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

[michel]

Prayers for November 21, 2006

From The Voice of the Martyrs

CHINA Final Trial of Religious Leaders May Impose Death Penalty - China Aid Association

Xu Shengguang, along with two other church leaders, may face a death sentence in December from the Shuang Yashan Intermediate People's Court will be upheld. Meanwhile, China Aid Association (CAA) learned Christians Tian Yinghua, Wang Qiu and Jiang Rong in Wendeng City, Shandong Province, who filed lawsuits against the local Public Security Bureau (PSB), have reached an out of court agreement. As a result of the agreement, the Wendeng PSB revoked the administrative penalty decision and the three Christians withdrew their lawsuit. Pray the Holy Spirit who moved the hearts of the PSB authorities in Wendeng will also move in power to save the lives of Xu Shengguang and the other two church leaders. Isaiah 64:4

INDIA Director of Christian Orphanage Threatened - VOM sources

Pastor C. S. John directs an orphanage with about 50 children in Lakkavalli in Karnataka state. Recently, two men knocked on the gate of his house, and when a friend who was recovering from cancer, came out to explain that Pastor John was away, the sick man was assaulted. Later, Pastor John's mother was told they were planning to beat up her eldest son and keep Christians from entering the church. Pray God will bring peace to this village as he makes His love known to everyone. Even as this story is being released, VOM has received reports of a pastor shot and killed in Kashmir. Everyday VOM is receiving reports of new persecution cases. Since January 1, 2006, more than 175 persecution cases have been reported. Pray the Lord gives grace and peace to His suffering children in India and they will know they are not forgotten. 1 Corinthians 1:3, 4

INDIA of Driver Sentenced to Life in Prison - Compass Direct

A court in Gujarat state has handed Pravinbhai Madhavlal Patel a sentence of life imprisonment--a maximum of 14 years, under Indian law--for killing his Catholic driver for asking for an advance in pay. On Christmas Eve of 2004, the Catholic driver, Robinson Joseph Swami, asked Patel for 500 rupees (US $11), the amount due him, plus an advance of 700 rupees (US $16) to celebrate Christmas. Patel got so furious that he brought some petrol in a container, poured it on Swami and lit a matchstick. Give thanks to God that justice has been done in this case. Pray God will give Patel a desire for repentance and a need for to be forgiven by Jesus. Isaiah 5:16

MALAYSIA Rumored Baptisms Spark Protest by Muslims - Compass Direct

Tensions are high against Christians in Malaysia. A protest by Muslims began because of a text message which claimed a Catholic church would baptize a group of Malay Muslims. Muslims gathered in front of a Catholic church in Ipoh, Perak state, on November 5 to protest the rumored baptisms. As it turned out, the rumor of the baptisms was false. The church members stayed inside the church until the protestors left. Pray God will bring His peace to Malaysia. Psalm 46:10

PAKISTAN Christian Acquitted on 'Blasphemy' Charges - Compass Direct

On November 10, after eight and a half years in jail on unsubstantiated blasphemy charges, Pakistani Christian Ranjha Masih was acquitted today by the Lahore High Court. He was arrested in May 1998, during a funeral procession for former Catholic Bishop of Faisalabad, John Joseph. Masih was convicted and sentenced to life in prison by a district court in April 2003. At the end of a two-hour appeal hearing on the case, the Presiding Justice ruled that the lack of any solid evidence against Masih required him to issue a release. According to the Lahore-based Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement, the former hospital worker will be transferred to a secure, undisclosed location after his release. Give thanks to God for answered prayer and pray His continued protection for Ranjha Masih. 2 Timothy 4:18

Note:
Since last week's prayer update, additional details have been reported in the case of Australian teen Kaihana Hussain. While she continues to need prayer that she will know and live for Christ, it now appears that her case does not involve Christian persecution.

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www.persecution.com

[porkchop]

I just wanted to say that i really rate the Voice of the Martyrs online newspaper, it really helps to keep you updated with th terrible persecution that goes on to my brothers and sisters in Christ that seems to skip the news stations.

[Djamila]

I'm the opposite. I hope they all fail miserably at what they're trying to do, and painfully enough that it makes others think twice.

I would support their immediate arrest and deportation.

[michel]

Originally Posted by Djamila

I'm the opposite. I hope they all fail miserably at what they're trying to do, and painfully enough that it makes others think twice.

I would support their immediate arrest and deportation.

Wow!...................At least they are brave enough to try.............

[Djamila]

Originally Posted by michel

Wow!...................At least they are brave enough to try.............

Sorry , but it's how I feel about these missionaries. No one invited them, they're generally not welcome, so make the whole thing illegal and send them home. There they can target each other's followers in America to their heart's delight.

If not, to come into our house and spit on our floor - they'd better be prepared to face the consequences. I just hope more governments make such missionary work illegal before it breeds even more resentment towards Christians in general.

How do they not see, for example, that Christian life in Baghdad is worse since they came? Do they even care? Go home, go home, go home, go home, go home.

[michel]

Originally Posted by Djamila

Sorry , but it's how I feel about these missionaries. No one invited them, they're generally not welcome, so make the whole thing illegal and send them home. There they can target each other's followers in America to their heart's delight.

If not, to come into our house and spit on our floor - they'd better be prepared to face the consequences. I just hope more governments make such missionary work illegal before it breeds even more resentment towards Christians in general.

How do they not see, for example, that Christian life in Baghdad is worse since they came? Do they even care? Go home, go home, go home, go home, go home.

I am sorry Djamila, you may have got the wrong impression; these aren't missionaries (though a few maybe so); these are people who want the ability to worship in Chritian fellowship. They are not trying to 'recruit' they are mainly just asking to be able to pray to the Christaian God, in the company of others who feel the same.

A protest by Muslims began because of a text message which claimed a Catholic church would baptize a group of Malay Muslims. Muslims gathered in front of a Catholic church in Ipoh, Perak state, on November 5 to protest the rumored baptisms. As it turned out, the rumor of the baptisms was false

Pastor C. S. John directs an orphanage with about 50 children in Lakkavalli in Karnataka state. Recently, two men knocked on the gate of his house, and when a friend who was recovering from cancer, came out to explain that Pastor John was away, the sick man was assaulted.

Had you actually read the article ?

[Djamila]

I'm sorry, Michel. I don't agree, but I don't want to hijack your thread. I tried so hard to resist saying anything but I couldn't. But I've said what I think, and that's all - I promise.

[!Fluffy!]

About Voice of the Martyrs, Servants of the Persecuted Church:

VOM missions raise awareness of the fact that hundreds of thousands of Christian martyrs - those being killed because of their Christian faith - each year, and many more who are tortured, imprisoned and harassed for being Christians. These organisations also provide practical assistance to persecuted Christians throughout the world. They are funded through donations and are not subsidised by government support. There is no world headquarters for The Voice of the Martyrs, as each organization is an independent, self-supporting entity. - Wikipedia

VOM's history is available at Persecution.org in an interesting timeline format which follows the persecution of its Romanian founders, Richard and Sabrina Wurmbrand and their subsequent efforts on behalf of the persecuted.

I first became aware of Voice of the Martyrs after reading some books by Toby Mac and DC Talk (Jesus Freaks and Extreme Devotion). The stories are .... overwhelming and inspiring. I love and support VOM and all the good work they are doing, thanks for the thread Michel.