Yesterday as I was reading through my email I came across this great quote in my Extreme Devotion email and it really struck me. It struck me so much because recently I purchased a very cool new audio drama bible and I kept hearing part of the audio drama from Matthew 4 where Jesus is tempted by Satan.

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.