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The Weekly
Persecution & Prayer Alert
The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada
Thursday, August 11, 2011
"The tests of life are to make, not break us. Trouble may demolish
a man's business
but build up his character. The blow at the outward man may be the
greatest blessing
to the inner man. If God, then, puts or permits anything hard in
our lives,
be sure that the real peril, the real trouble, is that we shall
lose if we flinch or rebel."
- Maltbie Davenport Babcock
***********************************
In this week's edition: reports from Sudan, Eritrea and Pakistan.
***********************************
1. Sudanese Christian teenager traumatized after kidnapping
(Source: Compass Direct)
A Christian teenager in Sudan recently escaped from kidnappers who
tortured her and pressured her to convert from Christianity to
Islam. On June 17, 2010, Hiba Abdelfadil Anglo, then 15 years old,
was abducted by a gang of Muslims. She was initially locked in a
room and beaten until she was unconscious. For months, the men
moved her to various locations in Khartoum, threatening to kill
her if she tried to escape and insulting her Christian family
members as "infidels." She was also raped by the leader of the
group. After a year of captivity, Hiba had given enough of an
impression that she had converted to Islam for him to leave her
unguarded. She was then able to leave the house and beg a motorist
to take her to her home two hours away. She was reunited with her
family on July 10. Hiba's mother said that when she first went to
a police station to open a case, officers told her she must first
leave Christianity for Islam. At last report, Hiba remained deeply
traumatized. "I cannot forget this bad incident, and whenever I
try to pray, I find it difficult to forget. I ask believers to
pray for me for inner healing," she said. She also shared her fear
that the Muslim criminals were still trailing her.
Ask God to grant Hiba His healing and strength in the aftermath of
this attack. Pray that she and her family members may be drawn
together in love and trust. Pray that authorities will bring to
justice all who were involved in her abduction and torture.
***********************************
2. Mass arrests of Christians continue in Eritrea
(Sources: VOM-USA, Release International, Release Eritrea)
Eritrean officials have arrested at least 90 Christians in recent
months, including many college students. In May, authorities
detained 64 believers in Adi Abeyto, a village near the capital,
Asmara. Only six of the 90 arrested have been released. The others
are thought to be held at a police station or in the notorious
Mitire military prison. It is not clear why the Christians were
detained, but college students have reportedly been arrested in
recent weeks for refusing to take part in celebrations for the
country's Independence Day (May 24). For example, 26 students from
the Mai-Mefhi College of Technology were arrested in June and
detained at an unknown location.
In 2002, the Eritrean government banned all Christian groups that
do not belong to a state-approved church. Since then, thousands of
Christians have been imprisoned. Sixteen are known to have died in
custody.
Pray that Eritreans imprisoned for Christ will be released. Pray
Eritrean Christians will remain steadfast in faith, lovingly
proclaiming Christ both inside and outside of prison walls. Pray
that those who persecute Christians in Eritrea will repent of
their ways and come to faith in Christ.
You can encourage an imprisoned Eritrean Christian today through
the ministry of lettering writing. Write a letter to Dr. Kiflu
Gebremeskel, a leading figure of Full Gospel Church of Eritrea who
was arrested on May 23, 2004, by visiting www.PrisonerAlert.com.
***********************************
3. Pray for distraught Christian widow in Pakistan
(Source: VOM-USA)
On March 21, a group of young Muslim men attacked a Salvation Army
church in Hyderabad, Pakistan, and shot to death 25-year-old Jamil
and another man. Recently VOM staff visited with Jamil's wife,
Sana, who had been married to Jamil but a month before his tragic
death. Sana is very emotionally fragile at this time. "One minute
she is laughing and the next she is crying. Her behaviour is very
erratic," said the VOM team leader. Jamil had been supporting
Sana, his parents and two siblings by working as a sweeper.
Pray that Sana will receive the care she needs and be encouraged
by the prayers of her Christian family. Pray that she will look to
God in her grief, resting in the unfailing mercy and love of her
Father. Pray also for God to comfort Sosan, the wife of the other
man killed in the attack, and for their six children. Pray that
many will continue to stand as witnesses for Christ in Pakistan,
even amid violence and hostility.
You can pray for and stand with Asia Bibi, another woman in
Pakistan suffering for her faith in Jesus Christ. Asia has been
sentenced to death for blasphemy and is currently waiting for a
court's ruling on her appeal. To learn more about Asia's case and
to sign a petition calling for her release, visit
www.CallForMercy.com. As of last week, 1,600 Canadians have signed
the petition; be sure to add your voice!