Voice of the Oppressed (Jesus, ritual, gospel, Kingdom, beliefs)

[Mister Emu]

Dear {reader},

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
(Joshua 1:9)

Prayers for June 6, 2006
From The Voice of the Martyrs

CHINA China Aid Association
Imprisoned religious leader of South China Church, Gong Shengliang, was beaten again in Hong Shan prison, Wuhan, Hubei Province. On April 18, 2006, Pastor Gong's two sisters came to visit him and saw that the right side of Gong's face was swollen. Gong told them that March 21, 2006, another prisoner named Lei, who was assigned by prison officials to watch Gong day and night, beat him without cause. After the beating, Gong could not move his mouth for three days and suffered some hearing loss in his right ear. When Gong reported the beating to prison officials, they punished Pastor Gong by taking away two merit points he had earned during the last year. By contrast, the prison officers praised Lei. When Gong appealed to the leader of the prison to transfer Lei to another group, the prison leader refused and told Lei to apologize to "settle" the matter.

Pray God will protect Pastor Gong from more beatings. Pray the Holy Spirit will move in the hearts of the prison officials and other prisoners and they will come to know God as their loving Savior.


INDIA Assist News
The administration of Rajasthan state's Kota district has leveled fresh charges of "exciting... disaffection towards the government of India" against Emmanuel Mission International (EMI) founder M.A. Thomas and his son, Dr. Samuel Thomas, the EMI president. Their attorney Mohammad Akram said he feared the additional charges could lead to the re-arrest of Samuel Thomas (released on bail under previous charges) and the re-issue of an arrest warrant against M.A. Thomas (granted anticipatory bail on previous charges). The new charge is based on the exclusion of Jammu and Kashmir states on a map of India shown on the website of Georgia-based Hopegivers International (which funds EMI). An offense under this law can lead to imprisonment for life.

Pray God will continue to bring strength, comfort and encouragement to the Thomas family.


INDIA Compass Direct
With the encouragement of a local chief and the apparent backing of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, villagers in the north-central state of Madhya Pradesh gang-raped two Christian women Sunday (May 28) after the husband of one refused to deny Christ. The attack took place at 10 p.m. in Nadia village in Khargone district's Bhagwanpura block. A Christian source requesting anonymity said that villagers beat up Gokharya Barela, the husband of one of the victims, at 3 p.m. on Sunday. He took him forcibly to Sirvil village before the Panchayat (village court) and ordered him to reject Christianity. When he refused, the village leader, Pandya Patel, ordered Barela to drink wine. Villagers forced him to drink about half a bottle and warned him to move out of the village. The village leader Patel told the villagers they could rape Christian women because no one would save them. That night three men went to the house of Gokharya Barela, dragged his wife to nearby bushes and raped her. When Gokharya Barela and his Christian friend Gudia Gyansingh tried to save her, villagers beat them. Two other Hindu villagers went to the house of Christian Garsia Barela and dragged his wife onto the verandah and raped her. Superintendent of Police of Khargone district I.R.S. Borna confirmed that two women were raped by five men. "Our team is investigating," he said, "but no one has been arrested yet." The women were able to name the alleged rapists.

Pray these Christian women and their families will find comfort and strength as they keep their eyes on their Lord and Savior. Pray the other Christian villagers will remain strong in their faith in the face of threats and intimidation. Pray the attackers will be brought to justice.

www.persecution.com

[Mister Emu]

Dear {reader},

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
(Joshua 1:9)

Prayers for June 6, 2006
From The Voice of the Martyrs

CHINA China Aid Association
Imprisoned religious leader of South China Church, Gong Shengliang, was beaten again in Hong Shan prison, Wuhan, Hubei Province. On April 18, 2006, Pastor Gong's two sisters came to visit him and saw that the right side of Gong's face was swollen. Gong told them that March 21, 2006, another prisoner named Lei, who was assigned by prison officials to watch Gong day and night, beat him without cause. After the beating, Gong could not move his mouth for three days and suffered some hearing loss in his right ear. When Gong reported the beating to prison officials, they punished Pastor Gong by taking away two merit points he had earned during the last year. By contrast, the prison officers praised Lei. When Gong appealed to the leader of the prison to transfer Lei to another group, the prison leader refused and told Lei to apologize to "settle" the matter.

