Weekly Prayer Updates Update 11/30/2012

vom groups weekly prayer updates "Prayer is the pulse of life; by it the doctor can tell what is the condition of the heart. The sin of prayerlessness is a proof for the ordinary Christian or minister that the life of God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness." - Andrew Murray "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:18 VOM-USA Prayer Update for November 30, 2012 On Thu. Nov 29 2012 at 04:14 PM Moderator wrote: Pakistan--Court Dismisses Blasphemy Case Against Teen Sources: VOM Sources, Release International Proverbs 15:29 The blasphemy case against Christian teenager Rimsha Bibi was dismissed last week by the High Court in Islamabad. Rimsha, a 14-year-old with an apparent learning disability, had been accused of burning pages of the Quran. After her arrest, however, a Muslim cleric from her neighborhood was accused of fabricating evidence against her in an attempt to drive Christians out of the area. The cleric himself was then charged with blasphemy. In dismissing the case against Rimsha, Chief Justice Iqbal Hameed-ur Rehman cited a lack of witnesses and warned against making blasphemy accusations lightly. Although the charges against Rimsha have been dismissed, there are still concerns for her safety. Other Pakistani Christians have been murdered after their release from prison, and Rimsha and her family are now living in an undisclosed location. Pray for the protection and restoration of Rimsha and her family. Pray that this case will help bring about positive change in Pakistan's blasphemy laws, which are often misused against Christians. Sudan--Christians Threatened by Islamist Attacks and Famine Sources: Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission, VOM Sources Psalm 10:12 Thousands of Sudanese Christian refugees face a severe food shortage in the disputed border area of Abyei as Sudan and South Sudan debate its status. In addition, the Islamist regime in Khartoum continues its attacks against the non-Muslim and non-Arab residents in southern Sudan, which includes Abyei, South Kordofan and Blue Nile. The Sudanese government wants the region's oil and water resources but not the "infidels" and "blacks" who live there. In recent weeks, the government has increased its aerial bombardment of Christian towns in southern Sudan, and famine is spreading. Pray for Christians in southern Sudan. Nigeria--Eleven Killed in Church Bombing Source: Release International, VOM Sources 1 Peter 3:12 At least 11 people were killed on Sunday, Nov. 25, when suicide bombers attacked a church inside the Jaji Military Cantonment in the northern state of Kaduna. Suspected Islamists drove a bus packed with explosives into the St. Andrew's Military Church during a service, causing a large explosion. Although the initial explosion apparently caused no casualties, a second car bomb was detonated just outside the building about 10 minutes later, after church members had gathered around the site of the first explosion. In addition to the 11 killed, 30 people were injured, many of them seriously. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing, but the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram is suspected in the attack. On Nov. 24, Nigeria's army offered 290 million naira ($1.8 million) for information leading to the capture of 19 leaders of Boko Haram. The group, which is intent on overthrowing the government and enforcing Sharia, or Islamic law, throughout Nigeria, frequently targets Christians. Continue to pray for Nigerian Christians. Pray that their faith will remain strong and that they will respond in a Godly way to the continual violence. Laos--VOM Project Pray for the pastors and evangelists who received VOM-provided motorbikes and bicycles. Pray that they will be able to expand their ministries and reach out to villages where there is no pastor. ************* • Printer-Friendly Format • Add the PrisonerAlert application on Facebook • Download the prayer application on the iTunes Store or the Android Marketplace • Download the photo issue application on the iTunes Store or the Android Marketplace • Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company Suggested Links Persecution.com The Voice of the Martyrs official homepage. Find links to our programs, read news about recent events, and learn more about the organization. VOMBooks.com Order books, videos, and other materials related to the persecuted church through our secure online store. Like us on Facebook Become a fan of VOM on Facebook! Connect with other fans and discuss recent events. PrisonerAlert.com Write to a Christian Prisoner in their own language! Use our letter-writing template online to build your letter, and send it by mail to a needy Christian. Follow us on Twitter Follow VOM-USA on Twitter for updates and prayer requests. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the Weekly Prayer Updates topic at www.vomgroups.com. If you have received this email in error or if you wish to unsubscribe, click here.

