Persecution Blog

Coptic Monastaries Under Attack

Recently the world was focused on Egypt and the Coptic Christians over there, and now that all of the protesting has died down, the media isn't giving Egypt much attention.

Thankfully, our friends at Get Religion have covered an interesting situtation now where Coptic monastaries are under growing threat and attack.

Here's part of the Get Religion article as quoted from the Assyrian International News Agency:

For the second time in as many days, Egyptian armed force stormed the 5th century old St. Bishoy monastery in Wadi el-Natroun, 110 kilometers from Cairo. Live ammunition was fired, wounding two monks and six Coptic monastery workers. Several sources confirmed the army’s use of RPG ammunition. Four people have been arrested including three monks and a Coptic lawyer who was at the monastery investigating yesterday’s army attack.

 

Monk Aksios Ava Bishoy told activist Nader Shoukry of Freecopts the armed forces stormed the main entrance gate to the monastery in the morning using five tanks, armored vehicles and a bulldozer to demolish the fence built by the monastery last month to protect themselves and the monastery from the lawlessness which prevailed in Egypt during the January 25 Uprising.

 

“When we tried to address them, the army fired live bullets, wounding Father Feltaows in the leg and Father Barnabas in the abdomen,” said Monk Ava Bishoy. “Six Coptic workers in the monastery were also injured, some with serious injuries to the chest.” …

 

Father Hemanot Ava Bishoy said the army fired live ammunition and RPGs continuously for 30 minutes, which hit part of the ancient fence inside the monastery. “The army was shocked to see the monks standing there praying ‘Lord have mercy’ without running away. This is what really upset them,” he said. “As the soldiers were demolishing the gate and the fence they were chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ‘Victory, Victory’.”

 

Please continue to lift up believers in Egypt. 

Murder of Pastor in Honduras Raises Security Questions

With robbery, death threats and homicide so common, killers’ motives are murky.

ATLANTA, February 25 (CDN) — The murder of a prominent pastor in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, this week has focused attention on that country’s alarming murder rate and the regular threats that Christian workers there receive.
 
Pastor Carlos Roberto Marroquín, 41, was shot to death by two assailants as he walked his two Schnauzer dogs in the Colonia Aurora neighborhood near his house on Monday.

Read more at Compass Direct.

More on Said Musa's Release

The following is from our friends at Mission Network News.  I hope reading more details about Said Musa encourages you today.  Please keep him in your prayers.

Afghanistan (MNN/ANS) ― An Afghan Christian who was arrested in May and threatened with execution for his conversion to Christianity was released from prison last week after aggressive international diplomacy engaged Afghanistan's government, Assist News reports.

International Christian Concern (ICC) says that in a letter dated February 13, Said Musa described a visit by representatives of the U.S. and Italian Embassies offering him asylum.

According to the letter, after the foreign representatives left the room, Musa was visited by three Afghan officials who told him that he would be released within 24 hours if he wrote a statement declaring that he regretted his conversion to Christianity, ICC reported.

"I laughed and replied, 'I can't deny my Savior's name,'" Musa wrote, "because my life is just service to Jesus Christ, and my death is going to heaven [where] Jesus Christ is. I am 100 percent ready to die. They pushed me much and much. I refused their demands." Musa was then transferred back to his prison cell.

ICC sources in Afghanistan remained hopeful that the release would occur soon. The call came on February 21 from an official from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul confirming that Said Musa was released and was safely out of the country.

"I'm so thankful to the Lord that he is free. I know it was a concerted effort on the part of so many people," said an ICC representative in Kabul.

"The Lord has allowed us to take part in this momentous event, and I praise Him that it has ended with the freedom of Said Musa. Through Said's letters, he spoke publicly to the world a powerful testimony of his faith and perseverance."

In a media update, ICC says that Shoaib Assadullah, an Afghan Christian who was arrested for giving a Bible to a man who later reported him to authorities, remains behind bars.

Assadullah currently faces the same charges for apostasy that Musa was rescued from. In a letter dated February 17 and smuggled out of Qasre Shahi prison in Mazar-e-Sharif, Assadullah expressed fears that his execution is imminent.

"The court's decision is most definitely going to be the death penalty for me, because the prosecutor has accused me under the Clause 139 of the criminal code which says: 'If the crime is not cited in the criminal code, then the case has to be referred to Islamic Sharia law,'" Assadullah wrote.

Aidan Clay, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, "We cannot be more thrilled about Said Musa's release. It has been encouraging to see the international community--including churches, reporters and government officials in Europe and North America--work together for the common goal of freeing Said. Many sleepless nights, prayers, and tears have paid off.

