Friday, April 17, 2009
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 Since I receive their Prayer Updates on Friday I have decided I want to have a VOM Friday Prayer Day. I will be sharing the week’s prayer requests for you to remember in your prayers, but if you would like to receive the updates in your inbox, you can sign up at VOMGroups. Every thing we do for the persecuted, whether its big or small, is a tremendous encouragement not only for the persecuted, but also for Christians everywhere. It shows we care and want to help! That we are Remembering The Persecuted. So… how can you help the persecuted? Please join with me in prayer first and foremost, and then take a look at all the other ways you can help! This week’s prayer updates are: TURKEY- Pray for Turkey on April 18 The Turkish church has set aside April 18 as the International Day of Prayer for Turkey. VOM encourages you to pray for believers in Turkey who are risking their lives for Christ. Especially remember the families of Necati Aydin, Tilman Geske and Ugur Yuksel who were martyred on April 18, 2007 in Malatya, Turkey. ~Ask God to continue encouraging their families and for believers in Turkey to remain faithful and courageous despite persecution.~ Deuteronomy 31:6 CHINA – Pastor Bike Arrested – China Aid Association On March 21, Chinese police arrested Pastor "Bike" Zhang Mingxuan, leader of the Chinese House Church Alliance, in Yanjiao town, Hebei province, according to China Aid Association. Pastor Zhang was staying at the home of a local Christian when more than a dozen police officers arrived. The authorities  took Pastor Zhang to the local police station where he was searched, interrogated and threatened with death. Bank cards and three cell phones were confiscated. Three hours later, Pastor Zhang was handed over to Public Security Bureau officials who questioned him about his recent travels. Pastor Zhang's belongings were eventually returned, except the debit card for an account containing 150,000 Yuan (US$1,499). He was released later that day. ~Pray for strength and protection for Pastor Zhang. Pray that he and other believers facing trials for their faith will find comfort in the fact that God commends those who suffer for doing good.~ 1 Peter 2:20-21 AZERBAIJAN - Home Raided and Believers Fined – Form 18 News On March 25, a Christian's home was raided by the local official of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations in Agdash, Azerbaijan, according to Forum 18 News. Twelve children were gathered at Vera Zhuchaeva's home, with their parents' permission, to listen to Bible stories when authorities entered. They forced the children into one room, questioned them and recorded their names. The children were then released to their parents. Police also confiscated 508 books and 40 films from the house. Three believers who were visiting from the capital city of Baku were taken to a police station and questioned for four hours. When they went to the station the next day to pick up their identification documents, they were fined for "illegally spreading Christianity and other faiths.” ~Pray that Christian parents will demonstrate an unwavering commitment to Christ and continue to teach their children about the Lord. Pray that religious freedom will be respected in Azerbaijan.~ Deuteronomy 11:18-20 INDIA - Church Burned, Pastor Attacked – VOM Sources On March 24, the Jesus Prayer House church building in the village of Kuruvakalva, Andhra Pradesh, was burned by Hindu extremists. Bibles, hymnals and furniture, as well as the roof the church, were destroyed. Meanwhile on April 5, Pastor Yadal was attacked in the village of Vadarpalaya, Karnataka. Police officers stopped Pastor Yadal while he was on his way to preach at the House of Salvation church. An officer beat the pastor and accused him of forcibly converting Hindus. Hindu extremists then called two local pastors to the scene and warned them to stop holding church services. The extremists also went to two other churches in the same village and warned them against gathering for worship. ~Pray for strength and wisdom for the victims of these attacks. Ask the Lord to embolden Indian Christians to continue serving Him and worshipping together despite pressure.~ 1 Peter 5:10-11  Make sure to stop by the Persecution Blog too for other updates on the persecuted. Click on the banner to link over!  Some of their recent articles are:EGYPT: Coptic Church Issues First Conversion CertificateThere is a New Prisoner for You to Encourage by Writing Today. It only takes a few minutes to write a letter of encouragement to the persecuted and translate it in their language and mail it to them! They are so blessed by the letters! Thank you for joining with me in remembering our persecuted brothers and sisters in other countries! Love, Prayers and Blessings,  ©AmandaDixon2009 |
