Persecution Blog | Today In Theology

Terrible violence against Christians in the eastern India state of
Orissa has now spread to the neighboring state of Chhattisgarh

INDIA (ANS) – As Christians in
four districts of the eastern India state of Orissa continue to suffer
attacks from extremist Hindus, the neighboring state of Chhattisgarh is
now also witnessing atrocities against Christians.

Their story states that around 100 unknown attackers armed with
lathis weapons (sticks) and petrol (gasoline) bombs attacked a prayer
meeting led by Pastor Mohan C Thomas and Jose Kajur in Bothli village
of Gurur area of Durg district, reports the Evangelical Fellowship of
India.

"The attackers rushed to the attack site in a truck where
around 2,500 people from nearby villages had gathered to attend an open
air prayer meeting last Wednesday," continued the Christian Today
story.

"The innocent Christian worshippers and workers were targeted on the
pretext of forceful conversion. In a brutal attack lasting around 10
minutes, the attackers beat them mercilessly and burnt the huge pandal
(tent) where they were assembled down to ashes, according to the EFI’s
General Secretary, the Rev. Dr. Richard Howell. The incident was
witnessed by viewers on a prime News Channel IBN 7.

"The Sub-Divisional Officer of Police of Durg, Shri Pipre,
informed one of EFI’s lawyers that a case was filed under sections 147,
148, 149, 426 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code and a few arrests were
made. Due to a lack of sufficient proof, however, the suspects were
later released on bail."

Dr. Howell said that similar attacks on
Christians by Hindu extremists last June meant that "the hand of
radical Hindu extremist groups cannot be ruled out."

"It is disheartening that the print media has wrongly reported
the incident, accusing the villagers for the attack and safeguarding
the suspected Hindu militant groups," he said.

Dr. Howell added that Christians in the area are unwilling to
speak out against these anti-social elements because they fear that any
such "provocation" could adversely affect their educational and service
institutions.

"Please pray that the police will take active part in finding
and arresting the perpetrators of the crime and also pray for the
safety of the Christians in this area," he said.

Christian Today also said that Dr. Howell also reported the
kidnapping of two believers in Madhya Pradesh, where a group of Bajrang
Dal activists attacked a house church in Pathigawan village under
Nayagadi police station in Madhya Pradesh on Friday morning.

They also kidnapped Gospel Echo Mission Society (GEMS) missionaries, Vijaya Kumar Morya and Keera Lal.

"The activists attacked with swords, sticks, knives and other
instruments. Two believers were critically injured in the attack and
are undergoing treatment in the hospital," the story said.

"According to EFI colleagues, eight men led by AP Sakhi, the
Bajrang Dal area secretary, came on motorbikes with Bajrang Dal flags
at around 8 am on Friday and surrounded the house where worship was
taking place. They beat the two kidnapped believers mercilessly before
taking them away on their bikes.

"A case under sections 341, 294, 323, 506 and 39 of the Indian
Penal Code has been filed in Nayagadi Police Station and the Rewa
district Deputy Inspector General of Police has also been informed."

Dr Howell said, "We earnestly request your prayers for the safe
return of our missionaries and the situation to be under control."

Stunned By An Act of Love

�What is it?� Soviet captain Marco snarled at the young boy. �What do you want?�

The boy, only twelve, swallowed his fear as he stood before the Communist officer. �Captain, you are the man who put my parents in prison. Today is my mother�s birthday, and I always buy her a flower for her birthday.�

�Since my mother taught me to love my enemies and to reward evil with good, I have brought the flower instead for the mother of your children. Please take it home to your wife tonight, and tell her about my love and the love of Christ.�

Captain Marco, who had watched unmoved as Christians had been unmercifully beaten and tortured, was stunned at the act of love of this boy. His tears fell as he slowly walked around the desk and grabbed the boy in a fatherly embrace. Marco�s heart was changed by the gift of Christ�s love. He could no longer arrest and torture Christians, and soon he himself was arrested.

Only months after the boy�s visit to his office, Marco slumped in a filthy prison cell surrounded by some of the same Christians he had previously arrested and tortured. He tearfully told his cell mates of the young boy and the simple gift of a flower. He considered it an honor to share a cell with those he had previously hunted and attacked.

