Pakistan: Asia Bibi’s accuser admits to phony charges?
The case of Asia Bibi, the Pakistan Christian mother-of-five who was sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy, has taken an extraordinary turn. According to a story monitored by the ASSIST News Service, Qari Salam, who accused Bibi of blasphemy charges, which resulted in a jail sentence and possible hanging, is reported to have 'ostensibly' regretted filing a blasphemy charge against the impoverished Christian woman. ‘The source of his guilt is the realization that the case was not based on facts but on hyped religious emotions and personal bias of some village women, including his wife.’ Bibi has been languishing in Sheikhupura jail since a sessions court gave her a death sentence for insulting Prophet Muhammad. Qari, according to some of his close friends, was now thinking of not pursuing the case anymore and expressed his desire to some of his friends, only to find himself in a difficult situation when activists of an Islamic religious organization ‘convinced’ him not to change his mind. (See Prayer Alert 10-2011)
Pray: that the case against Asia Bibi will now be dropped and she will be set free. (Ps.142:7)
Niger: Thousands of villages hit by severe food shortages
Nearly half Niger’s population does not have enough to eat and the government says it is facing a grain shortfall of 692,501 tons, following another severe drought across the Sahel. The government says it needs 3.8 million tons of cereals to feed six million people spread across 6,981 villages, equating to 49.4 percent of the affected zones. Boukanda, a village with a population of 1,000 about 50km west of the capital Niamey, is typical of many insecure villages which have been largely abandoned by their younger residents. The able-bodied and young people of the village preferred to leave for big cities or abroad. Only a few ‘wealthier’ families pound sorghum instead of millet, the main staple of the village. These people still have small supplies but they will not last long. Boukanda village chief Seyni Seydou said the rains ended just when the plants needed water, and grasshoppers and other insects finished off the crops.
Pray: for the people of Niger as they face hunger and drought. Pray that the rains will come and supplies of cereals reach those in need. (Rev.7:16-17)
Indonesia: Church wants more Chinese participation
Divine Word Bishop Hilarius Moa Nurak of Pangkalpinang has urged Chinese Indonesians in Bangka-Belitung province to free up some of their ‘busy time’ and play a more active part in Church life. Many Catholic Chinese Indonesians are business people with a ‘time is money’ way of thinking. As such they are often busy which prevents them from being active in Church life, particularly in their own basic ecclesiastical communities’, the prelate said during a Mass on Monday at St Peter Church in Lubuk Baja, Batam, to celebrate Chinese New Year. ‘Some think they are taking part in Church life by donating money,’ he said, adding that although the Church does need money it does not mean money can replace physical participation. According to the diocese, some 18,000 out of a total of 45,000 Catholics are living in the diocese are of Chinese descent. The rest are from various other ethnic groups.
Pray: that the church and all believers would work together using their gifts in building the kingdom. (1Cor:12-13)
More: http://www.ucanews.com/2012/01/24/church-wants-more-chinese-participation/
South Sudan: Christian Aid calls for end to violence
Christian Aid is providing relief to some of the tens of thousands of civilians displaced by fighting in South Sudan. It has called for a ‘swift end’ to the escalating inter-trible violence in the Pipor area of Jonglei state. The fighting between the Lou Nuer and Murle ethnic groups was sparked by recent cattle raids and child abductions. Christian Aid said inter-ethnic conflict in South Sudan was being fuelled by decades of underdevelopment and the proliferation of small arms in the newly independent country's largest state. The South Sudanese government has declared Jonglei a ‘human disaster area’ and has appealed for international assistance to bring the crisis to an end. Christian Aid said the emergency in Jonglei was creating a humanitarian challenge for the country. The UN estimates that more than 60,000 people have been displaced by the latest round of fighting.
Pray: for international support to help end the conflict between the ethnic groups and to promote co-operation with one another to improve conditions for their people. (Heb:12:14-15)
Afghanistan: A fledgling church
During the Taliban rule those deciding to leave Islam were considered traitors. Since the Taliban was ousted Afghan’s government has allowed a measure of liberalization in Kabul. However, the situation for Christians and converts from Islam remains difficult as the deposed ‘in hiding’ Taliban continues intimidating people and most Afghan Christians only share their faith with a few trustworthy people. But praise God many Afghans are miraculously coming to faith in Jesus Christ through divine revelations in dreams and visionsor through Christian radio and television programmes broadcasts, and in places where internet is available those who seek are able to find answers to their questions online. Last year after the nationally televised exposure of Afghan Christians on the internet, it became widely known that Afghan Christians actually exist. Others started asking questions and are beginning to seek and a number of well-educated and skilled Afghanis have begun participating in underground Christian activities.
