The following is from our weekly USA VOM prayer alert. If you would like to stay informed on the issues of the day and pray with wisdom, please sign up to receive these great weekly alerts at www.persecution.com Eritrean gospel singer, Helen Berhane, who was released from prison in November 2006 after being detained in Eritrea for two years without charge, has been granted asylum in Denmark. Berhane and her daughter arrived in Denmark on October 19, after spending 11 months in Sudan. Her health remains extremely poor, due to the physical suffering she experienced during her detention. She cannot walk without assistance. During Berhane's detention, she was held for extended periods of time in shipping containers and tortured several times by authorities in an effort to force her to recant her faith. Thank God that Berhane has found a safe place to live. Praise Him for her faithfulness. Pray for God's continued protection and provision for her. Ask Him to give her direction and wisdom, so she can continue serving Him. Pray for believers in Eritrea who face persecution and suffering for the sake of their faith in Jesus Christ. Psalm 84:11, Psalm 119:105\u003c/b\>\n\n\n \n\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>\n\n\n\n\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.persecution.com/emailUpdate/images/flags/PAKISTAN.gif\" alt\u003d\"Pray for PAKISTAN\" align\u003d\"right\" vspace\u003d\"13\"\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003cfont color\u003d\"red\"\>\u003cb\>PAKISTAN\u003c/b\>\u003c/font\>\n\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.persecution.com/emailUpdate/images/LineBreak.gif\" border\u003d\"0\"\>\n\n\u003cb\>Christian Homes Demolished in Pakistan - VOM Sources\u003c/b\>\u003cbr\> \n\nOn October 19, local Muslims demolished homes belonging to three Christian families in the village of Lobhana, near Lahore, Pakistan. According to The Voice of the Martyrs' contacts, more than 70 armed villagers moved in with tractors and began destroying the homes. VOM contacts said, "They demolished and looted three homes and only stopped when the police arrived." Some of the Christians attacked reported that the Muslims threatened to kill them. VOM contacts added that the land where some of the demolished homes were located had been given to the Christian families by the Pakistani government more than 10 years earlier. However, some local Muslims claimed the land, intending to build a cemetery. Pray for God's protection for Christians in this area. Ask Him to provide resources for these families to rebuild their homes. Pray the testimony of these believers will draw nonbelievers, especially their attackers, into the knowledge of Jesus Christ. \n\n\n\u003cb\>Psalm 68:19, Proverbs 3:5, 6\u003c/b\>\n\n\n \n\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>\n\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.persecution.com/emailUpdate/images/flags/NIGERIA.gif\" alt\u003d\"Pray for NIGERIA\" align\u003d\"right\" vspace\u003d\"13\"\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003cfont color\u003d\"red\"\>\u003cb\>NIGERIA\u003c/b\>\u003c/font\>\n\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.persecution.com/emailUpdate/images/LineBreak.gif\" border\u003d\"0\"\>\n\n\u003cb\>Muslim Officials Dismiss Christian School Librarian - Compass Direct News\u003c/b\>\u003cbr\> \n\nSixteen months ago, Muslim officials forced Asabe Ladagu, a Christian widow, to leave her job as a librarian. The incident occurred after she and others requested land to build a chapel in the capital city of Borno state, in northern Nigeria. According to Compass Direct News, Muslim administrators at Ramat Polytechnic forced Ladagu into early retirement without pay. Ladagu told Compass, "We were branded dangerous people because we were Christians. I have been forced out of office now for 16 months, not retired and not on staff roll of Ramat Polytechnic. Other Christian brethren, too, have either been forced out or have been the subjects of witch hunts." Pray for God's provision and protection for Ladagu and other Christians in northern Nigeria. Ask God to use their testimonies to draw nonbelievers into fellowship with Him. \n\n\n",1] ); //-->Psalm 84:11, Psalm 119:105

The Voice of the Martyrs invites you to become our “friend” on the social networking site www.myspace.com.

Have you ever called tech support and unexpectedly talked to someone with an Indian accent? In the last couple of years, India has been emerging as a technology center. At VOM, we know that technologic growth isn’t the only story coming out of India today. There is also a strong nationalist/religious movement going on there as well. Supporters of this movement believe that to be Indian is also to be Hindu. Indian Christians, especially those who are willing to share their faith with others, are threatening to these groups because they don’t share their thinking. Many of those tech support call centers are located in the bustling, modern city of Bangalore. Paul and Prasanna live and work on its outskirts, purposely choosing to live among the poor so they can reach out to them. Paul is a full-time evangelist, while Prasanna is studying toward her law degree. They have a small Bible study in their neighborhood. One afternoon, the group read the words of Hebrews 10:32-34 together: “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.”They didn’t think much of it at the time, but carried on singing and praying together. Little did they know those words would soon become very real to them. At 6 p.m., a mob of members of a Hindu nationalist group burst through their door and began to strike them. Paul was afraid his wife might be violated, so he grabbed her hand and held on as tightly as he could. He envisioned angels protecting them. He also said to his wife, “If we die, let us die in ministry.” Eventually, their attackers dragged them to the police station and accused them of forcibly converting Hindus. (In the picture, Paul shows a VOM contact how he grasped Prasanna's hand during the attack.) When it was all over and the couple returned home, they found that all their belongings were destroyed or stolen. Very frightened, they sought refuge in the homes of other believers, but no one was brave enough to take them in. When we heard about their story, we met with them and spent some time encouraging them. After several months of struggling through what happened to them, they now view their ordeal as a victory. They have lived the words of Hebrews 10. Paul and Prasanna stood their ground in the face of suffering, humiliated and beaten. Prasanna now wants to use her law degree to help other Christians who are jailed or falsely accused of crimes. With help from VOM, they moved to another area of the city, which is also a tough place for evangelism. They are fully committed to sharing the good news of Christ. They realize the darkness of Hinduism can never overcome the bright, shining light that Jesus offers.

The following story is from the Associated Press.

Kidapawan City (Republic of Philippines), SVM News, October 27, 2007: Pastor of Jesus Is Lord Ministries was stabbed to death on October 26 in Barangay Perez of Kidapawan City in North Cotabato province in southern Philippians.

“I will not run away. I am ready to take a stand.”

A few days ago I challenged you to blog about the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church that will be held this year on November 11th.