CAIRO, November 7 (Compass Direct News) – Egyptian police this week released two Christian rights activists detained for three months. A host of journalists, lawyers, clergyman, family and friends gathered at the Cairo home of Adel Fawzy Faltas last night to celebrate the acquittal and release on Monday (November 5) of the Egyptian head of the Middle East Christian Association and an associate. Faltas, 61, and colleague Peter Ezzat, 25, had been held on unsubstantiated charges of insulting Islam and tarnishing Egypt’s reputation abroad. Faltas had conducted an online interview with a controversial convert from Islam to Christianity only days before his arrest on August 8. Sporting a wide grin, shorts and tennis shoes as well-wishers pressed around him at his 8th floor flat, Faltas said, “I was always a free man. When you respect yourself and what you are doing, then you are free.”

Hello Precious Ones!

Pakistan (MNN) -- Next, Pakistani Christians are bracing for more sectarian violence, after President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency. Voice of the Martyrs' Todd Nettleton explains: "He has suspended the country's constitution and essentially put the army in control of the country at this point in time. We're hearing reports of opposition party members being rounded up. So this very much is a concerning situation in Pakistan. Obviously, the Christians there could potentially be caught up in the middle of this upheaval." Ministry may be affected. Until public order is restored, Nettleton says, "Right now, any kind of a large gathering is suspect. So any kind of a large church meeting would be suspect to the government. Right now, I think that Christians are keeping their heads down and waiting to see what comes out of this. We need to pray that they'll be safe; we need to pray that they'll be protected; and I think we can also pray that this can be a time of ministry." Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10543

The following news byte is from our good friends at Compass Direct.New Delhi – At least 30 Hindu extremists disrupted a Christian meeting and manhandled the speaker on October 28 in New Delhi. The attack took place on the last day of the two-day meeting for local Christians organized by the Rev. Ravi Samuel of the Baptist Church, in New Delhi’s Kalyanpuri area. According to the Evangelical Fellowship of India, the extremists intruded into the meeting when about 250 people were listening to the main speaker, the Rev. Ivan Moses, and shouted anti-Christian slogans. They began pushing and shoving Moses and other believers on the stage. Police arrived and arrested a few of the attackers. Organizers did not press charges, however, against the extremists. Anti-Christian attacks are uncommon in New Delhi. – VA

How’s this for evangelism speed training? One evangelist in a North African country has a proven method for training young believers how to witness to Muslims: A seven-hour train ride between two cities. Here’s how it works: The evangelist, we’ll call him Abdul, takes two evangelism students on the train. They begin by pulling out a guitar and playing and singing Christian songs. Travelers can’t avoid the music, so they usually engage the Christians in conversation. Abdul says at first, the two students are usually taken aback by the frank conversations. They usually shrink back, hoping to avoid the negative consequences of talking about the Jesus Christ of the Bible. Eventually, they see how earnest the hearts of the questioners are and join in the conversation. The conversations usually last for the entirety of the trip. By the time they reach their destination, Abdul’s two students are confidently able to share their faith.

According to a Catholic News Agency report it appears that bibles are on the list of prohibited objects at next years upcoming 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The reason? They are a "security" risk. In fact, apparently no religious symbols will be allowed to be present with any of the athletes at the games.

The widow stood near the body of her martyred husband, holding the hands of two of her four children. Her husband had died in prison, and the marks on his body made it clear that death had come slowly and painfully.

ISTANBUL, October 31 (Compass Direct News) – Islamic militants threatened to bomb a Christian family for refusing to convert to Islam as fighting between militants and government troops resumed in northwestern Pakistan yesterday.

As most of you know the church in China has grown tremendously and the underground church is amazing, especially under persecution. Which is why when I read this story from my friends at Salem Voice News, my heart is grieved. I think it's easy to forget sometimes that missionaries willingly go to places where they know there is danger. In fact, last night at my churches Halloween alternative, I was talking to a young man in my church who has a tremendous burden for China and who wants to finish college so he can go there to teach English. I know if it was him that was murdered, I would be heartbroken. So, please keep the families of these missionaries in your prayers, because they were someone's family. Thanks.

