| Forty House Church Leaders Arrested in China China Aid Association On November 18, 40 leaders of the China Gospel Fellowship (CGF) were arrested. According to a November 27 press release from China Aid Association, eyewitnesses reported Public Security Bureau officers raided a leadership meeting in Fanhu, Hunan, and arrested those present. Within a week, 21 were released, but the remaining detainees are being held at the county detention center. Family members have been told to bring blankets and money to cover their living expenses while detained. All those arrested are senior leaders of the CGF, including its founder, Pastor Shen Yiping. Pray for these detained leaders during this time. Pray that all will be released soon. Pray for the families as they not only deal with the absence of their loved ones, but also face this financial burden forced upon them. Psalm 91, Joshua 1:9 Case of Arrested House Church Leader Returned to Public Security Bureau in China- China Aid Association On November 22, the case for house church leader Zhou Heng was returned to the Public Security Bureau by the Shayibake District People's Procuratorate of Urumqi city, Xingjiang province, China. According to China Aid Association, "Under heavy pressure from the international community, the prosecutors sent back Zhou's case because of insufficient evidence to indict him." Zhou Heng was arrested in August 2007, for receiving three tons of Bibles donated by South Korean churches. The Bibles were intended for distribution to local believers free of charge. Prior to his arrest, Zhou managed a bookstore, called Yayi Christian Bookroom, and sold religious books. Authorities have closed the bookstore. Pray for the case against Zhou Heng to be dropped. Ask God to protect Christians who live and share their faith under difficult conditions. Isaiah 26: 3, Psalm 23 Psalm 118:17, Psalm 91 TURKEY Catholic Priest Stabbed - Compass Direct News On December 16, a 19-year-old Muslim man stabbed a Catholic priest in the stomach outside a Catholic church in Turkey. According to Compass Direct News, Father Adriano Franchini was stabbed near Izmir's St. Anthony Church by a man identified as Ramazan Bay. Although the attacker fled the scene, he was arrested an hour later. Compass Direct reported, "According to the daily Hurriyet newspaper, the arrested assailant admitted in his statement to the police that he had been influenced by a recent episode of the popular television serial drama 'Kurtla Vadisi' (Valley of the Wolves)." The series caricatures Christian missionaries as political "infiltrators" who pay poor families to convert to Christianity. This recent incident is the latest violent attack on Turkey's Christian community. In April 2007, two Turkish converts and a German citizen were tortured and killed at a Christian publishing house in Malatya, Turkey. Five Muslim men confessed to the killings and were arrested. Their trial is currently in progress. Pray for protection for Turkey's Christians. Ask God to give them wisdom as they share the gospel in dangerous situations. Isaiah 54:17, Psalm 91 INDIA Christians Killed, Homes and Churches Burned - VOM Sources Four Christians were killed, many injured and numerous homes and churches destroyed or damaged in Orissa state in violent clashes that began on Christmas Eve. According to The Voice of the Martyrs sources in India, "Hindu extremists used anti-conversion laws to terrorize Christians. More than 18 churches and prayer houses were ransacked and torched in several areas of Kandhamai district in Orissa. Rev. Basant Diggal, reports that he was assaulted and his motorcycle damaged by a group of miscreants in Minia area where vandals went on a rampage causing damage to another church." VOM sources added Hindu extremists in Orissa have been threatening and terrorizing Christians who are marginalized and are in the minority. VOM sources said, "The attacks took place for the sole reason of terrorizing the Christian community and stopping our missionary work. But the church has always grown in persecution and this will happen again in Orissa. The church which grows in love and unity has as its basis a faith marked by suffering and persecution." Pray for Christians in India who are faced with immense difficulty at this time. Pray for the families of the killed and those whose homes and churches were damaged or destroyed. Ask God to give believers courage to remain faithful despite persecution. Psalm 27:1, Romans 8:31 |
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EGYPT Woman
Sentenced for Professing
Christianity - VOM Sources
In 1962, Nagui Ibrahim left his home and family
and converted to Islam. His identity card was
changed to indicate that he was officially a
Muslim. At the time, his daughter, Shadia, was
two years old. Three years later, he reconciled
with his wife, moved home and reconverted to
Christianity. Unable to legally change his
identity card back to say he was a Christian,
Nagui had someone forge his documents. In
1996, the forger was arrested and confessed that
he had forged documents for Nagui. Police
detained Nagui and told him that he was still
legally a Muslim. Children in Egypt
automatically take their father's religion, so
Shadia was officially considered a Muslim, also.
Since she had given her religion as "Christian"
when she married in 1982, the courts began
proceedings against her. On November 21,
2007, she was sentenced to three years in prison
for "providing false information on official
documents." Pray Egyptian authorities reverse
this unfair decision and allow true freedom of
religion in Egypt. Psalm 21:1; 2 Timothy 1:7
More News
Sentenced for Professing
Christianity - VOM Sources
In 1962, Nagui Ibrahim left his home and family
and converted to Islam. His identity card was
changed to indicate that he was officially a
Muslim. At the time, his daughter, Shadia, was
two years old. Three years later, he reconciled
with his wife, moved home and reconverted to
Christianity. Unable to legally change his
identity card back to say he was a Christian,
Nagui had someone forge his documents. In
1996, the forger was arrested and confessed that
he had forged documents for Nagui. Police
detained Nagui and told him that he was still
legally a Muslim. Children in Egypt
automatically take their father's religion, so
Shadia was officially considered a Muslim, also.
Since she had given her religion as "Christian"
when she married in 1982, the courts began
proceedings against her. On November 21,
2007, she was sentenced to three years in prison
for "providing false information on official
documents." Pray Egyptian authorities reverse
this unfair decision and allow true freedom of
religion in Egypt. Psalm 21:1; 2 Timothy 1:7
More News