Generosity is second nature to the believer. Jesus taught that others would recognize real believers by their demonstration of love. And not just for those who love us in return. Oftentimes, generosity toward strangers and even enemies is the best application of Jesus� teachings. Witnesses to our acts, if not the recipients themselves, are befuddled at the sight. Imagine a wounded Christian worker who prays for the boss who unjustly fired him or her. Picture the impact of grieving parents who give the gift of forgiveness to a drunk driver. The world doesn�t understand generosity. However, it is affected by it all the same. We find we are never more like God himself as when we give generously to others. God gave his only Son to demonstrate his love for the world and purchase our salvation. What could you give today that might open someone�s heart to God�s kingdom?

Sharing the Ministry of The Voice of the Martyrs

For the last few years I have been so blessed to be working with the staff at The Voice of the Martyrs, and seriously, when I consider how I got connected to VOM, part of me laughs and the other part realizes that God’s providence is always at work. Which is why I want to share with you a testimony that I received from Todd Nettleton the other day. For privacy reasons and protection, I have changed the names of the people involved. May this encourage you to share what you know of the ministry of The Voice of the Martyrs.

Now I don’t know about you, but I LOVE this story because it reminds me that not only is it very easy to share about Christian persecution, but it’s also extremely easy to get more information about how we can all help.

Please send us an email at stacyharp@gmail.com and share with us how YOU share the ministry of VOM. We may post your story here on the blog.

A Cry from Iran

Today as I was doing some research on Christian persecution, I came upon a website about two brothers who made a film about their martyred father. The film is titled A Cry from Iran and the following is a short description of what the film is about.

For more information and to view a short clip of the movie, please visit the A Cry from Iran website.

Christians in India Fear More Violence in Election Year

NEW DELHI, January 15
(Compass Direct News) �
With elections due in 10 states this year and a general election
scheduled for
2009, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is apparently
planning
to use religion-related issues to polarize voters. This tactic,
Christians fear, will increase the incidence of anti-Christian
violence. The party is planning
to hold major rallies in almost all state capitals by the end of March
in
preparation for the general election, reported The
Hindu
on January 9. �There will be increased violence against Christians in
the 10 states that go to the polls � and in other states, too,� said
Dr. John Dayal, secretary general of the All India Christian Council.

Bibles Unbound Close to Mailing 500,000 Bibles

One of the joys of my life is sharing the living and active Word of God with people. I LOVE the Bible, which is exactly why I’ve been on board with the Voice of the Martyrs Bibles Unbound project since it began.

Every month I receive bibles for China and Indonesia and I get to pack them and send them to people who desperately need the living Words of Life. And even though I may never know how those bibles impacted those who have received them in this life, I’m confident I will get to know when we are all in eternity with our Living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

And I want you to join me and thousands of others who have joined the Bibles Unbound project, because there is no easier way to share the gospel then by becoming involved.

Since the inception of Bibles Unbound the Lord has expanded the growth of the program and we are extremely excited that we are coming up on sending out a HALF A MILLION BIBLES!!! How cool is that!

In the next month, I would like to see all of you sign up one new person to become involved in sending out bibles through The Voice of the Martyrs Bibles Unbound program. For only 30.00 a month you can send 5 bibles monthly to people who need Jesus!

Here’s my personal goal…and maybe it will be something you’d like to do also.

My goal is to sign up the children’s Sunday School class at my church. Because I know that young children love to help people in need and they also can work together to earn the money to buy the bibles. It’s a great way to teach missions and also giving to our kids. And it’s easy and Fun!

So why not join me this month in getting one more friend involved in Bibles Unbound. If you do, please email us and let us know. WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!

President Proclaims January 16 �Religious Freedom Day�

SAUDI ARABIA � President George W. Bush has proclaimed January 16, 2008, Religious Freedom Day.

In a proclamation released by the White House during President
Bush�s visit to Saudi Arabia, he called on all Americans, �to reflect
on the great blessing of religious liberty, endeavor to preserve this
freedom for future generations, and commemorate this day with
appropriate events and activities.�

President Bush added, �In an era during which an unprecedented
number of nations have embraced individual freedom, we have also
witnessed the stubborn endurance of religious repression. Religious
freedom belongs not to any one nation, but to the world, and my
Administration continues to support freedom of worship at home and
abroad. On Religious Freedom Day and throughout the year, we recognize
the importance of religious freedom and the vital role it plays in
spreading liberty and ensuring human dignity.�

On Religious Freedom Day Americans celebrate the 1786 passage of the
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which greatly influenced the
First Amendment in the Bill of Rights, promising religious freedom to
all Americans.

