Kyrgyzstan: Ex-leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev flies to Kazakhstan
Deposed Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has left the country and flown to neighbouring Kazakhstan. His departure comes in the wake of a 7 April uprising that killed scores of people and forced him to flee the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. He had been trying to muster support in his home region of Jalalabad in the south of the country. Kyrgyzstan's interim government said Mr Bakiyev had signed a letter of resignation. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said Mr Bakiyev's departure had been agreed with the US, Russia and the EU. The Russian Interfax news agency said Mr Bakiyev may fly on to Turkey or Latvia. Gunfire had been heard earlier as Mr Bakiyev spoke in the southern city of Osh; an opposition rally was going on nearby. Mr Bakiyev was quickly bundled into his car and driven back to Jalalabad where a plane was seen taking off from the nearby airport. (See also Prayer Alert 1510)
Pray: for the people of Kyrgyzstan that there would now be peace leading to just and stable government. (Job.22:21)
More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8623021.stm
Turkey: Church group announces day of prayer
The Association of Protestant Churches in Turkey is inviting Christians worldwide to join in a day of prayer for the predominantly Muslim country. The International Day of Prayer for Turkey will take place each year on April 18, the anniversary of the horrific murders of three Christian workers in a Bible publishing house in Malatya in 2007 by a group of young Muslim Turks. The group is asking Christians to pray that Turkey’s small Christian community can be strengthened in the Holy Spirit to live for the glory of God and that the people of Turkey will open their hearts and eyes to the Kingdom of God.
Pray: for the Turkish nation that they will have their hearts and eyes opened. (Mt.5:1)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.group.announces.day.of.prayer.for.turkey/23052.htm
Iran: Another Christian is accused of evangelistic activities.
Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN) reports that on March 7, 2010 a new Christian convert by the name of Saeed, was stopped by two unmarked cars, belonging to the ministry of information. After searching his car and personal identification he was taken to the local jail. Upon his release Saeed was told that none of his personal identification documents would be returned to him and he was barred from leaving the city of Tanriz. Saeed has been accused of starting a home-based fellowship, teaching Christian doctrines, attempting to baptize new converts, and other related Christian activities. Remember also the two Christian women by the names of Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh, who were arrested and detained for nine months at the Tehran Evin Prison. According to reports thier trial started on Tuesday April 13.
Pray: for Iranian Christians as they face pressure from the authorities over their faith. (1Pet.1:6-7)
Pakistan: False charges filed against 47 Christians
Police here filed false charges of alcohol possession against 47 Christians, including women and children, on March 28 in an attempt to intimidate them into paying a bribe, Christian leaders said. Police ransacked the home of Shaukat Masih on Palm Sunday, manhandled his wife Parveen Bibi, and threatened to charge them and 45 Christians from other areas with alcohol possession if they did not pay a bribe, said attorney Albert Patras. The Christians refused. ‘Police are not interested in their arrest, instead they were trying to extort some money from the destitute Christians,’ Patras said. ‘Police thought that Christians, being a soft target, would readily be bribed to save their families. Non-Muslims with a permit are allowed to possess and drink alcohol in Pakistan, while alcohol is forbidden to Muslims. Shaukat Masih has a government permit to keep and drink alcohol,’ Patras said, thus making the possession charge baseless.
Pray: for our brothers and sisters in Christ who face persecution on a daily basis that God would strengthen them. (2Th.3:2-3)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/pakistan/17273/
Nigeria: Borno State debates law 'to stop Islamic extremism'
Politicians in Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria are debating a bill aimed at curbing religious extremism. The Islamic Preaching Bill would outlaw preaching likely to cause a breach of the peace as well as requiring most clerics to obtain a preaching licence. The legislation was proposed after an Islamic sect was blamed for sectarian violence in northern Nigeria last year in which hundreds of people died. Under the new bill, there would be stiff penalties for clerics found guilty of insulting or inciting contempt of any religious belief which causes a breach of the peace. The bill is an attempt to prevent a recurrence of the violence which spread across Nigeria's northern states in July 2009 when supporters of an Islamic sect called Boko Haram - known locally as the ‘Taliban’ - attacked police and government offices.
