Iran: Persecution update
A young Iranian believer from a Muslim background died of injuries sustained when he was severely beaten by a relative. Elam Ministries report that the relative took exception to the believer’s clear commitment to Jesus. He leaves a wife and two young children. According to the Farsi Christian News Network, three of 15 believers arrested on 8th July for their faith remain detained. A number of others continue to be detained for their faith in Iran, all are under pressure to recant their faith but are refusing to do so. According to Iranian State Television in September nine believers have also been arrested in Hamedan on charges of evangelism. We can praise God that nearly five months after being released from prison, an Iranian court has acquitted Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad of all charges related to being Christians and engaging in Christian activities. Pray: that prisoners will know the presence and peace of Jesus, remain clearly committed and fulfil the Father's purposes for their lives. (Ps.23:3-5) More: htp://www.givengain.com/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=cause_dir_cause&cause_id=%20%20%201489
Worldwide: Unreached People Prayer Initiative
Thirty-six years ago at the first Lausanne Congress Strategic Prayer Group meeting Ralph Winter spoke about the ‘Hidden People Groups’ (see also this weeks British Isles INSIGHT ARTICLE). That first meeting initiated much activity centring on the 10-40 window. This year they meet again in Cape Town 2010 and are sensing the Lord calling His church anew to times of strategic prayer for the ‘least reached’ nations; but this time his church will be able to use the tools of the 21st century to touch people groups of the world. We are invited to unite through technology and bring in the harvest. Their desire is to see strategic prayer groups established and interceeding both over Skype and on-site in particular nations among unreached people groups, believing the Lord will give us His strategies to bring in the harvest! They are encouraging a partnership with existing prayer networks and intercessors to create a synergy of divine connection and increasing passion for prayer for the unreached. PRAISE GOD! Pray: that the church would unite through this initiative and not see it as something separate from what they are already doing. (Nu.2:2 & Is.18:3)
Kenya: Day of prayer 10.10.10
Bishop Dominic Kimengich said Kenya suffers from illiteracy, poor leadership, a large refugee population from Somalia and the Sudan, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and growing gang violence connected to guns available from unstable bordering nations. Kimengich hopes to help his people to be strong in faith and peaceful and resourceful in spirit; he also wants to promote education and self-reliance as ways to ’ plift the living standards of the people.’ This Sunday is a day of prayer for the nation. see How to Pray for Kenya Globally we can join the Kenyan Church and pray they would continue to be strong on the issue of social justice, be the voice of the voiceless, and offer Christian values that bring the people together in unity through Christ as the children of God. Kenya is beginning to see themselves as a nation and starting to say, ‘What can we do for ourselves?’ Pray: that Kenya will continue to take a new direction with God’s help.(Ps.16:11) More: http://www.mlive.com/living/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/10/committed_to_god_and_kenya_new.html
INSIGHT North Korea; Transfer of power
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s son, Kim Jong-un, has been appointed a general and leader of the defence commission amid rumours he is being anointed as successor this weekend at the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Workers Party. The Workers Party has not met for decades and observers believe Kim Jong-il may be cementing the family dynasty. The succession is being closely watched because of the North’s nuclear programme and hostility with the South. This announcement is Kim Jong-un’s first mention in state media and is reminiscent of his father’s rise to prominence in the 1970s. He is being elevated to a four-star general without military experience. His elder brother and half-brother appear to have been ruled out of the running for succession. Things are changing, an anonymous Open Doors traveller reported being allowed to pray publicly and sensing there may be a little more relaxation on the spiritual level. Click 'nfo' for North Korea INSIGHT ARTICLE. Pray: for a sustained spiritual, physical, and political turning from hidden darkness to open freedom. (Is.42:16) Info: http://www.prayer-alert.net/info/NorthKoreaPowerInsight1.pdf
Fiji: Charges dropped against Methodist leaders
The Fijian government has dropped most of the charges against leaders of the Methodist Church in Fiji. Fijian Methodists have made contact with the Methodist Church in Britain to thank people for their prayers and support. All members of the Fiji Methodist Church Standing Committee were charged with attending an unauthorized meeting held in April 2009 and were held for questioning by police in July last year. (See Prayer Alert 3109) Now all but four of them have had their charges dropped due to ‘insufficient evidence’. Mike King, Leader of World Church Relationships, said: ‘The church leadership was keen to give us this heartening news and to thank the many Methodists in Britain who have prayed so faithfully for the Methodist Church in Fiji.’ Methodists in Britain fasted in solidarity with the Methodist Church in Fiji in February after increasing pressure was put on the Church from the country’s government led by Commodore Bainimarama. Praise: God for this move in answer to the believers prayers. (Jn.17:20)
