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.
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.