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Secret Church Prayer Focus: Pray for the Hui Posted: 28 Nov 2012 08:00 AM PST At each Secret Church, we focus our prayer time for the persecuted church on a particular country or people group. This spring, our focus will be on Chinese Muslims, who are also known as the Hui (pronounced "way"). Who Are the Hui? The Hui, made up of at least 13 million people, are the largest and most widespread of China's Muslim nationalities. They also comprise the third largest minority group in China. To be Hui is to be Muslim—it is the core of who they are. For the Hui, Islam is more than just a set of religious beliefs—it is a total way of life. Therefore, those who have become Christ-followers face pressure and persecution from their families and communities when they believe in Christ. Although there are more than 13 million Hui scattered throughout China, very few (including the Chinese church) are intentionally planting their lives among the Hui to tell them about Christ. Want to Know More? You can learn more about Chinese Muslims and how to pray for them at pray4hui.com. (The complete site will be launched on January 14.) We will also provide regular posts here on the Secret Church blog in the weeks leading up to Secret Church. Get Your Church Involved! During the month of April 2013, we are inviting churches and small groups to intentionally spend time in prayer for Chinese Muslims. We'll provide more information in January, but mark your calendars and begin making plans now for your group to join us for this month-long prayer emphasis. If you would like to help us spread the word about his prayer emphasis, download this flyer and share with your family, friends, small group, and church. (Thanks in advance!)

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Christian Girl Cleared In Pakistani Blasphemy Trial Posted: 27 Nov 2012 01:00 AM PST In Pakistan Last week, the charges that 14-year-old Rimsha Masih had committed blasphemy were dropped. “Rimsha Masih (left) was flown by military helicopter to a safe location after her release on bail in September. Now, she’s been cleared of a blasphemy charge.” National Public Radio This summer we shared Rimsha’s story with you and asked you to pray for her family. In August, Rimsha was accused of burning pages of the Quran, and then jailed to await trial.  She faced a potential sentence of life in prison.  As the case progressed, she was shown to be a young girl who was mentally impaired, and the international community was even more outraged.  Furthermore, it was suspected that she was actually framed by a Muslim cleric.  In fact, the case was dropped due to what NPR‘s Jackie Northam reported to be “no hard evidence that she ever burned the pages of the Quran, as neighbors had charged.”  She goes on to report that “the cleric has been arrested for allegedly planting evidence and is out on bail while awaiting trial.” Her current location, along with her family, is undisclosed for security purposes.  According to Open Doors, her attorneys do not believe she and her family can ever return to their home in Islamabad’s Meherabadi neighborhood, from which many Christians were forced to flee in the violent wake of her initial arrest. For a brief chronicle of the case from when Rimsha was first accused to now, check out Open Doors’ news article, “Pakistan court clears Rimsha; location remains secret as risk remains.” Pray … for God to be worshipped on account of His merciful faithfulness.  He is good.  Praise Him! … for Rimsha and her family to act wisely in the coming months and years, making much of Christ. … for Christians who face the same kind of circumstance Rimsha did, but without the international attention and support.  Ask God to give them grace, use their lives, and be glorified in their ultimate vindication. … for Muslims, especially in fundamentalist countries like Pakistan.  Remember that we were once enemies of God, lost and helpless, slaves to sin and subject to death.  They need Jesus just as much as we do, and God desires that they all be saved (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

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Weekly Prayer Updates Update 11/23/2012