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Friday, April 10, 2009
VOTM Pray Day Friday
I am a big supporter of The Voice of the Martyrs and I want to remember our persecuted brethren everyday which was the purpose of IDOP. I keep up with things that are going on with the persecuted through many of their outlets: the website, Prayer Update Emails, Twitter, the Blog and Facebook. IRAN – Two Iranian Women Held in “Notorious” Prison – Farsi Christian News Network On March 5, Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad and Maryam Rustampoor were arrested by Iranian security forces and labeled “anti-government activists,” according to Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN). Thirty-year-old Marzieh and 27-year-old Maryam are being held at Evin Prison, which is notorious for treating women badly. “Both women are allowed just a one minute telephone call everyday to their immediate families. Both are unwell and in need of urgent medical attention,” FCNN reported. During their last call on March 28, Mazieh said that she was suffering from an infection and high fever. She said, “I am dying.” Marzieh and Maryam’s apartment was searched and their belongings were confiscated. “Their only crime is that they are committed Christians who follow the teachings of Jesus,” FCNN added. “ They are being unfairly labeled as ‘anti government activists’ because of the hostility of the government towards practicing Christians.” ~Pray for the immediate release of Marzieh and Maryam. Ask God to heal, encourage and protect them. Pray they will continue to stand for Christ during this difficult time.~ Psalm 91 SRI LANKA – Christians Attacked – National Christian Alliance of Sri Lanka On March 25, a pastor and church worker were attacked by a man armed with a machete, according to National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka. The armed man barged into the Vineyard Community Church in the city of Pannala, North Western Province and slashed the men. Both believers sustained serious injuries. Local church members suspect the assailant previously burned the church's electricity meter and attacked the caretaker. At last report, no arrest had been made. Meanwhile in the past three months, members of the Assembly of God church in the town of Bulathkohupitiya, Sabaragamuwa Province have faced threats and intimidation from local villagers and Buddhist monks. A petition for the church's closure has reportedly been sent to the Ministry of Religious Affairs. As a result of the tension, many church members have been unable to meet together for worship. ~Ask God to strengthen and heal those injured. Pray that suffering Christians in Sri Lanka will stand strong in faith and not give in to fear. Pray that their faithfulness will be a light that draws others to Jesus.~ Matthew 5:14-16 MOROCCO – Five Christians Expelled – Compass Direct News Five female Christians, four Spanish and one German, were recently expelled from Morocco on accusations of "proselytizing" Muslims, according to Compass Direct News. The women were among a group of tourists who were arrested by police while gathered for Bible study in the city of Casablanca on March 28. Officials seized Christian materials, including Arabic books and videos. The believers were questioned by police and detained until the early hours of the next day. They were deemed missionaries by the government and they were deported to Spain. ~Pray for true religious freedom in Morocco. Ask God to give wisdom to these believers as to how to continue serving Him. Pray for the church as it continues to establish itself within Moroccan society.~ Psalm 119:105
Free Gao Update #3And I just read that they are starting their VOM Regional Conferences again. I checked my state and saw that there are going to be two in Indiana! Make sure you check your state and see if there will be any VOM Meetings near you! Thank you for joining with me in remembering our persecuted brothers and sisters in other countries! Love, Prayers and Blessings, ©AmandaDixon2009 |
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Friday, April 3, 2009
VOTM Pray Day Friday
