News and Prayer for the Persecuted
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Pakistan Continues to be Among Toughest Countries for Religious Minorities
The
success of St. Peter's Catholic Church, which cost $3.8 million to
build -- making it the most expensive building in Pakistan when it
opened two years ago -- has been hailed as a sign of progress for
Christians and religious minorities in Pakistan. Yet beyond its bold
size and growing attendance, guards are outside to protect worshippers
from would-be suicide bombers and attackers. Faced with social
violence, extremists groups, discrimination and blasphemy laws, the
Christian population of Pakistan, which only makes up around 2% of the
country, must struggle to survive.
- Pray for the safety and protection of Christians wrongfully accused of blasphemy
- Pray for the safety and divine protection for the guards who protect St. Peter's Church
- Pray for courage and boldness for the members of St Peter's Church
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Brother of Assassinated Christian Leader Flees Pakistan
Dr.
Paul Bhatti, the elder brother of assassinated Christian government
minister Shahbaz Bhatti has fled Pakistan following death treats issued
by Islamic militants. In 2011, Shahbaz Bhatti, the then Minister of
National Harmony and Minority Affairs, was assassinated after he openly
criticized Pakistan's controversial blasphemy laws. When he began
calling for reform to the country's stance on the issue of blasphemy,
Shahbaz Bhatti was assassinated by Islamic extremists. Following his
murder, many have feared speaking out against Pakistan's blasphemy laws.
- Pray that Paul Bhatti will be able to find a safe place of refuge from his attackers
- Pray for the courage of believers to continue in speaking out against Pakistan's blasphemy laws
- Pray the brutality against religious minorities in Pakistan will come to an end
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Bail Revoked for 36 Men Accused of Destroying Christian Neighborhood in Pakistan
A Pakistani court has
canceled the bails of 36 men accused of participating in an attack on a
Christian neighborhood last March. The attack followed a blasphemy
accusation being leveled against a Christian man from that neighborhood.
Blasphemy accusations continue to be among the major causes of
Christian persecution in Pakistan.
- Pray for the healing and restoration of the Christian neighborhood that was attacked
- Pray that justice is done in this case
- Pray for an end to the unjust use of the blasphemy law used as a weapon against Christians in Pakistan
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Anti-Christian Violence Continues Unchecked In India
The worst
anti-Christian pogrom of the 21st Century has come from Hindu
nationalists in India not Islamic extremists, an expert said. Tehmina
Arora, an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom-India said, "The
hostility of the state machinery towards the victims of communal and
targeted violence was most evident in the aftermath of the violence in
Orissa [state where 500 Christians were killed during 2008 riot]."
- Pray the Indian government will rise above intolerance and bring peace to Christians and the Indian people
- Pray these persecutors will be brought to justice and cease their attacks
- Pray for all Christians in India
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Syria: Christian City Attacked By 'Freedom Fighters'
Levant
Report's sources inside Saidnaya, Syria are reporting that the
townspeople are warning that Islamist rebels may be preparing a major
invasion of their Christian city as mortar attacks have become constant.
The inhabitants fear they will have a similar fate of
'religious-cleansing' as near-by Maaloula. The reluctant international
press is now acknowledging the potential for a genocidal event against
Saidnayans.
- Pray for the strength, protection and deliverance of those residing in Saidnaya
- Pray the attacks by these extremists will cease and be without success
- Pray for all Christians and minorities in Syria
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Hundreds Of Eritrean Christians Tortured And Trafficked In East Africa
2/11/2014 Eritrea (TheGuardian)
Hundreds of Eritrean
refugees have been enslaved in Sudan and Egypt in the past 10 years.
According to testimonies collected by Human Rights Watch (HRW), many
endure weeks or months of torture- mutilation, beatings, burnings and
rape and extorted by traffickers often in collusion with state security
forces. One trafficker told HRW, "I know this money is haram [shameful],
but I do it anyway."
- Pray for the physical and spiritual healing of those trafficked and their families
- Pray all persecutors will be brought to justice
- Pray for all Christians in East Africa
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Thank you for caring for the persecuted. |
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"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of the destitute."
- Proverbs 31:8
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