Fiji: Charges dropped against Methodist leaders
The Fijian government has dropped most of the charges against leaders of the Methodist Church in Fiji. Fijian Methodists have made contact with the Methodist Church in Britain to thank people for their prayers and support. All members of the Fiji Methodist Church Standing Committee were charged with attending an unauthorized meeting held in April 2009 and were held for questioning by police in July last year. (See Prayer Alert 3109) Now all but four of them have had their charges dropped due to ‘insufficient evidence’. Mike King, Leader of World Church Relationships, said: ‘The church leadership was keen to give us this heartening news and to thank the many Methodists in Britain who have prayed so faithfully for the Methodist Church in Fiji.’ Methodists in Britain fasted in solidarity with the Methodist Church in Fiji in February after increasing pressure was put on the Church from the country’s government led by Commodore Bainimarama. Praise: God for this move in answer to the believers prayers. (Jn.17:20)
Cambodia: Prayer requests
We have received the following prayer request from Cambodia. 1) ‘There is a Festival from October 6 to 8 when the king and the government bow under the Buddhist monks leading the religious rites. 2). Mission Kampuchea 2021 is a church planting movement with a vision to planting one church in every one of the 14,000 villages in Cambodia. Please pray for more churches to catch the church planting vision and release workers for training. 3) More than 60% of the population is under 18 and the youth prayer movement grew from a few people in 2005 to 250,000 now. The challenge of this movement is finding churches big enough for monthly gatherings. 4) 85% of the population live in the provinces where there is a lack of quality teachers. Students in the provinces score are lower in their achievement after high school. Pray: for God’s provision and anointing as the young church and youth movement in Cambodia grow and for Buddhist rituals to become less significant. (Mt.16:18) Source Sensitive
N. Korea: Sex trafficking
Members of the House Human Rights Commission hosted a congressional hearing last week, shining a spotlight on how China is ignoring the plight of North Korean refugees living in the country. Lawmakers heard firsthand that ninety percent of the women who flee North Korea fall victims to traffickers and the Chinese government does nothing about it. In fact it is the Chinese government's ruthless policy of repatriating North Koreans that makes them so vulnerable to the traffickers. It is hoped that when President Obama meets with the leader of China later on this year he will raise this issue. The administration is silent on these issues and although nuclear issues are important, human rights for the North Korean people is important also. China also returns refugees to North Korea where they face imprisonment and death. Pray: for more activists to make a stand for the North Korean refugees in China. (Ps.9:18) More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2010/September/Lawmakers-Spotlight-NKorea-Sex-Trafficking/
India: Christian harassment
On Wednesday, evangelist .V K Williams and seven other Pastor/Evangelists were arrested Wednesday morning and are now in police custody in Bodi Nayakanur because they had started a One Day Gospel Outreach which immediately drew an anti-gospel disruption. The local anti-gospel elements and their leadership are putting pressure on the police to book them under false charges. ‘Our local Brethren have rushed to the police station and assisted the pastors detained for questioning. Urgent Prayers solicited.’ See Also, the Global Council of Indian Christians reported, ‘Pentecostal pastor Shivanda Siddi, was arrested during a service at an Assemblies of God Church in Kanataka on Sunday.’ About five Hindu extremists disrupted the service and began to humiliate the pastor by tearing his clothes and beating him in front of the faithful. After beating the pastor for about half an hour, they called the police at Yellapur station. The pastor and seven women and children were arrested. Pray: that the 25 million Christians in India would know God’s presence in times of persecution; and experience his enabling when ministering the gospel. (Ps.118:8) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/pentecostal.pastor.beaten.and.arrested.in.india/26806.htm
Myanmar: Human rights inquiry
The momentum behind a push to investigate Burma's (Myanmar’s) crimes against humanity is growing. Ten governments are now calling for the UN to set up a commission of inquiry over the junta regime's alleged use of rape as a weapon of war, forced recruitment of child soldiers, forced labour, torture and more. As more on these allegations came to light, Canada, France, the Netherlands and New Zealand added their support since the United States backed the move in August.They join Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and the United Kingdom. Mission agencies in the country report an open campaign targeting the Arakan, Chin and the Karen, many of whom are Christians. (See Prayer Alert 3110) Vision Beyond Borders' Wes Flint said in an earlier interview, ‘The Burmese army is not bashful about ‘their goal ‘ to exterminate the Karen people, to wipe them off the face of the earth. Pray: the world would no longer ignore the suffering in Burma, and for God to release the country into physical and spiritual freedom (2Sa.22:7)