Paul Yazigi of the Greek Orthodox Church, and Yohanna Ibrahim of the Syriac Orthodox Church, were kidnapped near the village of Kafr Dael on April 22nd while returning from the Turkish border on a humanitarian relief trip. The abduction happened on the road to Aleppo from the rebel-held Bab al Hawa Province, where gunmen intercepted their vehicle and killed the driver. The fate of both clergymen is still unknown.
According to the United Nations, Syrian Christians have been vulnerable since the beginning of the civil war in 2011 which has left more than 100,000 people dead. Reportedly hundreds of believers have been kidnapped since hostilities began in 2011, and thousands more have fled the country. Many have crossed over into Lebanon or Turkey where they await legal or illegal means to reach Europe and obtain political asylum. To review a previous report on the crisis,
click here.
Pray that the Lord would be a shield to the multitudes of innocent people who are caught in the cross fire between the forces of good and evil. Ask for His divine protection and strength to be upon all of His faithful servants (including those mentioned above) who are boldly taking a stand for righteousness; mediating on behalf of those being persecuted; serving as His hands, feet and voice by carrying out various humanitarian efforts; and bringing His hope, comfort, encouragement and healing to those who are suffering greatly in this troubled land.
IRAN: Christian Activist Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison
Source: Mohabat News
Mohammad-Hadi (Mostafa) Bordbar, a Christian convert, was recently sentenced to five years in prison for membership in a so-called "anti-security organization" and an additional five years for gathering with intent to commit crimes against Iranian national security. The ruling was delivered to Mostafa's lawyer on July 31st, 2013.
The incident surrounding his arrest took place in December of 2012 during the Christmas holidays. Mostafa and about 50 other Farsi-speaking Christian converts had gathered in a home located in northern Tehran to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and worship together when 15 plain-clothes security officers raided the home and interrogated all those in attendance. The incident also led to the arrest of the Iranian-Armenian pastor, Vruir Avanessian. (For more information, click here.)
This is the second incident concerning Mostafa. Back in 2009, he was arrested for converting to Christianity and attending a house church. Although he was released after posting bail, the apostasy conviction remained in his criminal record. His lawyer, Shima Ghousheh, a member of the Iranian Human Rights Commission, stated that she is now working on an appeal to submit to the court.
While the Iranian Constitution recognizes the rights of religious minorities, including Christians, the Islamic regime of Iran prosecutes those who convert to Christianity from Islam. Persecution of Iranian Christian converts has been considerably on the rise since 2012. Many pastors and Christian activists have been arrested in recent years and given lengthy prison sentences as the number of Christian converts continues to increase and the network of underground house churches spreads at a rapid rate. To learn more about this, go to the
Iran Country Report.
While we can be so very thankful for the fact that the underground church in Iran is growing and thriving, the consequences of converting to Christianity are harsh and extreme. Let us pray that the government's new leadership will realize that the intent of Christians is not to undermine the country's national unity but rather to enhance it through the practise of Godly principles and the teachings of Jesus. May imprisoned believers like Mustafa, and spiritual leaders such as Pastor Vruir, be granted favour and ultimately freedom as a result.
We invite you to join fellow believers in praying for those imprisoned for their faith in Iran by posting on our
prayer wall.
NIGERIA: Multiple Bomb Explosions Target Nigeria's Christian Population
Source: The Christian Post, Reuters
Multiple explosions hit a highly populated area within the Christian district of Sabon Gari in Kano city at around 9:30 p.m. on July 29th. The military confirmed that 12 people have died at the scene of the blasts and a couple of others were wounded. However, a spokesperson for the local Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital has claimed that more than 20 fatalities took place as a result of the blast.
This same area was previously attacked by the militant Islamic group, Boko Haram, with the intent of totally wiping out Christianity from the region. In May, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in some northeastern areas of the country. The government has since announced its dedication in cracking down on militant Islamists. It was announced by Nigerian authorities on July 30th that 42 suspected members of Boko Haram have been arrested so far. For an overview on the tremendous challenges Christians have been facing in Nigeria, please see
this report.
The Lord is clearly hearing our prayers on behalf of our dear fellow believers in Nigeria through the government's willingness to provide greater protection and diligently track down the militants who are causing much loss, upheaval and pain in the lives of so many innocent people. May He continue to give President Goodluck Jonathan and his political team wisdom as they handle the perpetrators and bring assistance to the wounded and bereaved. Also ask for God's peace, comfort and healing to be upon the surviving victims and their loved ones.
