Open Doors reported, ‘Eritrean military officials arrested 35 Christians suspected of gathering for worship in Assab, a port city in Eritrea, on 3 July. The group, which included 17 women, was taken to the Adi-Nefase military camp, where conditions are notoriously harsh. At least two Christians imprisoned for their religious activities are known to have died while under arrest at Adi-Nefase since 2007. Meanwhile, the government continues to exert pressure on the sanctioned Orthodox, Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran and Islamic groups to enrol religious workers under the age of 30 for compulsory military training. Until now, church workers from these faiths have been exempt from military service because of their religious duties. More than 3,000 Orthodox priests, 10 Evangelical Lutheran pastors and 41 Muslim religious teachers have been inducted into Mitire Military Training Camp, but the Catholic Church is resisting the sign-up calls.’ And ‘We can thank God for the many imprisoned Christians who faithfully share Christ with their fellow prisoners.’

Pray: that many will come to know Jesus in the prisons through Christian witness and for God to sustain the families and friends of imprisoned Christians. (Ps.79:11)

A Christian mission in Bethlehem faces opposition from neighbours and city leaders over a youth centre it established in a Muslim neighbourhood. Pastor Steven Khoury of Holy Land Missions said his father, Naim Khoury, was summoned to the courthouse recently and warned that carrying out Christian work in the town of Shepherd’s Field would lead to trouble. But the trouble had already begun. Muslim extremist neighbours of an HLM youth centre have verbally attacked two youth leaders and vandalized the building’s locks. They also threatened to attack Pastor Naim and said they would ‘break the legs’ of anyone who enters the youth centre. Outreach and prayer meetings are scheduled to begin at the youth centre next week. Also Israel’s UN ambassador, Ron Prosor, told the Security Council during a debate entitled ‘Children in armed conflict’ that Hamas is using Palestinian children to carry out acts of terror against Israeli children. See

Pray: for evangelical Christians working in the West Bank to know God's peace and protection. (Ps.5:11)

More: http://www.persecutionblog.com/2011/07/vom-usa-prayer-update-for-july-8-2011.html

Laos is a communist state and one of East Asia's poorest countries. On January 4th police arrested Wanna and Yohan, pastors of two unregistered churches, and nine other Christians. Police released the nine detainees after they paid fines but Wanna and Yohan are still in prison. They were the principal breadwinners for their families, and their wives and families have no means of financial support. Several of Wanna’s children have since left school to find work. Pastor Wanna’s family say 'he has lost weight, is extremely weak and contracted an infection under the harsh prison conditions.’ Prison authorities have repeatedly told them they will ‘walk free’ when they sign documents renouncing their faith. Although there is less persecution of Christians recently, provincial authorities continue to violate freedom of religion or belief - particularly ethnic minority Protestants. The rights abuses include ‘detentions, surveillance, harassment, property confiscation, forced relocations and forced renunciations of faith'.

Pray: for immediate release of the two pastors. (Ps.45:4)

More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/laos/article_114762.html

A bomb explosion at All Christian-Fellowship Mission in Suleja on Sunday killed one man and two women. It happened as church members were in a meeting after a church service. No group claimed responsibility, but it follows reports that the Islamic militant group Boko Haram issued warnings to Nigerians to avoid Christian, security agent’s, and government institutions, or else face death. The attack coincides with a surge in violence over the weekend. Churches remain closed following a day of violence on Saturday with multiple explosions in parts of the city. A special ambassador for Christian Solidarity Worldwide called for the protection of churches and a full investigation into reports of violence by the Joint Military Task Force, saying, ‘If the alleged Boko Haram statement is accurate and their target is now shifting increasingly towards the church, Christians are in greater danger than ever, as their places of worship provide soft targets.’

Pray: for believers and their property to be protected as the area remains on high alert against further attacks. (Ps.20:1)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/attack.on.christian.mission.kills.three.in.nigeria/28281.htm