vom groups weekly prayer updates "Prayer is the pulse of life; by it the doctor can tell what is the condition of the heart. The sin of prayerlessness is a proof for the ordinary Christian or minister that the life of God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness." - Andrew Murray "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:18 VOM-USA Prayer Update for November 23, 2012 On Wed. Nov 21 2012 at 01:28 PM Moderator wrote: Egypt--Latest Egyptian Female Kidnap Victim is Fourteen Sources: World Evangelical Alliance, VOM Contacts Psalm 77:1-3 Sarah Abdelmalek, 14, is the latest victim of a common practice of kidnapping Coptic Christian girls and forcing them to marry their Muslim kidnappers. Sarah was last seen Sept. 30, 2012, entering a paper shop near her school. A VOM worker says that at least 24 girls have been kidnapped recently, ranging in age from 14 to 21 years old. Sarah is the youngest. Even if Sarah wanted to marry voluntarily, under Egyptian law, she would have to wait until she turned 18. After Sarah's father filed a missing persons report, he received a phone call telling him he would never see his daughter again. According to a school friend, the 27-year-old paper shop owner, a member of an extremist Sunni Muslim group called the Salafists, had been pursuing Sarah for a while. On Oct. 28, a Salafist organization issued a statement saying that Sarah converted to Islam freely and married a Muslim man. Fundamentalist Muslims are encouraged to kidnap Christian girls and marry them as part of a strategy to limit and intimidate the Christian population in Egypt. The kidnappers insist that the girls convert to Islam of their own will, ensuring that the girls will not be returned to their families. Pray for comfort for this family, and pray that the government will defend the Copts in Egypt. North Korea--Student Realizes Need to Forgive North Korea Source: VOM Contacts Colossians 2:12-14 A lesson on forgiveness showed a North Korean Christian that she needed to forgive Kim Il-Sung and the North Korean government. "KES" is a North Korean participating in a discipleship and training program in South Korea. The students learn Christian principles, how to share their faith and how to adapt to South Korean culture. In a recent class, a trainer taught on forgiveness and had the students role-play the parable of the unforgiving servant. Later, KES shared that she was angry with Kim Il-Sung and the North Korean government for the lies they told. She realized she needed to forgive them, because God forgave her. She said she couldn't do it without God's help. Pray for KES and other North Koreans in this school. Iran--Cyber Police Seek Christian Blogger Source: Mohobat News Psalm 1:1-2 Cyber police raided the home of a Christian blogger in Gorgan for the second time recently. Police appeared at the residence of Alireza Ebrahimi, a convert to Christianity, with a warrant for his arrest last week. They didn't find Alireza, so instead they raided his apartment -- without a warrant. Alireza, a Christian blogger, had used Facebook and other social media to evangelize other Iranians. Police first sought to arrest him on May 27. When they didn't find him, authorities visited the homes of his two friends and arrested them. Those men are charged with propagating against Islam and acting against national security. There is no information available on their whereabouts. Three days later, authorities appeared again at Alireza's house and confiscated his laptop, articles, notebooks and books. Pray for Alireza and other Christian converts in Iran. Iran--VOM Project Pray for those involved in carrying Bibles to believers and seekers in Iran. ************* • Printer-Friendly Format • Add the PrisonerAlert application on Facebook • Download the prayer application on the iTunes Store or the Android Marketplace • Download the photo issue application on the iTunes Store or the Android Marketplace • Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company Suggested Links Persecution.com The Voice of the Martyrs official homepage. Find links to our programs, read news about recent events, and learn more about the organization. VOMBooks.com Order books, videos, and other materials related to the persecuted church through our secure online store. Like us on Facebook Become a fan of VOM on Facebook! Connect with other fans and discuss recent events. PrisonerAlert.com Write to a Christian Prisoner in their own language! Use our letter-writing template online to build your letter, and send it by mail to a needy Christian. Follow us on Twitter Follow VOM-USA on Twitter for updates and prayer requests. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the Weekly Prayer Updates topic at www.vomgroups.com. If you have received this email in error or if you wish to unsubscribe, click here.

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Pray for the Persecuted Posted: 20 Nov 2012 08:32 AM PST IN ERITREA While you may not hear about Eritrea in the news or even know very much the country is located (in the Horn of Africa) we need to remember Eritrean Christians in our prayers.  Eritrea is number 11 on the World Watch List for the most Christian-persecuted countries, due in large part to a government ban on evangelical churches.  Around 1500 believers are believed to be imprisoned. Adris Ali Mohammed was one such Christian prisoner.  He was imprisoned at the Aderset Military Camp after his arrest two years ago when the government learned of his conversion from Islam to Christianity.  During those two years, Ardis suffered severe mistreatment.  According to one reliable, but unnamed source, "He suffered harsh military punishment and faced countless death threats to give up his Christian belief. But he bravely met his death and went to the bosom of his Savior Jesus Christ in whom he stood firmly for eternal life. May his soul rest eternally!" Open Doors sources estimate that about 100 Christians are currently imprisoned for their Christian faith at Aderset Military Camp. PRAY … for Adris’ friends and family members.  It is unknown who they are, but if they are unbelievers, pray that Adris’ strong witness shows them the life that is found in Jesus.  If they are believers, pray that they are strengthened, comforted, and encouraged in Christ. … for the soldiers and guards at Aderset Military Camp who witnessed Adris’ stand for his faith in the Lord’s power firsthand.  Ask the Lord to open their eyes, be convicted of their rebellion against Him, and surrender their lives like Adris did. … for the Christian prisoners held at Aderset Military Camp to be encouraged in their faith and spurred on to love and good deeds.  Pray also for the Christian prisoners held in facilities throughout Eritrea to endure. This information was gathered from Open Doors and their World Watch List.  For additional information, visit their sites or check out Operation World.