�How interesting that President Bush would announce this
proclamation from Saudi Arabia, which is consistently one of the worst
persecutors of Christians in the world,� said Todd Nettleton, Director
of Media Development for The Voice of the Martyrs. �This is an
important day to thank God for the freedoms that we enjoy in this
country. It�s also an opportunity to remember to pray for our brothers
and sisters in restricted nations, like Saudi Arabia, where they are
persecuted, arrested and sometimes even killed simply for being a
follower of Christ.�

Pray for Christians in restricted nations who risk their all because
of their relationship with Christ. Ask God to protect them and give
them grace to remain faithful in spite of persecution. You can
encourage persecuted Christians in a practical way by writing letters
to Christian prisoners in restricted nations at www.prisoneralert.com.

Being A Christian Means Having Some Enemies

�I lost all my friends at school. Now that I�ve begun to �walk my talk,� they make fun of me.� Rachel�s journal entries showed her disappointment that the very people to whom she wanted to show Christ�s love turned away from her. But she wouldn�t give in.

�I am not going to apologize for speaking the name of Jesus. I will take it. If my friends have to become my enemies for me to be with my best friend, Jesus, then that�s fine with me. I always knew being a Christian means having enemies, but I never thought that my �friends� were going to be those enemies.�

Rachel was a student at Columbine High School on the day two students opened fire in the school. One gunman asked her if she still believed in God. She looked him in the eye and said yes, she still believed. He asked her why, but he didn�t let her answer before killing her.

Rachel Scott passed her test, and because she did, her light reached beyond her school to around the world. Long before the test came, Rachel expressed her willingness to give her all for Christ. The words from her journal, written exactly one year before her death, tell about her commitment: �I am not going to hide the light that God has put into me. If I have to sacrifice everything, I will.�

Faith is the invisible expression of our personal relationship with Christ. The Bible characterizes people�s faith as a light�a diffusion of hope that affects everyone around them. Jesus chose this illustration because of light�s inability to be restrained. For example, reading by flashlight under the covers, unknown to the average child, is hardly effective in terms of disguising late-night activity! Light simply shines by its very nature�despite our attempts to restrain it. Likewise, tension arises in believers� lives when they must choose to fully express their faith or attempt to muffle it someway. With the reliability of the daily sunrise, those who have affirmed their decision once and for all find shining their light to be second nature.

Todd Nettleton LIVE on Janet Parshall’s AmericaToday at 4:30 PM EST

In hour 3 of Janet Parshall’s America today, our very own Todd Nettleton from The Voice of the Martyrs joins Janet to talk about Christian persecution in China and around the world. You can listen LIVE to the interview at www.wava.com or visit www.jpamerica.com to listen to the show archived after 6 PM EST.

Persecution Exploded in India During 2007

In January 2007, it was predicted that incidents of persecution in India were going to increase considerably. Despite this, I do not think I was prepared for what actually happened. I do not remember a week going by without hearing about attacks against believers in different parts of India. Compass Direct News reports, �With more than 800 attacks around Christmas time in Orissa state, the number of attacks on Christians in 2007 crossed 1,000 for the first time since India�s independence in 1947.� That�s incredible!

Every time I hear about incidents of persecution, I am amazed and encouraged by the courage and faithfulness of our brothers and sisters. The recent attacks in Orissa state are of great concern because they seemed to be systematically organized by Hindu extremists. The Voice of the Martyrs contacts in India report, �Four Christians were confirmed dead, at least six seriously injured and numerous others are missing and presumed dead.�

I encourage you to pray for India and ask God to protect our brothers and sisters who face difficult situations. As you pray for the persecuted church in 2008, remember believers who continually risk their all for Christ. Praise God for these precious saints!

Join Us In Praying for the Persecuted in India

Please feel free to leave your prayer or comment for those in India who are suffering for Jesus Christ.

Re:Zound Shares How They Shared the Gospel Openly in Vietnam

Normally I wouldn’t be promoting a Christian band on this blog, but in this case I made an exception because this Christian band Re:Zound recently joined me to talk about their first debut album Abandoned to God and their ministry work in communist Vietnam.

What happened was that I stumbled upon a video of this band preaching the gospel openly in Vietnam, and I posted it here - please watch it.

