| In 1996 alone, 150,000 believers of Christ were murdered. That's seventeen Christians per hour. Too often, we lose sight of the freedom we truly have. Many of us will pray in our churches and read the bible with the right to do so, while never considering how blessed we are for having that right. But in other Communist countries, people are brutally killed for doing such things as praying upon God's word. Some face imprisionment, others are beaten to death. Most may be surprised by this statement, but more Christians have died for their beliefs in this century than in Jesus' time. As you read this, probably at home safely, there are Christians allover the world suffering. Take for instance the following places: More believers have been imprisioned in China than any other place in the world. In North Korea, all churches were closed, bibles burned and Christians were placed in concentrations camps. In Sudan, over 1,000,000 believers have been taken out of their deliverance by being captured and enslaved. Women and children are being sold for as little as $15.00. Some Christian children are forced to go to brainwashing, re-education Islamic camps. In Pakistan, believers are fined, imprisioned or killed for blasphemy of law. In Saudi Arabia, converting to Christianity is a crime punishable by death. In areas such as Egypt, Christians who own businesses are shut-down. Rape of Christian women is used to force Islamic conversion. Even after all these horrible facts, the most disturbing of them takes place in Lebanon. Syyria's leader, Assad, is trying to de-Christianize Lebanon. When Islamic fundamentalists need blood for their troops, they will often go into Christian villages, and drain blood from a child until he/she is dead. As you can see, these brothers and sisters of ours need a tremendous amount of prayer. What we also must remember is that our persecutors hated Jesus before they hated us. Therefore, if you are hated for your love of Christ, praise God in the knowledge that the Spirit of God and of Glory rests upon you. (1 Peter 4:14) If you would like to find a place where you can help these persecuted Christians, read about some of the these areas where believers are crying: * Afghanistan The Islamic State of Afghanistan has endured a civil war for religious supremacy, which was won by Islamic radicals. There are 88 groups of unreached peoples of this land. Non-Muslims are denied freedom of assembly, and open profession among refugees has often led to deaths. Pray that the Church in Afghanistan would multiply and gain strength daily. * Algeria Recently heavy political fighting between Muslim revivalists and the army could lead to civil war. Muslims in Algeria have bitter memories of �Christian� conquests. Algeria's religious and social pressures often force Christian girls into marriage with Muslims. Pray that God would bind up any bitterness among Muslims and give Christians insight and sensitivity. * Azerbaijan The Islamic revival is causing hatred and resentment against Christianity. Although Azerbaijan officially guarantees religious freedom for all, the nationalists are becoming more Islamic and anti-Christian. Armenian churches, many vandalized, remain closed and few of the Armenians left in Azerbaijan would feel secure to attend if they reopened. Pray that God would soften government officials' hearts toward Christianily. * Bangladesh One of the poorest nations of the world, Bangladesh suffers from overpopulation, floods, and cyclones. In 1988, Islam became the official religion of the state. Believers are often denied assess to public water wells by Muslim extremists. These extremists have also destroyed many of the Christians' rickshaws, thereby destroying their only source of income. Pray that God would use the current poverty and natural disasters to bring Muslims to Christ. * Bhutan Buddhism is the state religion. All public worship, evangelism and proselytism by any other religion is illegal. Buddhism shapes politics, and it is illegal for a Buddhist to convert. Pray for the legalization of Christianity and that thousands of Buddhists a day would convert to Christ. * Brunei Constitutional guarantees for the free practice of religion are eroding, and no evangelism is allowed among Muslims. The government routinely restricts the practice of non-Muslim religions by denying entry to foreign clergy and banning religious teaching materials and Bibles. Only Islam is taught in the schools. Pray that Muslims would have a deep hunger to know true freedom - Christ * China With its high population, China experiences more persecution than any other country. Despite Communist harassment, beatings, and arrests, Christians press on. China's new Strike Hard policy has brought increased pressure on Christian activities outside of the official church's Three-Self Patriotic