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Two Indian Christians, members of a thriving Pentecostal house church, in Saudi Arabia, have been moved from pre-trial detention to a prison in the Saudi capital Ryadh where they are ‘forbidden to pray or read the Bible’ and ‘suffer of a lack of food and medical attention,’ an elder of the church has told Worthy News and its news partner BosNewsLife. Vasantha Sekhar Vara, 28, and Nese Yohan, 31, who are members of the ‘Rejoice in the Church of the Lord’ congregation, were initially detained in January and received 45-days of ‘pre-trial detention’ on charges of ‘proselytizing’, said the church elder speaking from Riyadh in a telephone interview. ‘They were later moved from the police station to a notorious central jail in Ryadh without a trial,' he added. He said it was not known when and if the trial will start. Pray: for Yohan and Vara that God would strengthen them in their ordeal and pray for an early release. (2Ch.19:9a) More: http://www.worthynews.com/10176-saudi-arabia-jails-house-church-christians-exclusive
Authorities in Saudi Arabia have charged twelve expatriates from the Philippines and one from France with proselytising, according to an official at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh. Although twelve of the expatriates were temporarily released through petitions filed by their employers and the thirteenth was released on bail, the release does not mean their case has been settled. If they are proven guilty as charged they would go back to jail. Proselytising in Saudi Arabia is punishable by death. According to reports, the thirteen were arrested during a raid of a public mass that was attended last Friday by around 150 expatriates. Public practice of non-Muslim religions is strictly prohibited and Christians are only allowed to gather in homes for private religious services. Saudi’s Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice conduct raids on private non-Muslim religious gatherings. Pray: for God to use the Philippine Embassy and the international outcry to bring protection of religious freedom for non residents in Saudi Arabia. (La.3:24-25)
Approximately 35 Christians in Saudi Arabia face deportation on the charge of ‘illicit mingling’ according to a report by the global rights body Human Rights Watch (HRW). Police arrested the group of 29 women and 6 men after raiding a prayer meeting in the city of Jeddah. The group was arrested in a private home where they had gathered to pray during the run-up to Christmas, which is celebrated by Ethiopian Orthodox Christians on January 7. The men were beaten and called ‘unbelievers’ and the women were strip-searched, apparently on the spot. HRW spoke to a man and two women by telephone from the prisons where they are being held. They say they have been charged with mixing with unmarried persons of the opposite sex – even though HRW says Saudi Arabia has no law defining ‘illicit mingling.’
Pray: for these believers in Saudi Arabia as they meet together that the authorities would be held back and recognise the rights of believers to gather in worship. (Ps.11:7)
More: http://www.worthynews.com/11229-ethiopian-christians-to-be-deported-from-saudi-arabia
Earlier this month news reports surfaced out of Saudi Arabia that raised the red flag for Christians. Todd Nettleton, a spokesman for the Voice of the Martyrs USA, says, ‘The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia has declared that it is ‘necessary to destroy all the churches of the region.’ Saudi Arabia is ranked second on the Open Doors World Watch List of 50 countries where persecution of Christians is the most severe. There is no provision for religious freedom in the constitution of this Islamic kingdom. The Grand Mufti said this in a meeting with Kuwaiti officials wanting to confirm Sharia’s position on churches and he said, ‘If you have churches in Kuwait they should be destroyed.’ The interesting thing about this is that there are no churches in Saudi Arabia. There are no church buildings that are allowed to exist there. So he was trying to export this ideology to the surrounding countries.
Pray: for God’s protection to be over churches in Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. May the UN Human Rights Council take a stand for freedom of religion in the area. (Ps.3:7-8)
More: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/18380
Saudi Arabia, a strict Islamic nation, has a long history of cracking down on Christians. On March 22nd two Indian Christian men working in Saudi Arabia were sentenced to 45 days imprisonment for allegedly trying to convert Muslims to Christianity. Vasantha Sekhar and Nese Yohan were detained ten days earlier in Riyadh on charges of proselytizing. Advocacy group International Christian Concern (ICC) said the workers were arrested to keep them from practicing Christianity privately in their home. ‘These two Christians have faced false charges and with false evidence, the Saudi government continues to engage in an array of severe violations of human rights as part of its repression of freedom of religion.’ ICC director told BosNewsLife in a statement. While in prison awaiting trial, their apartment was ransacked by Saudi security forces, and the men face uncertainty regarding their future. Pray: that in spite of discrimination the truth of the Gospel will spread and be understood; and Saudi negative references to Christians will end. (Is.56:7,8) More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/16173-saudi-arabia-detains-indian-christians-for-proselytizing
Next week millions of Muslims from all over the world will be on pilgrimage to Mecca performing a sacred act called the Hajj. For many the Hajj is the pinnacle event of their lives because they are commanded to make a Hajj at least once if they are able. This year Hajj starts Oct. 24th, lasting 3-4 days. See the Hajj 2012 prayer video on the link below. The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to God. On the second day of Hajj pilgrims pray a prayer at noon called Muna - Arabic meaning ‘to wish or aspire’ - as they seek a closer relationship with God. We can pray that they discover and receive the free gift of communion through the Holy Spirit. On day three pilgrims stand on the ‘mountain of mercy’ and cry from noon to sunset, ’Allah I am here.’ Many then spend the night in prayer. Please pray for those seeking God to be found by the One who paid the price for the remission of sins.
