Persecution Blog

Freedom by Michael W. Smith

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-07-03T11:10:29-07:00

For Freedom

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-07-03T11:03:28-07:00

Avalon: Testify to Love

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-07-02T16:17:54-07:00

When I think of the Lord and how the scriptures say that God is Love, and then I consider how so many Christians all over the world willingly endure suffering for the name of Jesus, all I can say is that this is testifying to God's love. Amen.

China: Office Becomes New Force for Religious Repression

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-07-02T16:13:22-07:00

You may have noticed I've been posting a lot of news coming from China lately. I cannot urge you enough to daily pray for China and our family in Christ there. Please also pray for the government officials that those who do not yet know Christ Jesus will come to know Him.

Government seminar on house churches, once considered encouraging, results in crackdown.

DUBLIN, July 2 (Compass Direct News) – Amid vigorous debate among scholars in China on the status of house churches, one prominent scholar has suggested the government offer more openness and legal standing to house church Christians, but authorities have reacted with raids, arrests, forced church closures and a ban on the Chinese Federation of Christian House Churches. Scholar Yu Jianrong and others have concluded that house churches are a positive influence on society, but the government is wary of such influence. The one-year, government-commissioned study by Yu and associates suggested that officials should seek to integrate house churches and no longer regard them as enemies of the state. A summary of Yu’s findings presented at a government seminar in November 2008 had encouraged some house church leaders, but shortly afterwards the Ministry of Civil Affairs banned the Chinese Federation of Christian House Churches. More raids over the past month illustrate what Yu described as a confused approach to religion, with authorities leaving some house churches to operate openly while other churches were specifically targeted for arrests and closure. READ MORE

Darfur Genocide Awareness

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-07-02T15:53:49-07:00

One of the groups that The Voice of the Martyrs works very closely with in the Sudan is The Persecution Project Foundation. Here is a touching video that I hope will encourage you to help and to pray for moment. We also welcome your comments.

Psalm 119:73-77 NIV

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-07-01T13:24:11-07:00

A few great thoughts from the Word of God to meditate upon.

⁷³ Your hands made me and formed me;
give me understanding to learn your commands.

⁷⁴ May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
for I have put my hope in your word.

⁷⁵ I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous,
and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

⁷⁶ May your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise to your servant.

⁷⁷ Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.

Rock Church Pastor and Wife Sentenced to One Year of Labor Camp in Henan

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-07-01T13:17:33-07:00

July 1, 2009

HENAN – Pastor Dou Shaowen and his wife Feng Lu of Rock (Panshi) Church in Zhengzhou city, Henan, were sentenced to one year of re-education through labor for “engaging in illegal religious activities.” Attorney Li Dunyong has traveled to Zhengzhou city to represent Pastor Dou and Feng Lu for the Administrative Review and Appeal.

While Pastor Dou Shaowen is imprisoned at the labor camp, officials released Feng Lu on the evening of June 25. Authorities have permitted Feng Lu to serve her sentence at home, in order to care for their 12-year-old daughter. She is required to report to the Public Security Bureau regularly, and could be sent to labor camp again if she is found “engaging in illegal religious activities” again.

Pastor Dou Shaowen and his wife Feng Lu were arrested on June 14, when several dozen officials from Zhengzhou Municipal Bureau of Religion and Zhengzhou Municipal Bureau of State broke into the church’s Sunday worship service. Officials forcibly photographed and videotaped the more than 100 Christians present, cut off the electricity and forced the Christians to leave. Finally, the authorities posted sealing tape from the Bureau of Religion, sealing off all the worship areas of Rock Church. Five other Christians, Li Zhemin, Wei Jianhua, Zhang Julin, Ma Jianbo and Li Cuiying were arrested with Pastor Dou and Feng Lu. Each of the five were sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention and were forced to pay a 800-900 yuan fine.

Contact Zhengzhou city authorities for the immediate release of Pastor Dou Shaowen and Feng Lu, and the five Christians sentenced to administrative detention.

Contact Zhengzhou city authorities for the immediate release of Pastor Dou Shaowen and Feng Lu, and the five Christians sentenced to administrative detention.

