Persecution Podcast 99 - Uganda, China, and Afghanistan
A few days ago we produced a new episode of our Persecution Podcast which focused on specific prayer requests for the nations of Uganda, China and Afghanistan.
Uganda
Islamic extremists attacked a Ugandan pastor outside his church near Kampala on Christmas Eve, leaving him blind in one eye. Umar Mulinde, the 37-year-old pastor of Gospel Life Church International in Namasuba, told Compass that he was returning to the church for a party with the congregation when a man approached him and called out, “Pastor, pastor.” When Mulinde turned to look, several men poured acid on his face and back. Mulinde’s face, neck and arms were severely burned and he lost sight in one eye. Mulinde had received several threats before the attack for his evangelism and opposition to Sharia courts in Uganda. In October 2011, Muslim leaders declared a fatwa on Mulinde, demanding his death. Pray for Mulinde as he suffers through the trauma and excruciating pain.
China
The Shouwang Church continued its outdoor worship services on Jan. 1 after authorities again prevented them from leasing a worship facility. Denied facilities three previous times, the church signed a contract with the Beijing Parkview Wuzhou Hotel on Dec. 17 and even moved some books and other belongings into the space. However, the landlord terminated the contract days later, after receiving pressure from local police, the housing management office and leaders of various government agencies. Police detained at least 48 church members when the congregation gathered on Jan. 1 but released 40 of them by midnight. Nearly 1,000 church members have been temporarily detained since Shouwang’s outdoor services began in April 2011. Pray for the Shouwang Church, which intends to continue meeting outdoors until they are allowed to rent indoor facilities.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s small Christian community is surging, becoming one of the fastest growing evangelical populations. The State Department estimates that only 500 to 8,000 Christians currently exist in Afghanistan. As evangelism increases and Christianity spreads, Afghan Christians will almost certainly experience an increase in persecution. Please pray for the continued spread of the gospel in Afghanistan, and pray that believers will continue to influence society and remain strong when faced with opposition.