"However, the battle has not yet been won. Shoaib Assadullah is still imprisoned in northern Afghanistan and fears the death penalty. We still have a long road ahead before we witness religious freedom in Afghanistan. We must remain vigilant and keep the public and diplomatic pressure alive by continuing to shout with one voice for Shoaib Assadullah until together, we can also celebrate his release."

She Refused to Be a "Sunday Only" Christian

Susannah Wesley was born in 1668, in England, when the state church and government crushed any form of Christian worship or education not controlled by them. This determined Christian woman began programs of Christian education for adults in her kitchen and daily with her children.

    In 1662, six years before Susannah was born, the English government passed a law forcing the state church’s Book of Common Prayer in all worship services. Two thousand clergy were forced to resign.

 

    In 1664, a law was passed forbidding more than five people who were not family members worship together without a state official. In 1665, the Five Mile Act was passed aimed at Nonconformist ministers who were forbidden to come within five miles where they had founded a congregation. This law was upheld for almost 150 years. Soldiers destroyed meeting houses, took away furniture and Christian books. Five thousand Nonconformist Christians died in prison.
    

Although Susannah was associated at times with the official church, she refused to be a “Sunday-only” Christian. Her angry neighbors burned her fields and stabbed the three cows that gave milk to her family. They called her children “the little devils.” One of her children, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodists, led a great spiritual awakening in England. He had learned perseverance from his mother.

Many believe the reason England did not experience a bloody revolution, in the same way that France was terrorized, is due to the Christian revival that began among the poor in Great Britain. This spiritual revival was led in part by John Wesley, who also championed practical help, education, jobs and food. Did the influence of his mother, Susannah Wesley, help to save England? Your influence for Christ does change history. Even if we don’t have biological parents or grandparents like the Wesleys, who pass down the Christian faith to us, God gives us a spiritual family to nurture and love us. Who is your spiritual mother or father—someone who taught you about Christ? To whom can you be a spiritual brother or sister?

Pastor Bike Released

Yesterday China Aid reported that Pastor Bike had been detained by Henan Police while he was preaching at a worship service.

Today China Aid is reporting the good news that Pastor Bike has been released. Thank you all for your prayers.

For more information on Pastor Bike please see the related stories.

Related News:

China Aid stories on Pastor Bike

 

Thousands of Homes Burned Down: Ministry Disrupted

Mission Network News is reporting today about recent events where Gospel of Asia is ministering that have led to thousands of homes being burnt down and the lives of Christians being disrupted.

India (MNN) ― At least eight people have died and thousands have been left homeless in communal violence between two South Asian states, Gospel for Asia reports.

GFA-supported ministries are being threatened by the violence.

At least two villages where GFA has pastors have undergone attacks. Within those two villages, more than 6,000 people have lost their homes.

The most recent attacks were between two tribal groups in neighboring Indian states. Several hundred Rabha villagers from Assam State burned down two Garo villages in Meghalaya and set a third on fire.

Garo villagers, who are nominal Christians, retaliated in hand-to-hand combat. When the Garo youth threatened to invade Assam, Army troops had to intercede.

"This is a difficult time for our missionaries and believers in this strife-torn area," says GFA president K.P. Yohannan. "Losing homes and belongings is an emotional as well as a physical loss. And it is especially disturbing that a people group considered ‘Christian' is involved in retaliation and fighting."

Amid the violence, there is some opportunity for outreach. One Christian layman has opened his home to feed and give shelter to some of the victims of the violence. Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel as well.

Pray for believers during this time to be a witness of Christ's peace in the midst of conflict. Yohannan asks, "Pray that all of those, on both sides of the conflict, will come to know the One who died so they can live together as true brothers and sisters, both in this life and for eternity."

 

Three Vital Prayer Request for February 25, 2011

SRI LANKA -- Pastors Attacked in Sri Lanka -- VOM Canada

Two pastors were attacked recently in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. In early January, a pastor and his family discovered an intruder in their home in Galle district. The man shouted threats at the pastor and began to assault him. After hearing the screaming, the pastor’s elderly landlord arrived to help. The intruder then attacked the landlord before running away. Later, the pastor and his landlord lodged a complaint against the attacker with local police. The attacker was arrested, but he was later released with a severe warning after apologizing to the pastor and his landlord. On Jan. 23 in the city of Middeniya, Hambantota district, assailants broke the windows of an Assemblies of God church while the pastor and his family were inside. The pastor and his family were previously targeted in July 2008, when assailants set their house ablaze after threatening the pastor and his church. Pray that the witness of pastors and their families in Sri Lanka will draw unbelievers to Christ. Pray that these pastors will look forward to their crown of life in heaven as they persevere in these trials.

