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Following a raid on a Baptist worship meeting in Neftechala, Pastor Telman Aliev, his wife and all Church members were summoned for police questioning on 23 December and threatened with criminal prosecution. The authorities declared the Church ‘closed’ and confiscated all the books they could find. Officials also asked for the full addresses of all Church members and their ethnicity. The State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations said, ‘Without registration you can't pray. We close any place of worship that isn't registered, including mosques. We don't ban, we just demand documents.’ The Church has applied for re-registration, but its application has not been answered. Exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief without state permission is illegal in Azerbaijan, in defiance of international human rights standards.
Pray: that these restrictions would not hinder the spread of the Gospel in Azerbaijan. (2Th.3:1)
More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue14955.html
Three Christian communities in Azerbaijan's second city Gyanja have been banned from meeting for worship.. Babek Sadykov of Gyanja Police completely denied this, claiming to Forum 18 news that ‘no one is being prevented from worshipping’. Local people, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of state reprisals, told Forum 18 that one of the communities was warned that ‘if they met for worship on the following Sunday or at any future date they will all be arrested’. Two buses full of ordinary police and riot police later arrived to prevent any religious worship. Protestants said the church had already reluctantly decided not to hold one big Sunday service that day. ‘People are now very afraid.’ Meanwhile, a government-initiated World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue was told by President Ilham Aliev that freedom of religion, freedom of conscience have been fully established in Azerbaijan. Pray: for Star of the East Pentecostal Church, the New Apostolic Church and a Baptist congregation to be able to worship legally and freely in Gyanja. (Ps.91:4,5) More: http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1560
Four Baptists in Azerbaijan were each given a five day jail term after a police raid on a Harvest Festival celebration in a private home, Forum 18 News Service has learned. Around 80 Baptists were present when police raided the home after turning off the gas and electricity to prevent church members from preparing a festive meal. They recorded the names of all those present also photographing and filming them. After a late night closed court hearing the home owner and three others were given five-day prison terms. Police insisted there was nothing unusual about a late Sunday evening court hearing, claiming that ‘it happens’. In a separate case a court in Baku has handed down a large fine on a Jehovah's Witness for offering religious literature on the streets. More stories of religious intolerance can be found by clicking the more button. Pray: for all that is ungodly in Azerbaijan to be revealed and removed from the legal system. (Job.8:20) More: http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1505
Tough regulations have made it difficult for churches to complete necessary registration. The process is ‘mired in bureaucracy’ and applications are often refused. State opposition has become the ‘biggest obstacle’ facing churches in Azerbaijan today. Recently 30 police officers visited a pastor's home and told him it was illegal to spread the teachings of Jesus in Azerbaijan, despite religious freedom being guaranteed in the constitution. He was told he would be spared prison if he ceased working as an evangelist. The pastor refused and was jailed for 18 months - accused of keeping weapons. Another pastor explained, ‘They are afraid that if people become Christians they would prefer the interests of Russia over those of Azerbaijan.’ Head of the Baptist Union of Azerbaijan said, ‘At any moment the pastor of a church can be imprisoned.’ Despite this the church in Azerbaijan is growing with an estimated 10,000 members.
Pray: for God to raise up people to defend the rights of believers, for Christians to come together without fear of government, police, security services or extremists. (Ps.12:5&7)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/azerbaijan.christians.under.increasing.pressure/31593.htm
The leaders of two small Baptist churches in north-west Azerbaijan have been given heavy fines for holding worship services – and threatened with even tougher penalties unless they stop. At a hearing on Good Friday, judges fined pastors Zaur Balayev and Hamid Shabanov 1,500 AZN (£1,270) each. The average wage in Azerbaijan is £200 a month. The two pastors have suffered persecution for more than 15 years, according to Archbishop Malkhaz Songulashvili of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia. They have also been warned that if they do not comply with the decision of the court they will be either fined for a bigger amount or arrested. Archbishop Malkhaz said restrictions on religious liberty could get 'out of control' unless the court decision was challenged by international organisations. Pastor Hamid was briefly detained in November when police raided a church meeting at his house (Prayer Alert, November 9). The two pastors plan to appeal against the court decision.
