5/11/11 Egypt (ICC) Egypt's Christians Fear Islamic State Following Church Attack- As the excitement of Egypt’s revolution and overthrow of Mubarak waned, a dire reality set in for Egypt’s minority Christian population. Throughout Egypt’s revolution, members of ICC warned that fundamental Muslims would hijack the revolution and use the chaos to promote their own ideologies and fervent desire for an Islamic state. Unfortunately, these warnings have proven to be true. Last week, 12 people were killed and 200 were wounded when radical Islamists attacked two Cairo churches. Unable to push through the barricade, Islamists broke into Virgin Mary Church and lit it on fire. “Islamists killed one guy in the church by slitting his throat. Most of the people killed were inside, and then they torched the church,” an eyewitness told ICC. Full Story Pray for the friends and family members who lost loved ones in last week’s attacks. Pray for the swift healing of the 200 Christians who were injured in last week’s attacks. Pray that Egypt will be able to create a tolerant government that will be able to protect its Christian citizens from any future attacks.

5/11/11 Pakistan (AsiaNews) Pakistani Muslim Businessman Uses Blasphemy Law Against Christian Rival- Have you ever been accused of a crime you didn’t commit? Have you ever lived in a country where slander and libel run rampant? For Christians living in Pakistan, the fear of being accused of slander—slander against Muslims, Islam, and the Qur’an—is commonplace. In fact, more and more Pakistani Muslims are using this country’s blasphemy law to persecute Christians or settle personal scores against these faithful believers. On May 10, 2011, Gulzar and his son had to flee town, fearing reprisals by local Muslims who tried to set fire to his bookstore. According to sources, Gulzar and his son are being accused (although falsely) of burning a Qur’an. Police intervened in time to prevent the fire, but no charges were fired against the would-be arsonists. Full Story Pray that the truth will come out and Pakistani Muslims will realize that Gulzar and his son never set fire to a Qur’an. Pray that Pakistan will do away with its blasphemy law. Pray that the Lord will place a hedge of protection around Pakistani Christians.

5/11/11 Nigeria (CDN) Nigerian Pastor's Wife, Children Among Chrisians Killed in Attack- Pastor Rike said that after killing his two children, Faith James Rike and 1-year-old Fyali James Rike, the assailants cut his wife’s abdomen with a machete. "I was shocked at what I saw,” he said. “I knew my wife would not last long, and the only thing I did was to encourage her to hold onto her faith in Jesus." Islamic extremists attacked Kurum Village in Nigeria, killing a total of 16 brothers and sisters in Christ. According to sources, the attack was a reaction against the April 16 election of a Christian, Jonathan Goodluck, as President. Pastor Rike says that the incident has strengthened his faith in Jesus Christ. Full Story Pray for Pastor Rike and all of the Christians in Kurum Village who lost loved ones in the horrendous attack. Pray that President Jonathan Goodluck will bring peace to his country. Pray that Muslim extremists will stop attacking Christian villages in Nigeria.

5/10/11 Malaysia (ChristianPost) Christians Accused of Trying to Turn Malaysia into Christian State- Tensions in Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country, are being stoked by allegations that church leaders are vying to turn Malaysia into a Christian nation. Yet church leaders are proclaiming that these accusations are false and completely unfounded. According to sources, the accusation was made on two Internet blogs and then quoted in a Malaysian newspaper. Malaysian Christians, which make up only 10% of the population, are worried that these unwarranted claims will create undue strife and turmoil. A police investigation into the claims is ongoing. Full Story Pray that police will come to the conclusion that the accusations were indeed false. Pray for the safety of Malaysian Christians as they continue to defend themselves against these false accusations. Pray that the Christian population in Malaysia will grow by leaps and bounds.

5/9/11 Vietnam (AsiaNews) Vietnam unleashes wave of repression against Hmong Christians, at least 49 dead- On April 30, 2011, a group of Vietnamese Christians gathered in the Dien Bien province to pray and ask for religious reforms and freedom. Unfortunately, their peaceful prayer vigil turned into a horrific murder scene when the People’s Army showed up. These Vietnamese soldiers began to shoot into the worshipping crowd--killing, wounding, and arresting many faithful believers. Fortunately, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi has vowed to investigate. This terrible act of Christian persecution occurred just two days after the report of the Commission of International Religious Freedom had asked the state department to put Vietnam on the list of "countries of particular concern" for the respect of religious freedom. Full Story Pray for the friends and family members of the Vietnamese Christians who lost their lives on April 30, 2011. Pray that the arrested Vietnamese Christians will be immediately released. Pray that the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi will make sure that the culprits of this horrendous act are brought to justice.

5/5/11 North Korea (DailyMail) North Korea's growing gulags where 200,000 are imprisoned and many don't even know what they're accused of- In North Korea, religious and political freedom are foreign concepts. Citizens of this communist nation are not allowed to pray to God, instead they are forced to worship their “great leader,” Kim Jong-il. Voicing discontent with the “great leader” or refusing to bow down to his picture can result in imprisonment, torture, or death. Yet, for some North Korean citizens, death would be better than imprisonment in this country’s growing gulags. According to sources, prisoners are forced to work in inhumane conditions and are frequently subjected to horrendous torture. Food is so scarce in the gulags that many inmates must eat rats or undigested food found in animal waste. Full Report. Pray that Kim Jong-il’s successor, his son, will strip North Korea of its communist ideology. Pray that the Holy Spirit will blanket this spiritually-deprived country. Pray that, somehow, Bibles will make their way into the hands of many North Korean citizens. Pray that North Korean inmates will stop being tortured and starved. Pray that these inmates will be exonerated of their crimes and immediately released.

4/29/11 Egypt (Al Masry Al Youm) Salafis call for Islamic state, prosecution of Coptic Pope- On April 29,2011, an ultraconservative Islamic group in Egypt, the Salafis, surrounded the Noor mosque and stated that they would not leave until their demands were met. Their demands include the prosecution of the Coptic Pope, the release of two priests’ wives who are rumored to have converted to Islam, and the settlement of a dispute between Sheikh Hafez Salama and the Ministry of Religious Endowments. Yet the Salafis’ biggest and most telling demand is their call for Egypt to become an Islamic state. The ultraconservative group’s demands are not being taken lightly. Salafis have initiated brutal attacks against Christians in recent weeks, and are a primary cause of Christian persecution in Egypt. Full Story Pray that the Salafis will disband and stop demanding that Egypt become an Islamic state. Pray that the Salafis will stop persecuting Egyptian Christians. Pray that the changing Egyptian government will take measures to protect its Christian citizens.

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