Pray: that this bill will have the desired effect to prevent the recurrence of violence. (Ps.7:9)
Congo: Church and government to discuss human rights
Human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will be the topic of a workshop bringing together high-level representatives of government, churches and international organisations in the country's capital, Kinshasa, 13-17 April, reports CISA. Speakers at the workshop include the UN’s special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, and the DRC justice minister Luzolo Bambi. Others are ministers in charge of planning, economy and gender issues, the national president of the Church of Christ in Congo the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), vice-president Methodist Bishop David Yemba, as well as other prominent representatives of state, church and civil society. The organizers were the World Council of Churches (WCC) with the co-operation of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), participants come from the different provinces of DRC as well as neighbouring Angola, Rwanda and Burundi.
Pray: that this meeting of minds will result in a powerful pressure group for human rights in central Africa. (Rom.15:5)
India: Pastors detained for ‘converting’ Hindus
A dozen church leaders remained behind bars Tuesday, April 13, over a week after security forces detained them in India's southern state of Karnataka on charges of ‘forceful conversion’ of Hindus, a major evangelical group said. The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), which represents evangelical Christians and churches, said, the 12 pastors were detained in the district of Kodagu April 6 after Hindu extremists filed a police complaint against the Christians about forceful conversion. The Hindu militants and several police officers reportedly barged into the home of a Christian where the pastors were having a prayer meeting. The extremists accused the pastors of forceful conversion and took them to the police station for questioning. (See Prayer Alert 1410)
Pray: for the church and its leaders in India that God would equip them for the battle. (Heb.13:20-21)
More: http://www.worthynews.com/7958-india-state-detains-pastors-for-converting-hindus
Lebanon: relationships with Syria, USA and Israel
The Obama administration is committed to improving relations with Syria despite its moves to aid the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. Israel regards Hezbollah as a major threat and accuses Syria of providing the group with Scuds. A Scud has a far longer range and can carry a much bigger warhead than the rockets Hezbollah has used in the past, and could reach anywhere in Israel from Hezbollah bases in southern Lebanon. Lebanon is independent providing freedom of religion and freedom to practice all religious rites provided public order is not disturbed. They have no state religion and officially recognizes 18 religious groups of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Around one-third of the four million people are Christian and two-thirds are Muslim. Hezbollah (whose name means party of god) is based in Lebanon and it is a state-within-a-state gaining support among many Lebanese Shiites by providing social support to operate schools, hospitals, and agricultural services for thousands.
Pray: for God to use this situation at this time to draw more into His family and may the bride of Christ in the Middle East be called deeper into the presence of the Lord Jesus. (SS:4:8)
More: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hxDzV2v2jrhRDQkI0V9heGBJZcLgD9F83JUG2
Canada: Bill hailed by Pro-Lifers
‘No woman should be threatened, intimidated or pressured into aborting a child against her will. Not in a nation such as ours that values life and human rights.’ The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada has announced that they are endorsing Bill C-510 the proposed legislation that would criminalize the coercion of pregnant women to obtain abortions. The bill was introduced last Wednesday by Conservative MP Rod Bruinooge would ensure that pregnant women who choose to carry their child to term will have that decision respected and protected. This is a bill that, while not addressing the legality of abortion in any way, will make it a criminal offence to coerce a woman into an unwanted abortion. Bruinooge has named his bill ‘Roxanne's Law’ after Roxanne Fernando whose boyfriend attempted to coerce her to have an abortion. She refused to have the unborn child killed and was beaten and left to die in a snow bank.
Pray: the Canadian government and society to have God’s thoughts and support programs and resources protecting unborn children and their mothers. (Ps.139:16)
More: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/apr/10042008.html
Africa: One in four Christians has superstitious beliefs
Roughly one in four Christians in sub-Sahara Africa believes sacrifices to spirits or ancestors can protect them from bad things happening, according to a recent 19-country survey on religious attitudes in Africa. Sizable percentages of both Christians and Muslims - a quarter or more in many countries - say they believe in the protective power of juju (charms or amulets). In Tanzania and South Africa more than half the people surveyed said they believed that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits could protect them from harm. Many people also say they consult traditional religious healers when someone in their household is sick, and sizable minorities in several countries keep sacred objects such as animal skins and skulls in their homes and participate in ceremonies to honour their ancestors.
Pray: for the Holy Spirit to invade the mindset of all who are deceived and for all who call on the name of Jesus Christ to be correctly birthed into God’s family. (Ps.96:5 & Jn.3:3)