Vietnam: House Church attacked
A house church in Hanoi faces uncertainty over where to worship after armed men broke up their meeting, seriously injuring a dozen Christians including women and children. Three were evacuated to an undisclosed hospital in Ho Chi Minh City after local hospitals refused to examine or treat them. (Vietnamese doctors dare not treat or even examine victims of religious persecution.) Pastor Nguyen Thi Lan is a recently-retired Communist Party official who converted to Christianity last year. Within that short time she has led 50 people to the Christian faith, angering fellow villagers who threatened to kill her if she continues to organize church meetings. Pastor Nguyen Danh Chau was brutally injured with internal injuries to the kidneys, liver and other organs, and left unconscious. Another victim was hit with a steel shovel on her chest and stomach as well as her back, in considerable pain but not admitted to hospital.
Pray: for God to give his wisdom and protection to the growing unregistered house church movement of 2,200+ meeting in over 35 congregations. (Ps.22:19-20)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/19146-news-alert-vietnam-house-church-attacked-12-injured
Global: Opposition to proposed cluster bomb accord
Between 18th and 25th of November the United Nations discussed a new international law on cluster bombs. Religious groups are opposing proposals currently being discussed saying it would put more civilians at risk than an existing treaty. The new law supported by the US, Russia, Israel, China and India would mandate the destruction of all cluster bombs produced before 1980, but allow stockpiled weapons to be used for up to 12 years. It would also allow the continued use of munitions that had a failure rate of less than 1% . A cluster bomb releases smaller ‘bomblets’ designed to kill civilians, damage vehicles and enemy munitions. The Oslo Convention 2010 was ratified by 111 countries and imposed a comprehensive ban on cluster bombs and ordered the destruction of existing stockpiles. The five countries supporting the new law have not signed the Oslo Convention.
Pray: for international Christian groups currently working to eradicate these weapons to be successful – the Mennonites in the US, Tasmania Australia and Canadian churches and the Church of England. (Php.4:1)
More: http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2011-11/faith-groups-oppose-proposed-cluster-bomb-accord
Burma: Plight of ethnic nationalities
CSW reported Burma's ethnic people are being neglected, highlighting regular use of rape, forced labour, religious persecution, torture and killings in Kachin State where the Army has been waging an offensive against ethnic civilians since breaking a 17-year ceasefire in June. The pastor of a Baptist Church was arrested at 3pm on Nov. 17th while in a store speaking on the phone. Local sources say no reasons were given for his arrest and his whereabouts are unknown. A mother of a 14-month old baby was captured by the Army and forced to work as a porter. She is believed to be held in a camp and repeatedly gang-raped. The Army commander promised her family she would be released by Nov. 2nd but she was not released. An assistant to the pastor of an AoG church died on Nov. 7th a day after severe torture when soldiers attacked and looted the church.
Pray: for the Burmese regime to stop attacking its citizens, and begin a process that will secure peace and protect human rights. (Pr.18:4-5)
More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue14628.html
Kazakhstan: Laws restricting freedom of religion
Kazakhstan has recently closed mosques, churches and prayer rooms in prisons, citing two laws restricting freedom of religion or belief. ‘Mosques and Russian Orthodox churches were built in prisons in violation of building regulations and the law. They are illegal - that's why they are being closed down.’ Kazakhstan has also started closing prayer rooms in social care institutions. ‘We're all in shock,’ Fr Vladimir Zavadich of the Orthodox Church said. ‘We didn't expect this from our government. Now we fear this will happen everywhere.’ Orthodox Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen stated that this took away ‘the last consolation from those people who, for health reasons, find themselves in a desperate, helpless situation’. He described calls to bar priests from such homes, hospices and old people's homes as ‘inhumane’.
Pray: that Christians might meet for worship without needing state permission. (Pr.21:15)
More: http://www.forum18.org/index.php
America: Condoleezza Rice says, ‘Turn to the Holy Spirit’
Condoleezza Rice recently told students at the University of Mobile that asking God for guidance has been the driving force of her career - and that yielding to a ‘higher power’ in difficult times is always beneficial. The former Secretary of State told 400-plus students that her Christian faith and the decisions she makes are inseparable, and urged them to follow the Holy Spirit, as she has, to remain optimistic and persevere. ‘It's not that you say, 'Well, is this the right thing to do?' It's that you ask for guidance and are always aware that you have a higher power to which to appeal.’ Rice was, answering a question about how her faith impacted her role as Secretary of State ‘The best part about being a person of faith is that I could be continually optimistic even in hard times, I don't know how people who can't appeal to the Holy Spirit get through those hard times,’ she continued.
