Persecution Podcast Episode 68

Usually we highlight our The Voice of the Martyrs podcast on Friday, but last week we had so much other news that we didn't.  So, why not Wednesday right?

Click here to listen to our persecution podcast from May 20th.

This week Todd and Dory discuss prayer updates on Colombia, Egypt, and the Arabian Peninsula. This week’s special speaker is a brother from VOM, who shares his experiences working with the Participating with Strategic Partners program in Colombia and Cuba.

Nations discussed for prayer:

Colombia

VOM workers are on high alert as violence continues to increase in Colombia. On the morning of May 12, a bomb exploded in Puerto Lleras, killing several policemen and injuring bystanders. In addition, FARC guerrillas have openly murdered individuals on town streets and burned buses throughout the region. The guerrillas have reportedly been conducting an internal purge, killing many of their own and accusing them of being traitors to the communist cause. VOM contacts believe some of those killed were secret Christians. “In all our … years in Colombia, we have never seen it this unstable,” said a VOM contact. “Yet we believe that this is also the most opportune time that we have ever seen for the gospel.” The contact said he cannot come close to supplying all the Bibles being requested by those turning to the Lord. Pray for Christian workers in Colombia as they struggle to sustain their various ministry efforts amid the increasing violence. Pray that many within the communist movement will turn to Christ.

Egypt

Seven Coptic Christians and five Muslims were killed during religious riots in the Imbaba district of Cairo on May 7–8. In addition to those killed, more than 230 people were injured and a church was gutted by fire. The violence broke out on Saturday evening after hard-line Salafi Muslims claimed the St. Mina Coptic Church was holding a woman against her will. Thousands of Muslims descended on the area, prompting Coptic residents to barricade the streets around the church. At about 7 p.m., attackers started throwing firebombs at Coptic-owned property, and Copts retaliated by throwing glass and stones. Police arrested 190 people in connection with the violence. Pray that Copts and moderate Muslims across Egypt will take a stand against further religious violence.

Arabian Peninsula

By God’s grace, a new “secret” believer has avoided an arranged marriage with a Muslim man. In the tradition of her country, “Fatima’s” father had selected a husband for her. She was worried about being forced to marry a man she didn’t know, but Fatima’s mentors encouraged her to pray for her husband-to-be rather than rebelling against her father. Recently, Fatima’s family discovered that the man doesn’t have a job, so the marriage will very likely be canceled. In Fatima’s country, women must be completely covered in public, and they are often accompanied by a male family member. A woman cannot choose a spouse without her family’s permission. Pray for Fatima. Another man could propose marriage, and she could be forced by her family to accept. Pray that Fatima will grow in faith before she faces further persecution.

This week’s special speaker is a brother from VOM, who shares his experiences working with the Participating with Strategic Partners program in Colombia and Cuba.

The Participating with Strategic Partners program—or PSP—provides pastors the funds they need to feed, clothe, and shelter themselves and their families. To learn more about the PSP program, visit http://www.persecution.com/psp.