This week in our VOM-USA prayer update we highlighted four different areas of prayer for you to focus on. I want to highlight the following from the email and ask that you would pray along with us for the quick recovery of those who were injured. On September 27, a suicide bomber in military clothing detonated a grenade, killing five youth and critically wounding four others, in Sudan's Upper Nile state. According to The Voice of the Martyrs' contacts in Sudan, "A pastor was having an overnight service in Khorfullus town, when an unidentified man walked into the service and detonated a grenade, killing himself, five children and critically wounding four others, including the pastor and his wife." VOM contacts added that the bomber was dressed in full military clothing, normally worn by government officials. VOM is assisting families affected by this tragedy during this difficult time. Pray God comforts and encourages the families of those killed. Pray for a speedy recovery for those injured. Psalm 118: 17, Isaiah 40:31\u003c/b\>\n\nbr>\u003cbr\>\n\n\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.persecution.com/emailUpdate/images/flags/palestine.gif\" alt\u003d\"Pray for GAZA STRIP\" align\u003d\"right\" vspace\u003d\"13\"\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003cfont color\u003d\"red\"\>\u003cb\>GAZA STRIP\u003c/b\>\u003c/font\>\n\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.persecution.com/emailUpdate/images/LineBreak.gif\" border\u003d\"0\"\>\n\n\u003cb\>Gaza Bible Society Worker Murdered – Christian Broadcasting Network\u003c/b\>\u003cbr\>\n\nOn October 7, 26-year-old Rami Ayyad's body was recovered near the Teachers' Bookshop in the Palestinian territory of Gaza where he worked. His body had stab wounds and bullet holes. According to the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), Ayyad was kidnapped the day before by an unidentified group. CBN quoted the spokesperson for the Palestinian Bible Society, Simon Azazian, who said, "We do not know the exact identity of the group, but we know he was martyred for his faith in Christ." The report added, "Ayyad told co-workers he'd noticed a car with no license plates following him. At 6 p.m. (on Saturday), his wife received a phone call from him saying he'd been taken captive by a group of people and would be home late. A second phone call relayed the same message." Rami is survived by his pregnant wife and two young children. Pray the Holy Spirit comforts his family during this difficult time. Pray Rami's testimony will bring non-believers, especially his killers, into the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Ask God to protect believers in Gaza. \n\n\n\n\u003cb\>Psalm 23, Psalm 91\u003c/b\>\n\n\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>\n\n\u003ccenter\>\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.persecution.com/emailUpdate/PrinterPrayers.htm\" style\u003d\"background-color:#EFDFC2;display:block;padding:2px 5px;border:1px solid #BF7D0B;color:#000;width:150px\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>Click for Printer-Friendly Prayers\u003c/a\>\u003c/center\>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>\n\n\n\u003ccenter\>\n\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.persecution.com/idop\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.persecution.com/images/idop.jpg\" border\u003d\"0\"\>\u003c/a\>\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>\n\n\n",1] ); //-->Psalm 118: 17, Isaiah 40:31

DHAKA, Bangladesh, October 16 (Compass Direct News) – The rumor that evangelists offer people money to convert to Christianity in Bangladesh is the rationale for violence against Christians not just from Muslims, but from Buddhists who make up less than 1 percent of the population. Subash Mondol, a supervisor of the Christian Life Bangladesh (CLB) “Jesus Film” team in Khagrachori district, told Compass that in early September tribal Buddhist villagers decided to kidnap a CLB worker after hearing a rumor that he had received money for converting. Finding no money on Cinku Marma, they instead assaulted him with a jungle knife on September 6, slashing his hand, forehead and ear. In Nilphamari district, where 10 of 42 converts from Islam were brutally beaten in June, Muslim missionaries are helping to spread the conversion-for-pay rumor. And a district official recently summoned pastor Sanjoy Roy, accusing him of offering financial incentives and ordering him stop evangelizing. He also forced Roy to sign a statement that he would not go outside the area without permission.

Yesterday one of my fellow persecution bloggers shared with you the controversy in China about whether or not bibles should be smuggled into China. Some say no - and others like me say - yes. And if you read this blog all of the time, you know why we say YES - bibles do need to be smuggled.

If you are a regular reader to this blog then you know that one of our friends is Janet Parshall, host of Janet Parshall's America.

I was telling my husband the other day that I want to definitely make sure that our church participates in this years International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. And as I was telling him about this, I couldn't help but think how fun it would be to use some shocking drama to awaken the American church. However, after telling my husband my idea, I realized that some people may not understand it was simply "drama" when a man would come in and hold the church up at gunpoint. And I admit it, that THAT idea, while it would probably work, might also cause a few elderly people to fall to the ground with a heart attack and then the church would be sued for scaring people to death.

I wrote a few weeks ago about persecution in China; an American student in China commented and disagreed that persecution exists. CBN gives us two more viewpoints: one of Ned Graham, president of East Gates Ministries, and the other of David Aikman, journalist and author of Jesus in Beijing.

In recent weeks there have been many media reports on Iran, especially Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s recent visit to the United States. Interestingly, I have been thinking of how Christians are treated in Iran and the risks they take in order to share the gospel with others. Periodically, here at The Voice of the Martyrs, we get the awesome opportunity to hear the courageous testimonies of believers who risk their all to share the life-saving gospel of Jesus Christ. As I was prayerfully thinking of these faithful brothers and sisters, I came across a devotional in the book, Extreme Devotion; written by The Voice of the Martyrs, which I think accurately portrays the faithfulness, willingness and boldness of Christians in Iran. They risk their lives for the sake of the gospel.

A few weeks ago I shared that I often get comments on this blog that I do not approve. Well, this week I received the following comment to my post about Christian persecution in Somalia. I would love to hear your feedback about this comment from one of the participants of the well known "religion of peace".

The following news is from Mission Network News and VOM Canada.

(Compass Direct News) – Following a brutal government sweep of suspected insurgents in July, a village church in Laos that once had nearly 2,000 members has shrunk to only a few dozen daring to attend. Most of its leaders are still either in prison or under house arrest. Christian sources said only about 20 to 30 members of the previously 1,900-member Laos Evangelical Church in Ban Sai Jarern village, Bokeo province in northwestern Laos, are still meeting after authorities three months ago arrested 200 Hmong Christians falsely accused of being separatist rebels. Many of those arrested, including women and children, are still in prison, Christian sources said, although estimates of the number detained were unavailable. At the church, most of those still meeting are women and children. “The men are either still in hiding for fear of being arrested, or are still imprisoned or under house arrest, and many are still fearful to come out of their homes to worship in church,” a source said. Ban Sai Jarern church members reported that no one from their congregation has had any contact or communication whatsoever with separatist rebels.