I've been waiting to write this post all day because I wanted to share with you some time I spent visiting a prisoner in jail today. It was quite an experience. I showed up at about 9 AM to find a line with around 100 people in it and was told that the wait could be up to four hours. Four hours...that's a long time to wait.

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I told you that I had the opportunity to speak to a local Christian school about the Bibles Unbound program...well, this past weekend I received some very exciting news that I have to share with you.

Gospel for Asia is asking for prayer concerning one of their missionaries who was kidnapped Saturday night.Haresh Kujur was leading a youth service when he was kidnapped by what is believed to be an anti-Christian extremist group.

Yesterday, The New York Times had a very interesting article titled Violence Leaves Young Iraqis Doubting Clerics in which the young people are basically saying they are hating Islam because it limits their freedoms.

The Voice of the Martyrs contacts recently visited Pastor Zaur Balaev in prison. Pastor Balaev expressed his gratitude for the letters and prayers he has received. He said, "Peace to you, dear brothers and sisters! I am blessed, that we all have Jesus Christ and love each other in Him. I am the one, whom God loves. I am here with Jesus Christ and we suffer and rejoice together. May God bless you for working in prayer and love to all Christians in bonds. Amen!" Pastor Balaev has been strengthened by the prayers and help of believers like you. We encourage you to continue writing him letters and praying. Also, write to the Azerbaijan government requesting he be released. Go to www.prisoneralert.com to write letters of encouragement to Pastor Balaev and other believers in prison because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

On February 25, lawyers representing the families of three Christians brutally killed in eastern Turkey last April demanded the three-judge panel hearing the case be replaced.

Today Mission Network News is highlighting a report from The Voice of the Martyrs Canada that says that militant Hindus have forcibly entered into two Christian worship services.

The following wonderful devotion is taken from the book Extreme Devotion, which you can purchase online at the Voice of the Martyrs book store.

You may remember a few months ago the horrific shootings that took place in Colorado where numerous people were killed by Matthew Murray.

By Michael IrelandChief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service