Global: Media reporting
Two men engaged in a horrific act of violence on the streets of London by using a meat cleaver to hack to death a British soldier. The assailants shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ and a video showing one of the assailants citing Islam as well as a desire to avenge and stop UK violence against Muslims spread across media outlets. Also last week, a disturbing video made the social media rounds showing an armed Syrian rebel dismembering a dead Syrian government soldier’s body, extracting an organ and taking a bite out of it while saying, ‘We swear to Allah that we will eat your hearts and livers, you soldiers of Bashar the dog.’ We’ve seen this before with a bloody beheadings of Daniel Pearl and hundreds of others. We’ve seen the lynching of Israeli soldiers by men who then held up their blood-drenched hands in celebration.
Pray: for government implemented media blocks on articles that encourage further acts of terrorism. (Ps.2:1-7) Pray for families of victims of terrorist crimes as they become ‘to-days news.’ (Ps.17:8)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/23/woolwich-attack-terrorism-blowback
Iran: Government arrests Pastor, closes Assemblies Of God Church
On 21st May Robert Asserian, pastor of Assemblies of God (AoG) church in Tehran, was arrested while leading a prayer meeting and the church has now been closed by government officials. ‘These incidents appear to be an attempt to stop worship services from being conducted in Farsi, the language of the majority of Iranians,’ said the general superintendent of the AoG in the United States. Before his arrest authorities raided Pastor Asserian’s home and confiscated his computer and books. His arrest is part of an intensifying campaign against the AoG and other recognized churches. Iranian Christians request our continued prayer that: a. Pastor Robert will know the presence and peace of Jesus, and that he will be released soon. b. Church leaders will know the Spirit's wisdom, especially concerning public acts of worship. c. The pressure against churches will relent and services in Farsi will be permitted.
Pray: for all detained because of their Christian faith and activities. May they know the closeness of Jesus daily. For many more officials involved to love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him. (Mic.6:8)
Eritrea 1: The forgotten prisoners
Incarcerated in metal shipping containers with extreme temperature changes; forbidden to pray aloud, sing, preach or have a Bible; tortured to make them recant their faith, these are the extremely harsh conditions that Christians in Eritrea experience in prison. Some torture victims died because they were denied medical care. The country is among the world’s worst persecutors of Christians. Many have been detained in mass arrests for being part of a congregation or prayer meeting. The majority are held without formal charges, legal counsel, or allowed to see their families. A year ago 35 Christians were arrested and taken to notoriously harsh Adi-Nefase prison camp. They are still there. Christians conscripted to serve as soldiers can be imprisoned for attending prayer meetings and receive severe punishments for possessing a Bible. The mass arrests are a consequence of the government regarding Christians as a threat to national unity because they give their ultimate allegiance to God.
Pray: for those held in metal shipping containers to be strengthened. Pray for those Eritrean Christians who have managed to escape and share their stories with the West (see next item) (Ps.40:1-2)
More: http://barnabasfund.org/Help-and-hope-for-persecuted-Eritrean-Christian-refugees.html
Eritrea 2: Persecuted Eritrean Christian refugees
Kidnapped; raped; starved; tortured; jailed; are experiences of many Eritrean Christians who flee persecution in their homeland and suffer unimaginable horrors in their quest for freedom. As they make the dangerous journey across the Sinai deserts in a bid for safety in Israel many are captured by people traffickers. The Christian detainees are subjected to horrendous abuse, and huge ransom payments are demanded from their families for their release. Others are arrested and imprisoned in Egypt where they face similar violations and deprivation. Among them is Merhawi (17) who was transferred from one group of traffickers to another. The third group in Sinai tortured him mercilessly leaving him with permanent scarring all over his body. Merhawi’s family paid US$30,000 for his release, having already paid US$5,000 to each of the two other groups. Merhawi managed to get to Cairo, where he met fellow Eritreans who took him to Christians who arranged urgent medical treatment and a safe house.
Pray: for his full recovery, for the Christian ministries throughout the Middle East which are helping hundreds of persecuted Christians. (Ps.40:3)
More: http://barnabasfund.org/Help-and-hope-for-persecuted-Eritrean-Christian-refugees.html
