February
China – Police Attack House Church Members After Burning Bibles
- China Aid Association
On January 23, members of a house church in Yunan Province were severely beaten by police officials when they went to the Xishan District Public Security Bureau (PSB) to ask about their property which had been confiscated. According to China Aid Association (CAA), Chen Xiqiong and Liang Guihua walked into the PSB office and requested an account of items, including Bibles which were taken from their house church and burned by police officers in early December 2007. CAA said, "After ignoring the member's request, officials proceeded to violently remove them from office. One female church member, 54-year-old Liang Guihua, was thrown into a wall and rendered unconscious for more than 10 minutes. After the assault the members went to a local hospital for evaluation. Officials who witnessed the event refuse to testify on the members' behalf." Pray for healing for those believers injured in this attack. Ask God to protect and encourage Christians in China who face increased persecution. Isaiah 54:14
29 Jan,
Christian Leader Detained - China Aid Association
On January 29, Bai Cheng, a Christian leader, was detained in Luoyang, Henan Province. According to China Aid Association (CAA), Cheng was arrested while he was leading a Bible study. CAA reported, "That same day Cheng's sister-in-law received a criminal detention notice issued by the Public Security Bureau of Luoyang stating that Cheng had been put in criminal detention at Luoyang City Detention Center for his suspected participation in 'evil cult' activities under Article 61 of China's criminal law." The police confiscated two computers from Cheng's car. Isaiah 54: 17
Iran – New Draft Law Proposing Death Penalty for Apostasy. Institute on Religion and Public Policy
The Iranian parliament is reviewing a bill for the Islamic Penal Law (Penal Code) that legislates the death penalty for apostasy. According to the Institute on Religion and Public Policy, the draft law defines an apostate as "any Muslim who clearly announces that he/she has left Islam and declares blasphemy." This proposed law is aimed to deter conversion from Islam. Pray for strength, wisdom and grace for believers in Iran as they faithfully continue to share Christ despite pressure from the Islamic government. Psalm 119:105
16 Jan,
India – Hindu Extremists Injure Nearly 100 – Compass Direct News
On January 16, more than 80 people were injured in an attack on a large Christian meeting in Chhattisgarh state. According to Compass Direct News, the attack was followed by an assault on a missionary camp in Dhamtari district that hurt at least a dozen Christians. "The Hindu attacks come within weeks of unprecedented anti-Christian violence in neighboring Orissa state. In Chhattisgarh's Durg district violence, Christians said it was no coincidence that Hindu nationalist extremists launched the attack as the political arm of the militants, the Bharatiya Janata Party, was holding a public meeting in the area," Compass Direct reported. Pray for the safety of believers in India. Ask God to heal and encourage them to remain courageous despite attacks and increased persecution. Pray the testimonies of these faithful believers will draw non- believers into fellowship with Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:19, Isaiah 26:3
04 Jan, 2008
LAOS UPDATE - Pray for the Peoples of Laos
Giving and Taking Away
In some ways this has been a sad month. Following the arrest in June of Hmong resistance fighters who had amassed weapons for a planned attack to overthrow the Lao government, things seem to have got tighter for ethnic minorities and particularly for Christians. Some believers in rural areas have been pressured to sign papers denying their faith in Christ and sadly some have yielded. At least 2 Christians remain in prison and 4 have disappeared without trace.
Some Christian business people have just heard that their permission to invest has been withdrawn by the government and that they subsequently must close their agricultural business in northern Laos. The reason is at least partially because they are Christians. There are now around 900 believers in a province where 10 years ago there were none. There are elements in the communist party and government that believe that something needs to be done to sort out this ‘Christian problem’. Several other foreign kingdom businesses are also having problems getting their businesses registered or licenses renewed.
- Praise God for the recent release of 3 brothers after just over 1 year in prison. But also let’s continue to remember those who are imprisoned for the sake of the Gospel and their families.
- Pray for God ’s comfort for those who are being forced to close down their business and for God to work bring glory to His name through this situation.
ches and non-governmental organisations throughout Bangladesh.
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© Copyright 2007 Compass Direct, All Rights Reserved.
