China: Plans to 'eradicate house churches'
China has begun a campaign to eradicate house churches within ten years. Last September a secret document was issued by the Chinese authorities aimed at 'completely eradicating house churches' in three phases. (1) from January to June 2012- investigate house churches and create files on them. (2) to 'clean up' those churches within 3 years. (3) completely wipe out the house churches within 10 years. In December 2010, 'Operation Deterrence' was launched and Government officials were to 'guide' Christians attending unregistered churches to worship in government-approved Three-Self churches. At the same time, they were to break up larger churches, such as Shouwang Church in Beijing into smaller groups. Shouwang has been forced to hold services in the open-air since Easter 2011, and worshippers face surveillance and arrest. • Please pray also for Shouwang Church in Beijing, whose members faithfully meet outside in all weathers, under surveillance and at risk of arrest. Ask that God would embolden and protect them.
Pray: against the increase in persecution of house churches and for God to bless them with continued growth. (Is.65:22-24)
Mali: Christians forced to flee the north
Government forces collapsed in the north following the coup, allowing separatist and Islamist rebels to seize control of the country’s three northern regions. Around 215,000 people have been displaced from their homes, many of them crossing into Burkina Faso and Mauritania. Many Christians have sought safety in Mali’s capital, Bamako, where they are being fed and sheltered by a network of churches. A Barnabus Fund contact in Mali reports that churches in the towns of Gao and Timbuktu were destroyed in the takeover, with the congregations abandoning their homes and fleeing south. ‘Horrible crimes have been made against the population – massacres, rape of women, obligation to wear the veil, chasing Christians,’ the source reports. The plight of refugees was being compounded by the existing food crisis in the Sahel which has seen the cost of basic foodstuffs double.
Pray: for those providing homes, corn, rice and medicine to hundreds of Christian refugees to know God’s enabling power and provision. (Ps.111:5)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.forced.to.flee.northern.mali/29746.htm
Saudi Arabia: Reaction to Grand Mufti declaration
On the 18th March Prayer Alert reported that the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, the highest official of religious law in the region, declared that it is necessary to destroy all churches. This shocked many Christians in the Arabian Peninsula and other parts of the world, but was not widely reported in the Western press. The Grand Mufti quoted Muhammad’s deathbed statement, ‘There are not to be two religions in the Arabian Peninsula.’ Some fear this could incite Muslims beyond the Arabian Peninsula to violence against Christians, since Christianity is already forbidden in the Arabian Peninsula and no churches exist there. The implications of the Grand Mufti's words could result in banning churches in Yemen, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, say observers. These countries presently allow expatriates to worship in compounds. The Grand Mufti’s statement calls for these nations to follow the Arabian Peninsula’s example and outlaw Christianity. Also in Kuwait there are fears of a ban on new churches and tougher blasphemy penalties. See:
Pray: for fthe Grand Mufti to retract his declaration and that churches in the Arabian Peninsula will not be impacted by his statement. (Ps.103:6)
More: http://win1040.com/blog/2012/04/24/grand-mufti-declaration-and-reaction/
Pakistan/Afghanistan: Lawlessness in the region
The Haqqani Network is credited with introducing suicide bombing to Afghanistan and has been blamed for the series of brazen attacks during the weekend of April 15th in Kabul. The 18-hour battle left 36 insurgents and 11 others dead. Apart from Kabul the eastern capitals of Paktia, Logar and Nangarhar provinces also came under attack as suicide bombers tried to storm a NATO base, an airport and police installations there. JH. is one of the most important Taliban military commanders fighting against the Afghan government and US forces in Afghanistan and is seen by some analysts as the main engine in the Taliban movement. Despite ill health, he is in his 70s, he inspires Haqqani foot soldiers believed to number up to 4,000, as well as other militant groups who revere him. His son, S., is seen as more ruthless, and runs the daily affairs of the network. He is aligned with the current leader of al-Qaeda. We are asked to continue to intercede for PEACE and against CORRUPTION, and may all shady practices and illegal dealings be exposed no matter who is involved.
Pray: for J H and his son to experience miracles, for visions and dreams of truth from Jesus Christ and for all unholy alliances to disintegrate. (Ex.20:3)