Praise: God for new life; may they continue to find new creative ways to bring the gospel to the Afghan people and strengthen the church. (Ps.22:22)
Afghanistan: A fledgling church
During the Taliban rule those deciding to leave Islam were considered traitors. Since the Taliban was ousted Afghan’s government has allowed a measure of liberalization in Kabul. However, the situation for Christians and converts from Islam remains difficult as the deposed ‘in hiding’ Taliban continues intimidating people and most Afghan Christians only share their faith with a few trustworthy people. But praise God many Afghans are miraculously coming to faith in Jesus Christ through divine revelations in dreams and visionsor through Christian radio and television programmes broadcasts, and in places where internet is available those who seek are able to find answers to their questions online. Last year after the nationally televised exposure of Afghan Christians on the internet, it became widely known that Afghan Christians actually exist. Others started asking questions and are beginning to seek and a number of well-educated and skilled Afghanis have begun participating in underground Christian activities.
Praise: God for new life; may they continue to find new creative ways to bring the gospel to the Afghan people and strengthen the church. (Ps.22:22)
Pakistan: 40 day prayer campaign
A Christian in Pakistan writes, ‘2011 saw a turning point in the Pakistani churches freedom to pray as we conducted a 40 day prayer campaign from 1st Jan to 9th Feb 2011. God did a marvellous job when 1000 churches/ groups/ ministries and individuals in 30 cities across the country prayed for thousands of hours for the church and the nation. We received many testimonies of how the Holy Spirit led people to intercede in a new way and a new passion for the country and the people with the anointing of intercession, tears, compassion as never before experienced. It did not stop there for we also witnessed churches and ministers doing other prayer initiatives during the year after the 40 day campaign. In 2012 we have again called the Pakistani Church and saints across the country to join us in another nationwide 40 day prayer campaign from 20th February to 30th March 2012 (during lent season).’
Praise: God for the way He is opening up avenues of prayer throughout Pakistan, and ask Him for more Holy anointing on the 50 cities now signed up for 2012. Alleluia! (Ps.71:14)
More: http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Prayer-Network-Pakistan/251652868252
Pakistan: 40 day prayer campaign
A Christian in Pakistan writes, ‘2011 saw a turning point in the Pakistani churches freedom to pray as we conducted a 40 day prayer campaign from 1st Jan to 9th Feb 2011. God did a marvellous job when 1000 churches/ groups/ ministries and individuals in 30 cities across the country prayed for thousands of hours for the church and the nation. We received many testimonies of how the Holy Spirit led people to intercede in a new way and a new passion for the country and the people with the anointing of intercession, tears, compassion as never before experienced. It did not stop there for we also witnessed churches and ministers doing other prayer initiatives during the year after the 40 day campaign. In 2012 we have again called the Pakistani Church and saints across the country to join us in another nationwide 40 day prayer campaign from 20th February to 30th March 2012 (during lent season).’
Praise: God for the way He is opening up avenues of prayer throughout Pakistan, and ask Him for more Holy anointing on the 50 cities now signed up for 2012. Alleluia! (Ps.71:14)
More: http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Prayer-Network-Pakistan/251652868252
North Korea: Pray for change
Death camps as in World War II are happening right now in North Korea. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea runs a network of concentration camps where an estimated 1 million innocents have been murdered in silence and 250,000 political prisoners, one-third of them children, are currently being forced to perform slave labour on starvation rations. They are subject to systematic rape and torture, biological and chemical weapon experimentation, and summary execution. Many of them are our brothers and sisters in Christ. To follow the Lord can be a death sentence outright or you could have three generations of your family sentenced to such atrocities in the camps. Dr. Norbert Vollertsen witnessed first-hand the genocidal policies of the regime and spoke recently to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. To read a transcript of his talk click the 'More' link or watch a video message he gave to the South Korea press at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2J-qJ1CqN4'
Pray: that Kim Jong-un would listen to the international human rights demands and liberate prisoners from Political Concentration Camps; pray also for the safety of every North Korean individual regardless of religion or political beliefs. (Ps.92:89)
Afghanistan: US talks with Taliban
Yusuf al-Qaradawi, an Islamist scholar who asked his followers to back Jihadist groups in Jammu and Kashmir, is a key mediator in secret talks between the US and the Taliban according to government sources. See http://www.thehindu.com/news/article2755817.ece In 2009, Mr al-Qaradawi issued a fatwa declaring that ‘the Kashmiris were correctly fighting jihad against the Indian army,’ arguing, ‘The jihad was legitimate since mujahideen groups sought to create an Islamic state and it was incumbent on all Muslims to help Kashmiris gain their ‘freedom from Indian aggression.’ Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi is currently the Muslim Brotherhood's leading speaker and is still urging that Islam must dominate the world under a global caliphate governed by sharia. He maintains that Islam ‘will conquer Europe and will conquer America. Some are saying the Afghanistan war is unpopular and President Obama wants to run for re-election next November saying he ‘ended two wars.
Pray: that God will keep His Sovereign Hand over all political dealings in and about Afghanistan. Pray for the emergence, establishment and protection of the Afghan Church in Afghanistan. (see this week’s praise item) (Ps.41:1-2)