Super User
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur
Children of Bengali believers from Muslim background are vulnerable. They are a minority in their communities and being identified as Christians poses danger to their lives and their future. When they go to schools, they are taunted, bullied, and pressured by classmates and teachers alike. Twelve-year-old Urmi lived in a predominantly Muslim village. She kept her faith hidden for as long as she could remember. ‘I have many friends in school,’ said Urmi, who belonged to a family of six. ‘The teachers are good and kind to me. But they don't know that my family and I are Christians. My teacher lives in our village and she knows that we are Christians, but I don't think she'll tell it to others. Pray for us - If people (in our village) find out, they might kill us,’ Urmi added.
Pray: for Muslim Background Believers in Bangladesh that God will give them boldness and protection as they practice and share their faith. (Ac.4:29)
More: http://www.opendoorsuk.org/resources/persecution.php?country=bangladesh
He was tortured for his Christian faith, but still wanted to ‘sing the songs of David.’ He was naked, but ‘Jesus Christ’ clothed him ‘with His Love.’ Words of Christian rights activist William Nicholas Gomes, a former Muslim who fled rough police and Islamic extremists in his native Bangladesh. Gomes confirmed Thursday, August 25, that he now lives in Hong Kong. ‘I have received a visa for six months.’ But the young man misses his young wife and two small sons. ‘I am afraid that Muslim fundamentalists will do something bad to her and kill my young sons. They already attacked our house,’ he added in an extensive interview with BosNewsLife. Gomes spoke after a High Court in Bangladesh reportedly ordered police and angry Muslims on Wednesday, August 24, to stop harassing his family in the capital Dhaka. ‘But I don't think it will help as there is no rule of law in Bangladesh,’ he cautioned.
Pray: for the protection of the Gomes family and that the authorities would stand by their word. (Ps.5:11)
More: http://www.worthynews.com/10918-tortured-bangladesh-christian-activist-hiding-in-hong-kong
Buddhist members of an armed rebel group and their sympathizers have been holding three tribal Christians captive in a pagoda since April 16th. They were severely beaten to try to force them to return to Buddhism. Pastor Shushil Jibon Talukder aged 55 was bludgeoned nearly to death; Bimol Kanti Chakma aged 50; and Laksmi Bilas Chakma aged 40 were also severely beaten and all three are to be kept in a pagoda for 15 to 20 days as punishment for having left the Buddhist religion a Christian source said. Local Buddhists are considered powerful as they have ties with the United Peoples Democratic Front, an armed group in the hill districts. After taking the men captive the following day the armed extremists seized all blankets, Bibles and song books from the Maddha Lemuchari Baptist Church and then forced the congregation to demolish the Church building with their own hands.
Pray: for the captives to receive a powerful touch of the Holy Spirit with comfort and inner strength and for the congregation to also experience God’s embrace at this time. (Is.66:24)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/bangladesh/17879/
Two recent incidents have left priests and seminary students severely beaten. On June 5th Muslim extremists went to Tumilia mission and attacked Fr. Abel when he came out of his room. Some say they went with the intention of robbing the property, however International Christian Concern confirm it was ‘targeted persecution by Muslims on Christians.’ On June 6th a Muslim man died from a heart attack during a conflict regarding trespassing by Muslims on Christian land to steal mangos. Blaming the Christians for the man's death, the Muslims attacked the entire village. Two villagers fled to the Catholic Church's mission compound. A Muslim mob of 100+ armed with weapons stormed the compound. The police arrested some Christians but did not take any action against the Muslims who were trespassing on Catholic land. The priests are afraid to do anything against the perpetrators. Muslim extremists are protected by the Muslim ruling party.