Since I receive their Prayer Updates on Friday I have decided I want to have a VOM Friday Prayer Day. I will be sharing the week’s prayer requests for you to remember in your prayers, but if you would like to receive the updates in your inbox, you can sign up at VOMGroups. Every thing we do for the persecuted, whether its big or small, is a tremendous encouragement not only for the persecuted, but also for Christians everywhere. It shows we care and want to help! That we are Remembering The Persecuted. So… how can you help the persecuted? Please join with me in prayer first and foremost, and then take a look at all the other ways you can help! This week’s prayer updates are: INDIA – Pastors Attacked by Hindu Extremists – VOM Sources On March 9, Hindu extremists barged into Pastor A.K. Wilson’s home in New Dehli armed with rods and hockey sticks and accused him of forcibly converting people, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The extremists beat him, his wife and his son and robbed him of 15,000 rupees ($219 US). They also told him they would burn his house down and murder his family if he did not leave the area within one week. Meanwhile on March 11, Pastor Erra Krupanamdam was returning from a prayer meeting in a new believer's home in the district of Medak, Andhra Pradesh when he was attacked by a mob of Hindu extremists. The extremists spoke out against the pastor's faith, told him not to conduct any more prayer meetings and beat him. He suffered fractures to his back and ribs. Later that night, with the aid of local pastors, Pastor Krupanamdam registered a complaint at the police station. At last report, authorities had apprehended one of his assailants. ~Pray for healing for these believers. Ask God to give church leaders in India the wisdom to know how to shepherd believers through times of suffering.~ 1 Peter 5:7 UZBEKISTAN – Persecution of Believers Increasing – Forum 18 News Six Christians were detained after police raided a home in Kurgantepe, Andijan, Uzbekistan, where believers had gathered to share a meal, according to Forum 18 News. Three Christians were detained at the Kurgantepe Rehabilitation Centre for Homeless Persons for not having their identification documents with them. One was released on March 6 for health reasons while the other two were released on March 13. Three other believers were sentenced to 15-day jail terms for allegedly violating procedures for teaching religious doctrines. At last report, they were being held at the Temporary Detention Centre of Kurgantepe Police Department. Meanwhile, on March 11, Roman Tsoi, a member of the Korean Baptist Church, was sentenced to 10-days in jail for "violating the procedure for arranging and holding gatherings, meetings, street marches and demonstrations" in the country's capital, Tashkent. The charge comes after approximately 20 officials barged into the church on March 6 during a prayer meeting, reportedly searching for foreign missionaries. The believers were told that they needed to obtain special permission to gather together on days other than Sunday and could not meet later than 10 p.m. At last report, Tsoi was being held at the Tashkent City Police Department's Detention Centre. ~Ask God to protect believers in Uzbekistan. Pray the prisoners will be released and that they may forgive their persecutors.~ John 14:27 TAJIKISTAN – UPDATE: Restrictive Religion Law Approved – VOM Sources On March 13, the Tajikistan Lower House of parliament approved a restrictive draft law which will make the life of believers in the country more difficult. The law was approved by parliament in November. It is expected to be signed into law by President Emomali Rahmon in the coming weeks. ~Pray for believers in Tajikistan who will face increased persecution when this law is signed. Ask God to give them courage to continue to stand in their faith.~ Proverbs 3:5-6 Make sure to stop by the Persecution Blog too for other updates on the persecuted. Click on the banner to link over! Some of their recent articles are: Make sure to read the Gao articles! Christian human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng, disappeared February 4, and was last seen being taken away by a dozen police officers. Gao Zhisheng has been repeatedly kidnapped, arrested, imprisoned and tortured by Chinese authorities, because he has defended the persecuted and has been an unyielding voice for justice in the Chinese courts. Please make sure to CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION AND WRITE AN EMAIL - IT WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. I have already signed it and I hope you will too! Thank you for joining with me in remembering our persecuted brothers and sisters in other countries! Love, Prayers and Blessings, ©AmandaDixon2009 |
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Friday, March 27, 2009
VOTM Pray Day Friday
