Prayers for September 6, 2005
From The Voice of the Martyrs
http://www.persecution.com/
CHINA (ASSIST News Service)
Two recent news releases from China Aid Association (CAA) document a shocking escalation of persecution in China. There seems to be a direct correlation between increasing Russian-Chinese-Central Asian solidarity and growing persecution of unsanctioned Protestant Christians in those states. China is systematically strengthening its assault on "cults" (which includes house churches.) On July 7th, Pastor Cai Zhuohua faced court in Beijing charged with "illegal business operations" for printing more than 200,000 Bibles and other Christian books. (As they were given away and not sold, there was no "business.") He is in prison awaiting sentence. Two women, Ms. Gu Junging (38) and Ms. Ren Daoyun (60) are still in prison following the detention and interrogation of two American students and 43 Chinese believers whom Ms. Ren Daoyun had hosted in her home. Mr. Song Jun, Mr. He Jiangwei and Ms. Liang Fanglan are still held incommunicado following a house-church raid in Xinjiang province on August 7th. On August 15th, five American church leaders were arrested in Jiangxi province along with 27 house-church pastors. The group had simply been enjoying Christian fellowship together. Where they are being detained is not known, but God knows, therefore, we will confidently and dependently approach his "throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16).
Give thanks to God for these courageous Christians who know God is in control and will work all to His glory. Pray the Lord will grant them mercy and grace in their time of great need. Pray the supernatural grace of China's persecuted believers will convict their persecutors and the Holy Spirit will bring sweeping revival to all of China
INDONESIA (Compass Direct)
On September 1st, Indonesian judges sentenced three women to three years in prison for allowing Muslim children to attend a Christian Sunday school program. Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun received their sentence after judges found them guilty of attempting to convert children under the Child Protection Act of 2002. The Sunday school teachers had instructed the children to get permission from their parents before attending the program, and those who did not have permission were asked to go home, according to Jeff Hammond of Bless Indonesia Today. The three women were relieved they had not been given the maximum five-year prison sentence but were devastated at the prospect of being separated from their children, who range from 6 to 19 years of age. Before the trial session, Islamic extremists took over the courtroom and made murderous threats.
Give thanks to God the lives of these faithful believers were protected from the violent mob in the courtroom. Pray God will comfort these faithful believers with the assurance He will protect their children, providing Christian friends to care for them with sympathy and tender love. Pray when this case is appealed in the Supreme Court, the fact the Muslim children had their parents' consent to attend the meetings will be emphasized and bring about their release.
IRAN (ASSIST News Service)
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has flooded the Majlis (parliament) with former Revolutionary Guards while Ayatollah Khamenei has made key changes in security structures and strategies to entrench the Revolutionary Guards' hegemony over all law enforcement agencies. Now that Iran has begun to enact a policy of zero-tolerance toward breaches of the ideals of the Islamic revolution, it does not require much imagination to see how much pain and trauma Christians, other non-Muslims and freedom-loving Persians are destined to experience as Ayatollah Khamenei and President Ahmadinejad forcefully advance their Shi'ite vision of a pure Islamic state. Under orders from their new police chief, Iran's police have commenced a crackdown on "models of corruption," or in other words poorly veiled women. (Iran Focus August 27th) Iran's new Minister of Justice vowed on Saturday August 20th, that "being improperly veiled and not wearing a veil are no different. When it is clear from the appearance of a woman that she has violated the law, then the crime is obvious and law enforcement agents can take legal measures against her." He has also made it clear members of the para-military Bassij and the notorious Ansar-e Hizbollah, government organized gangs of hooligans, are regarded as law enforcement agents in clergy-ruled Iran. (Iran Focus August 25th)
Pray God will raise up Christian prayer warriors worldwide to stand in the gap for His witness in Iran. Pray the Lord will empower the few Christians with a holy boldness to continue faithful to Jesus. Pray for the Muslim authorities who need to know the reality of our loving heavenly Father.
MEXICO (Compass Direct)
Huichol native mobs in Jalisco state have driven Christians from their homes and threatened to burn them to death, according to news reports. Beginning August 14th, the first wave of 70 Huichol refugees from the village of Agua Fria, near Mezquitic, fled on foot across the state border into Tepic, Nayarit, beginning August 14th. The total number of refugees was expected to reach more than 300. Most arrived ill from the 20-hour walk. The refugees took only one change of clothing per person. They left behind some 250 acres of land, along with bean and corn crops, cattle, horses, burros, chickens and houses, plus personal possessions. Town leaders insisted that if the Huichol Christians wish to return to Agua Fria, they must renounce their faith and return to native traditions and rites-such as drinking liquor and using hallucinatory peyote-which are practiced alongside Roman Catholic customs.
Pray these believers will remain firm in their faith during this time. Pray they will live out the words of the writer of Hebrews, "But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them" (11:16).
VIETNAM (Compass Direct)
On August 30th, as part of Vietnam's National Day amnesty, Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang, a Mennonite pastor convicted of resisting officers doing their duty, was released from prison. The Vietnamese Mennonite Church leader had faced severe pressure to sign an admission of guilt. Rev. Quang, convicted on November 12, 2004, has been held in five different prisons. According to area Mennonites, at times he was abused by fellow prisoners who were rewarded for doing so by the authorities. His health deteriorated considerably during hard labor at a prison in Dak Lak province, and he suffered frequent fainting spells.
Praise God Rev. Quang was released from prison. Ask God for his complete healing-body, soul and spirit-as well as eternal fruit from his time in prison.