Pray: for the Bangladesh Christians living without security from the government, pray God’s protection over them. Pray for an end to attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh. (Ps.102:28)
More: http://www.charismanews.com/world/39906-hundreds-of-muslims-attack-christians-in-bangladesh
Cyclone Mahasen’s main victims are likely to be people who’ ve already been forced out of their homes. For 70,000 displaced refugees in western Burma the choice was wait until Cyclone Mahasen swallows their low-lying camps on Wednesday or run back to higher ground were they were violently forced from. Human Rights Watch has been issuing warnings for months about dangers posed by the oncoming rainy season. Their Asia director said, ‘If the government fails to evacuate those at risk, any disaster that results will not be natural, but man-made.’ Cyclone Mahasen travelled towards Burma and Bangladesh over the Bay of Bengal with wind speeds of at least 45 knots (85 kilometers per hour) Speeds are expected to reach 70 knots as it strikes land. In Bangladesh hundreds of thousands of people were being evacuated from coastal areas. On Wednesday authorities raised the danger level to seven out of 10 for low-lying land where the cyclone is estimated to reach by Thursday. See: http://qz.com/84870/cyclone-mahasens-main-victims-are-likely-to-be-people-whove-already-been-forced-out-of-their-homes/
Pray: for the tens of thousands of refugees living in Burmese camps who are at risk and for the thousands being evacuated in from Bangladesh coastal villages. For the agencies who will minister to the survivors (Ps.123)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22537615
Military troops from Saudi Arabia, police from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain security forces used tear gas, armoured vehicles and helicopters to drive out anti-government protesters from a square in Bahrain's capital. Protesters fled to side streets and four people were reported killed. Bahrain declared a three-month state of emergency handing wide powers to the armed forces to quell demonstrations by Shiite protesters. Bahrain's stock exchange closed and there is no indication when it will reopen for trading. The presence of troops heightened fears of a sectarian conflict. Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran have made veiled accusations that the other was stirring violence in Bahrain. Bahrain’s ambassador temporarily withdrew from Tehran after Iran described foreign troops as an ‘occupation.’ The heightened violence weakens hopes for a ‘national dialogue’ to resolve the situation that was announced by the government weeks ago. Pray: there will be no brutal attacks on unarmed civilians but rather the international community would protect Bahraini people. (Ps.9:16) More: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703899704576203901460405400.html
Plans in the kingdom of Bahrain to build the nation's largest Roman Catholic Church have been challenged by complaints from Sunni Muslim clerics who have signed a petition against any motions to build churches in the Arabian Peninsula, regarded as the birthplace of Islam. Bahrain, which is a constitutional monarchy ruled by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, is heavily Muslim, with 99 percent of Bahranian people identifying as either Shia or Sunni. Although the nation also has a significant Christian population, among which are Catholics and Protestants, no official figures exist on their precise count. Religious freedom, while protected by the government, has been the subject of much contention. Sunni and Shia communities are engaged in sectarian battles, The Associated Press reported, and more than 70 Sunni clerics have warned against plans to expand the Roman Catholic Church in the Asian nation.
Pray: that these plans to build would succeed and a Church will bring glory to God. (Ps.24:9-10)
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa released 25 political ‘prisoners of conscience’ then left the country for Saudi Arabia for consultations after a week of anti-regime protests. Those released included a human rights activist who runs bahrainonline.org; a member of the Committee for the Victims of Torture; and a worker with the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. Several prominent Shia clerics, including a spokesman of the Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy, were also released. Bahrain is a predominantly Shia nation run by a Sunni elite. There have been roughly 100 political detainees released but approximately 400 people are still detained on politically-inspired charges. Bahrain is experiencing deaths and increased tension. Anti-government protesters are pressing for a host of demands including political reforms and better human rights in the kingdom. They are refusing to disperse, despite a rare apology from the king. We can increase informed prayers for this land from information found at: Pray: that people will work through differences in a peaceful manner and as they search in their hearts for peace they will hear the God of Peace speak. (Ps.72:9)
A lawyer from Alexandria has submitted a report to the public prosecutor requesting that Egypt's Coptic Christians be excluded from the committee forming the nation's new constitution. Sherif Gadallah claimed that Orthodox Coptics are not representative of Egypt's Christian population because they're not Nasara, the so-called ‘true’ Christians of Islam's Qur'an, a book in which the word ‘Christian’ never appears. Since Orthodox Copts are not Nasara, or even Christians, Gadallah said they can be counted as polytheists, which will make Coptics non-representative of Egypt's Christian population. Gadallah justified his report by the Qur'an, which claims the prophets of Allah - Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad - are all mere humans sent by God to pass his message on to creation. Since Christians believe Jesus to be the divine Son of God, they are polytheistic infidels and not the Nasara of the Qur'an; therefore, Copts who also profess the divinity of Christ as expressed in the Trinity must be barred from having any say in Egypt's new constitution
Pray: against any move to marginalise Coptic Christians which would restrict full representation of all people on the constitutional committee. (Pr.29:14)
More: http://www.worthynews.com/11682-lawyer-wants-copts-removed-from-egyptian-constitutional-committee
Exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief without state permission is illegal in Azerbaijan, in defiance of international human rights standards. However nearly 19 years after gaining state registration with Azerbaijan's Justice Ministry and despite no complaints about its conduct, the Protestant Greater Grace Church in the Azerbaijani capital Baku could be liquidated within two weeks. The Judge hearing the liquidation suit lodged by the State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations is to give her decision on the afternoon of 12 April when the case resumes. If the Judge rules to liquidate the church, all its activity will become illegal and its members will be liable to prosecution.
Pray: that restrictions would not hinder the spread of the Gospel in Azerbaijan, but rather opposition would bring about a spiritual revival. (2Th.3:1)
More: http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1686