News of persecuted church. Aid for Christians suffering persecution

From Twitter

• Acid attack on pastor highlights growing religious intolerance in Uganda http://t.co/4BRXLXfh 11 hours ago

• Court ratifies death sentence for three men convicted of 2010 attack on Iraq church that left more than 50 dead http://t.co/ZVI9p68G Fri, Feb 2012 16:33

• Egyptian Christians are concerned about their future under the new parliament. http://t.co/GwXFiJxM Thu, Feb 2012 16:47

• “It’s like the Middle Ages” says secular Tunisian columnist amid rising tide of #Islamism http://t.co/rXDihAp8 Thu, Feb 2012 10:03

• Indian Christians targeted in 140 violent incidents last year http://t.co/uQZISBZI Wed, Feb 2012 12:27

Daily prayer

• The protest in Cairo (see yesterday’s prayer point) was sparked by the destruction of St George’s Church in Aswan province on 30 September 2011. Muslims, angry about renovation work that was being carried out on the dilapidated building, had previously threatened to demolish the church. A mob descended on St George’s after Friday prayers and demolished the dome, walls and columns before torching the building. Other property owned by Christians was also burnt. This incident was the latest in a long line of violent attacks on Christians in Egypt, which have intensified since the revolution. Pray that the Lord will encourage the congregation that has lost their building and provide them with alternative premises in which to meet and worship Him. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed 21 hours ago

• At least 25 people were killed and hundreds injured when Christian protestors were brutally assaulted in Egypt on Sunday 9 October. Video footage showed military vehicles charging at Christians who were demonstrating in Cairo against the torching of a church and other injustices. They were also shot at, beaten and dragged through the streets by soldiers, Islamist attackers and plain-clothed thugs. Although Muslims were among the aggressors, some were also reportedly present to defend the Christians from the security forces. Adding insult to injury, generals from the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces blamed Christian protestors for the violence, and denied that troops had fired at protestors and rolled over them in military vehicles. Pray for all those who were bereaved and injured in this attack, and ask that Egyptian Christians will be treated justly as equal citizens. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Sun, Feb 2012 00:00

• Twenty-two children of Arab Christian workers who minister in a Middle Eastern country are receiving a Christian education thanks to support from Barnabas. State schools in this country are often in extremely poor physical condition, classrooms are overcrowded, and under-qualified staff teach by rote. Islam is heavily promoted, and the memorisation of extensive passages from the Qu’ran is compulsory. Discrimination against non-Muslim children is often open and aggressive. One of the Christian mothers said, “My son is so thankful. He was so frustrated with the national curriculum, but now he feels motivated to learn and enjoys school.” Give praise that these Christian children can receive a Christian education and pray that they may grow up into mature believers. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Sat, Feb 2012 00:00

• In August 2011 a South Korean pastor died in a suspected poison needle attack after smuggling runaways from North Korea to safety. Christians in North Korea are thought to number at least 400,000, but they are cruelly persecuted: they live in constant danger of imprisonment and torture in the regime’s notoriously brutal labour camps, and even of execution. Those who try to help them escape across the border do so at the risk of their lives. Pray for deliverance for our brothers and sisters in their distress, and that the Lord will protect those Christians in neighbouring countries who reach out to help them. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Fri, Feb 2012 00:00

• “Believers have passion and joy in their hearts. We give thanks to God, for He has granted us hope and faith, has restored us from weariness, and has enabled us to trust Him alone,” says a recent statement from Shouwang Church in Beijing, China. Continue to pray for our valiant brothers and sisters, who have continued to meet in the open air to worship the Lord despite persistently harsh treatment by the authorities. Many believers have been detained at the venue, on their way there, or even because the police suspect that they intend to go. The church was evicted from its meeting-place in April 2011 by the government, which had previously pressured property owners not to sell or lease premises to them. Pray that the Lord will honour the faithfulness of His people and that they may soon be granted a safe place to worship. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Thu, Feb 2012 00:00