North Korea: Mobile phones = treason
The new Supreme Leader has clamped down on mobile phone use, declaring any use of a mobile phone during the 100 days of mourning for his father an act of war leading to charges of treason and long prison terms or death. Only a small percentage of the population has mobile phones, those who do own handsets are limited in their calling scope to their economic class. Lowly workers can contact only other lowly workers. The elite are likewise sequestered to their own economic tier. The communications, from low to high, are monitored. One false step in phrasing could earn years of hard labour. The government monitors mobile calls and surfing the Internet so little ‘outside’ news passes through filters for the 400,000 internet users.
Pray: that God would enable western truths and technology to reach North Korea. (Ps.110:2)
More: http://www.mobilephones.org.uk/mobile-news/north-korean-mobile-phone-use-equates-to-treason/
Egypt: 3000 Muslims attack Christian homes and shops
A mob of over 3000 Muslims have attacked Copts in the village of Kobry-el-Sharbat (el-Ameriya), Alexandria, Egypt. Coptic homes and shops were looted before being set ablaze. Two Copts and a Muslim were injured. The violence started after a rumour was spread that a Coptic man had an allegedly intimate photo of a Muslim woman on his mobile phone. The Coptic man, Mourad Samy Guirgis, surrendered to the police for his protection. Father Boktor Nashed from St George's Church in el-Nahdah, said that a meeting between Muslim and Christian representatives was supposed to take place in the evening in Kobry-el-Sharbat. But, by 3 pm a Muslim mob looted and torched the home of Mourad Samy Guirgis, as well as the home of his extended family and three homes of Coptic neighbours. A number of Coptic-owned shops and businesses were also looted and torched.
Pray: for the believers as they go through transition within the nation and that they will find opportunities to live and work together without conflict. (Pro.10:12
Cameroon: Christian converts under threat from Islamists
The handwritten threat from a group identifying itself as Boko Haram was put under the door of a church leader’s house earlier this month. It called on all Christian converts to return to Islam or face the wrath of the god of Islam. A few days later, two turbaned men arrived by motorcycle at the church leader’s house one night while he was away. One entered the house and ordered the man’s wife and children to lie face down on the ground. He asked where the church leader was and then searched the house. The intruder told the wife to tell her husband that they would get him no matter where he was hiding. After this distressing incident, the family fled the village, and the other converts have gone into hiding. Another Christian leader, who has been trying to inform church leaders about the militants’ threat, also had his house searched at night.
Pray: that God will strengthen and extend His arms of protection over His people and confuse their enemies. (Ps.5:11)
India: Recent incidents of persecution
A Hindu extremist in Adigar, Phulbani, Kandhamal district on Jan 25 attacked a pastor’s hut and harassed his family, according to the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC). Jaleshwar Pradhan threw stones at the home of Pastor Patiba Mohan Kota while he was away, verbally abused his wife and pushed his daughters, shouting, ‘You Christians must not live here it is not your land.The last time your houses were only damaged, this time all of you will be buried here.’ Though damage to the house was minimal, the pastor and his family were in fear as Hindu extremists have previously tortured him causing partial loss of eyesight and hearing. The pastor was among those whose houses were destroyed during anti-Christian violence in 2008. Pradhan was booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Pray: against ethnic hostility in and around Orissa. (Ps.109:28)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/india/article_1377575.html
Guatemala: Suspected drug traffickers kill Pastor
Christians in Guatemala were mourning on Monday, January 30, for a pastor who was shot and killed by suspected drug traffickers on his way to a regional meeting of church leaders in a violent border area near Mexico. 'Church of God' Pastor Neftali Leiva, a father of five daughters, was gunned down last week near the gathering, said his denomination's territorial administrative bishop, Jose Clara Vela. He added that the shooting was witnessed by another pastor. He was quoted as saying that an unknown assailant walked up to the victim without a word and shot him point blank several times. When the shooter saw the witness a short way down the street, he reportedly also fired three times in his direction. The pastor apparently felt the bullets go by and impact the trees behind him, but was unhurt. ‘God’s hand of protection covered me,’ added the unidentified pastor.
Pray: for all those who serve God in challenging places that they will be protected from harm. (Jn.17:12)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/20282-suspected-drug-traffickers-kill-pastor-in-guatemala
Child Slavery in Africa Continues 10 Years After Cocoa Protocol
Children are still being sold by slave traffickers in Africa and forced to work on cocoa farms that help produce chocolate products for many companies over ten years after lawmakers tried to initiate measures to stop the inhumane practice. The chocolate industry initially resisted, but the Cocoa Protocol, or Harkin-Engel Protocol went into effect in 2011. The voluntary protocol, which was signed by the heads of the chocolate industry, was designed to stop the worst forms of child labour and to make sure the cocoa trade was child-labour free. A researcher that spent five years in the Ivory Coast said that he has seen very little implementation of the original commitments to end child slavery. Kraft-Cadbury says they are working with others in the industry to support the Harkin-Engel Protocol to work towards eliminating the worst forms of child-labour. Nestle say that they believe child labour has no place in their supply chain and they have firmly committed to eradicate unacceptable practices.