Pray: for seekers to know God’s grace, and for Jesus to reveal himself through dreams and visions. (Eph.2:8,9)
In May this year the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia called for the destruction of all Churches on the Arabian Peninsula. Again this week the Grand Mufti (who is also the head of the Muslim community) repeated this statement after a presentation by a Kuwaiti parliamentarian of a bill banning construction of new non-Muslim religious buildings in Kuwait. Not long ago, owing to the consecration of a Catholic Church in United Arab Emirates, the local Christians expected the opening of negotiations concerning the construction of the first church in Saudi Arabia. At the present time 3 - 4 million immigrant Christians work in Saudi Arabia but there are no church buildings allowed to exist. So was the Grand Mufti trying to export his ideology of destroying all Churches in Saudi Arabia to the surrounding countries while making a stand against church building in United Arab Emirates? He stated that ‘there cannot be two religions on the Arabian peninsula.’
Pray: for God’s protection to be over churches in Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. May the UN Human Rights Council take a stand for freedom of religion in the area. (Ps.3:7-8)
The Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda, Onesphore Rwaje, has reminded religious leaders to treat their churches as holy places of worship and not self-enriching business ventures. While addressing over 50 religious leaders at the Democracy and Peace Week dialogue, Rwaje said some members of the public shun going to church due to disappointment of messages relayed. ‘Religious leadership is a calling from God and it is about teaching the Word of God, and not looking for money from the faithful. There are biblical principles urging churchgoers to give offerings and tithes, but it should not be used as a platform to squeeze money out of believers,’ Rwaje advised. He added: ‘Religious leaders are allowed to have their personal business ventures besides performing their church duties; therefore, they should act faithfully and please God by keeping the two positions independent of each other. They must separate God's work from their personal work’.
Pray: for the leaders of the Church that they will concentrate on building God’s kingdom and not on things of the world. (Eph.5:5)
A week before the Rwandan presidential election the authorities have violated press freedom by jailing journalists and closing news media. Also a newspaper editor was murdered last month. The repressive measures intensified prior to the election with the suspension of 30 news media outlets. By excluding them from an approved government list Rwanda’s leading newspapers and radio stations have been banned. ‘The Media High Council’s measures just before the election are highly suspect,’ Reporters Without Borders said. ‘They aim to prevent journalists from doing their job as independent and impartial observers of the election process.’ Meanwhile, in the first workshop for Rwandan Christian youth, 300 believers were told, ‘You are the future leaders of this country and what you do now determines how and where this country will be in the future. Help your families regarding peace building which will lead to the development of Rwanda.’ See: http://allafrica.com/stories/201008030002.html Pray: that God’s purposes for the country will overcome any adversity. (Ps.37:18-19) More: http://en.rsf.org/rwanda-around-30-news-media-closed-a-few-02-08-2010,38076.html
Vladimir Putin is pursuing Islamist insurgents in the North Caucasus and some fear government crackdowns on Islam may lead to tighter restrictions on Christians. However Slavic Gospel Association are training the next generation of church leaders working specifically in cross religious, cross cultural environments where Christianity meets Islam. This training is equipping churches to reach Russian youth and protecting young people from brainwashing radicalism. They are also sending young people to Summer Camps to become agents of peace and love. Many families, tired of war and terrorism, have come to Christ because of summer camps. They are seeing a true Christian message of love. Also in St.Petersburg Buckner International are linking their orphanages with local churches thus enabling Churches to proactively adopt an orphanage. The city churches are now also organising summer camps. The above reports come from Intercessor Networks. For an encouraging prayer insight from Russia’s Schools Without Walls training click the 'More' button.
Praise: God that Russia’s youth are coming to Christ and pray for more anointing on youth outreach in the Caucasus Mountains. (Ro.15:5)
More: http://www.sga.org.uk/news_headlines/power_through_prayer.html