Pray God will protect Pastor Gong from more beatings. Pray the Holy Spirit will move in the hearts of the prison officials and other prisoners and they will come to know God as their loving Savior.


INDIA Assist News
The administration of Rajasthan state's Kota district has leveled fresh charges of "exciting... disaffection towards the government of India" against Emmanuel Mission International (EMI) founder M.A. Thomas and his son, Dr. Samuel Thomas, the EMI president. Their attorney Mohammad Akram said he feared the additional charges could lead to the re-arrest of Samuel Thomas (released on bail under previous charges) and the re-issue of an arrest warrant against M.A. Thomas (granted anticipatory bail on previous charges). The new charge is based on the exclusion of Jammu and Kashmir states on a map of India shown on the website of Georgia-based Hopegivers International (which funds EMI). An offense under this law can lead to imprisonment for life.

Pray God will continue to bring strength, comfort and encouragement to the Thomas family.


INDIA Compass Direct
With the encouragement of a local chief and the apparent backing of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, villagers in the north-central state of Madhya Pradesh gang-raped two Christian women Sunday (May 28) after the husband of one refused to deny Christ. The attack took place at 10 p.m. in Nadia village in Khargone district's Bhagwanpura block. A Christian source requesting anonymity said that villagers beat up Gokharya Barela, the husband of one of the victims, at 3 p.m. on Sunday. He took him forcibly to Sirvil village before the Panchayat (village court) and ordered him to reject Christianity. When he refused, the village leader, Pandya Patel, ordered Barela to drink wine. Villagers forced him to drink about half a bottle and warned him to move out of the village. The village leader Patel told the villagers they could rape Christian women because no one would save them. That night three men went to the house of Gokharya Barela, dragged his wife to nearby bushes and raped her. When Gokharya Barela and his Christian friend Gudia Gyansingh tried to save her, villagers beat them. Two other Hindu villagers went to the house of Christian Garsia Barela and dragged his wife onto the verandah and raped her. Superintendent of Police of Khargone district I.R.S. Borna confirmed that two women were raped by five men. "Our team is investigating," he said, "but no one has been arrested yet." The women were able to name the alleged rapists.

Pray these Christian women and their families will find comfort and strength as they keep their eyes on their Lord and Savior. Pray the other Christian villagers will remain strong in their faith in the face of threats and intimidation. Pray the attackers will be brought to justice.

www.persecution.com

[Mister Emu]

Dear {reader},

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
(Joshua 1:9)

Prayers for June 6, 2006
From The Voice of the Martyrs

CHINA China Aid Association
Imprisoned religious leader of South China Church, Gong Shengliang, was beaten again in Hong Shan prison, Wuhan, Hubei Province. On April 18, 2006, Pastor Gong's two sisters came to visit him and saw that the right side of Gong's face was swollen. Gong told them that March 21, 2006, another prisoner named Lei, who was assigned by prison officials to watch Gong day and night, beat him without cause. After the beating, Gong could not move his mouth for three days and suffered some hearing loss in his right ear. When Gong reported the beating to prison officials, they punished Pastor Gong by taking away two merit points he had earned during the last year. By contrast, the prison officers praised Lei. When Gong appealed to the leader of the prison to transfer Lei to another group, the prison leader refused and told Lei to apologize to "settle" the matter.

Pray God will protect Pastor Gong from more beatings. Pray the Holy Spirit will move in the hearts of the prison officials and other prisoners and they will come to know God as their loving Savior.


INDIA Assist News
The administration of Rajasthan state's Kota district has leveled fresh charges of "exciting... disaffection towards the government of India" against Emmanuel Mission International (EMI) founder M.A. Thomas and his son, Dr. Samuel Thomas, the EMI president. Their attorney Mohammad Akram said he feared the additional charges could lead to the re-arrest of Samuel Thomas (released on bail under previous charges) and the re-issue of an arrest warrant against M.A. Thomas (granted anticipatory bail on previous charges). The new charge is based on the exclusion of Jammu and Kashmir states on a map of India shown on the website of Georgia-based Hopegivers International (which funds EMI). An offense under this law can lead to imprisonment for life.