Then after you finish watching the video please take a break and listen to our 30 minute podcast and hear how Jason Anderson, the lead singer of Re:Zound, shares how the Lord literally did many miracles so that their band could worship openly and lift of the name of Jesus. You will be inspired and encouraged to be bold in your faith.

Coordinated Blasts Rock Churches in Iraq

Bombs on significant day of liturgical calendar end period of relative calm.

ISTANBUL, January 7 (Compass
Direct News) � Four Iraqi churches and three convents were damaged in
coordinated bomb blasts yesterday morning, the day many Iraqi
Christians celebrate either Epiphany or Christmas Eve according to some
Eastern liturgical calendars. At least six people were injured, one
seriously.

�Three churches in Baghdad and three in Mosul [were hit], but
there were no fatalities,� Chaldean Baghdad Auxiliary Bishop Andreas
Abouna told Compass from Baghdad today. He said that the blasts
occurred within five minutes of each other at approximately 11 a.m.

- �I�m very upset. That the explosions went off at the same time proves
that this was part of a plan,� said Mosul�s Chaldean archbishop, Farac
Raho, on the TV channel Ishtar, according to the Assyrian International
News Agency (AINA)."

Turkish Judge Releases Minor Who Threatened Pastor

The following news is courtesy of our friends at Compass Direct. Please visit here to see the full story, which is extremely fascinating.

(Compass Direct News) � A Turkish judge in the Black Sea coastal city
of
Samsun on Sunday (January 6) set free a teenager who confessed to
making death
threats against a pastor and his church, a day after authorities
arrested the minor.
Judge Sinan Sonmez of Samsun�s First Minor Petty Offenses Court ruled
that 17-year-old Semih Seymen be freed �because of his youth.�
Seymen told police he called pastor Orhan Picaklar of Samsun Agape
Church several times starting December 29, threatening to kill him. In
an official
protest filed today at the Samsun court, Picaklar objected to the
decision to
release the defendant. �The defendant openly confessed,� Picaklar told
today�s daily Taraf newspaper.
�He said he was going to do a massacre tomorrow, the police heard him say
this over the telephone, but because he is �underage� he is set
free?�

Rely On God’s Word As If Your Life Depended Upon It

Brother
Ho was sick and running a fever when he and his friend stepped into the
icy waters of the Mekong River. They were Bible students in Laos before
the Communist soldiers overran their college.

They barely escaped with
their lives on their way to Thailand. They could not say goodbye to
their families, who were not Christians, because they might be turned
over to the police. So they said a silent prayer and stepped into the
cold, muddy, river with precious cargo strapped to their backs�Bibles
wrapped in plastic. Other earthly possessions were left behind.

Ho thought to himself, �Lord, at least if we die, they will know we are Christians and hopefully read one of these Bibles.�

About
halfway across the river, Ho�s friend desperately shifted the plastic
bag under his chest to float on it. The sudden splashing noise alerted
the guards in a nearby tower, and they shined a spotlight onto the
river. The light flashed over one of the plastic bundles and the guard
dismissed it as just a fish.

Relieved, Ho and his friend quietly
made their way to the Thailand side of the river. They thanked God that
their Bibles contained the words of eternal life and had also saved
their lives that night. After arriving to safety, they dedicated
themselves to ministering in the many refugee camps of Thailand.

The missionaries
in this story were relying on more than paper and leather binding to
save them. They relied on God. Still, their midnight river crossing
gives us an accurate picture of the role the Bible should play in our
lives. We are to rely on God�s Word as if our very lives depended on
it. We are unlikely to find ourselves in a situation where this truth
becomes a literal reality. However, the illustration is valid. We must
cling to the promises of Scripture to preserve our lives. When we are
in trouble, we cannot swim far enough on our own to get us out of a
mess. We must �float� on God�s Word, or we will altogether sink.

Jesus Preached in Vietnam

This morning I received a press release about this Christian band called Rezound who the Lord opened the doors for them to worship and preach Christ opening in Vietnam. Watch this two minute video and see the joy of the Vietnamese Christians.

Christians Killed, Homes and Churches Burned

The following is from VOM Sources in India.

Four Christians were killed, many injured and numerous homes and
churches destroyed or damaged in Orissa state in violent clashes that
began on Christmas Eve.

