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May/June 2007 |
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Saintsunder fire
The World Evangelical Alliance estimates some 200 million Christians are currently experiencing persecution around the world. This report, sourced from Voice of the Martyrs gives a brief glimpse of trials that call us to urgent prayer and action
December 12, 2006 On Sunday, December 10, Christians at Nairobi Pentecostal Church (NPC) called a three-day fast after a letter written to their bishop warned of an attack on Christian radio station Hope FM and other churches. According to Compass Direct News, the threat comes seven months after a raid on the station, located on church property, left a guard dead. 'NPC Bishop Boniface Adoyo called for the fast in a letter read to church members on Sunday, saying the threatening letter also mentioned other churches targeted for attack over unspecified reasons,' Compass Direct News added. On May 12, eight unidentified gunmen stormed the station, shot and killed a guard and torched the building after a broadcast aired, comparing teachings of the Bible with the Quran. Pray for Christians in Kenya to be a bold witness in spite of threats and attacks against them
December 22, 2006 On December 14, Victoria's Supreme Court judges upheld the appeal of pastors Daniel Scot and Danny Nalliah against their conviction for religious vilification. According to a media release by Catch the Fire Ministries (CTFM), even though the ruling meant the case would be sent back to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), it was a victory for freedom of speech in Australia. 'In a sense we are happy with this decision to go back to VCAT. It means this case will be kept alive in the public consciousness. There's a need to keep these vilification laws in sharp focus to reveal the problems this law is creating,' said Pastor Nalliah. As a result of a complaint filed by The Islamic Council of Victoria, the pastors were the first found guilty of religious vilification under the Victorian Religious and Racial Tolerance Act which took effect at the start of 2002. The complaint said that Scot and Nalliah had 'vilified Muslims' at a seminar on jihad on March 9, 2002. The pastors were lecturing on the differences between Christianity and Islam, and quoted information about Islam directly from the Koran. 'The ramifications of this bad law mean that this case has caused enormous stress for all concerned and increased division in the community,' Nalliah added. After his conviction Nalliah refused to apologize and said that he would rather go to jail. 'Right from the inception, we have said that this law is a foul law, this law is not a law that brings unity. It causes disunity and as far as we are concerned right from the beginning we have stated that we will not apologize. We will go to prison for standing for the truth and not sacrifice our freedom and freedom to speak,' he said. Pray for Christians in Australia and other parts of the world to be a bold witness for Christ in spite of threats and attacks against them.
March 9, 2007 On Friday March 9, Pastor Dmitry Shestakov was sentenced to four years in exile. According to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts in Uzbekistan, the location to which he will be exiled has not been determined. It is not clear if his family will be able to go with him. In January, Pastor Shestakov was arrested in a raid on his congregation in Andijan, which is affiliated with the registered Full Gospel Church. Uzbekistan's Religious Affairs Committee claims Shestakov, an evangelical pastor, is not an authorized leader of any officially recognized religious organization in Uzbekistan. They describe him as an 'imposter' leading an underground group identified as 'Charismatic Pentecostals' engaged in proselytizing under Shestakov's leadership. 'This is an example of what our Uzbek brothers and sisters face in their country,' said Todd Nettleton, Director of Media Development for The Voice of the Martyrs. 'This is a government that says they give their citizens religious freedom, but that is clearly not the case.' 'Our prayers will continue to be with our brother as he faces this sentence, and we pray that the gospel work in Andijan will continue and grow.'
March 22, 2007 On March 21, three Islamic militants were found guilty of decapitating three Christian school girls and dumping their bloodied heads in nearby villages. According to Associated Press reports published in Indonesia, the Islamic militants were sentenced to between 14 and 20 years for the killings of Theresia Morangke and Yarni Sambue, both 15, and 17-yearold Alfita Poliwo. 'The alleged members of the al-Qaeda linked Jemaah Islamiah network left a handwritten note close to the bodies, vowing more killings to avenge the deaths of Muslims in earlier sectarian violence on Sulawesi Island. 'Wanted 100 more heads,' said Judge Mulyadi, reciting the letter's text. 'Blood must be paid with blood, lives with lives, heads with heads,'' said the AP report. Hasanuddin was sentenced to 20 years for masterminding the 2005 attack, while his coconspirators, Lilik Purnomo and Irwanto Irano, each received 14 years. A fourth girl in the attack, Noviana Malewa, then 15, received serious injuries to her face and neck, but survived. After the attack, Noviana suffered damaged nerves, a dislocated lower jaw and loosened teeth. VOMedical provided reconstructive surgery to repair nerve damage and reduce scarring. Pray God continues to heal Noviana's emotional and mental scars. Pray for Christians in Indonesia who face great persecution because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
April 5, 2007 Five Christians have been charged with blasphemy under Pakistan's blasphemy laws 295-A and 295-C, in Toba Tek Singh, Pakistan. According to The Voice of the Martyrs' contact in Pakistan, 'Daniel, an 11-year-old Christian boy, refused to play with his Muslim friends, resulting in them beating him. Daniel's family confronted the Muslims who called the police and made a false report saying Daniel's family had blasphemed the name of the Holy Prophet.' Rashid Masih, Salamat Masih, Sahba Masih Motta, Bao Masih and Sheela Masih are living under threat of attack by Muslim extremists. 'The Muslim family told other Muslims at a religious gathering that Christians had disgraced the Holy Prophet, tore a holy sticker and beat it with a shoe. This has led to tension in the city. Christians in the area fear Muslim extremists will attack the family. There is fear there will be attacks this week during celebrations leading up to Easter Sunday,' VOM sources said. If convicted under blasphemy laws 295-A and 295-C, the Christian family faces three years imprisonment, a fine and the death penalty, or life imprisonment and a fine. Pray God protects these believers and provides a way of escape for them.
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KENYA
Churches targeted in letter sent to Bishop 
AUSTRALIA
Pastor's appeal upheld
UZBEKISTAN
Pastor Sentenced to Four Years in Exile
INDONESIA
Islamic Extremists Sentenced in Killing Christian School Girls
PAKISTAN
Five Christians Charged with Blasphemy