Vietnam: Detention of dozens of pastors and Church leaders
Sixty three Christian pastors and church leaders remain locked in deplorable conditions in four prison camps around Vietnam just days after religious leaders accused authorities of attempting to destroy religions in the nation. Nearly all of the 63 prisoners are members of ethnic minority communities in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. An advocacy group said that due to their status as a member of an ethnic minority and their adherence to a faith (still seen as an American import) Christians face a level of oppression far higher than most Vietnamese. Living far from major urban areas and the reach of most international news agencies, they also have little hope of assistance. Even official churches in some areas are facing persecution, house groups face regular harassment and in Binh Phuoc province local authorities are dismantling 116 chapels of the Stieng minority group belonging to the legally-registered Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South).
Pray: for the immediate release of the leaders, protection for all practicing Christians in Vietnam and an end to unjust persecution. (Ps.14:6)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/30891-vietnam-detains-dozens-of-pastors-church-leaders
Canada: Releasing prayer
Two of Canada's national prayer ministries are touring Canada throughout October and November to release a culture of prayer in the nation. Already in Victoria and Vancouver strong prayer released a fresh motivation for more people to become involved in the powerful ministry of prayer. We can join the Canadian call to prayer in the coming weeks asking God for a great harvest! Ask the Lord to send out labourers, to soften hearts, to draw the hungry. Pray for the new churches plants springing up everywhere and other planned missions in the land. God desires to change the spiritual climate of whole cities, and wants to use the Church as his primary change agent. Pray for the city church to unite around the unique strategy he grants to each city for advancing the Kingdom and being salt and light. Pray also for Businesses to be dedicated to Kingdom purposes.
Pray: for many instances of breakthrough across the nation at such a time as this. Pray for the Church to awaken to her first love for the Lord and be renewed in love for one another and the lost. (2Ch.7:14)
More: http://www.redleafprayer.org/index.php/events/culture-of-prayer-tour
Saudi Arabia: Another call for destruction of all churches
In May this year the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia called for the destruction of all Churches on the Arabian Peninsula. Again this week the Grand Mufti (who is also the head of the Muslim community) repeated this statement after a presentation by a Kuwaiti parliamentarian of a bill banning construction of new non-Muslim religious buildings in Kuwait. Not long ago, owing to the consecration of a Catholic Church in United Arab Emirates, the local Christians expected the opening of negotiations concerning the construction of the first church in Saudi Arabia. At the present time 3 - 4 million immigrant Christians work in Saudi Arabia but there are no church buildings allowed to exist. So was the Grand Mufti trying to export his ideology of destroying all Churches in Saudi Arabia to the surrounding countries while making a stand against church building in United Arab Emirates? He stated that ‘there cannot be two religions on the Arabian peninsula.’
Pray: for God’s protection to be over churches in Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. May the UN Human Rights Council take a stand for freedom of religion in the area. (Ps.3:7-8)
India: Major disaster as cyclone strikes - severe damage
yclone Phailin hit India last week as a category 4 storm with 130 mph winds. Loss of life was minimal due to large-scale evacuations but flooding has inundated homes and destroyed 1.2 million acres of crops. The local government has set up rescue and relief operations on the campus of a Bible training facility. It will take more than two weeks to restore power, the national highway is still covered by three feet of water, and some areas experienced levels above five feet. 873,000 people in Odisha and 100,000 in Andhra Pradesh sought safety in evacuation centres and will be returning to their communities as soon as flood waters recede. They will find little to salvage, particularly in poor farming villages along the coast where the storm wreaked the most havoc. The government will do what it can, but it doesn't have all the systems in place to offer much help.
Pray: for Christian Aid and other agencies already in the area who are able to respond immediately, pray for uncluttered communication between NGO’s and government bodies, pray also for adequate funds to be released to meet immediate and long term needs.