According to The Voice of the Martyrs sources in India, �Hindu
extremists used anti-conversion laws to terrorize Christians. More than
18 churches and prayer houses were ransacked and torched in several
areas of Kandhamai district in Orissa. Rev. Basant Diggal reports that
he was assaulted and his motorcycle damaged by a group of miscreants in
(the) Minia area, where vandals went on a rampage causing damage to
another church.�

VOM sources added Hindu extremists in Orissa have been threatening
and terrorizing Christians who are marginalized and are in the
minority. �In this state the church is endlessly accused of converting
non-Christians, and Swami Sarawati, who was behind the violence, is a
leader of the anti-conversion movement. Back in 1967, the state adopted
the Freedom of Religion Act, which stated the process that has led to
repressive anti-conversion laws,� they added.

Hindu extremists use anti-conversion laws to prevent Christians
from worshipping freely. VOM sources said, �The attacks took place for
the sole reason of terrorizing the Christian community and stopping our
missionary work. But the church has always grown in persecution and
this will happen again in Orissa. The church which grows in love and
unity has as its basis a faith marked by suffering and persecution.�

Pray for Christians in India who are faced with immense difficulty
at this time. Pray for the families of those killed and those whose
homes and churches were damaged or destroyed. Ask God to give believers
courage to remain faithful despite persecution.

Jesus in Turkey

As most of you know if you read this blog regularly, Turkey is a nation where Christians are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Today Christianity Today has a very lengthy article called Jesus in Turkey that is worth the read. Here is a brief snip from the article.

VOM Magazine Receives Mention in Philly Paper

A reader for the Voice of the Martyr’s monthly magazine recently wrote a very good article that is published at The Bulletin - Philidelphia’s Family Newspaper. In their lengthy article they cite VOM numerous times and I thought you may enjoy the article. Please check it out, especially if you didn’t get January’s issue.

Pray for Believers in Turkey

Christian Today is highlighting a story today concerning the reopening of a case in Turkey where three Christians were murdered last year. Glenn Penner, from The Voice of the Martyrs Canada says,

Please keep Turkish believers in your prayers, especially as persecution continues and Turkey continues to examine events of last year.

Turmoil Faces Pakistan in Wake of Assassination

Turmoil faces Pakistan in the wake of assassination

Pakistan
(MNN) — As we wrap up 2007, here’s rundown on some of the stories that
had significant impact on the body of Christ around the world. Our top
story today comes from Pakistan. The country is in shock after
Opposition Leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated December 27. Open
Doors supports the evangelical church in Pakistan. Paul Estabrooks of
Open Doors says, "I think there’s going to be some turmoil for quite
some time over this. Of course in the past, Christians have often been
the object of anger of the dominantly Muslim society there." Pakistan
is not the only country affected. Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Mission
India’s Dave Stravers says Christians in India are bearing the brunt.
"Christians are complaining that some of the national officials that do
protect them from local Hindu extremists, their attention is diverted,
and they’re not willing to get involved in another aspect of religious
violence because of this fear that Muslim/Hindu animosity might break
out in the country."

Hunger & Fear Grip State After Burning 90 Churches

As the calendar flipped to the year 2008 a few days ago, so also the continuance of persecution against Christians worldwide. Thank you for joining us as we begin another year remembering and loving our brothers and sisters who give it all for Jesus.

Hunger, fear grip state after burning of 90 churches, hundreds of houses.

NEW DELHI, January 2 (Compass
Direct News) � Orissa state�s Kandhamal district remains tense 10 days
after a series of anti-Christian attacks began, and thousands of
Christians whose houses have been burned down are facing hunger and
fear. Pastor Victor John, who came to Udaigiri village in the
Mallikapur area of Kandhamal as a guest speaker in a Baptist church on
December 24, the day the attacks led by the Hindu extremist Vishwa Hindu Parishad
(World Hindu Council or VHP) began, told Compass that the atmosphere
was still tense despite the deployment of troops. According to a
memorandum submitted to the National Human Rights Commission on Monday
(December 31), Christian leaders said that around nine people had been
killed, close to 90 churches burned, about 600 houses torched or
vandalized, and 5,000 people affected. VHP leader Swami Laxmananda
Saraswati told media on December 25 that the reason for the violence
was conversions by area Christians.

Joy That Sustains

�When I address the question, �What should I do if I don�t desire God?� I am addressing the question: �How can I obtain or recover a joy in Christ that is so deep and so strong that it will free me from bondage to Western comforts and security, and will impel me into sacrifices of mercy and missions, and will sustain me in the face of martyrdom?� Persecution is normal for Christians. �All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted� (2 Timothy 3:12). �Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you� (1 Peter 4:12). �Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God� (Acts 14:22).