Pray God will continue to bring strength, comfort and encouragement to the Thomas family.


INDIA Compass Direct
With the encouragement of a local chief and the apparent backing of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, villagers in the north-central state of Madhya Pradesh gang-raped two Christian women Sunday (May 28) after the husband of one refused to deny Christ. The attack took place at 10 p.m. in Nadia village in Khargone district's Bhagwanpura block. A Christian source requesting anonymity said that villagers beat up Gokharya Barela, the husband of one of the victims, at 3 p.m. on Sunday. He took him forcibly to Sirvil village before the Panchayat (village court) and ordered him to reject Christianity. When he refused, the village leader, Pandya Patel, ordered Barela to drink wine. Villagers forced him to drink about half a bottle and warned him to move out of the village. The village leader Patel told the villagers they could rape Christian women because no one would save them. That night three men went to the house of Gokharya Barela, dragged his wife to nearby bushes and raped her. When Gokharya Barela and his Christian friend Gudia Gyansingh tried to save her, villagers beat them. Two other Hindu villagers went to the house of Christian Garsia Barela and dragged his wife onto the verandah and raped her. Superintendent of Police of Khargone district I.R.S. Borna confirmed that two women were raped by five men. "Our team is investigating," he said, "but no one has been arrested yet." The women were able to name the alleged rapists.

Pray these Christian women and their families will find comfort and strength as they keep their eyes on their Lord and Savior. Pray the other Christian villagers will remain strong in their faith in the face of threats and intimidation. Pray the attackers will be brought to justice.

www.persecution.com

[michel]

Prayers for June 13, 2006
From The Voice of the Martyrs

BHUTAN Two Christians, Benjamin Dhunigana and John Dai, were arrested on January 8, 2006, in the western part of Bhutan. They have been imprisoned without trial for six months and now a sentence has been announced, though apparently without a trial. Dhunigana was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison and Dai was sentenced to three years. They were given 10 days to appeal to the court for bail and then to fight the case with the help of prominent lawyer. A VOM contact says that Dhunigana has been active in sharing the gospel all across Bhutan, and in particular in reaching Buddhist monks for Christ. On January 7th, he and Dai were traveling together in a van when they stopped and offered a ride to woman walking along the road. Dhunigana and Dai drove the woman to her home, and she insisted that they eat dinner with her family. They stayed to eat, and then told the woman they'd like to show her a movie, the JESUS film. She asked if she could invite her neighbors also, and the house was soon full of people watching the film about the life of Christ. VOM sources say it was the neighbors who reported the two Christian workers; Dhunigana and Dai were arrested the following day. Both men are married and have children; local Christians have promised to provide for the men's families as long as they are incarcerated.

Pray that the men will be a bold witness for Christ, even while they are in prison. Pray for justice for these two Bhutanese Christians. Please send polite e-mails of protest can be sent to the Bhutanese delegation to the United Nations at bhutan@un.int


INDIA (Religion Today / Compass Direct)
In the state of Tamil Nadu, Christian leaders are expressing joy and relief over the recent repeal of an anti-conversion law. The law specifically listed Dalits (who make up approximately one fifth of Tamil Nadu's population) as one group restricted from evangelism efforts. The newly-formed Tamil Nadu legislature introduced a bill on May 29th to repeal the four-year-old "Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion Act." It went unopposed to the floor and was passed May 31st. "Thank God for this welcome change," said Gospel for Asia president K.P. Yohannan. "The law had been a heavy burden on our state and district leaders."

In Mayapuri Pradesh state a mob of Hindu extremists stormed a home prayer meeting in Mayapuri on June 4th and dragged Christians inside to a nearby temple to force them to bow before local gods. Police took 15 Christians into custody. Pastor Jagdish Bharti, 27, of the Bethel Fellowship Church, was charged with insulting religious beliefs "with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging" religious feelings. He was released June 6th on bail of 20,000 rupees (US$435). The other 14 Christians were released June 10th on bail after four hours of interrogation. "Police also created a scene at the police station, colluding with the fundamentalist elements and encouraging them to beat me up the next time I am caught evangelizing," said Pastor Bharti.

