Uzbekistan (MNN) ? The oppression facing evangelical churches in Uzbekistan continues to grow, and according to one mission leader, it doesn't appear to be easing any. Reports indicate the pressure is mounting. However, this may be the fuel needed to see church growth explode, says Sergey Rakhuba, Vice President of Russian Ministries.

Sometimes when I read these stories about Christian persecution, it is so easy to see the spiritual blindness of those who have not yet found Christ as Lord and Savior. Take for example, this story from Compass Direct where they talk about hate speech "from" Christians, and yet they don't call the Hindu's hate speech "against" Christians.

Compass Direct is highlighting a story today that honestly just breaks my heart. In fact, any time I read anything about a teacher and students being abused, it just hurts because children in general should never be abused by any authority.

On May 4, members of the Islamic extremist group al-Shabaab killed an underground church leader in Xarardheere, Mudug region, Somalia, according to Compass Direct News.

We have covered numerous times on this blog about controversies over prayer. It's happening more and more, in city council meetings, and even in schools for graduation prayer. Here's another story from CBS News. Click here to view the video.

The Moroccan government has deported twenty-eight Christian workers so far in May, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. “The Moroccan government continues political pressures against us Moroccan believers and against the foreign workers, and if it stopped for a while before, it was only to restart again and strongly,” VOM contacts said. “Please continue to pray and also to act, because if this … continues, soon we’ll not be deported but [we will be] arrested or even killed.” In recent months, the government has increased its crackdown on Christians, expelling as many as 60 Christian aid workers from the country. Moroccan police have accused Christian aid workers from the United States, Korea, Netherlands and England of violating Morocco’s anti-proselytism laws. “On March 8, police visited the orphanage Village of Hope, which has been operating with the government’s approval for the past ten years,” Smyrna Ministries International reported. “They scoured the grounds looking for Bibles, interrogated children and staff members and announced that the [foster] parents had seven hours to pack and say goodbye to [the children]. All fifteen of the foster parents, the only parents these children have ever known, were deported before nightfall, leaving the 33 children with the police.”

Parents, other abducted Christians remain missing.

China Aid is reporting on the recent arrest of house church members, including a four year old boy that was also taken from the church during a worship service. Mercifully, the boy and the mother were released, as were some of the other house church members. However, the police have requested a lot of money from the church members in order to help get the others released. And God has been faithful and helped this church.

At the beginning of the year I challenged you to pick a restricted nation every month that you were going to pray for. Today I wanted to remind you of that commitment by sharing that I am praying for Kuwait this month. Leave a comment and tell me who you're praying for.