Zhengzhou Mayor Tel +86-371-12345
Mayor's E-mail: mayor@zhengzhou.gov.cn
Zhengzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau office to report phone +86-371-66228710
Zhengzhou City, People's Procuratorate +86-371-68985078
Zhengzhou Intermediate People's Court reported Phone +86-371-68983950
Jin-shui County Government +86-371-3526200
Henan People's Radio Station +86-371-65723998
Zhengzhou People's Broadcasting Station +86-371-68982487
Henan TV +86-371-65723657
Zhengzhou television +86-371-68982886

Read Dou Shaowen’s Re-education Through Labor Decision Statement.

Read Feng Lu’s Re-education Through Labor Decision Statement.

PAKISTAN: Sisters Abducted and Raped, Forced to Covert to Islam

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-07-01T13:06:17-07:00

Pakistan: Christian woman facing blasphemy charges

Asia Bibi, a 37 year-old Christian woman was recently arrested by police on allegations of blasphemy in Punjab province, Pakistan.

On June 19, some of the Muslim women who work with Bibi on a farm owned by a local Muslimengaged in a heated discussion with Bibi about Islam. Bibi told them that Christ died on the cross for their sins and asked them what Mohammed had done for them. "Our Christ is the true prophet of God and yours is not true," Bibi said.

The Muslim women became angry and began to beat her. Some men then locked her in a room and she was later arrested. At last report Bibi was being held at a police station and local Christians were urging the police not to file blasphemy charges. However, police claim that they must go forward due to pressure from local Muslim leaders.

Pray that Bibi will be released. Pray for strength for Bibi's family. Ask God to give boldness to Christians in Pakistan as they witness to their Muslim neighbors.

YEMEN - Christians abducted and killed

Mary-Sue Leigh — 2009-06-30T20:10:24-07:00

On June 12, nine Christian relief workers were abducted and three killed, reportedly because they were suspected of being involved in evangelistic work, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts.

The Christians left the city of Sa'ada without an armed escort to visit a doctor who lived nearby, according to reports. The believers left the doctor's home after two hours and eyewitnesses saw a group of armed men stop them. Investigators believe the kidnappers executed three of the hostages a short time later. At last report the other relief workers are still being held hostage and have been handed over to tribesmen.

Two suspects have surrendered themselves to Yemeni authorities and have been arrested. It is also reported that local imams in the area were concerned some of the relief workers were involved in evangelism while providing medical aid. Media reports indicate the Christians claim the Yemeni government is looking for the killers although they also say they had “requested them not to travel outside their area of work.”

The Voice of the Martyrs encourages you to pray for the families of the deceased believers and protection for those who have been kidnapped. Thank God for the faithful lives and work of those killed. Pray that the remaining hostages will be released. Ask God to fill those in mourning with a peace that surpasses understanding in the midst of their grief. Pray for endurance and wisdom for those serving the Lord in Yemen.

Islamic Extremists Kill U.S. Aid Worker

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-06-30T14:29:20-07:00

At least two gunmen repeatedly shoot teacher for Christian activities.

LOS ANGELES, June 29 (Compass Direct News) – Funeral services will be held tomorrow for a U.S. teacher in Mauritania who was shot dead last week by Islamic extremists for spreading Christianity. Christopher Leggett, 39, was killed Tuesday (June 23) morning in front of the language and computer school he operated in Nouakchott, the capital city. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, North African unit of the al-Qaeda terrorist network, claimed responsibility for the murder on an Internet site, accusing Leggett of “missionary activities.” A North African al-Qaeda spokesman aired a statement on an Arab TV station saying the group killed Leggett because he was allegedly trying to convert Muslims to Christianity. His family issued a statement today saying they forgave the murderers but asked that they be caught and prosecuted. “In a spirit of love, we express our forgiveness for those who took away the life of our remarkable son,” they said in the statement, distributed in English, French and Arabic. “On a spiritual level, we forgive those responsible, asking only that justice be applied against those who killed our son.” READ MORE