Movement. The confiscation of church property and Bibles continues. Even Bibles officially printed and distributed by the government are taken by police. Yet the Church grows. An estimated 3,000 Chinese come to Christ each day. Pray the Church continuies to march on boldly, growing in Christ daily. * Comoro Islands All open witness is forbidden in this Islamic state. Christian missionaries work in local hospitals, but are not allowed to share their faith. Less than one percent of the population knows Christ, and those who meet openly are persecuted. Pray that the Body of Christ would take root and bear much fruit. * Cuba Cuba is isolated as one of the last champions of communism. In 1959, Castro came to power threatening Cubans with Socialism or death. Christians are still subject to many restrictions. The govenment has recently destroyed many churches and threatened believers. Some are even imprisoned. Because of the tight restrictions, this island country is experiencing a famine for the the Scriptures. Pray that the Church in the West would respond to Cuba's spiritual hunger. * Egypt Islam is the state religion. Recently the Christian minority was jarred out of its relative peace by Islamic radicals. These extremists have murdered Christians, politicians, and tourists to try to collapse the government. Muslim adults who convert to Christianity are forbidden to officially change their status, so their children are required to participate in Islamic activities. Pray that the children of Christian parents would choose to follow Christ in spite of government pressure. * Indonesia Although this Islamic government grants freedom to choose among the Islam, Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian religions, Islam is given preferential treatment. Christian expansion and influence in public life is limited by the government. Muslim extremists have recently attacked many Indonesian churches. Pray for conviction and repentance among the Muslims responsible for destroying churches and that they would come to Christ. * Iran Shi'a Islam is the state religion. Although the government claims to guarantee the rights of Christians, all deviations from the state religion can lead to severe persecution. The press is censored. Mission and ministry among Muslims are prohibeted, and spies are infiltrated into Christian groups. Pray that the enforcement of Islam would cause a deeper hunger to know Christ. * Iraq The repressive power of the government is held solely by Saddam Hussein. Religions are accepted by their degree of loyalty to Saddam's regime. Christians may not undertake missionary activity or hold services outside designated regions. Pray that Saddam Hussein would bend his knee to Christ. * Kuwait Sunni Islam is the state religion. Non-Muslims are socially discriminated against. Although the Gulf War resulted in some loosening of the strict religious rules, full freedom of worship and witness has not been realized. Pray that religious freedom would become a reality in Kuwait. * Laos Evangelism is strictly prohibited and it is illegal to bring in foreign publications. Christian clergy are rumored to be jailed for their faith. Protestant and Catholic seminaries, closed two decades ago by the government, remain closed. Pray that the Body of Christ would not lose hope and would gain stamina in Christ daily. * Maldives The Muslim government is committed to greater Islamization to preserve national unity. All citizens are required to be Muslims. No Christian places of worship are allowed and open witness can result in severe punishment As a result of these restrictions,Maldivians are among the least evangelized peoples on earth. Pray that government officials would see that national unity is only found in Christ. * Morocco The government is committed to preserving Islam as the religion of all its people. Christians are forced to minister only to expatriates since attempting to convert a Muslim , can bring severe repercussions from the government. Pray that the government would realize that peace is found only in preserving Christ among its citizens. * Nigeria Muslim persecution of Christians is generally ignored by the government. The entry of Christian missionaries is restricted. Many churches have been destroyed and Christians massacred in the North. Pray that the righteousness of Christ would be raised up among His Body in Nigeria. * Pakistan The government is attempting to Islamize public life through the legal system and taxation. This Islamization is eroding the constitutional rights of Christians and other minorities. There is a blasphemy law in Pakistan that calls for life imprisonment for anyone who insults the prophet Mohammed. Pray that the blasphemy law would be removed from Pakistan's legal system. * Qatar The strict Wahhabi form of Sunni Islam is the official religion. Witness