The Voice of the Martyrs contacts report that on Sept. 25 two Christians, Mahmood Matin Azad and Arash Basirat, were released from prison in Shiraz.

More than 60 people set fire to a church building used for Sunday school in Puttlam District, National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka, reported.

On August 23, three Christians in Chiapas, Mexico, were brutally killed by their neighbor after he blamed them for his daughter’s stomach ailment. Antonio Gomez blamed his Christian neighbor, Pedro Gomez Diaz and his family, for his 11-year-old daughter's stomach ailment and accused the Christian family of practicing witchcraft, Compass Direct News reported.

Today Christian World News has a video report from Lee Webb about the recent violence in churches, against Christians, from Hindu extremists.

The Voice of the Martyrs contacts working with North Korean Christians do not expect a change in the North Korean government’s policies and practices that persecute believers, despite reports the country’s dictator, Kim Jong Il, is acutely ill.

The following news is from our friends at Compass Direct. You may read the full article here.

Yesterday when Todd Nettleton visited with Janet Parshall and spoke about the recent persecution in China, one of the stories they spoke about was the release of Pastor Bike. And while we all rejoice wholeheartedly about the release of Pastor Bike, I wanted to remind you of a bookstore owner by the name of Shi Weihan who has been described as "unrecognizable" following his poor treatment in detention.

Jenna Lyle has a piece today over at the Christian Post website titled Anglican Head Calls Christians to Express Horror at Orissa Violence and I want to encourage you to read it in its entirety. Here are a few passages to ponder.

On August 23, widespread violence erupted against Christians following the assassination of World Hindu Council leader Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati, the alleged mastermind behind the December 2007 attacks on believers in Kandhamal, Orissa State. Saraswati was killed with four of his followers. 30 men believed to be Maoist extremists, stormed a religious center in Kandhamal and opened fire, VOM contacts reported.

In recent days I have been thinking about courage as it relates to our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. I looked up the definition of courage in the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary and it defines courage as “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.” Even though these words definitely describe persecuted believers worldwide, my thoughts centered on the relationship between their inspiring courage and their faith. I believe the Holy Spirit reiterated to me that persecuted believers can persevere and withstand danger, fear or difficulty because of their dependence on the Lord. He supernaturally endows them with the strength to endure hardships with joy.