:162:
From The Voice of the Martyrs
http://www.persecution.com/
CHINA (ASSIST News Service)
Two recent news releases from China Aid Association (CAA) document a shocking escalation of persecution in China. There seems to be a direct correlation between increasing Russian-Chinese-Central Asian solidarity and growing persecution of unsanctioned Protestant Christians in those states. China is systematically strengthening its assault on "cults" (which includes house churches.) On July 7th, Pastor Cai Zhuohua faced court in Beijing charged with "illegal business operations" for printing more than 200,000 Bibles and other Christian books. (As they were given away and not sold, there was no "business.") He is in prison awaiting sentence. Two women, Ms. Gu Junging (38) and Ms. Ren Daoyun (60) are still in prison following the detention and interrogation of two American students and 43 Chinese believers whom Ms. Ren Daoyun had hosted in her home. Mr. Song Jun, Mr. He Jiangwei and Ms. Liang Fanglan are still held incommunicado following a house-church raid in Xinjiang province on August 7th. On August 15th, five American church leaders were arrested in Jiangxi province along with 27 house-church pastors. The group had simply been enjoying Christian fellowship together. Where they are being detained is not known, but God knows, therefore, we will confidently and dependently approach his "throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16).
Give thanks to God for these courageous Christians who know God is in control and will work all to His glory. Pray the Lord will grant them mercy and grace in their time of great need. Pray the supernatural grace of China's persecuted believers will convict their persecutors and the Holy Spirit will bring sweeping revival to all of China
INDONESIA (Compass Direct)
On September 1st, Indonesian judges sentenced three women to three years in prison for allowing Muslim children to attend a Christian Sunday school program. Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun received their sentence after judges found them guilty of attempting to convert children under the Child Protection Act of 2002. The Sunday school teachers had instructed the children to get permission from their parents before attending the program, and those who did not have permission were asked to go home, according to Jeff Hammond of Bless Indonesia Today. The three women were relieved they had not been given the maximum five-year prison sentence but were devastated at the prospect of being separated from their children, who range from 6 to 19 years of age. Before the trial session, Islamic extremists took over the courtroom and made murderous threats.
Give thanks to God the lives of these faithful believers were protected from the violent mob in the courtroom. Pray God will comfort these faithful believers with the assurance He will protect their children, providing Christian friends to care for them with sympathy and tender love. Pray when this case is appealed in the Supreme Court, the fact the Muslim children had their parents' consent to attend the meetings will be emphasized and bring about their release.
IRAN (ASSIST News Service)
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has flooded the Majlis (parliament) with former Revolutionary Guards while Ayatollah Khamenei has made key changes in security structures and strategies to entrench the Revolutionary Guards' hegemony over all law enforcement agencies. Now that Iran has begun to enact a policy of zero-tolerance toward breaches of the ideals of the Islamic revolution, it does not require much imagination to see how much pain and trauma Christians, other non-Muslims and freedom-loving Persians are destined to experience as Ayatollah Khamenei and President Ahmadinejad forcefully advance their Shi'ite vision of a pure Islamic state. Under orders from their new police chief, Iran's police have commenced a crackdown on "models of corruption," or in other words poorly veiled women. (Iran Focus August 27th) Iran's new Minister of Justice vowed on Saturday August 20th, that "being improperly veiled and not wearing a veil are no different. When it is clear from the appearance of a woman that she has violated the law, then the crime is obvious and law enforcement agents can take legal measures against her." He has also made it clear members of the para-military Bassij and the notorious Ansar-e Hizbollah, government organized gangs of hooligans, are regarded as law enforcement agents in clergy-ruled Iran. (Iran Focus August 25th)
Pray God will raise up Christian prayer warriors worldwide to stand in the gap for His witness in Iran. Pray the Lord will empower the few Christians with a holy boldness to continue faithful to Jesus. Pray for the Muslim authorities who need to know the reality of our loving heavenly Father.
MEXICO (Compass Direct)
Huichol native mobs in Jalisco state have driven Christians from their homes and threatened to burn them to death, according to news reports. Beginning August 14th, the first wave of 70 Huichol refugees from the village of Agua Fria, near Mezquitic, fled on foot across the state border into Tepic, Nayarit, beginning August 14th. The total number of refugees was expected to reach more than 300. Most arrived ill from the 20-hour walk. The refugees took only one change of clothing per person. They left behind some 250 acres of land, along with bean and corn crops, cattle, horses, burros, chickens and houses, plus personal possessions. Town leaders insisted that if the Huichol Christians wish to return to Agua Fria, they must renounce their faith and return to native traditions and rites-such as drinking liquor and using hallucinatory peyote-which are practiced alongside Roman Catholic customs.
Pray these believers will remain firm in their faith during this time. Pray they will live out the words of the writer of Hebrews, "But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them" (11:16).
VIETNAM (Compass Direct)
On August 30th, as part of Vietnam's National Day amnesty, Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang, a Mennonite pastor convicted of resisting officers doing their duty, was released from prison. The Vietnamese Mennonite Church leader had faced severe pressure to sign an admission of guilt. Rev. Quang, convicted on November 12, 2004, has been held in five different prisons. According to area Mennonites, at times he was abused by fellow prisoners who were rewarded for doing so by the authorities. His health deteriorated considerably during hard labor at a prison in Dak Lak province, and he suffered frequent fainting spells.
Praise God Rev. Quang was released from prison. Ask God for his complete healing-body, soul and spirit-as well as eternal fruit from his time in prison.
:162: