A draft constitution was passed today by Egypt's constituent assembly, after many representatives—including Coptic Christians—had left the room to protest the process. Several articles of the constitution raise concerns for Christians who fear that more persecution may be coming in Egypt under President Mohamed Morsi's government.

From the minute I stepped into VOM’s offices for a college internship, I felt welcomed and loved – and very much disturbed. While a warm lady greeted me and an office manager gave me a tour, I couldn’t take my eyes off the pictures on the walls. A young boy whose limbs were burned. An Asian woman smiling brightly, her face disfigured beyond recognition. A man and his family standing outside what used to be their home. A lump caught in my throat. I shifted in my sandals. My life was about to be turned upside down.

Last month I visited Nepal to meet with and interview persecuted Christians. One of the brothers we met was a young pastor who'd been attacked by radicals just months before our visit. He was beaten up for trying to perform a Christian funeral and burial for a member of his church who'd died. I want to share a portion of our conversation, where he talked about the challenge of forgiving those who had attacked him:

Some months ago VOM's newsletter staff asked VOM workers who travel overseas and meet with persecuted Christians to share the stories that had most impacted them as they'd travelled. Several shared stories of Christians that had become personal heroes to them. Dory P. shared this story of her hero, a Christian woman in Nigeria:

This week David shares prayer updates for the countries of Egypt, North Korea and Iran. Following the prayer updates, a VOM worker shares his thoughts on remaining thankful during tribulation in the Middle East.

Somalia (MNN) ? As if in answer to the capture of 300 Al-Shabaab members last month in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, the attacks on civilians have gotten more extreme and more public.

Thank you all for praying for this weeks prayer requests, even though it is Black Friday and most people are shopping to their hearts content. I'm thankful that you have remembered the persecuted church today and would ask that you would share these requests with your praying friends.

This year as we contemplate all of the blessings that the Lord has given us, I would like to just remind you of the awesome goodness of who Jesus is. As Christians, we rejoice that we have a real living God and King and we know that all who desire to truly live a godly life in Christ Jesus, will be persecuted. That's a promise in scripture that may not be a touchy feely promise, but honestly, it is a promise and we see it daily here on the blog.

We have shared numerous times about the plight of Pastor Benham Irani who is suffering for his faith in Christ, while in an Iranian prison and today I wanted to just remind you about him and ask you to write a letter and pray for him and his family.