Iran: Court acquits 11 evangelical Christians
Eleven members of one of Iran's largest evangelical house church movements, who were charged with ‘action against the order of the country’ and drinking alcohol, have been acquitted by an Iranian court. The charges referred to their involvement in a house church meeting and to taking communion wine, Iranian Christians said earlier. Following their arrests in April, the members of the Church of Iran were brought before the Revolutionary Tribunal in Bandar-Anzali ‘for a rushed hearing where their lawyer, Mr. Seyyed Mohammed-Ali Dadkhah, hastily drafted a statement in their defence,’ said Britain-based advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide. In a written verdict issued in mid-May, the court ruled that since the eleven claimed to be conducting a Christian ceremony, their activities were covered by Article 13 of the Iranian Constitution, which allows Zoroastrians, Jews and Christians to ‘perform their religious rites and ceremonies, and to act according to their own canon in matters of personal affairs and religious education’.
Praise: God for the release of these 11 believers and pray that others still incarcerated would be released. (Ps.136:24)
More: http://www.worthynews.com/10247-iran-court-acquits-11-evangelical-christians
Iran: Court acquits 11 evangelical Christians
Eleven members of one of Iran's largest evangelical house church movements, who were charged with ‘action against the order of the country’ and drinking alcohol, have been acquitted by an Iranian court. The charges referred to their involvement in a house church meeting and to taking communion wine, Iranian Christians said earlier. Following their arrests in April, the members of the Church of Iran were brought before the Revolutionary Tribunal in Bandar-Anzali ‘for a rushed hearing where their lawyer, Mr. Seyyed Mohammed-Ali Dadkhah, hastily drafted a statement in their defence,’ said Britain-based advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide. In a written verdict issued in mid-May, the court ruled that since the eleven claimed to be conducting a Christian ceremony, their activities were covered by Article 13 of the Iranian Constitution, which allows Zoroastrians, Jews and Christians to ‘perform their religious rites and ceremonies, and to act according to their own canon in matters of personal affairs and religious education’.
Praise: God for the release of these 11 believers and pray that others still incarcerated would be released. (Ps.136:24)
More: http://www.worthynews.com/10247-iran-court-acquits-11-evangelical-christians
Afghanistan: Children
A Christian in Afghanistan writes, ‘One in four children dies before their fifth birthday because of poor medical care. Many work at dangerous jobs or beg in the streets. Education is scarce in rural areas. Insurgents recruit children as suicide bombers. A 9-year old boy captured wearing a suicide bomb strapped to him said ‘Our mullah told us when we carried out our suicide attacks all the people around us would die but we would stay alive.’ This is the future of the Land being stolen by the enemy. Please pray for the children, they are our future, pray that children who are recruited as suicide bombers would be captured or turn themselves in before they blow themselves up and kill and injure others; that parents would be taught the proper techniques to prevent simple childhood illnesses that result in so many deaths; for more medical clinics and schools to meet the needs of children and their families.’ Pray: that the children will grow up to be good, effective leaders to lead their country into peace and prosperity. (Lk.18:16)
Ivory Coast: Warnings of severe humanitarian crisis
As Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara is officially inaugurated in front of heads of state from around the world, Oxfam warned of more than 300,000 people displaced from their homes within the country and in neighbouring Liberia being in ‘dire’ need of assistance because the conflict in the months following the presidential election triggered a severe humanitarian crisis with only 35 per cent of the UN's appeals for funds being met. The shortfall in donors amounts to a funding gap of $200 million. In neighbouring Liberia, between 200 and 400 refugees continue to arrive daily from the Ivory Coast, yet the response is only 44 per cent funded.
Pray: for funding to be released so that agencies can meet the needs of the displaced in Liberia and Ivory Coast. (Deut.25:4)
Egypt: Request prayer
Middle East Concern report, ‘The Supreme State Security Prosecution has started legal proceedings against twenty three Salafi Muslims charged with terrorism, premeditated murder, vandalism of public and private property, and intimidating citizens. Also the government announced it is considering re-opening church buildings that had been closed under President Mubarak. Sixteen have already been approved for re-opening and three have opened. More re-openings are expected next week provided authorities are satisfied adequate security measures are in place. Fear of sectarian incidents was one of the reasons churches were closed. Egyptian Christians thank us for our prayers and request continued intercession:- that authorities will fulfil commitments to bring perpetrators of sectarian violence to justice; re-opened church buildings will be well used; further re-openings will happen peacefully; security measures will prove adequate; the bereaved will know the comfort of Jesus, wounded and traumatised will know the healing touch of Jesus. Pray: that Church leaders will know the Spirit's enabling as they pastor their congregations and deal with community leaders. (Is.41:18)
Israel: PM takes 'firm stand' on peace talks
On Tuesday Binyamin Netanyahu told US congress, ‘Israel will compromise for peace but will not return to 1967 borders’ stressing Israel’s position as a democratic ‘friend of America’. He largely ruled out movement on the issues that are important to Palestinians, stating the issue of Palestinian refugees must be resolved outside the borders of Israel and that Jerusalem must remain the united capital of Israel. Saeb Erekat, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's executive committee said, ‘We've not heard any new words in Netanyahu's speech in front of congress tonight. He's chosen to dictate, not negotiate.’ After Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Congress thousands of activists conducted meetings with senators and house members.
