Thailand: Thai protest stand-off intensifies
The Thai government is blaming unnamed ‘terrorists’ for explosions which hit commuters in Bangkok on Thursday night, amid deadlock in the Thai capital. Early on Friday, hundreds of riot police crossed a major road to confront red-shirt anti-government protesters. But the police later stepped back from confrontation and the reds agreed to move further away from their barricade. Britain, the US and Australia have issued new warnings against travelling to Thailand in the attacks' aftermath. Six weeks of red-shirt protests have severely challenged the Thai government. The protesters are occupying swathes of Bangkok's shopping hub and have built barricades, the largest of which faces police in the Silom business district. Pressure is rising on the government to find a way out of the conflict but room for negotiation appears to be slim, correspondents say. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said through a spokesman that it was ‘a moment requiring restraint on all sides’.
Pray: against extreme measures on all sides and for restraint to allow for peaceful negotiation. For Christians working in Thailand to have freedom to share the Gospel. (Mt.24:12-14)
More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8638942.stm
Pakistan/Afghanistan: Peace process
President Karzai will visit the White House next month and then participate in an international peace conference between Afghanistan and Pakistan. About 1,400 Afghans representing the nation's ethnic, regional and political factions are scheduled to gather for a peace jirga next month to reach a national consensus for talking with insurgents to end a 9-year-old war. Jirga is a term for a decision making assembly of male elders used in criminal cases rather than by laws or police. Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai agreed on Wednesday to revive the joint grand jirga process to develop a strategy for reintegration and reconciliation. Jirga could be the way forward to restore peace as the two countries redefine their ties and engage with the Taliban to restore peace and end years of suspicion and political feuds. The US visit is extremely important as the US doubt this is the right time for talks with top Taliban leaders who think they are winning the war.
Pray: for God's purposes to regulate the White House meetings and for His intervention in Jirgas to bring internal peace for the area. (Is.32:3)
More: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvWEqwq3CrRvaQCmt21MfoYhjZJQD9F7PPUO0
Iran: House-church pastor assaulted and arrested in Karaj
The Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN) says that that on Wednesday, April 14, 2010, at 4:30 pm, several plain clothes security officers, introducing themselves as ‘agents of the Ministry of Information,’ invaded the home of a local house-church pastor in the city of Karaj, which is situated about 13 miles west of the capital of Tehran, and after threatening those who were present there, assaulted and arrested the pastor, named Behnam Irani, and transported him to an undisclosed location. ‘Sources in and around the city of Karaj report than approximately 10 young men had gathered to fellowship and practice their newly found faith by studying the Bible, void of any political or current issues, when this attack occurred,’ said a FCNN spokesperson. ‘Each attendee was informed that they had attended an illegal meeting and in the coming days they would be called and summoned for further questioning by the authorities.’
Pray: for the believers in Iran that the Lord would protect them and uphold those who are being imprisoned for their faith. (Ps.32:6-7)
Bangladesh: Buddhist extremists capture Christians
Buddhist members of an armed rebel group and their sympathizers have been holding three tribal Christians captive in a pagoda since April 16th. They were severely beaten to try to force them to return to Buddhism. Pastor Shushil Jibon Talukder aged 55 was bludgeoned nearly to death; Bimol Kanti Chakma aged 50; and Laksmi Bilas Chakma aged 40 were also severely beaten and all three are to be kept in a pagoda for 15 to 20 days as punishment for having left the Buddhist religion a Christian source said. Local Buddhists are considered powerful as they have ties with the United Peoples Democratic Front, an armed group in the hill districts. After taking the men captive the following day the armed extremists seized all blankets, Bibles and song books from the Maddha Lemuchari Baptist Church and then forced the congregation to demolish the Church building with their own hands.
Pray: for the captives to receive a powerful touch of the Holy Spirit with comfort and inner strength and for the congregation to also experience God’s embrace at this time. (Is.66:24)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/bangladesh/17879/
Churches appoint new Safeguarding Adviser
Elizabeth Hall has been appointed to the post of Safeguarding Adviser for the Church of England and the Methodist Church in Britain. Rev Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church, said: ‘Our churches take the safety and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults very seriously, and we have a responsibility to offer the highest standards in safeguarding. This role is central to that work and we are pleased to welcome Elizabeth to our team.’ The Rt Revd Anthony Priddis, Chair of the Church of England’s Central Safeguarding Liaison Group, adds: ‘Elizabeth’s range of experience in the statutory sector will be of great benefit in helping churches across both denominations keep up to date with the latest good practice in this area, and in offering professional support to our network of diocesan safeguarding advisers.’ Elizabeth said, ‘I am excited about taking on this role. I look forward to the opportunity to use my safeguarding and child protection expertise within the church communities.’
