Persecution Blog

Video: Todd Nettleton Talks to Persecuted Christian Mr. Choi

Today we wanted to share with you a recent video of Todd Nettleton interviewing Mr. Choi, who was a prisoner in a Chinese prison for simply helping North Korean defectors in the name of Jesus.

I hope this encourages you to remember those who are not free to worship in their nations in prayer every day.

Christian Minor Expelled from Xinjiang High School for His Faith

See the full press release at China Aid's website.

October 25, 2009

XINJIANG--Second-year high school student Chen Le stated emphatically, "I would rather be forced out of school, than deny my faith." On October 20, 2009, the High School Division of the Huashan Middle School officially expelled Chen for signing a document confirming his identity as a Christian. The Official Notice of Expulsion reads as follows:

Chen Le, a 2nd grader from Class 8 of Senior High School, was found by Bazhou Public Security Agency and other related agencies to have engaged in Christian gatherings. His school was notified that it should educate the student and persuade him to mend his ways. However, efforts from the class advisor and some leaders from the school in educating him have all failed and this student persists in his belief that he should not renounce his Christian belief. He can’t promise that he will not believe in Christianity or attend Christian activities. He also claims that if the school wants him to write a statement of self-criticism and self-introspection of examining his error of attending religious activities as a high school student, he would rather not attend this school. Given the above situation, this school advises him to transfer to other related schools.

High School Division
Huashan Middle School
2nd Agricultural Division of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps
Date: October 20, 2009
Seal: 2nd Agricultural Division of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps

"The above is true."
Chen Le, Signature
Date: October 20, 2009

Chen Le does not regret signing this document and refusing to renounce his Christian faith. His expulsion comes at a great price; he has been subsequently barred from taking the mandatory college entrance exam, effectively depriving him of his future education.

ChinaAid denounces the Huashan Middle School's blatant religious discrimination against minor Chen Le, and calls for the immediate repeal of the letter of expulsion.

China's 'Conscience' Missing in Action

Christianity Today has a great article about Gao that I would like to encourage you to read.  Click here to read China's Conscience Missing in Action

Often called "the conscience of China," the 45-year-old Christian gained worldwide acclaim for his defense of workers, political activists, and religious groups. Todd Nettleton, spokesman for Voice of the Martyrs, said Gao had the "audacity" to tell the world how poorly China treats its people. In 2005, Gao criticized China's torture of adherents of Falun Gong, a traditional Chinese religion, and his comments triggered a brutal response. For over seven weeks in 2007, police tortured Gao with cigarette burns and electric batons, threatening to kill him.

About 30 days after Gao's disappearance on February 4 of this year, Christians and human-rights groups launched FreeGao.com, demanding his release. By late August, more than 100,000 had signed a petition and 440,000 e-mails had been sent to government officials pleading Gao's case.

The Dog That Wouldn't Attack

The dog came forward, pulling on its leash, its wicked teeth bared. “Attack!” screamed its master, prison guard Captain Nudnii.

    “Lord, have mercy!” cried out Shenia Komarov, the Christian prisoner. He knew the vicious guard dogs had killed many prisoners, and he prayed God would save him.

    The large German shepherd rushed toward him but suddenly stopped. It cowered in fear, refusing to bite the Christian. Nudnii ordered the dog forward and even beat it, but it would not attack Komarov.

    The prisoners were given almost nothing to eat, and when Komarov had humbly asked for a little more food, his request had earned him Nudnii’s wrath.

    Days later, Komarov prayed. “Lord, I am at the end of my rope with hunger, scorn, and sorrow. Please, end everything. May I die and find rest, or else do a miracle as you did for Elijah.”

    Immediately, Nudnii approached rapidly—although this time without his dog. Komarov thought God had answered his prayer and that he would soon die. Instead, the leader of the guards took the Christian to the kitchen where he gave him soup and bread to eat. He also provided food to other Christian prisoners.
  

 “Forgive me for sending the dog to attack you,” Nudnii said to the Christian. “This torments me now.”
    Komarov forgave the guard and thanked God for his miracle.

Many people can relate to the story of Daniel and the lions’ den. Their roughest circumstances resemble the tortuous fate Daniel was supposed to suffer at the hands of evil. Daniel’s story was a victorious one. He rose above his dire circumstances because he trusted God to save him. In the same way, we may be placed in circumstances—some even life threatening—that are beyond our control. God can rescue us from our frightening reality and give us his peace. We must simply trust him to deal with our “den” of problems. What intimidating situation do you face? Ask God to give you a sense of his protective presence. Trust him to deliver you safely through your trials.