�The fight for joy in Christ is not a fight to soften the cushion of Western comforts. It is a fight for strength to live a life of self-sacrificing love. It is a fight to join Jesus on the Calvary road and stay there with him, no matter what. How was he sustained on that road? Hebrew 12:2 answers, �For the joy that was set before him [he] endured the cross.� The key to endurance in the cause of self-sacrificing love is not heroic willpower, but deep, unshakable confidence that the joy we have tasted in fellowship with Christ will not disappoint us in death.�

Let�s Remember Our Brothers and Sisters This Christmas Season

It is unbelievable that the year is already nearly over. It seems the years are going by faster and faster. As 2007 draws to an end, I find myself reflecting on the many challenges that our persecuted brothers and sisters faced this year. I have been encouraged and challenged by the many testimonies I was honored to read this past year. Many were from believers who risk their lives time and time again, for the sake of the gospel. What seemed to tie all the numerous experiences together was the love our brothers and sisters have for the Lord and for lost souls. The passion these courageous Christians have and continue to show has been both exemplary and challenging.

As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I encourage you to remember our brothers and sisters around the world who do not have the freedom to celebrate this Christmas like we in a free country. Pray the Holy Spirit ministers to them and their families as the year draws to an end. Especially ask God to grant them grace and courage to faithfully serve him in 2008. I wish you God�s blessing in the new year.

Works Family Share Their Memories on ABC News

Today ABC News has an exclusive interview with the Works family. Click here to read the story or to watch the video update.

Opposition May Work In Your Favor

What made them really angry, angry enough to murder, was that this convert used to be a terrorist like them.

Maria Elena Moyano had
screamed with them for revolution in Peru. She had pleaded for feeding
the peasants by the power of the gun. Then she met Jesus Christ and
found a different kind of revolution�a revolution of love in her heart.

She
became the vice-mayor of Lima�s largest shantytown. She organized
far-reaching relief efforts among the poorest of the poor, feeding the
hungry, caring for the sick, and tending to the orphans.

�They
call us Christians �firefighters of the revolution,�� she said,
�because they say we extinguish the fires they set. They want the
population to have absolutely nothing to eat, hoping that then the
people will resort to arms. But we must not fear terror. We must oppose
injustice and savagery to help those in need.�
Maria knew she
would suffer, but she also knew that she must share Christ�s sorrows
before sharing his glory. Maoist terrorists attacked with a violent
rage, blowing up the building where the food for the poor was housed.
�Sometimes I fear,� said Maria, �but I insist we should never resort to
violence. It is difficult to defeat terrorism, but not impossible.�

Angry at the effectiveness of Maria�s work and unable to stop her, the guerrillas killed Maria on February 1, 1992.

The Pharisees
were not exactly tactical experts. Like the terrorists in Lima, their
strategy for discouraging people from following Christ brought
unintended results. Both the Pharisees and the terrorists worked hard
for the people�s allegiance. The Pharisees tried starving the people�s
souls while the terrorists tried starving the people�s stomachs.
However, the people in Jerusalem and the people in Peru followed the
revolutionary teachings of Jesus all the same. The harder the
opposition works against Jesus, the more it works to advance his cause.
The opposition can work against you and your efforts, but it will never
defeat you when you work for the kingdom. In fact, the opposition may
unwittingly work in your favor.

David Works Attends Daughters Memorial Service

There is a little bit of news to share with you concerning Matthew Murray, deemed the killer of the missionaries at Youth with a Mission and New LIfe Church. New reports are saying that there was 1300 cartridges of ammunition, a knife, a homicide textbook and Xanax found in the home of Murray. Authorities are declining what this may have meant regarding a greater attack.

Meanwhile, David Works, the father of two of the girls who were killed at New Life Church, spoke at his daughters memorial service yesterday. The Works sisters were survived by their mother Marie, and their two sisters Grace and Laurie.

Concern for Persecuted Rises During Christmas Season

Earlier this week one of my favorite missions organizations, Mission Network News posted about the dangers during Christmas season for Christians in persecuted areas. Here’s a short snippet from the MNN article.

