Somalia: Attacks on Christians spreading
18 May 2010Fighters of Somalia's feared Islamic militant group al-Shabab are killing Somali Christians as part of a crackdown on ‘non-Islamic culture.’ US based advocacy group International Christian Concern said three al-Shabab gunmen executed Mu’awiye Hilowle Ali at close range on Monday and he died on the spot in front of his house west of Mogadishu. See On Tuesday they killed Yusuf Ali Nur a leader of the underground church movement in Somalia who was on a list of people the Islamic extremists suspected of being Christian. Al Shabaab has links with al-Qaeda and has vowed to rid Somalia of Christianity. The latest deaths come after several executions of Somalis suspected of membership of a suppressed yet resilient underground faith movement in Somalia. A number of Christians have been beheaded by the radical Islamists out to topple the fledgling Transitional Federal Government and introduce a strict version of sharia law.
Pray: that the Christian Somali faith would be strengthened and grow, as the persecution and fear of death diminishes. (Ps.41:12)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/somalia/18721/
Somalia's minority Christians bravely observed Pentecost amid gunfire on Sunday May 23. Witnesses reported at least 14 people died in clashes between pro-government troops and Muslim militants who have killed Christians and pledged to turn Somalia into a strict Islamic state. Residents said fighters from the insurgent group al-Shabab tried to advance on the presidential palace overnight but were stopped by government troops and African Union peace keepers.
Pray: God will strengthen and protect the body of Christ in Somalia and intervene in every national conflict for His purposes. (Ps.5:8)
More: http://www.worthynews.com/8144-news-alert-somalia-christians-observe-pentecost-amid-gunfire-14-killed
Somali convert from Islam whipped in public
26 Jan 2012Sofia Osman converted to Christianity 4 years ago and joined Somalia’s underground church, was jailed. She was paraded in front of a crowd of hundreds of onlooker and whipped 40 lashes in public for her faith. The Al Shabaab militia arrested Osman in November and released her on December 22nd for her public whipping. ‘Osman didn’t tell what other humiliations she had suffered while in the hands of the militants,’ an eyewitness said, adding that whipping left her bleeding. ‘I saw her faint. I thought she had died, but soon she regained consciousness and her family took her away.’ Nursing her injuries at her family’s home, in the days after the punishment she would not talk to anyone and looked dazed. This is the latest in brutal attacks by Al Shabaab which by their own statements want to eradicate Christianity from the nation.
Pray: for those persecuted and suffering all manner of injustice, torture and death for their belief in Jesus Christ. (Mt.5:10 & Ps.119:161)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/somalia/article_1342445.html
Lay Catholics are held back by commitments within the clerical structures. It is now time to awaken them to their specific mission living in the world like a leaven, transforming it, showing the diversity of their life of faith so as to arouse admiration and questions in those who are non-believers. This is a summary of the contents of discussions and conversations at the Congress of Asian Catholic laity in Seoul which sees the present as a time of transition for the church. A professor at the Seminary from Vietnam emphasized that any commitment of the Church that does not include the mission to non-Christians is not a true ecclesial commitment. An Asian layman member of the Philippine government spoke of how important it is to maintain good relations with the media and fill it with Christian values. Pray: for God to wake up the sleeping Catholic Church in Seoul and globally. (Eph.5:14) More: http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Lay-Catholics-in-Asia:-a-sleeping-giant-that-is-waking-up-19350.html
The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, the highest official of religious law in the Sunni country declared that it is ‘necessary to destroy all the churches’ in the region, implying that no other religion besides Islam will be tolerated on the Arabian Peninsula. He made the statement during a meeting with a delegation from Kuwait-based NGO, ‘Society of the Revival of Islamic Heritage’, in response to a question on what Shariah law says about building churches. The question referred to recent controversial statements by a Kuwaiti Member of Parliament calling for the ‘removal’ of churches, and that no churches should be built in Kuwait. In February, legislation was introduced in the parliament to remove Christian churches from Kuwait and impose Islamic law.Party officials said later the legislation would not remove the churches but prohibit the further construction of Christian churches and non-Muslim places of worship in the country.
Pray: for Saudi Christians and foreign Christian immigrants and workers to know Gods provision to worship and discretely witness to where God has placed them. (Ps.32:7)
Saudi Arabia: Two Christians in prison
06 Apr 2011
Friends and family of Indian Christians Yohan Nese, 31 and Vasantha Sekhar Vara, have tried in vain to secure their release from prison. They are accused of converting Muslims to Christianity, though the government has not produced formal charges. Sources report, ‘Religious police interrogated, cursed and beat them, tore up and trampled on Bibles and Christian material they had confiscated, asking them how many Christian groups and pastors there are in Saudi Arabia and Riyadh. The religious police also put pressure on the two to convert to Islam. They have been in prison since 21st January with no official charges but know that the charges are religious in nature. Vara’s pastor said that in his sole conversation with him a week after his detention, Vara requested prayers for his release. Pray: for their immediate release and for Christians to be honourably treated in Muslim countries. (Ps.7:6) More: http://www.christianpost.com/news/two-indian-christians-languish-in-saudi-prison-49623/
Saudi Arabia: The Overcomer
20 Apr 2012Muslim social network users are calling for the arrest and death of a Saudi Arabian Christian convert they say insulted Muhammad via Twitter, Click to watch a short video. Hamoud Bin Saleh, has been imprisoned three times in eight years for attacks against Islam. In 2004 he spent nine months in jail after blogging about his conversion from Islam to Christianity, he was also arrested and jailed for a month after writing about religious matters. During that time he suffered sleep deprivation, solitary confinement and physical and psychological abuse. In 2009 he was released on condition he did not travel outside the country or appear in the media. Please pray that Hamoud's voice for Christ will not be silenced by the authorities or by those who oppose his Christian faith. Please pray that Hamoud will not fear despite his past suffering (1Pe. 3:14).
Pray: God's comfort and provision for persecuted Saudi Arabian Christians who are jailed and tortured for their faith. (Mt.24:9)
More: http://vomcblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/saudi-arabian-christian-attacked-on.html
On Wednesday Window International Network launched an initiative, calling Christians around the world to pray for Saudi Arabia - the birthplace of Islam and in violent opposition to the Gospel. In the wake of the Arab Spring, with political unrest and spiritual dissatisfaction simmering in this region, WIN believes the Lord is preparing to move powerfully in Saudi Arabia and that prayer will initiate and sustain that move. ‘Pray4Saudi - Preparing the Way for the Gospel of the Kingdom’ will continue until the very foundations of Islam have been shaken and Saudi Arabia is open to the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Individual intercessors, prayer networks, small groups, and churches can sign up to receive Pray4Saudi and follow it on Twitter. WIN ask us to pray for the Lord to raise up prayer warriors all over the globe to intercede for this nation and its people. (Mat.18:19)
Pray: for the Lord to guide and direct the staff at WIN giving them strategies and showing them how to proceed. (Pr. 2:9-11)
More: http://pray4saudi.com/