Since I receive their Prayer Updates on Friday I have decided I want to have a VOM Friday Prayer Day. I will be sharing the week’s prayer requests for you to remember in your prayers, but if you would like to receive the updates in your inbox, you can sign up at VOMGroups. Every thing we do for the persecuted, whether its big or small, is a tremendous encouragement not only for the persecuted, but also for Christians everywhere. It shows we care and want to help! That we are Remembering The Persecuted. So… how can you help the persecuted? Please join with me in prayer first and foremost, and then take a look at all the other ways you can help! This week’s prayer updates are: PAKISTAN – UPDATE - Young Christian Woman and Her Father Remain in Prison – VOM Sources Twenty-year-old Sandul Bibi and her father, Gulsher Masih, remain in prison in Pakistan despite four court hearings, according to VOM contacts. “On Feb. 24 Sandul and Gulsher had another court appearance and nothing significant was determined,” VOM contacts said. This has been the outcome for the last four court hearings. Sandul and Gulsher are charged with violating section 295-B of the Pakistani legal code, the ‘blasphemy’ law. Sandul is falsely accused of ripping pages from the Quran. On Oct. 9 a large crowd of Muslims attacked Christian families at a church, throwing stones and firing guns. They were shouting, “Kill Gulsher and his daughter Sandul.” Sandul and her father were arrested after a mob from the local mosque surrounded their house. Loudspeakers from different mosques broadcast accusations that Christians had disgraced the Quran, calling Muslims to attack and burn their homes. The angry crowd threw stones and set fire to Sandul's home. Christians believe Sandul and her father were targeted and arrested because they were aggressively winning villagers to Christ. VOM encourages you to continue lifting this family up in prayer, asking God to encourage them. 2 Thessalonians 3:2-5 IRAN - Christian Released After 27 Days in Prison – Farsi Christian News Network On Feb. 25, 27-year-old Hossein Karimi was released from prison after placing his home as collateral, according to Farsi Christian Network News (FCNN). Hossein, a new convert, had been arrested on charges of attending home churches, evangelizing, storing Bibles and converting to the Christian faith, FCNN reported. Hossein was arrested by Iranian secret police on Jan. 30 and was held for 27 days in an unknown location until his release. He is now waiting for the courts to give him a scheduled date to present his case. Prior to this recent incident, Hossein was arrested in November 2008. According to FCNN, he was taken into custody, fingerprinted and photographed. He was then released on bail after four days with a stipulation that he would no longer participate in any Christian activities. Praise God for Hossein’s faithfulness to the Lord and his release. The Voice of the Martyrs encourages you to pray for him. Ask God to protect him as the Iranian government will be watching him closely. Pray Hossein will continue to stand for Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 ISRAEL- Case of Bombing at Christian Home Still Unsolved – Jerusalem Institute of Justice The Israeli government has not prosecuted individuals responsible for the bombing at the Ortiz home in Ariel, Israel, despite the family providing a video tape of the culprits, according to Jerusalem Institute of Justice. The attack on March 20, 2008, which was recorded on the family’s surveillance camera, severely injured 15-year-old Ami Ortiz. Even though the family has provided police with the video, the perpetrators have not been arrested. Praise God for Ami’s continued recovery. Pray those responsible for the attack will be brought to justice. Ask God to protect Messianic Jews who are taking a stand for Christ despite possible persecution. Pray Ami and his family will forgive their persecutors. Psalm 91:1-5 LAOS – Believers Facing Increased Persecution – VOM Sources Believers in Oudomsay province, Laos, are facing increased harassment from authorities. One believer has repeatedly been summoned by police since November 2008. Pray for the continued safety of believers in Laos. Ask God to encourage and strengthen them during this difficult time. Psalm 32:7 Make sure to stop by the Persecution Blog too for other updates on the persecuted. Click on the banner to link over! Some of their recent articles are:Wife of Persecuted Christian Sends Letter to China AidPlease join with me in remembering our persecuted brothers and sisters in other countries! And... the winners of my Super Blogoversary Giveaway Bash will be announced tomorrow! :D Love, Prayers and Blessings, Thanks for stopping by “Daily” at the “Planet”!! ©AmandaDixon2009 |
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