Vietnam: Detention of dozens of pastors and Church leaders
Sixty three Christian pastors and church leaders remain locked in deplorable conditions in four prison camps around Vietnam just days after religious leaders accused authorities of attempting to destroy religions in the nation. Nearly all of the 63 prisoners are members of ethnic minority communities in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. An advocacy group said that due to their status as a member of an ethnic minority and their adherence to a faith (still seen as an American import) Christians face a level of oppression far higher than most Vietnamese. Living far from major urban areas and the reach of most international news agencies, they also have little hope of assistance. Even official churches in some areas are facing persecution, house groups face regular harassment and in Binh Phuoc province local authorities are dismantling 116 chapels of the Stieng minority group belonging to the legally-registered Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South).
Pray: for the immediate release of the leaders, protection for all practicing Christians in Vietnam and an end to unjust persecution. (Ps.14:6)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/30891-vietnam-detains-dozens-of-pastors-church-leaders
Canada: Releasing prayer
Two of Canada's national prayer ministries are touring Canada throughout October and November to release a culture of prayer in the nation. Already in Victoria and Vancouver strong prayer released a fresh motivation for more people to become involved in the powerful ministry of prayer. We can join the Canadian call to prayer in the coming weeks asking God for a great harvest! Ask the Lord to send out labourers, to soften hearts, to draw the hungry. Pray for the new churches plants springing up everywhere and other planned missions in the land. God desires to change the spiritual climate of whole cities, and wants to use the Church as his primary change agent. Pray for the city church to unite around the unique strategy he grants to each city for advancing the Kingdom and being salt and light. Pray also for Businesses to be dedicated to Kingdom purposes.
Pray: for many instances of breakthrough across the nation at such a time as this. Pray for the Church to awaken to her first love for the Lord and be renewed in love for one another and the lost. (2Ch.7:14)
More: http://www.redleafprayer.org/index.php/events/culture-of-prayer-tour
Saudi Arabia: Another call for destruction of all churches
In May this year the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia called for the destruction of all Churches on the Arabian Peninsula. Again this week the Grand Mufti (who is also the head of the Muslim community) repeated this statement after a presentation by a Kuwaiti parliamentarian of a bill banning construction of new non-Muslim religious buildings in Kuwait. Not long ago, owing to the consecration of a Catholic Church in United Arab Emirates, the local Christians expected the opening of negotiations concerning the construction of the first church in Saudi Arabia. At the present time 3 - 4 million immigrant Christians work in Saudi Arabia but there are no church buildings allowed to exist. So was the Grand Mufti trying to export his ideology of destroying all Churches in Saudi Arabia to the surrounding countries while making a stand against church building in United Arab Emirates? He stated that ‘there cannot be two religions on the Arabian peninsula.’
Pray: for God’s protection to be over churches in Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. May the UN Human Rights Council take a stand for freedom of religion in the area. (Ps.3:7-8)
India: Major disaster as cyclone strikes - severe damage
yclone Phailin hit India last week as a category 4 storm with 130 mph winds. Loss of life was minimal due to large-scale evacuations but flooding has inundated homes and destroyed 1.2 million acres of crops. The local government has set up rescue and relief operations on the campus of a Bible training facility. It will take more than two weeks to restore power, the national highway is still covered by three feet of water, and some areas experienced levels above five feet. 873,000 people in Odisha and 100,000 in Andhra Pradesh sought safety in evacuation centres and will be returning to their communities as soon as flood waters recede. They will find little to salvage, particularly in poor farming villages along the coast where the storm wreaked the most havoc. The government will do what it can, but it doesn't have all the systems in place to offer much help.
Pray: for Christian Aid and other agencies already in the area who are able to respond immediately, pray for uncluttered communication between NGO’s and government bodies, pray also for adequate funds to be released to meet immediate and long term needs.
