2/27/12 Nigeria (ICC) Suicide Bomber Kills Three Christians At A Nigerian Church- A member of a radical Islamic group, Boko Haram, killed three Christians in a suicide bomb attack in Jos, Nigeria on Sunday. The Islamist drove a car packed with explosives into the compound of a church, killing two women and a one-year-old child. In response, Christian youth took to the streets, killed two Muslims, and burned down several Muslim-owned shops. ICC's Jonathan Racho said, “The continuous killing of Christians and the lack of effective protection for innocents is driving Nigeria into chaos. We ask the Nigerian government to bring all Christian and Muslim perpetrators of violence to justice.” Please call the Nigerian embassy in your country and ask Nigerian officials to protect Christians from the on-going attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice. Nigerian Embassies: USA: (202) 986-8400 UK: 0207 839-1244 Canada: (613) 236-0521/3 Germany: +49-(030) 21230 Full Story Pray that the violence in Nigeria subsides. Pray that the government starts responding to the violence of extremist groups like Boko Haram. Pray that Nigerian Christians are strengthened in love in the face of this violence.

2/27/12 United States (Charisma News) Court Stops Eviction of Churches Meeting in New York Schools- New York City churches that have been meeting in public schools won a reprieve from eviction. A Friday court order allows churches to continue meeting for worship services while a lawsuit against the city continues. New York City originally passed a law that prohibits churches from meeting in school buildings on the weekends, forcing many churches to relocate. Full Story Pray that this decision from the court isn't challenged. Pray that New York City churches continue to reach out to the city. Pray that God moves in the city.

2/27/2012 China (ChinaAid) More Than Thirty Christians In China Detained and Fined- Local authorities in far western China raided a house church Bible study group earlier this month and detained more than thirty Christians, four of whom remain in custody, and fined each person 5000 yuan (US$795). The Feb. 16 raid occurred at about 2 p.m. in Wusu, near the city of Kuitun, in the far western region of Xinjiang, as more than 30 house church staff were having a Bible study with some Christians visiting from coastal Shandong province. By Feb. 26, approximately 30 Christians had been released in batches, but each was forced to pay a 5000 yuan fine. Four people remain in detention, and the police have refused to produce any documentation that proper legal procedures had been followed. Full Story Pray that the remaining prisoners are released. Pray that the Chinese government stops these illegal raids. Pray that the house church is strengthened through this experience

2/27/2012 Iran (Mohabat News) Iranian Christian Convert Receives Three Year Prison Sentence- Inquiry court for Masoud Delijani, a Christian convert, was held in Revolutionary Court of Kermanshah. He had been arrested by plain clothes security forces in a house church gathering. The court charged him with having faith in Christianity, holding illegal house church gatherings, evangelizing Muslims and action against national security. He was also denied the right to choose his own advocate and was not even given the chance to defend himself against the charges. Full Story Pray that Masoud's conviction is overturned. Pray that Masoud's wife and family are taken care of during his imprisonment. Pray that God comforts Masoud during this ordeal.

2/29/2012 Bangladesh (New York Post) U.S. Missionaries Injured by Muslim Mob in Bangladesh- Three American missionaries were injured in northern Bangladesh on Wednesday after their car was attacked by a mob who suspected they were converting Muslims into Christians, police said. At least 200 angry locals chased the missionaries' car and threw stones at it, leaving three with cuts from broken glass. The US citizens were accompanied by a Bangladesh Christian convert to assess a piece of land for setting up a church, a school and a hospital to conduct missionary activities in the largely Muslim area. Full Story Pray that these missionaries have a quick recovery. Pray for the safety of these missionaries in their future work. Pray that God uses these missionaries to reach the people of Bangladesh.

3/1/2012 Iraq (Seattle Times) Teacher Killed at Christian School in Iraq- A classroom debate at a Christian school in Iraq devolved into gunfire Thursday when a student pulled a gun and fatally shot first his teacher, then himself. Kurdish authorities said 18-year-old Biyar Sardar al Talabani shot his friend and 33-year-old gym teacher, before turning the gun on himself at the private English-speaking school during a morning sports lecture. Talabani died later at a nearby hospital. The teacher, Jeremiah Small from Washington state, had been with the Medes School in the Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah since 2006, his family says. The murder-suicide marked the rare violent death of an American in Iraq's most peaceful region. Full Story Pray that the students at the school are comforted during this tragedy. Pray that Small's family draws closer to God as they grieve. Pray that God uses the Christian school in Iraq to change that area.

3/1/2012 Pakistan (CDN) Christian Woman in Pakistan Freed After 'Blasphemy' Accusation- In a rare triumph of rule of law over mob mentality in Pakistan, police last week resisted intense pressure from violent Muslim protestors and released without charges a Christian woman falsely accused of desecrating the Quran. Muslim teachers at City Foundation School in Roranwala village accused the school principal, Saira Khokhar, of desecrating a Quranic scripture booklet on Feb. 22. Police refused to bow to pressure from Islamists clamoring outside the school for registration of a case against Khokhar under Section 295-B of Pakistan’s widely condemned “blasphemy” laws. In most such accusations against Christians in Pakistan police file charges without proper investigation to quell pressure from accusers. After police rescued the principal from the mob, sustaining injuries from irate Islamists in the effort, Superintendent of Police Imtiaz Sarwar said that after a thorough investigation he had concluded that school staff members had falsely accused her. Full Story Praise God that the police protected the school's principal. Pray that the police continue to stand strong in the face of future mob mentalities. Pray that the school's principal is used to reach out to her coworkers.

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