VOM-USA Prayer Update for April 6, 2012

As we gather together this weekend to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, let us remember our persecuted family members in Christ.  Thank you for sharing these requests with your networks.

Laos/Vietnam--Hmong Believers Forced Out of Villages
Source: VOM Contacts

I Peter 5:9-10

Hmong believers in Laos and Vietnam continue to face opposition from village authorities. In northern Laos on Feb. 18, local authorities visited believers in a village in Luang Prabang province and tried to force them to return to ancestor worship. When the believers refused, authorities wrote a letter expelling them from the village because "they don't like Christian people," according to a VOM source. The source said authorities don't like Christians because they view Christianity as an American religion. In this part of Laos, believers are not allowed to work for the government, and Christian students also face discrimination. Likewise, in northern Vietnam, a Hmong family were compelled to leave their village because village leaders were opposed to the family's Christian faith. Although the wife was very ill, she recovered after moving to a Christian village and receiving prayer. Pray that Hmong Christians in Laos and Vietnam will stand firm in their faith despite harassment from local authorities.

Kuwait--MPs Call for Ban on Construction of Churches
Source: Arabianbusiness.com

Romans 15:13

A member of Kuwaiti parliament plans to draft a law banning the construction of churches and other non-Islamic places of worship. Parliamentarian Osama Al-Munawer announced his plans to submit a draft law calling for the removal of all churches in the country. He later clarified that existing churches could remain and that only new construction of non-Islamic places of worship would be banned. A fellow member of parliament who supports the law was quoted as saying, "Kuwait already has an excessive number of churches compared to the country's Christian minority." About 13 percent of the population is Christian, but most are expatriates. Pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in the hearts of Kuwaitis and draw them to Christ.

Turkmenistan--Christians Fined for Having Bibles
Source: Forum 18 News Service

Isaiah 40:7-8

Four Protestants in Turkmenistan were arrested and fined in late February after police discovered Bibles in their possession. Although the judge initially refused to hear the case against the four Christians, citing a lack of evidence, she later changed her position and fined them for "violation of the law on religious organizations." The Bibles were discovered when police searched a home where three believers were staying with a fourth Christian. During the search, a police officer found a Bible in each of the three visitors' bags. He confiscated the Bibles and took the four Christians, who asked not to be identified, to the police station. The judge refused to hear the case, but one week later the believers were summoned to court and fined the equivalent of $125. The law under which they were charged can also be used to prosecute those who fail to register their church or who participate in an unregistered church. Pray that the Word of God will continue to stand in the hearts of believers in Turkmenistan even during opposition.

Ethiopia
VOM Project

Pray for those training 25 Muslim Background Believers (MBB) in the basics of Christian faith and persecution. The 25 will reach out to the roughly 5,000 MBBs in the area.