Pray God will protect Pastor Bharti and the members of his church from further harassment. Praise God for His favor toward the Dalits in Tamil Nadu. Pray the light of the love of Jesus will penetrate the spiritual darkness in India.


CHINA (China Aid Association)
Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers arrested 28 Christians at 11 a.m., May 28th, during a raid a house church raid in Xiguan Ma Jia Chang, Fugou County, Henan Province. PSB officers stormed the worship service and produced no IDs, summons, or detention papers. Bibles and notebooks belonging to the church members were confiscated by the police and no receipts were issued. After hours in jail, 23 Christians were released. Ms. Liu Yuemei, 59, was held until June 1st, after her family was forced to pay a fine of 1600 Yuan (US $200). Ms. Chang Xinhong, 35, was not released until June 8th, after she promised to pay her fine in cash. Three Christians still remain at Ba-Yi Prison, Fugou County, Henan Province. They are Ms. Chen Xuelan, 58, who hosted the gathering, Ms. Cao Yan, 55, and Pastor Li Shunmin, 52. The Christians decided to make a legal appeal and two members of the Chinese Christian Legal Aid Association, Dr. Li Baiguang and Dr. Fan Yafeng, have agreed to be their legal representatives.

Pray God will comfort the three Christians who remain in prison with His presence and give them strength to endure. Pray they will have opportunities to share the Good News with other prisoners. Ask that the Lord will give favor to the legal representatives and all these prisoners will be released.


LAOS/NORTH KOREA (ASSIST News Service)
Ten North Koreans have been arrested and imprisoned in Laos while attempting to find a safe haven in a Southeast Asian country. Two South Korean Christian aid workers who were aiding the escapees were also arrested. The Washington, D.C.-based International Christian Concern says if Laos chooses to surrender the escapees to the North Korean embassy, they will almost certainly face either a long imprisonment in the Gulag or a death sentence.

Pray God will work a miracle of His grace to help the North Korean Christians find a safe haven. Pray the aid workers will be released and allowed to return to South Korea. Continue in fervent prayer for religious freedom to return to North Korea.

[michel]

Prayers for June 27, 2006
From The Voice of the Martyrs

CHINA (Christian Aid Association)
On June 25, CAA released a report listing the cases of persecution against Chinese house churches in different provinces in China from May 2005-May 2006. According to the report, in the past 12 months, at least 1,958 Chinese house church pastors and Christians in 15 provinces have been arrested. It is reported that police officers and religious affairs cadres conducting the raids have mistreated and tortured Christians. The report shows that Henan has been the worst province in persecution against house churches. In 11 raids between July 2005 and May 2006, 823 pastors and believers were arrested. Five American citizens were arrested as well. Many of those arrested were abused. After a raid on March 13, 2006 in Wen county, two arrested Christian ladies, 72 and 21, were forced to strip off their clothes during the interrogation. A disabled pastor, Li Gongshe, was severely beaten with one of his ribs broken. (Read the whole story at www.ChinaAid.org). "Henan province should be put on notice as having the worst religious persecution record," said Rev. Bob Fu of CAA, "It is morally imperative for any conscientious foreign investors in Henan to address this serious issue."

Communicate your concern to the Henan province authority:
Governor of Henan Governor Li Chengyu
Tel: +86-371-65908675 and 65907565
Fax number: +86-371-65711621
Emails: webadmin@cpmembers.org.cn and gufeng@cpmembers.org.cn


Pray Christians in China's house churches will remain faithful to the One who has called them into His Kingdom. Pray those in prison will point their enemies toward Jesus. Pray for an international outpouring of protest that will cause the authorities to stop attacks on house churches.