Christmas In North Korea

A few weeks ago I mentioned on this blog that I felt really burdened for the Christians in North Korea, and as a result of this burden, I often look at the news going on in North Korea. Today I found this article from the Christian Post titled Lonely Christmas for Christians in North Korea which is a gentle reminder for all of us to keep praying for our brothers and sisters in North Korea.

The article states that Christians may celebrate the birth of Christ because "believers in North Korea can usually only gather two at a time on a
given Sunday. A Christian would sit on a park bench and another
Christian would come sit next to him. If no one is around, they may be
able to share a Bible verse they know by heart and briefly give a reflection. They also share prayer topics with each other, said Simon."

The article goes on to say that Christmas is celebrated mainly in the heart of the believer and that the persecution of Christians is in the tens of thousands in North Korea.

Pastor Assaulted During Prayer Meeting

On December 13, Pastor John Samuel, a pastor of one of the
Assemblies of God churches in Bangalore, was brutally assaulted by
Hindu extremists, while he was holding a prayer meeting at a local
believer�s house.

According to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts in India, �While
Pastor Samuel was praying with the family members, a group of Hindu
extremists forcefully entered the house to stop the prayer. The group
snatched the Bible from Pastor Samuel and assaulted him. He was
attacked so brutally that he wasn�t even able to stand up without
assistance.�

After the attack, the extremists took Pastor Samuel to a police
station where they filed a false complaint against him, claiming he had
caused a disturbance. VOM sources added, �Pastor Samuel was denied any
medical assistance, although he was badly beaten. Pastor Samuel�s
family is deeply concerned about his safety and the current condition
of his health.�

Pastor Samuel has been in ministry for five years, serving with the
Siloam Full Gospel Church at Kamakshipalaya in rural Bangalore. Pray
for Pastor Samuel�s healing and ask God to protect him as he
courageously pastors his church and shares the gospel. Pray his
testimony will draw nonbelievers into fellowship.

Todd Nettleton on Janet Parshall’s America Today

Earlier today Todd Nettleton appeared on the radio program Janet Parshall’s America to discuss the latest news from The Voice of the Martyrs. To hear an excerpt of the interview, please click here, to listen to part of Janet’s interview with Todd.

Todd speaks about the forgiveness that the ladies of the husbands who were killed earlier this year in Turkey, as well as China and human rights abuses and Prisoner Alert.com as well as news from Iran.

Being a Voice

It�s a fine line we walk as we attempt to be the �voice� of the martyrs. VOM�s ministry is unique in that we don�t just try to be a news provider, nor are we exclusively an aid provider. VOM does both, as I�m sure you know, with the purpose of joining the American church together with the persecuted church through prayer, awareness and involvement.

As part of the news staff, sometimes we struggle to hit our target. We want to get our message out, to convey the urgency of the need, yet we don�t want to be sensationalist. We want to be accurate in what we tell readers, but we are often bridging cultural differences as well as language/translation difficulties.

What we aim for, as one colleague said, is to �let the story tell itself.� How do you think The Voice of the Martyrs is doing?

VOM Video Blog for December 17th - Colorado Shootings

Last week was a horrible week for many families in Colorado. We would ask that you would keep the members of New Life Church, and the staff at Youth with a Mission in your prayers, as well as all the families and friends of those wounded and martyred. This video is in honor of them.

VOM Video Blog for December 17th - Colorado Shootings

Bombings in Iraq Keep Christians in Fear

Turkey
(MNN) — At least 27 people died and 100 were wounded Wednesday when
three car bombs ripped through a southern Iraqi city. Rival Shiite
groups have been battling for control of oil and power. The violence
has forced thousands of Christians out of Iraq. Some say 90-percent of
the Christian population is gone. Many are refugees in Turkey. World Evangelical Alliances’
Johan Candelin says they’re now his mission. "The challenge is huge,
but it’s better to do a little than to do nothing. So that’s why I’m
going there to comfort them, to share the Gospel about the birth of
Jesus Christ and bring them some food and toys for the children."
Candelin says he’s helping a
small group of 2,000 who have had loved ones killed or kidnapped. "Many
have had children that have been taken away. Once they got them back,
they left the country. So unfortunately, the Christian population in
Iraq is leaving the country very fast. It is becoming a totally Muslim
country, unfortunately."