to Muslims is forbidden and only expatriate Christians are allowed to meet. Only the Anglican church has been granted official status; all other believers must meet privately in homes. Qatari Christians have suffered much for their faith. Pray that the Anglican church would rise up and evangelize this country, making the most of their official status. * Saudi Arabia The home to Mecca, Saudi Arabia may be the most ardent Islamic state. When Islam gained control over Saudi Aravia 1,300 years ago, all Christians were expelled. The situation is not much brighter today. Even expatriate Christians are not allowed to meet together. Anyone who does mission work or converts a Muslim faces jail, expulsion, or even execution. Pray that Christ would manifest Himself to every Muslim visiting Mecca! * Somalia After the Marxist regime of the 70's, Islam has regained its prominence in the Somali government. There is a fear that more militant Islamic groups may gain control. Somali Christians have faced intense opposition and they are forced to practice their faith in secret. Pray that Christ would strengthen His Church in Somalia. * Sri Lanka Christianity is perceived as a foreign and colonial imposition in this Buddhist country. Free choice of profession and access to education are severely restricted for non-Buddists. Pray that Sri Lankans would see that Christ belongs to every nationality, not just one. * Sudan Sudan is expperiencing persecution unparalleled since the first century church. Since l985, approximately two million people have perished from war, famine and genocide. Entire villages are destroyed, children are sold into slavery, and believers are forced to flee as refugees. Hundreds of Christians perish every day at the hands of muslim extremists. Pray that God's Word and Christian resources to equip the Church would flood Sudan. * Syria Christian minorities are tolerated, but the government keeps a watchful eye to see that they do nothing to threaten the power the power of the state. missionaries are not allowed to reside in the country, and Christians who share their faith with the Muslims find it a daunting task. Pray that Christ would till and prepare the soil of Muslims' hearts to hear the gospel. * Tajikistan Christians who hoped for religious freedom after the fall of the Soviet Empire found instead persecution from another source. Islam is growing at record proportions. Tajikistan is in political turmoil, which makes it almost impossible to bring in missionaries. Pray that the government would see that stability is found only in Christ. * Tibet With Tibet occupied by China, Tibetans' freedoms of speech and press are restricted. Christians can only practice their faith secretly. Pray for creative ways for the Church to gather together and worship. * Tunisia In this Islamic state, tolerance is shown to foreign Christians but no one is allowed to evangelize. Indigenous believers are isolated since many have migrated, leaving few to share their faith. Less than one percent of the population claims Christ. Pray that the Church would multiply daily, beyond the government's control. * Turkey Although Turkey has historically been Islam's chief protagonist, it is currently a secular state. However,there are severe restrictions for non-Muslims. The state severly hinders the work of the church. Several Greek and Armenian seminaries have been closed since the 1970's. Despite constitutional guarantees of freedom, Christians in Turkey find it difficult to carry on religious activities while under Muslim influence. For effective evangelism to take place, Christians must find a way to overcome the Muslims' hatred of the Gospel. Pray that Christ would soften the hearts of Muslims toward the Gospel. * Vietnam The constitutional guarantees of religious freedom are meaningless. Government policy is aimed at controlling all religious movements. The religious deception of animism, witchcraft, and Buddhism also generates additional challenges. Pray that the Church would continue to minister despite government crackdowns. * Uzbekistan Islamic influences are steadily growing in this secular state. The Pentecostal Church has not been allowed official registration and the Lurheran Church has property confiscated and held since the days of Stalin. Muslim missionaries feverishly work to rebuild mosques distribute Korans, and convert people to the Islamic faith. Christian literature is now seized at the borders. Pray that Christians will soon have this same freedom, yet continue to share Christ despite the opposition. [Information courtesy of Persecuted Christians.] {home} All rights reserved. Courtesy of Patrick Levis: Our brother in Christ, 2001-2003. |
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| Photo Courtesy of James Keivom. |
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