The following is from our weekly USA VOM prayer alert. If you would like to stay informed on the issues of the day and pray with wisdom, please sign up to receive these great weekly alerts at www.persecution.com Eritrean gospel singer, Helen Berhane, who was released from prison in November 2006 after being detained in Eritrea for two years without charge, has been granted asylum in Denmark. Berhane and her daughter arrived in Denmark on October 19, after spending 11 months in Sudan. Her health remains extremely poor, due to the physical suffering she experienced during her detention. She cannot walk without assistance. During Berhane's detention, she was held for extended periods of time in shipping containers and tortured several times by authorities in an effort to force her to recant her faith. Thank God that Berhane has found a safe place to live. Praise Him for her faithfulness. Pray for God's continued protection and provision for her. Ask Him to give her direction and wisdom, so she can continue serving Him. Pray for believers in Eritrea who face persecution and suffering for the sake of their faith in Jesus Christ. Psalm 84:11, Psalm 119:105\u003c/b\>\n\n\n \n\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>\n\n\n\n\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.persecution.com/emailUpdate/images/flags/PAKISTAN.gif\" alt\u003d\"Pray for PAKISTAN\" align\u003d\"right\" vspace\u003d\"13\"\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003cfont color\u003d\"red\"\>\u003cb\>PAKISTAN\u003c/b\>\u003c/font\>\n\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.persecution.com/emailUpdate/images/LineBreak.gif\" border\u003d\"0\"\>\n\n\u003cb\>Christian Homes Demolished in Pakistan - VOM Sources\u003c/b\>\u003cbr\> \n\nOn October 19, local Muslims demolished homes belonging to three Christian families in the village of Lobhana, near Lahore, Pakistan. According to The Voice of the Martyrs' contacts, more than 70 armed villagers moved in with tractors and began destroying the homes. VOM contacts said, "They demolished and looted three homes and only stopped when the police arrived." Some of the Christians attacked reported that the Muslims threatened to kill them. VOM contacts added that the land where some of the demolished homes were located had been given to the Christian families by the Pakistani government more than 10 years earlier. However, some local Muslims claimed the land, intending to build a cemetery. Pray for God's protection for Christians in this area. Ask Him to provide resources for these families to rebuild their homes. Pray the testimony of these believers will draw nonbelievers, especially their attackers, into the knowledge of Jesus Christ. \n\n\n\u003cb\>Psalm 68:19, Proverbs 3:5, 6\u003c/b\>\n\n\n \n\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>\n\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.persecution.com/emailUpdate/images/flags/NIGERIA.gif\" alt\u003d\"Pray for NIGERIA\" align\u003d\"right\" vspace\u003d\"13\"\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003cfont color\u003d\"red\"\>\u003cb\>NIGERIA\u003c/b\>\u003c/font\>\n\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.persecution.com/emailUpdate/images/LineBreak.gif\" border\u003d\"0\"\>\n\n\u003cb\>Muslim Officials Dismiss Christian School Librarian - Compass Direct News\u003c/b\>\u003cbr\> \n\nSixteen months ago, Muslim officials forced Asabe Ladagu, a Christian widow, to leave her job as a librarian. The incident occurred after she and others requested land to build a chapel in the capital city of Borno state, in northern Nigeria. According to Compass Direct News, Muslim administrators at Ramat Polytechnic forced Ladagu into early retirement without pay. Ladagu told Compass, "We were branded dangerous people because we were Christians. I have been forced out of office now for 16 months, not retired and not on staff roll of Ramat Polytechnic. Other Christian brethren, too, have either been forced out or have been the subjects of witch hunts." Pray for God's provision and protection for Ladagu and other Christians in northern Nigeria. Ask God to use their testimonies to draw nonbelievers into fellowship with Him. \n\n\n",1] ); //-->Psalm 84:11, Psalm 119:105