Pray: for Elizabeth as she takes up this challenging role to to care for our youngsters. (2Ti.1:14)
More: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/prsafeguardingadviser.html
Nigeria: Journalists are latest victims
Plateau State has been racked with violence since January 18, when 200 Muslim youths attacked church-goers in the Nassarawa Gwong area of Jos. Two journalists working for a Church of Christ in Nigeria have become the latest casualties. Their bodies were found in the mortuary of the Jos University Teaching Hospital on the 25 April, a day after they left their office to interview a local politician. Church leaders continue to advocate non-retaliation and Rev Dr Pandat Yamsat has appealed to church members to remain calm despite the security lapses, and to cry out to God and allow Him to take vengeance. Christian Solidarity Worldwide called on local authorities to make every effort to track down the perpetrators of acts of violence adding, ‘a comprehensive review must be undertaken as a matter of urgency. This is a vital prerequisite for the restoration of peace to the area.’
Pray: for God’s Spirit powerfully to protect the minds of all living in the Jos area. (Pr.14:33)
Uzbekistan: Christians punished for peaceful activities
Two Protestant Christian churches in and near Tashkent were subjected to raids within two days of each other in mid-April. The first raid targeted a youth conference and the second - where the police were accompanied by television journalists - targeted a feeding programme for the homeless. In addition an ‘anti-terror’ raid in Tashkent targeted ten Protestant women gathering for a birthday party in a private home, eight of them pensioners. They were all given massive fines. No officials in Tashkent have been prepared to explain why peaceful religious believers should face such punishments. Protestants in north-western Uzbekistan have complained of mounting raids, threats, fines, literature confiscations and court-ordered destruction of religious literature. State-imposed restrictions on all faiths are tight and the latest raids, fines, threats and literature confiscations come as religious believers of a variety of faiths face criminal trials for peaceful activity.
Pray: for God to turn this situation around and for the Christians in Uzbekistan to be treated fairly. (Ps.9:13-14)
More: http://www.forum18.org/
America: Challenging Afghanistan negotiations
A war in which the general doesn't know his enemy is a war lost. The manner in which the Barack Obama administration is handling its negotiations with Afghan President Hamid Karzai suggests the Afghan president is the US president's enemy number one in the Hindu Kush, alongside the insurgents. The number of dogfights between US special representative Richard Holbrooke and the Afghan government is now legion. The tussles are watched in regional capitals as Mr Holbrooke tirelessly wages his war with President Karzai's leadership. Mr Holbrooke announced in Washington soon after his visit to Kabul that the Jirga, or Peace Council, President Karzai was planning to hold on May 2-4 now stands postponed until after the Afghan leader's visit to Washington on May 10-14. (See Prayer Alert 1710). Holbrooke then went on to announce that the Jirga would be held on May 20. By all indications, the Afghan government is seething with resentment over Washington's announcement.
Pray: that President Obama fulfils his 2008 pledge to bring the ‘war on terror’ to an end; for the Taliban to be broken and the leaders at the Peace Jirga to stand in unity against war lords. (Pr.14:8 & 22)
Iran: Christians suffering uncertain future
Nineteen year old Daniel was arrested during a raid on his home by security agents acting on the orders of the revolutionary court and then released on bail. He is accused of blasphemy and spreading Christian propaganda and faces possible further court proceedings. His personal electronic items and books were confiscated in the raid. Daniel had been present at the arrest on 28th February of Hamid and Reyhaneh, who remain detained. Also Maryam and Marzieh were summoned to their court hearing to face charges of propagating Christianity and apostasy, but were told more time was needed to consider their case and they were sent home. Both women are frail after being held for eight months in Evin Prison, notorious for treating women badly. These and similar ordeals are a grave test for the endurance of our Iranian brothers' and sisters' endurance.
Pray: for God to give Daniel, Maryam, Marzieh, Reyhaneh and Hamid a sense of His presence and peace in their minds and hearts; and for officials involved to love mercy and act justly. (Ps.54:7)
More: http://www.givengain.com/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=cause_dir_news_item&cause_id=1489&news_id=86114
Commentators speak out over street preacher arrest
Another street preacher in the UK has been arrested for proclaiming Christian teachings about the sinfulness of homosexual behaviour. Dale Mcalpine was handing out leaflets in Workington when he was approached by a police community support officer identifying himself as homosexual. The officer arrested Mr Mcalpine because in the course of a conversation he said his belief was that homosexuality is a sin because it is against the word of God. This is the second time in five weeks that a Christian has been arrested in the UK for preaching Christian sexual ethics. By law a police officer has no right to call upon a citizen to desist from lawful conduct. (See) Article 9 of the Human Rights Act confirms that ‘everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion’ and ‘in public or private, to manifest this religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.’
Pray: for police guidance to recognise the rights of free speech of all parties including Christians. (Ac.20:20-21)