News of persecuted church. Aid for Christians suffering persecution

From Twitter

• Help suffering Sudanese #Christians: humanitarian crises in South Sudan and border regions; #persecution in Sudan http://t.co/SClqIifn Fri, Jan 2012 15:22

• #Christian leaders in Laos released but church building seized http://t.co/ueJd6h28 Fri, Jan 2012 09:47

• #Christians in Syria targeted in series of kidnappings and killings; 100 dead http://t.co/RaDfaGvD Wed, Jan 2012 17:30

• #Christians flee N.Nigeria as deadly attacks continue: “They shot my father dead, then came for the rest of the family” http://t.co/uzP3V2TN Tue, Jan 2012 18:06

• Iranian Christian asylum seeker who fled persecution to Turkey severely burned with hot water by boss http://t.co/AkLkU8y2 Tue, Jan 2012 17:09

Daily prayer

• Praise God that permission has been granted and land donated by the regional governor in Dohuk, Iraqi Kurdistan, to build a church. This is the second new church in Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion. Governor Tamar Ramadhan gave two acres of land to Christians in October 2011 for building a multi-purpose centre. The complex will include a church, seminary, medical clinic and Christian school, and the first phase of the building is scheduled to be completed this year. Northern Iraq, where both churches will be situated, has become a refuge for thousands of Christians who have been forced to flee their homes in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities because of targeted violent attacks against them. Praise God for these symbols of a Christian presence in Iraq, and pray that the Lord may protect and bless the congregations. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed 10 hours ago

• Elections for the Egyptian upper house of parliament, the Shura Council, start tomorrow (29 January). The poll follows the announcement of the final results for the lower house, the People’s Assembly, which saw Islamist parties taking around three-quarters of the seats. Christians are woefully under-represented; despite comprising around ten per cent of the population, they fill only 1.4 per cent of the seats in the People’s Assembly. Pray that as Egyptians go to the polls again to elect the Shura Council (the consultative house of the parliament) this imbalance will be redressed somewhat. Pray that the rights of Christians and other minorities in Egypt will be upheld by the new parliament and that the implementation of hard-line Islamist policies will be restrained. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Sat, Jan 2012 00:00

• Christians in Iraq continue to be victims of violent and targeted physical attacks. On 30 September 2011 the body of Emmanuel Hanna Paules was found in Kirkuk. It appears that he had been strangled and shot. Another Christian, Bassam Eshoo, was shot dead by a group of unknown assailants in the restaurant where he worked in Mosul on 2 October 2011. Three other Christians were taken hostage by unidentified gunmen in September 2011 and released only after a large ransom was paid a week later. Pray that God will protect those who put their trust in Him and be their shield and buckler (Psalm 91:4-6). Pray that the plans of those who intend to harm them will be foiled and that their persecutors will recognise Jesus’ saving power. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Fri, Jan 2012 00:00

• Please continue to lift up to the Lord a group of Christian converts from Islam in northern Cameroon. Two weeks ago a handwritten letter from militant Muslims delivered to the church leader’s house called on them to return to Islam or face the wrath of the god of Islam. Then last week two turbaned men arrived by motorcycle at night at the leader’s house while he was away. One made the man’s wife and children lie face down, searched the house and left a message saying that they would get him no matter where he was hiding. The convert family has fled the village, and the other converts have gone into hiding. The week before a Christian worker also had his house searched at night, by two turbaned men carrying a sword, who stole his computer; he arrived home only after they left. Praise God that no-one was hurt in these incidents, but pray for protection for these converts as they face threats and intimidation. Thu, Jan 2012 00:00

• New legislation was passed in October 2011 that severely restricts freedom of religion in Kazakhstan. All religious groups must now re-register with the state and provide detailed information about their original leaders, activities and beliefs. Any new place of worship will require the approval of national and local authorities, and the distribution of religious literature will be allowed only in specified places. Evangelism amongst children has been restricted, while the range of violations punishable under the religion law has been widened. Pray that Christians in Kazakhstan, who are severely affected by this repressive new legislation, will find their strength in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6) and grow in their faith despite all discouragements. Ask the Lord to work in the hearts of the Kazakh leaders so that they repeal these laws. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Wed, Jan 2012 00:00