Have You Been Praying for the Persecuted?

Do you have a heart for prayer and praying for those who are hurting in other countries yet?  I am praying that as you continually read this blog that you will become burdened with the love of your brothers and sisters in Christ.

So in light of this, here are a few prayer requests from this weeks Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Alert.

We spoke about this story yesterday.

(Religionjournal.com)
On July 29th, two Christians, Tapan Kumar Roy and Liplal Marandi, were hacked to death in a place about 150 kilometers from the capital. They worked for Christian Life Bangladesh (CLB). Along with educational films on arsenic poisoning, mother-and-child health care and AIDS prevention, they often showed the JESUS film at the invitation of local villagers. A well-known Christian leader familiar with the two evangelists said an official at a local madrassa (Islamic school) had threatened the men verbally prior to the murders. Some villagers had also threatened to kill Roy and Marandi if they continued to show the JESUS film. Police arrested a man named Monir Hossain in connection with the murders, which they are still investigating. Bangladesh is facing an overall deterioration in human rights, both for the Muslims who form 83 percent of the population and for religious minorities. Police and local officials believe Islamic extremists most likely were responsible for the murders.

Pray God will comfort the families of Roy and Marandi and they will experience His faithfulness anew every morning. Pray the Christians in this area will forgive whoever attacked these men. Pray the Holy Spirit will move throughout Bangladesh, bringing His peace to stop the senseless strife.

We also told you about this tragic story within this last week.

(VOM-Canada)
Former Sudanese rebel leader and newly appointed Vice-President, Dr. John Garang De Mabior, died in a helicopter accident on July 30th. Dr. Garang led in a negotiated peace settlement with the predominantly Arab Muslim Sudanese government. Garang was returning from Uganda, with six colleagues when the Ugandan government helicopter went down in bad weather and all aboard were killed. Reaction to Dr. Garang's death puts the recently signed peace settlement in potential jeopardy. Grief-stricken supporters of Garang have begun to riot in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, blaming the government for Garang's death The riots by thousands of Southern Sudanese have left at least 36 people dead with substantial damage to property. Arab gangs have begun to retaliate, invading neighborhoods of the mostly Christian Southerners.

Pray God will move in His powerful love to put a stop to the rioting. Pray the Holy Spirit will calm the hearts of Garang's supporters, giving them His love for their enemies. Pray our government will do all in its power to maintain the fragile peace in Sudan.

Thank you!