao Zhisheng visited by family in China
(Photo: China Aid Association)

The relatives of prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng have finally been allowed to visit him in prison. The visit has put to rest fears that the pioneer in the growing Christian legal defence movement in the country had died during the two-plus years of his forced disappearance into police custody.

Gao's older brother and his father-in-law were permitted a half-hour meeting with Gao on March 24 at the Shaya prison, in a remote part of Xinjiang in far western China. They were able to see each other through a glass window and converse using a prison phone.

Gao, who disappeared into police custody several times since 2006, was last seen by his family members in April 2010 when he briefly resurfaced after a previous long period of disappearance. During that time, he gave an extensive interview to the Associated Press in which he gave a detailed account of brutal torture inflicted on him by Chinese police.

Thank the Lord that Gao was able to visit with his family! Pray that the Lord will continue to sustain him in prison. Pray that, like Paul, Gao's imprisonment will result in the advancement of God's Kingdom (Philippians 1:12-14). Pray that God will comfort Gao's family.

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