Pray: that across the world God would raise up more Christian leaders and anoint them to talk publicly about their faith. (Ps.40:4-6)
More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2011/November/Condoleezza-Rice-Shares-Faith-with-Alabama-Students/
Syria: Descent into civil war?
Army defectors attacked and destroyed parts of the Air Force Intelligence building in Harsata, (a major military base near Damascus). It is the Free Syrian Army's most high-profile attack since anti-government protests began. The rebel army was formed by military defectors opposed to Mr Assad and affirmed 15,000 members by mid-October, saying more soldiers and officers are defecting every day. They work alongside the Syrian people to topple the government and ‘stand up to the irresponsible military machine which is protecting the regime’. The government has severely restricted access for foreign journalists, and reports of violence are extremely difficult to verify. The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Rabat for the Arab League meeting, says reports of the attack show how the situation in Syria is becoming more serious by the hour. It is also a graphic illustration of how the conflict is moving close to being a civil war which might affect the whole region; rather than a fight between unarmed protesters and the government.
Pray: and call to God, for all those in distress, and may Jesus Christ reveal his truth and wisdom and change the hearts of those in authority. (Ps.55:18 & 139:20-21)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15752058
India: Two Christian communities attacked
Ultra-nationalist Hindu Bajrang Dal activists attacked members of two different Christian communities engaged in a prayer service, accusing them of practicing forced conversions. The episodes took place on November 12th and 13th in Karnataka.The assaulted Christians are now in prison. This brings to 40 the number of attacks against the Christian community of the state in 2011. ‘Two incidents in two days belie every promise regarding religious freedom made to the Christian community by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, a member of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). Collusion between the government of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar is very real, the attacks are deliberate and meticulously planned. As long as these movements escape the harsh measures of the Indian criminal justice system, violence will continue.’
Pray: for freedom of public worship for Christian minorities across secular India. (Ps.71:1)
Egypt: Christians under threat from Muslim Brotherhood
Egyptian Coptic Christians living in the United States sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton imploring her to take more action against the ‘crime against humanity’ facing the Christian population in Egypt from the Muslim Brotherhood.’ Monir Dawoud, head of the American Coptic Association said, ‘The radical Muslim Brotherhood was attempting to annihilate Christians and other religious minorities in the country.’ Dawoud called for a guarantee of rights for all minorities to be included in the new constitution after Egypt's new government is elected in less than three weeks, and that aid to Egypt be conditional on the country's justice toward Christians and minorities. The letter states, ‘The Muslim Brotherhood is waging what it calls 'civilization jihad' against the United States and other freedom-loving countries in order to secure their submission to the Islamic totalitarian political-military-legal doctrine called Sharia.’ Repeated calls to stem the popularity of the Muslim Brotherhood have been heard in Congress.
Pray: Egypt’s government would choose to take a balanced attitude towards Christian minorities allowing them to openly follow Jesus Christ. (Ps.85:12-13)
Afghanistan: Taliban
A survey of 6,348 Afghans by the Asia Foundation between July 2nd and August 11th showed support for the Taliban dramatically declined over the last two years from 56% to 29%.This is coupled with a high level of support for the government's reconciliation and negotiation efforts with armed opposition groups. Nevertheless on Wednesday three coalition service members were killed as a result of two separate bomb blasts on the first day of a three-day loya jirga in Kabul, (a grand assembly of more than 2,000 delegates from around the country to discuss Afghanistan's future relationship with the United States. It also includes talks about possible negotiations with the Taliban.) On Monday, a Taliban spokesman strongly condemned the loya jirga, fueling fears of Afghan officials and those attending the loya jirga that the militant group may be planning attacks to disrupt it.
Pray: that God will enable Afghanistan to continue to develop a safe environment, children’s education, clean drinking water and well equipped clinics and hospitals. (Ps.68:1-3)
Sudan: Troops bomb refugees fleeing persecution
The Sudanese military are accused of dropping five bombs on the Yida refugee camp in Unity State, South Sudan where 20,000 refugees escaping violence and persecution are housed. The camp is home to people from the Nuba Mountains where northern troops are targeting groups considered 'disloyal' to the northern regime. The Nuba people are mainly Christian and northern President Omar al-Bashir vowed to enforce strict Sharia or Islamic law across Sudan when South Sudan became an independent nation in July. Christians in the Yida camp told the US Commission on International Religious Freedom that they are being targeted and pastors reported churches being burnt and looted, and soldiers killing Christians for being 'enemies of Islam'. One of the bombs landed in a schoolyard, but failed to explode. 300 children were in class at the time.
Pray: for all affected by persecution and destruction of property to know God’s peace and have their prayers answered. (Ps.4:3)