News and Prayer for the Persecuted

4/25/11 India (CDN) Christians in India Face Widespread Persecution- There have been several accounts of recent persecution of Christians in India. On April 17, Hindu extremists burned down Grace Good News Vision Church. The church’s pastor was reportedly forced by police on March 24 to give a statement that he would no longer hold church services, to which he did not adhere. On April 6, Hindu extremists burned Pastor Prakash Siddi’s farm after he refused to stop leading worship meetings. It is reported that the pastor was told by police not to file a complaint as he would likely risk retaliation by the extremists. On April 22, fifteen extremists stormed a Good Friday service at Calvary Bethel Church in Nandi Tavere village. The attackers tore up the worshipper’s Bibles and chased them from the building. The church’s pastor (Pastor Nayak) was arrested and later signed a statement agreeing to refrain from leading church services. Full Story Pray that Christians receive more protection from Indian police. Pray that consequences would be enforced against those who commit religiously motivated attacks. Pray that Indian Christians would be free to worship without fear.

5/2/11 China (AsiaNews) Fourth Sunday in a Row, Police Arrest Shouwang Christians for Praying- Followers of the Protestant Church of Shouwang, the most influential house church in Beijing, have been arrested four Sundays in a row for worshiping outdoors. The house church, with over 1,000 members, has been sent away from various places of worship over 20 times since its inception in 1993. When not meeting in a building, members meet in the streets to pray; however, over the past month, Chinese police have jailed over 30 members for “politicizing” religion by meeting outdoors. One church pastor has been on house arrest since April 9th, and several other leaders are confined indoors. Full Report. Pray that the church finds indoor accommodations to allow them to worship indoors. Pray that the Chinese police cease arresting and detaining members of the Shouwang church. Pray that the currently detained pastor and church members are released.

5/2/11 Nigeria (ICC) Muslim Mobs Burn Down 288 Churches, Kill Hundreds in Nigeria- Since April 18, hundreds of Christians have been murdered in Northern Nigeria. The attacks on Nigerian Christians are in response to the election of President Jonathan Goodluck, a Christian. Nigerian Muslims have attacked Christians and fellow Muslims who supported President Goodluck. In some cases, Christians have fought back, killing their Muslim attackers. There is little sentiment that these attackers will be prosecuted, as persecutors of similar religiously motivated attacks in the past have not been prosecuted. Full Story Pray that President Goodluck will be empowered to improve conditions for Nigerian Christians and other religious minorities. Pray that international organizations are motivated to aid Nigerian Christians and advocate for a change in religious intolerance.

5/2/11 Indonesia (SperoNews) Extremist Group Recruits Students to Target Christians and Introduce Shariah- The Islamic extremist group Negara Islam Indonesia (“NII”) continues to grow and incite terror among Indonesian residents in its quest to forcefully enforce Shariah Islamic law throughout the country. The group recruits from among university students, brainwashing them to perform suicide bombings and planned attacks against sensitive targets. A recent attack was attempted during Easter celebrations at Christ Church Cathedral, 20 miles outside of Jakarta. The attackers were only able to lay small explosive charges on the property but were found with 120km of explosive line, indicating a much larger planned attack. Full Story Pray that NII would stop using violence to demonstrate their allegiance to Islam. Pray that Indonesian Christians and other targets of NII would be protected. Pray that Indonesian youth would choose not to participate in NII.

5/2/11 Pakistan (ICC) Muslim Mob in Pakistan Attacks Seminary, Forces Thousands of Christians to Flee Their Homes- On April 30th a Muslim mob attacked a Presbyterian Seminary in Gujranwala, Pakistan, forcing 3,000 Christians to flee. The mob, estimated at around 4,000 individuals, accused Presbyterian Pastor Eric Isaac of burning the Qur’an. Pastor Isaac has since been arrested, which follows the arrest of two Christians (Farrukh and Mushtaq Gill) on April 15 of the same accusations. Desecration of the Qur’an remains a crime punishable by life imprisonment. Full Story Pray that Pastor Isaac is released from prison. Pray that the Christians residing/attending the Seminary can safely return without living in fear. Pray that Muslims stop making false allegations of blasphemy against Pakistani Christians.

5/3/11 Nigeria, Pakistan (ICC) Christians in Pakistan and Nigeria Fear Backlash Following bin Laden's Killing- Christians in Pakistan and Nigeria are expressing fear that religious minorities, who have been targets for Muslim attacks in the past, are at increased risk after the murder of Osama Bin Laden. In Pakistan, an Islamic radical group has issued a statement threatening attacks in retaliation. In Nigeria, groups of Christians fled to military barracks seeking police protection after word was released of Bin Laden’s murder. Although most returned home when the military was deployed to ensure protection, many remain at the barracks, disbelieving the military’s ability to provide protection. Full Story Pray that Nigerian and Pakistani Christians feel safe in their homes and are not exposed to retaliatory attacks. Pray that, globally, retaliatory attacks and violent backlash following Bin Laden’s killing is minimized.

5/4/11 Syria (ICC) Syrian Christians Attacked, Threatened by Anti-Government Protestors- Syrian Christians, among others, are being forced by Muslim Salafists to join anti-government protest groups demanding the resignation of President Assad. If they refuse, individuals are pressured to leave the country. Christians fear Syrian takeover by radical groups, anticipating bloodshed and religious intolerance as a result. Reported chants of “Christians to Beirut!” incite fear in Syrian Christians, who believe that Muslim Salafists desire to wholly remove Christianity from Syria. Full Story Pray that the U.S. and other governments would use caution when intervening, considering the persecutions taking place. Pray that the political unrest in Syria would soon come to an end.

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