James 1:12

LAOS -- Christian Widow Evicted by Son -- VOM Sources

A 50-year-old Christian widow was evicted from her son’s house recently because she refused to renounce her faith in Christ. The woman and her teenage daughter had lived with her son and his family in a mountain village for many years. The woman’s son is not a Christian, and he told his mother to renounce her faith in Jesus or he would kick her out of the house. When the woman refused, her son forced her and her daughter to leave. They had no possessions and nowhere to go, so they took cover from the chilly weather in the jungle at the edge of their village. Local Christians who learned of the women’s predicament came together to build them a small bamboo hut, but they still lack basic necessities. Thank the Lord for this woman’s faith. Pray that her faith will remain strong while she and her daughter endure this trial. Ask God to provide for her needs and to soften her son’s heart toward the Lord.

James 1:27

CUBA -- Persecution Increases on Church Leaders -- Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Pastors and Christian leaders in Cuba are reporting a shift in how the government treats Christians. The government appears to have moved away from higher profile forms of oppression, such as threatening to shut down or destroy churches, and is now focusing pressure on church leaders. Church leaders both within and outside of the Cuban Council of Churches (CCC) report receiving frequent visits from state security agents and Cuban Communist Party (CCP) officials. The CCC is an umbrella organization representing Protestant churches. These visits and meetings seem to have the intent of intimidating church leaders and making them aware that they are under close surveillance. Pray that church members will not be intimidated by government informants in their meetings. Pray that those under pressure will not yield to fear and that they will trust the Lord.

James 1:18

Eritrea: Christian Women Released

Eritrean authorities released two pregnant Christian women from jail days before their expected delivery dates. The women had been incarcerated for three months, along with about 100 other Christians who were arrested in a year-end crackdown on evangelicals by Eritrea’s communist government. All Christian groups except the Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran churches are banned in Eritrea.

The year-end purge came in response to an order by the administrator of the region. At a meeting in October 2010, Mustafa Nur Hussein ordered the extermination of all evangelical Christians from his province by the end of 2010. After the announcement, security officers in the region arrested every leader of the underground church network, along with many of their spouses. Their children were left in the care of elderly relatives.

Experts say there are at least 2,000 Christians in prison in Eritrea. Nearly every evangelical in Eritrea has been arrested at least once. Some have been in prison since 2002 without ever being charged or brought to court, and conditions in the prison are very bad. Prisoners are tortured regularly. They often suffer from malnutrition, malaria and poor hygiene. At least 16 Christians have died in custody since 2002.

Laos: Christianity Brainwashes

Flyers posted recently in villages around Laos described Christians as dishonest and immoral traitors. The flyer’s writer accused Christians of being political tools who convert others for financial gain. He wrote, “Christianity … has the purpose to brainwash society. It has the purpose to get rid of other religions and other cultures opposing Christianity. Every teaching of Jesus Christ is related to what the Americans teach one another to follow.”

The flyer said Christians “have to drink each other’s blood to stand firm in Christ. They have to also throw away the culture they grew up with and … marry within their own families; there is no dowry, and also all Christians are allowed to sleep with one another.”

The writer claimed that Christians receive financial compensation for each convert. He also said that they dishonestly attract others to Christianity by offering them money and clothing.

“The people who have faith in Christ treat their faith as more important than their daily jobs, their future, and the future of their family members. People belonging to the Christian group are very stubborn people. They are enemies of people who want to live peacefully. …”

The flyer ended with these words: “As for me, I am sick of Christians tricking people. … Whoever is reading this, please pass the word to everyone so we can protect the cultural identity of our different tribal groups.”

Please lift up Christians in Laos who face this kind of thinking every day. Pray especially for the Christians in the villages where these flyers were circulated.

Said Musa Released from Afghan Prison, No Longer on Death Row

UPDATED FEB. 25TH - THE VOICE OF THE MARTYRS HAS NOW CONFIRMED THIS STORY IS ACCURATE.

Earlier today numerous places reported that Afghan prisoner Said Musa has been released from prison and is now out of the country.

Aidan Clay from  International Christian Concern told The Christian Post Thursday that "I got confirmation today that he is out of the country," and he went on to say, "It was a very tense situation. The U.S. government and others didn't want anything to go wrong. Everything needed to be done very, very quietly because of the political ramifications that it could have had," and "I'm so thankful to the Lord that he is free and know it was a concerted effort on the part of so many people," the ICC source in Kabul said.

"The Lord has allowed us to take part in this momentous event and I praise Him that it has ended with the freedom of Said Musa. Through Said’s letters, he spoke publicly to the world a powerful testimony of his faith and perseverance."

The Christian Post also reported that they had contacted other persecution watchdog organizations, but the release was not confirmed.

As of the time of this writing The Voice of the Martyrs has not confirmed this report.

Related News:

Said Musa Released