COMOROS (VOM Canada)
Four men have been imprisoned in Moroni, Comoros for their "involvement in Christianity" according to a June 14 report from the Dutch office of Open Doors. Police have detained a former Muslim teenager, a married couple, a Muslim home owner and another Muslim who showed interest in Christianity. The arrests took place in May, following a complaint by the brother of a 15-year-old Christian who was angry his brother had abandoned Islam. During his interrogation, the Christian young man told police, "I am a follower of Jesus and study the Bible." Police forced him to reveal the location of the home where the Bible studies were held. They then arrested the Bible study leader and the owner of the home. While searching the residence, police found Bibles and other Christian literature, as well as a list containing the names of other Christians. When the Bible study leader's wife came to visit him in prison, she was also arrested. Two days later, she was sent to a women's prison where she was mistreated by guards and fellow prisoners. She has since been released but the four men have each been sentenced to three months in prison. It is reported that both the young convert and the Bible study leader have suffered mistreatment while in detention. In Comoros, a small three-island nation off the east coast of Africa, freedom of religion is guaranteed in the constitution, but the three church buildings in the nation are restricted to foreigners only.

Pray that the four men will remain faithful to Christ even as they suffer for His sake. Pray Jesus will give His special peace and comfort to the families of those arrested. Pray the Holy Spirit will overcome the spiritual darkness in Comoros and overwhelm the people with His love.


INDIA (Compass Direct)
On Sunday, June 11, Hindu extremists dragged an independent pastor to a police station in Karnataka state, accusing him of converting Hindus to Christianity. They beat Pastor Sundar Rao severely both inside the police station and after he was released the following day. The pastor has since been hospitalized. The police were mute spectators to the beatings, according to a local Christian who requested anonymity. The extremists forced Rao to sign a piece of blank paper inside the police station. They also told him the land he had bought for a church would instead be used for constructing a (Hindu) temple.

In separate incident in Chattisgarh state on Sunday, June 18, Hindu extremists broke into Hossana church in Kosa Nala, Bhilai district. Extremists attacked Pastor David Raj and other church members, including his wife. The radical Hindus placed a rubber tire around the pastor's neck and attempted to burn him to death. After the mob beat them, Raj and his wife Ratna Jyoti were arrested and charged with attempted forced conversion and promoting enmity between religious groups. Local sources said two women were tricked into signing a statement accusing Raj and his wife of offering them cash and a motorcycle if they converted to Christianity.

Pray the Lord will heal Pastor Rao so quickly and completely that his recovery will be a witness to God's loving care. Pray God will not allow the land dedicated to His glory to be the site of a temple. Pray Pastor Raj and his wife will be released from prison and protected from further attacks. Pray Christians worldwide will pray for the Hindus in India who need to know their Savior.


SAUDI ARABIA (Compass Direct)
Armed with wooden clubs, ten Saudi Arabian police raided a private Christian worship meeting in the coastal city of Jeddah on June 9. Police arrested four East African citizens leading the service. More than 100 Eritreans, Ethiopians and Filipinos were gathered for worship in a home in Jeddah's Al-Rowaise district at 11 a.m. June 9. Startled worshippers brought chairs to seat the policemen, who sat and waited with clubs in hand. At the conclusion of the three-hour worship service, police arrested Ethiopians Mekbeb Telahun and Masai Wendewesen and Eritreans Fekre Gebremedhin and Dawit Uqbay. The two Ethiopian and two Eritrean Christians remain in the city's deportation jail. One Christian who spoke with them by telephone reported they were "doing fine, with okay morale." But he said he did not know how they were being treated.

Pray God will protect the four leaders who were arrested. Pray they will be able to boldly witness for Christ even while in custody. Pray the Holy Spirit will tear down the dark curtain of unbelief in Saudi Arabia and the bright light of Jesus will shine through.

[michel]

Prayers for July 4, 2006
From The Voice of the Martyrs

CHINA (China Aid Association)
May 27th and 28th, 2006, 30 house-church leaders from Langzhong City, Sichuan Province were arrested and forced to pay fines. Eyewitnesses and family members of the victims reported that the arrests happened from 11 a.m. on May 27th until 9 a.m. on the 28th during a fellowship meeting. Fifteen members of the Public Security Bureau in six police vehicles raided the meeting. Eyewitnesses say that during the arrests and interrogations, Christians were abused inhumanely by constant heavy beatings. Though some of those arrested were released on the 28th, on morning of the 29th, 14 house church leaders received criminal detention notices. They are:

• Li Ming
• Wang Yuan
• Li Jinbo
• Li Chengxi
• Shi Zhihe
• Gou Yongcai
• Jin Jiyun
• Wang Shuhua
• Gou Qingju
• Ke Xiufang
• Sun Changfen
• Hu Yongju
• Zhang Shulan
• Liao Zhoulan

Pastors Li Ming, Wang Yuan, Li Jinbo and Jin Jiyun are major leaders of the Chinese House Church Alliance which was established in 2004. It is made up of approximately 300,000 members from various house church movements scattered across 21 provinces. CAA also learned that in recent weeks a number of house churches from Beijing, Shangdong and Guangdong were forced by the local authorities to close. Polite letters of protest and concern may be sent to the Chinese Embassy.

Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong,
Embassy of the People's Republic of China 2300 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20008
TEL: 202-7456743
Fax: 202- 588-0032; 202-7457473

Pray Jesus will draw close to the prisoners with His loving comfort. Pray God will protect them from further beatings. Pray their faithfulness to Jesus will inspire Christians everywhere to seek a closer walk with our Savior and Friend.

(Compass Direct)
Chinese officials have expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with a resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on June 12th condemning rising persecution of religious believers in China. The resolution came after U.S. President George W. Bush invited three members of China's house-church network to the White House on May 11th--author Yu Jie, law professor Wang Yi and legal scholar Li Baiguang. Yu, 33, attends Ark Church, an unregistered Protestant house church that has had to change locations six times to escape harassment. When Yu was asked to visit the White House, secret police in Beijing immediately called his wife, Liu Min, at her office in downtown Beijing. "They bluntly asked me to stop attending Ark Church, assuming that if I stopped going, the others would also scatter," she said. When she replied that she could not obey the order, the police said they would spread rumors to damage her husband's reputation. Police also advised her to divorce Yu.

Give thanks to God that information about the lack of religious freedom in China is being made public. Ask God to protect the house church representatives who were willing to suffer the consequences of reporting to President Bush. Pray all those who are threatened by the Chinese authorities will continue to stand up for Jesus.


ERITREA (VOM Canada)
In the early morning of May 16th, 15 Christians escaped from a military training camp in Asabe, Eritrea and attempted to escape across the desert into neighboring Djibouti. According to a June 23rd report from Open Doors U.K., the men had been detained in metal shipping containers for the past two years because of their faith in Christ. Military police pursued the men when they were discovered missing. After two days, the bodies of five of them were found dead from exposure. At last report the other 10 had not been found and there was no indication if they were successful in crossing the border into Djibouti. If they remain in Eritrea, their lives are in grave danger.

Pray if there are survivors, the Lord will bring them safely to a place where they can recover from their ordeal. Pray the families of the deceased will find comfort in the fact that Christ is victorious over death, and their loved ones will be raised with Him. Continue to pray for the safe release of the many Christian prisoners in Eritrea.


INDIA (VOM sources)
A group of junior doctors of Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh beat up a Dalit Christian laborer for several hours, cut his hair and forced him to drink his own urine in Gandhi Medical College hostel on June 21st. The police sources said the junior doctors started beating the Christian at 2:30 p.m. and continued the thrashing until night. The man somehow managed to free himself from the clutches of his tormentors and rushed to the nearest police station. The police are looking for the unknown persons on charges of wrongful confinement and physical abuse. In Bothli village in Durg district Sunday, June 25th, dozens of activists of a Hindu group, Dharam Sena, disrupted a weekly prayer meeting of Christians. As the prayer meeting was going on, more than a dozen Hindu fanatics surrounded the house, shouting slogans against Christians. They then barged into the house and started to attack all those present. Attacks on minorities, particularly on Christians, are increasing alarmingly. They are suffering a series of attacks and assaults by hardliner Hindu groups in many of the North and South Indian States.

Pray God will protect the Dalit Christians who are the poorest of the poor and give them peace and safety. Give thanks to God for the perseverance of the saints who remain faithful to Jesus in spite of severe persecution. Pray the Holy Spirit will come in glory and lo