Pray: that God will strengthen the persecuted church (Ps.23:4) May He unite church leaders and international organisations to bring about religious freedom in Azerbaijan. (Ps.23:3)
A Christian congregation in Azerbaijan is waiting pensively to see if a judge will uphold a court order that banned its right to meet and could ‘liquidate’ the church. ‘They are upset, but at the same time they continue coming out hoping for the best,’ said Mechti Suleymanov, an elder at Greater Grace Church in Baku, Azerbaijan, which has been meeting for roughly 20 years. Judge Tahira Asadova of Baku’s Administrative Economic Court on April 25 ordered the Greater Grace Church to be ‘liquidated’ after the State Committee on Work with Religious Organizations (SCWRO) filed suit against it for failing to register with the committee. The liquidation rendered all activities of the church illegal. The church appealed against the decision on May 24 and is waiting for another ruling, scheduled for July 17, from a judge at the Baku Court of Appeals.
Pray: for the church in Baku that the Court of Appeal will reverse its thoughts on liquidation. (Pr.29:26)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/easterneuropeandeurasia/article_1610756.html
As Baku basks in the excitement of hosting the Eurovision Song Contest on May 26, members of at least one church in the Azerbaijan capital will find it hard to join in the celebrations. On April 25, a court in Baku ordered Greater Grace Church to be liquidated – the first known closure of a religious community under the controversial Law on Freedom of Religion passed in 2009. This law requires the compulsory re-registration of all religious communities in Azerbaijan. Greater Grace contends that it had no formal notice of the need to re-register – and no warning of impending legal action against it. Christians in this mainly Muslim, South Caucasian nation fear that the judge’s decision could set a worrying precedent for other churches. To date, officials have acted in secret to close down churches, raiding premises, banning worship, confiscating literature and imposing fines. Now, it’s feared they could act openly, with the backing of the law.
Pray: for the Church within Azerbaijan that this so called new Law of Freedom would be reversed. (Jas.2:12)
More: http://www.releaseinternational.org/pages/take-action/saving-grace.php
Next week Australian schools, parishes and youth groups will engage young people in the contentious debate currently taking place in Australia around refugee and asylum seekers. A coalition of Australian Christian development agencies is inviting schools to tackle the issue as part of Simply Sharing Week 2010 which encourages Australians to learn about and become involved in issues of social justice. The educational resource, 'See the Real Me, not Just the Refugee', includes real-life stories of refugees and provides age-relevant classroom activities and Bible studies.
Pray: that the youth of Australia will pass on perceptive Christian values to the wider community on the refugee issues that Australia faces. (Ex.22:21)
More: http://au.christiantoday.com/article/australian-students-challenge-refugee-stereotypes/8345.htm
Due to record-breaking temperatures, high winds and drought, the Australian island state of Tasmania is battling sweeping bushfires that have left thousands stranded and hundreds of others homeless. Now the record-breaking heat wave is moving through other parts of Australia and officials are fearing the worst. Four hundred and thirty seven fire trucks and over 1000 fire-fighters are battling over 137 separate fires in New South Wales. These are some of the worst fire conditions in the states history with blazes un-contained. Fires are also near the South Australian border and a blaze near south-west Victoria could double in size due to strong winds. If so, the fire would be uncontrollable. As locals brace for what is yet to come, humanitarian organisations are working round the clock to relieve those affected by the catastrophe.
Pray: for the hundreds who have lost their homes and fled the fires, for those who are so far unable to contact 'lost' relatives in the disaster areas. And pray for the hard-pressed fire-fighters.
More: http://presstv.com/detail/2013/01/08/282518/fire-risk-threatens-australian-state/
A report from Anglicare Victoria shows 25% of emergency relief clients cannot afford prescription medication, ½ cannot afford dental treatment and one in five are too poor to eat a good meal once a day. The 2011 Hardship Survey gives a graphic insight into the daily challenges facing low income families. 55% had an ongoing disability or medical condition but ¼ could not afford to buy medicine prescribed by physicians. Other unaffordable items included no home contents insurance or comprehensive car insurance leaving them vulnerable in cases of robberies or accidents. Families and individuals are pushed to the edge week in and week out and are just a sickness or car accident away from crippling financial debt they may never recover from. In the wake of recent fires and floods in Australia many emergency relief clients are in a debt spiral and unable to make ends meet.
Pray: for all receiving emergency relief to be able to cope and to come to know God and His provision for their future. (Tit.3:4-5)