Ten Killed, Three Churches Set Ablaze in Bauchi, Nigeria

BAUCHI, Nigeria, December 13 (Compass
Direct News) � Ten persons have been killed and three churches set on
fire after Muslim students in this city began a rampage on Tuesday (December 11)
because unidentified people pulled out two foundation blocks of a high school mosque
under construction. Area Muslims joined the attacking students, resulting in
the deaths and damages in the city, including dozens of homes belonging to Christians.
The identity of nine of the 10 people killed has been kept secret as the Bauchi
state government has ordered security agents to bury the bodies in a common
grave, eyewitnesses to the burial said today. The body of the 10th person has
been identified by eyewitnesses only by his surname, Bogoro, a Christian
security agent. A teacher at the Government Day Secondary School-Yelwa (also
known as Baba Tanko Secondary School), who pleaded that his identity remain
undisclosed out of fear of Muslim attack and government penalty, said he
witnessed the sparking of the rampage when Muslim students claimed that the
foundation of the school mosque had been pulled down. Muslim students began attacking
Christians in their classes, he said. �They broke chairs and desks,�
he said. �They also attacked their Christian colleagues with knives and
daggers. I had to run for my dear life because the situation became
uncontrollable.�

Matthew Murray’s Attack: Against Christians or Christianity?

Chinese Bible School

A young woman working full-time for a house church recently sent us her testimony. While she was away, police came and arrested everyone in her house church, including her sister. They confiscated her Bible and some notebooks. The police beat her sister to find out where she was. The young woman immediately came back. The police told her she must give up her Christian belief. When she refused, they threw her in jail. Eventually, with help from her parents and church members, she paid a large fine and was released. �I was mad that they did not return my Bible, which is my most valuable personal item,� she said.

Despite the trial, this young woman�s faith has grown stronger. She is now studying at a VOM-sponsored Bible school. She says, �I�m learning more of His Word. I also study�biblically-based money management and customer service skills that I can use in my ministry of sharing the Gospel. I now have the confidence to share the Gospel with both college students and farmers. I was a terrible person in the policemen�s eyes, yet I am so precious in God�s eyes�. I thank God for that.�

Colorado Killer “Hated Christians” and Kills Himself After Shooting Rampage

UPDATED 4:55 PM PT - The following was just posted at KJCT8.com regarding more of the alleged web entry from Matthew Murray.

I’m not sure about you, but this tragedy in Colorado has really grieved my heart these past few days. I always feel sad because these events hurt so many, and often the killers involved miss how much God really loves them.

The picture you are looking at is Matthew Murray, the young man who decided to shoot to kill on Sunday at both the New Life Church and Youth with a Mission. The picture was taken five years ago as he performed in a Christmas program. His roommate at the time is reported as having took this picture.

CNN is reporting that Matthew Murray died of a self-inflicted wound and are ruling his death a suicide. Apparently Matthew shot himself after he was fired upon by Jeanne Assam, who is being hailed as a heroine for her bravery and quick thinking, and saving hundreds, if not thousands of lives.

In the same article from CNN it is being reported that Murray is the author of the following message he allegedly posted prior to the first shooting at YWAM.

The message attributed to Matthew Murray — using the screen name "nghtmrchld26" — mirrored the wording of a warning posted in 1999 by Eric Harris before he and Dylan Klebold went on a shooting rampage at Columbine High School.

According to an article in the New York Times, Murray, "had been ejected from the training program in Arvada (YWAM) about three years ago and had been sending hate mail there."

Another article from The Herald Sun adds additional details saying that Murray "hated Christians" and that he was homeschooled.

We here, at the persecution blog, offer our love and sympathies to the families of Matthew Murray and all the victims he injured or killed. We would also ask that you all keep these families and organizations in your prayers over the coming days. Memorial services are said to be held possibly later this week.

Christians Murdered in Colorado

Since we do not know yet, if the shooter(s) had a grudge against God or Christians, we can’t label this Christian persecution. However, it appears that it is no accident that churches were targeted. Please keep the families and friends of all of those involved in these tragedies in your prayers.

Christianity Today has some great coverage, that is documented from when the intial shootings took place, to the present. Click here to read that coverage.

Bombs on significant day of liturgical calendar end period of relative calm.

Turmoil faces Pakistan in the wake of assassination

As the calendar flipped to the year 2008 a few days ago, so also the continuance of persecution against Christians worldwide. Thank you for joining us as we begin another year remembering and loving our brothers and sisters who give it all for Jesus.

Hunger, fear grip state after burning of 90 churches, hundreds of houses.

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