Persecution Podcast Episode 30

Persecution Podcast Episode 30 is available. This week Todd, Mark and Mary Sue talk about Russia, Iran and the Philippines. Also, more audio from a pastor in Mindanao, Philippines, as well as an update on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

You can listen here.

World Council of Churches Says the Church in North Korea is Free???

One of the stories that broke this week was that the World Council of Churches actually stated that Church in North Korea actually has freedom. 

Well, the Voice of the Martyr's Canada CEO, Glenn Penner, (who is battling cancer and who we've asked you to pray for) wrote a very clear response to the claim.  In a word - the North Korean Church does not have freedom.

Click here to read the Christian Post article, and then click here to read Glenn's response directly.

Crackdown on Christianity Ramping Up

We are so thankful for WorldNetDaily for covering Christian persecution on a frequent basis and especially today for highlighting one of our prisoners we have been talking about for months.

The prisoner that is being highlighted in this article is Asia Bibi.  You may also write her a letter using Prisoner Alert by clicking here.

After waiting behind bars for four months, 37-year-old Asia Bibi of Pakistan stood recently before a judge in Sheikhupura, where she is accused of blaspheming Mohammed for allegedly saying, "Jesus is alive. Mohammed is dead."

She is charged under section 295-C of the Pakistani Criminal Code, which says, "Use of derogatory remarks, etc; in respect of the Holy Prophet. Whoever by words, either spoken or written or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Hole Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine."

We Will Not Leave Prison Without Her

When was the last time you heard a prisoner say to those who would let them out, that unless they let everyone go who was arrested with them, that they would not leave?  Pretty amazing isn't it, and yet this is exactly what happened in China recently when a group of Christians were arrested, according to reports from our friends at China Aid.

SHANXI--The skies were clear when Shan Yongchang, the Linfen-Fushan church member who was arrested for text-messaging about the 9/13 incident, was released on Friday, October 9. The next day, PSB officials offered to release ten Linfen-Fushan Church leaders from their detention, under the condition of holding Pastor Yang Rongli until further notice. Protesting her continued detention in an act of solidarity, the church leaders refused to leave without Pastor Yang. "We are one team in the one body of Christ! We won't leave her behind alone. We will not leave prison without her."

To break their spirit, the PSB arrested pastor Yang Rongli's younger sister, Yang Linli, and ransacked Pastor Wang Xiaoguang's home. The PSB raided and arrested ten more Linfen church members, including Yang Xuan and his wife Yang Caizhen, from their homes on October 11. Officials blamed Pastor Yang for the unrest and refused to release her, threatening the church leaders with further raids and abuse if they did not comply with their orders.

Read the full press release here.

Please also take some time to bow before the Father and pray for our brothers and sisters.  Thank you.

Pastor Violently Attacked

Compass Direct is reporting on a violent attack of a Christian pastor in India who was beaten unconscious and had part of his ear chewed off.

Hindu extremists entice preacher into house, beat him unconscious.

NEW DELHI, October 21 (CDN) — A group of Hindu extremists in Madhya Pradesh earlier this month beat a pastor unconscious and chewed off part of his ear, pelting him with stones after he fainted from the pain.
 
Paasu Ninama told Compass that the six attackers first lured him into a house in Malphalia village, Jhabua district with an offer of water on Oct. 4. The 35-year-old resident of Pipal Kutta village said he was on his way back from his regular Sunday service in Malphalia at 4 p.m. when six men sitting outside a house invited him in for a glass of water.
 
When he saw a photograph of Jesus Christ in the house, he knew they had set a trap for him – Pastor Ninama said he knew they would accuse him of providing the photo and trying to “forcibly” convert them. 
 
“I immediately turned to escape when they all jumped on me and started to beat me, accusing me of luring people to convert,” he said.
 
They badly beat him with wood on his hands, legs and back.
 
“I joined my hands and begged them not to beat me and let me go, but they mercilessly continued to hit me black and blue,” Pastor Ninama said. 
 
One of the Hindu extremists chewed off Pastor Ninama’s left ear, which bled heavily. Pastor Ninama fell unconscious.
 
“A piece of my ear was in his mouth, and it went missing,” said Pastor Ninama, in tears. 

Click here to read the full horrific story.
 

Reminder: International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church - Nov. 8th

I just really had it on my heart to remind you all today that the IDOP for the Persecuted Church is coming up quickly. This year The Voice of the Martyrs has a great promotional video that anyone with a blog or website can use very easily on their sites. Please take one minute to watch the video below and spread it far and wide on your websites.

Once you put the video on your blog or website, please email me at [email protected] and let us know and we will tell our readers who is promoting this important event, as our way of thanking you.

Please be sure to visit our special page that we have set up for this event by clicking here. You'll see some great resources that you can get to promote this event at your church.

Please hurry, time is running out!