VOM-USA Prayer Update for December 2, 2011
The bible tells us that the prayers of the righteous man availeth much, which is why we bring you specific prayer requests every week. Please take a few minutes today to lift the following requests up to our God. Please share them with your friends and church. Thank you.
India--Pastor and Seven Converts Arrested
Source: Compass Direct News
2 Corinthians 10:3-4
Police in India's Kashmir Valley recently detained seven Christian converts from Islam and arrested the pastor who baptized them. Police beat the Christians and asked them if they had received money for converting, according to a local Christian. The arrests occurred after police saw a video showing Pastor Chander Khanna baptizing the converts at his church. Kashmir's grand mufti, the highest religious legal official, accused the church of offering money to young Muslims in exchange for their conversion to Christianity. The mufti said the video provided definitive evidence that the converted Muslims were "lured" to Christianity. However, Pastor Khanna said the seven arrested Christians told police they would sign affidavits saying they willingly converted without duress or allurement. Please pray for the few hundred Christians in this part of India, where tensions remain high between Christians and Muslims.
Pakistan--Christian Shot to Death
Source: Compass Direct News
Psalm 40:13
A Christian man was shot to death in Karachi on Nov. 16 in an attack the man's family believes was related to his Christian faith. Jameel Saawan and a friend were opening the door of their cosmetics shop in a commercial district when Saawan was shot in the neck and face by an unidentified young man. "We firmly believe that my father was killed because of his preaching of the Bible, because there is no other reason," said Zahid Jameel, Saawan's 25-year-old son. Despite frequent, serious threats, Saawan had shared the gospel every day after work and talked of setting up an organization to help poor Christians. No witnesses volunteered information about the murder, and it is unlikely that Saawan's killer will be caught. Although police registered the case, they have made no progress in the investigation. Saawan's family is reluctant to pursue the case, fearing for their own safety. Please pray for Saawan's grieving family and for all Pakistani Christians.
Vietnam--Church Leaders Severely Beaten
Source: Compass Direct News
2 Kings 19:19
On Nov. 13, a gang of men attacked members of the Agape Baptist Church during a meeting at an evangelist's house near Hanoi. More than a dozen church leaders were seriously injured, including a pastor who remained unconscious for hours. A large crowd gathered to watch, and gang members reportedly ran outside during the attack and screamed, "The Christian pastors are savagely beating up people!" The Christians, who belong to an unregistered house church network with about 2,200 members, were punched in the face, chest and back, and some were kicked as they lay on the floor. The evangelist who owned the home suffered a broken pelvis and internal injuries. Local doctors refused to treat the believers, who were later evacuated to a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.