Pray: for a greater urgency in the implementation of the protocol by all in the cocoa industry. (Isa.49:16-18)
Iranian Christian convert sentenced to two years in prison
A Christian convert whom security authorities arrested in her home was sentenced to two years in prison by the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, reports Iranian Christian news agency, Mohabat News. According to reports sent by reporters of Iranian Christian news agency, Mohabat News, Ms. Leila Mohammadi, a Christian convert who resided east of Tehran, was sentenced to two years of imprisonment after enduring 5 months of uncertainty in notorious Evin prison. Her trial was held on 18 January in Revolutionary Court in Moalem street where she was charged with "collaboration with foreign-dependent groups, broad anti-Islamic propaganda, deceiving citizens by formation of what is called a house church, Insulting sacred figures and action against national security." However she was acquitted of collaboration with foreign-dependent groups because the judge believed she had done that unintentionally. For the other charges she was sentenced to two years in prison and the ruling was delivered to her.
Pray: for God to give Leila courage and strength and to watch over her during her imprisonment. (Dt.31:6)
People have less integrity and it is harming society
British people have significantly less integrity than ten years ago, and it risks harming civic mindedness, new research claims. Adultery, lying and underage sex have all become more acceptable, according to the findings published by Professor Paul Whiteley. He blames the bad examples set by footballers cheating on their wives, the phone hacking scandal, and dodgy financial dealing. And, he says, the implications could be profound for society. The findings show that people with high levels of integrity tend to have a strong sense of civic duty. The Essex Centre for the Study of Integrity has been set up to analyse the issue. Professor Paul Whiteley is the centre’s director. He commented: “If social capital is low and people are suspicious and don’t work together, those communities have worse health, worse educational performance, they are less happy and they are less economically developed and entrepreneurial. It really does have a profound effect.”
Pray: for a return to the unchanging Biblical truths of morality and integrity. (Ps.25:21)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/people-have-less-integrity-and-it-is-harming-society/
Liberia: Warlord repents and turns into a modern day Paul
Joshua Blahyi, a brutal warlord who confessed to killing nearly 20,000 people during Liberia's 14-year civil war, is now an evangelist who is serving God and seeking forgiveness from those he harmed. As a young boy Blahyi was initiated as a tribal priest, participated in human sacrifices for years before later being appointed as ‘spiritual’ advisor to the Liberian president. Blahyi's life changed 180 degrees when Jesus appeared to him as a blinding light and told him that he would die unless he repented of his sins. Now a ‘chilling documentary’ about Blahyi's life has been produced. Said Blahyi in the documentary, ‘It's only Christianity that can help this nation, because Christianity, - is the only faith that tells you to love your enemies - that tells you to accept and forgive the one who hurts you; and that only God is able to turn lives around.’ He freely admitted to his crimes (not knowing what the consequences would be), now he ‘tirelessly preaches the Gospel to everyone he comes across’ and, he is constantly seeking forgiveness from those his crimes affected.
Praise: God for His amazing touch on people's lives bringing forgiveness and love. (Ac.2:17)
More: http://ausprayernet.org.au/newsletter/DisplayNewsletter.php?e_id=00000002334#st3
Liberia: Warlord repents and turns into a modern day Paul
Joshua Blahyi, a brutal warlord who confessed to killing nearly 20,000 people during Liberia's 14-year civil war, is now an evangelist who is serving God and seeking forgiveness from those he harmed. As a young boy Blahyi was initiated as a tribal priest, participated in human sacrifices for years before later being appointed as ‘spiritual’ advisor to the Liberian president. Blahyi's life changed 180 degrees when Jesus appeared to him as a blinding light and told him that he would die unless he repented of his sins. Now a ‘chilling documentary’ about Blahyi's life has been produced. Said Blahyi in the documentary, ‘It's only Christianity that can help this nation, because Christianity, - is the only faith that tells you to love your enemies - that tells you to accept and forgive the one who hurts you; and that only God is able to turn lives around.’ He freely admitted to his crimes (not knowing what the consequences would be), now he ‘tirelessly preaches the Gospel to everyone he comes across’ and, he is constantly seeking forgiveness from those his crimes affected.
Praise: God for His amazing touch on people's lives bringing forgiveness and love. (Ac.2:17)
More: http://ausprayernet.org.au/newsletter/DisplayNewsletter.php?e_id=00000002334#st3