Today VOM-USA sent out our weekly prayer alert and one topic of interest is the fact that Christian persecution in Iraq is getting worse. CBN News reported on this problem earlier this week. Click here to view the video report from CBN.

I'm not sure the time frame when this article from CBN News was written, but according to this article the Korean hostages are still alive. Click here to read the full story at CBN News.

Yesterday our friends at Compass Direct posted a very insightful interview with Korean-American pastor Douglas Shin concerning the Christians in North Korea and the crackdown taking place there against Christians. Below are just two of the questions posed to Pastor Shin that I found encouraging. Click here to see the full interview.

The Heavenly Man: A dramatic autobiography of one of China's dedicated, courageous, and intensely persecuted house church leaders. Have you read this book?

Conservative blogger, Michelle Malkin, has been faithfully following the unfolding story with the Korean hostages that were taken a few days ago. Michelle writes, "Second hostage reportedly killed…World yawns…Taliban will kill more…"

Fox News and other news agencies are reporting that a second Korean hostage has been killed by the Taliban. There is also video available with this news item, which you can watch here.

Last week we told you that Cindy over at Inspiration Korner would be blogging for the persecuted church over a 24 hour period. What a blessing you are to us!