This past week I had the great opportunity to meet a brother originally from Eritrea. He now lives in North America and works with Christians and brings awareness of persecution in Eritrea. What was amazing about him was his passion to tell the stories of Christians who have suffered persecution in Eritrea, and his excitement over the people who are coming to Christ in the midst of persecution. This dear brother reiterated one of my beliefs—that one of our greatest responsibilities as Christians is to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world as they face beatings, imprisonment and other forms of persecution.

Hello Blog Readers!

ISTANBUL, October 25 (Compass Direct News) – Muslims who attacked a Pakistani church and declared religious war against Christians from mosque minarets have apologized for their actions, human rights workers said.

Did you know that this week is Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week?

Compass Direct has some breaking news today concerning two recent murders in Nigeria.

Thrissur (Kerala, India), SVM News, October 22, 2007: A social and prayer fellowship worker stabbed to death on October 21 at Mupli Estate road in Thrissur District of Kerala State, India.

On the road to Emmaus, the resurrected Savior walked with two disciples, talking with them about the recent events in Jerusalem. Though they did not recognize him, he talked with them about God’s plan for the Messiah. When they arrived at their town, Jesus acted as if he had to go further. Why? Didn’t he want to stay and continue the conversation?

(Compass Direct News) – Kidnappers have given Iraqi church leaders only 24 more hours to raise ransom money for the release of two priests, a church leader said today. Syrian Catholic Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa said that an independent source had confirmed the two priests, kidnapped last week, were alive. “Someone phoned somewhere and he affirmed to us that they are alive,” said the Mosul archbishop. Father Pius Affas, 68, and Father Mazen Ishoa, in his 30s, were abducted by unknown assailants on October 13 in Mosul. A source close to the archbishop said the kidnappers had demanded a $1 million ransom. “They gave us a 72-hour period to prepare the sum,” Casmoussa said today from Qaraqosh, a predominantly Syrian Catholic village 20 miles southeast of Mosul. “That period ends tomorrow.” The archbishop reiterated that the deadline did not mean the priests would be killed if the ransom were not immediately delivered.

Last Saturday, our friend Janet Parshall, had Todd Nettleton on her brand new radio program Talking It Over, to talk about the latest news from the persecuted church.

The following news byte is from The Media Line and is an exclusive from The Media Line.