Syria: The continual danger of kidnappings
Kidnappings have become a common feature of the ongoing conflict in northern Syria, where fighting between government and rebel soldiers is still fierce. Aid workers and foreign journalists are at particular risk of abduction. On Monday seven members of the Red Cross were kidnapped by gunmen as they travelled in a four vehicle convoy delivering medical supplies and helping the people of Syria in an area largely under rebel control. The team had been in the field since 10 October assessing the medical situation and devising ways to provide medical aid in a difficult area to access. BBC’s Jim Muir in Beirut said, ‘Hardline Islamist rebels are known to operate in the area and Kidnappings of aid workers and journalists have become increasingly common in rebel held areas. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24513793 Recently the Press Gazette stated, ‘fear of kidnapping is stopping journalists from entering Syria’ The exact number of kidnap cases is unknown. Families and victims’ employers avoid publicity believing it will hamper negotiations with the kidnappers. See:
Pray: against the lucrative employment of Syrian fixers (negotiators) and activists making fortunes out of kidnapping and killing. (Ps.140:4-5)
Global: Child brides
en million girls a year are married before the age of 18 across the world. Child marriages are illegal in India and punishable with a large fine and two years in prison for anyone performing, conducting or failing to prevent a child marriage. The grandfather of a 6-year-old child bride said, ‘I hate the government for trying to stop us. This is the way we've always done things. The government bans this but we don't care and we do these weddings anyway.’ There are at least 50 million married child couples around the world and this will double by the end of the decade. The countries with the highest proportion of child brides are Niger, Chad, Mali, Bangladesh and India. 14 million aged between 15 and 19 give birth each year and are twice as likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth as women in their 20s.
Pray: against this practice that robs millions of girls of their childhood, their education, their rights and their dignity. Pray for the laws banning child marriage to be properly enforced and for protection of young vulnerable girls. (Ps.33:10-11)
Middle East: A work of reconciliation
‘Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.’ (Mat.5:23, 24) A young Israeli Messianic participant in a recent reconciliation initiative for young Israeli and Palestinian adults, writes in response to these verses, ‘The Lord showed us that it is very important for us to restore our relationship with our Palestinian brothers before we attempt to be reconciled with God.’ She adds, ‘We don’t always want to relate to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, feeling somehow disconnected from it, or powerless to do anything about it. Also we are in a more secure position (relative to the Palestinians) and so we tend to be apathetic and lack motivation to seek reconciliation with our Palestinian Brothers in Christ.’
Pray: for God to continue to bless and encourage those working for reconciliation and building relationships between Christians, Jews and others in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Ro.12:9-13 & Mat.7:4- 5)
More: http://www.musalaha.org/
European Parliament condemns violence against Christians
he European Parliament passed a resolution last week condemning violence and persecution against Christians in Syria, Pakistan and Iran. MEPs voiced particular concern over the attacks on Christians in Maaloula, Syria, and the suicide attack on All Saints Church, Peshawar, Pakistan, which killed at least 80 people. The MEPs called for ‘immediate support and humanitarian assistance’ to a group of around 40 nuns and orphans still trapped in the Convent of St Tekla. They also spoke of their ‘deep concern’ about the general situation of religious minorities in Pakistan and the Christian churches in particular. They urged the Pakistani authorities to overhaul the blasphemy laws and their current application ‘thoroughly’, noting that the laws were open to misuse against people of faith. Concerning Iran, they said the fate of imprisoned Pastor Saeed Abedini was also a matter of ‘deep concern’.
Pray: for God’s protection over His people. (Ps.5:11)
European Parliament condemns violence against Christians
he European Parliament passed a resolution last week condemning violence and persecution against Christians in Syria, Pakistan and Iran. MEPs voiced particular concern over the attacks on Christians in Maaloula, Syria, and the suicide attack on All Saints Church, Peshawar, Pakistan, which killed at least 80 people. The MEPs called for ‘immediate support and humanitarian assistance’ to a group of around 40 nuns and orphans still trapped in the Convent of St Tekla. They also spoke of their ‘deep concern’ about the general situation of religious minorities in Pakistan and the Christian churches in particular. They urged the Pakistani authorities to overhaul the blasphemy laws and their current application ‘thoroughly’, noting that the laws were open to misuse against people of faith. Concerning Iran, they said the fate of imprisoned Pastor Saeed Abedini was also a matter of ‘deep concern’.
Pray: for God’s protection over His people. (Ps.5:11)
Italy steps up migrant boat patrols after tragedies
taly is stepping up sea and air patrols following the deaths of hundreds of migrants sailing in overcrowded boats from North Africa. Prime Minister Enrico Letta said an ‘air and naval package’ would start on Monday south of Sicily. On Friday at least 33 people died when their boat capsized between Malta and the Italian island of Lampedusa. Earlier on Friday, at least 500 other migrants travelling in separate boats were rescued in coastguard operations near the Italian island of Sicily. A week earlier, more than 350 migrants died in another shipwreck off Lampedusa. Italy has previously called for EU help in dealing with the thousands of desperate migrants who wash up on its beaches every year. Many are families fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East who hope for a better life in Europe. But the recent loss of life has led to further calls for EU action.
Pray: that the authorities will take action to safeguard the needs of migrants on unsafe boats.