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Weekly Prayer Updates Update 11/16/2012

vom groups weekly prayer updates "Prayer is the pulse of life; by it the doctor can tell what is the condition of the heart. The sin of prayerlessness is a proof for the ordinary Christian or minister that the life of God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness." - Andrew Murray "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:18 VOM-USA Prayer Update for November 16, 2012 On Thu. Nov 15 2012 at 03:31 PM Moderator wrote: Syria--Christian Workers Kidnapped Source: VOM Sources Psalm 42:3-5 Two members of the United Bible Society were kidnapped by radicals recently in Aleppo. The kidnappers demanded a $200,000 ransom, according to a VOM contact who is close to one of the men. One of the kidnapped men was released a few days later, but the other remains with his captors. In response to the kidnapping, another Syrian partner wrote, "The pressure on Christians started, and many of the Islamic groups are working hard to oblige the Christians to leave the country." He also reported that many churches have been damaged in the fighting. "During the last year we had a number of churches destroyed," he wrote. "[That has] never happened in Syria, even during the whole last hundred years." Pray for wisdom for Syrian Christians, who must decide whether to flee or stay. Also pray for the safe and quick return of the Bible Society worker still being held for ransom. Kenya--Chaplain Killed in Church Attack Sources: VOM Sources, Voice of America Exodus 14:13 A Nov. 4 grenade attack by the Somali terrorist group al-Shabab killed a police chaplain and wounded 11 worshipers at a church inside a Garissa police compound. Militants tossed the grenade onto the roof of the church at about 10 a.m. "Most of those injured are police officers because the church is inside an Administration Police camp," a police officer said. Several other churches closed early that day, in fear of another attack. Gunmen attacked two other churches in Garissa last July, killing 18 and wounding 40, and a church in Nairobi was bombed in September. Pray for Christians in Kenya, who are increasingly targeted by extremists. Azerbaijan--Update: Pastor's Home Raided Sources: Forum 18 News Service, Mission Network News 2 Corinthians 2:5 The home of a Baptist pastor who spent almost a year in prison was raided while he and his wife were abroad seeking treatment for her pancreatic cancer. Zaur Balaev was sentenced to two years in prison for holding "illegal religious meetings" in 2007. (Pastor Balaev was featured on www.prisoneralert.com so readers could write to him.) He was released in March 2008 during an amnesty, and VOM workers met Zaur as he left the prison. His wife was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and the couple had traveled to Russia so that she could undergo surgery. They had planned to continue on to Germany for chemotherapy but were delayed by a lack of funds. While the couple was out of the country, officials raided a meeting being held at their home. Officers took photographs of the house and seized about 17 pieces of Christian literature, including New Testaments and notebooks. "They told us it is illegal to meet without registration," one of the church members told Forum 18. Pray that God will comfort the Balaev family. Iraq--VOM Project Pray for the recipients of Action Packs and Bibles in the Baghdad and Kirkuk areas. VOM is developing an in-country persecution network to help identify and serve persecuted Christians in Iraq. ************* • Printer-Friendly Format • Add the PrisonerAlert application on Facebook • Download the prayer application on the iTunes Store or the Android Marketplace • Download the photo issue application on the iTunes Store or the Android Marketplace • Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company Suggested Links Persecution.com The Voice of the Martyrs official homepage. Find links to our programs, read news about recent events, and learn more about the organization. VOMBooks.com Order books, videos, and other materials related to the persecuted church through our secure online store. Like us on Facebook Become a fan of VOM on Facebook! Connect with other fans and discuss recent events. PrisonerAlert.com Write to a Christian Prisoner in their own language! Use our letter-writing template online to build your letter, and send it by mail to a needy Christian. Follow us on Twitter Follow VOM-USA on Twitter for updates and prayer requests. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the Weekly Prayer Updates topic at www.vomgroups.com. If you have received this email in error or if you wish to unsubscribe, click here.