Pray: for a partnership of peace to be allowed to grow in the region and for the Peace of Jerusalem to be constant. (Is.33:20)
More: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/05/2011524151456629671.html
Vietnam: Hmong targeted by Vietnamese troops
Unarmed Viet-Hmong protesters are the targets of helicopter attacks along the northern Vietnam border. Troops are reacting to peaceful Hmong mass rallies seeking human rights and land reforms. The helicopter gunships forced many of the protesters into the mountains. Vision Beyond Borders working in the region distributing Bibles to the Hmong people said, ‘There is a revival going on in Vietnam at this time and most of that revival is happening with the Hmong people. Even though this persecution has come, I do know that it's not slowing down what God has in store for these people. There's always been a certain unrest among the Hmong, primarily due to the fact that they helped the CIA during the Vietnam conflict.’ Pray: for a spiritual fortification for all God's people and purposes at this time and for His word to be read and preached across the region. (Mt.24:14)
Sudan: Thousands flee burning and looting by North Sudan forces
Thousands of civilians have been displaced following the occupation of Abyei Town by the Sudan Armed Forces at the weekend. Christian Solidarity International reported that 20,000 desperate civilians fled across the river Kiir and are sheltering under trees from the rain. The UN Mission in Sudan reports burning and looting by northern forces in Abyei Town and members of the UN Security Council have demanded that North Sudan withdraws its 5000-strong force from the area. Oil-rich Abyei is a disputed region with northern Sudan and newly-formed South Sudan both staking a claim for an area inhabited permanently by nine Ngok Dinka chiefdoms. Abyei is a key part of the comprehensive peace agreement that ended a civil war that ravaged the country since 1983.
Pray: for God to remove the spiritual atmosphere of war and destruction that remains over the area. (Ps.37:16,17)
More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11050147.htm
Nortth Korea: Food shortage?
A US/South Korean fact-finding team will visit North Korea on Tuesday to conduct an eight day investigation into people starving in remote regions. They hope to assess the amount of food necessary to relieve thousands of people. A South Korean spokesman said, ‘Transparency of the North’s distribution of food must be guaranteed before any food is sent’. Pyongyang’s past reluctance to disclose their food distribution process to outsiders sparked suspicions that most of the aid is used to feed its army and political elite. It is suspected Kim Jong-ll is stockpiling rice to release on the 100th anniversary of its founder Kim Il-sung next year. - See: For scandalous information from a Christian missionary detained in North Korea for two months please read this weeks Insight report. Pray:for all that is hidden to be revealed. For God to rule over and throughout all negotiations and investigations (Pr,16:4,5) Info: http://www.prayer-alert.net/info/NorthKoreaSuffering1.pdf
Mega Mosque’ allowed to defy planning rules
Cross community campaigners for social cohesion in Newham have condemned the decision of a government planning inspector to allow Islamic group, Tablighi Jamaat, permission to breach planning laws. In a ruling, the inspector authorised the radical group to continue using the current temporary mosque on the site of their proposed Olympic mega-mosque at West Ham. Local opposition association Newham Concern say the decision will provide succour to Islamic radicals. ‘For years Tablighi Jamaat have deliberately flouted building regulations and planning laws’, said Alan Craig, Newham Concern’s campaign director and former leader of the Opposition on Newham Council for the Christian Peoples Alliance party: ‘After much delay and procrastination Newham Council at last took the right action and told them to move off site. But the Planning Inspector has overturned this and apparently decided that illegality pays. They can now stay on site with temporary planning permission for a further two years.’ (See Prayer Alert 06-2011)
Pray: that this decision will be over-ruled. (Pr.29:26)
More: http://www.cpaparty.org.uk/?page=news&id=383