Mary was on her way to deliver groceries and other necessities to a poor family in the Ein Shams area, as she did every Friday, when she was stopped by a group of protesters. When they spotted Mary's gold cross necklace, they dragged her out of the car and repeatedly stabbed her before finally choking her to death.
The family of this young Christian woman was understandably devastated when they learned of the murder. In fact, her fiancé's mother was so grief-stricken that she died shortly after learning of Mary's death.
Bring Mary's family, fiancé and other loved ones to our Lord in prayer, asking Him to grant them His peace which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Pray also that they will find hope in Christ's resurrection and sure promise that they will be reunited in heaven. Until then, may they look to Jesus for the strength and grace to forgive those who ended Mary's life so tragically. Intercede on behalf of those guilty of this crime, as well as all those in Egypt who oppose the Gospel...that they may come to experience the saving power of Jesus Christ.
For more information on Egypt's persecuted church, please visit our website at
www.persecution.net/egypt.htm.
SYRIA: Elderly Church Leader Murdered in Homs
Sources: World Watch Monitor, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Middle East Concern
Father Frans van der Lugt, a 75-year-old Dutch priest who had lived and worked in Syria for more than 40 years, was murdered in the city of Homs on April 7th. Father Frans was reportedly removed forcibly from his house and pulled into the garden, where he was shot twice in the head.
As the Syrian civil war approached Homs, the priest resolved to stay with the dwindling Christian community that remained. Once home to an estimated 60,000 Christians, fewer than 30 believers now live in the Old City sector of Homs.
Islamist militant groups have increasingly targeted Syria's religious and ethnic minorities. Concern continues for several kidnapped church leaders who remain missing since 2013, including two priests who were kidnapped in February, two bishops abducted months later in April, and another priest who hasn't been seen since July.
In the midst of much instability and great personal risk, pray for the remaining Christians in Homs. May they continue to look to the Lord for daily sustenance and strength, and may their faith in Him inspire others to enter into relationship with our resurrected Saviour. Pray also for those mourning the loss of Father Frans, both in Syria and in his homeland. May they rest in the assurance that he is now experiencing life to the fullest with Christ.
To share your own prayer requests for those who are mourning, go to our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall at
www.persecution.net/prayerwall.
RECENT PRISONER UPDATE
PAKISTAN: Christian Couple Sentenced to Death for 'Blasphemous' Texts
Sources: World Watch Monitor, CBN News
A Pakistani court has sentenced a Christian couple to death for insulting Mohammed and the Quran. Shafqat Emmanuel, 44, and his wife, Shaguftah, 41, who live in Gojra, Punjab, were convicted on April 4th of sending "blasphemous" text messages.
The complainant, Muhammad Hussain, alleged he was praying on July 18th of last year when he received blasphemous text messages on his cell phone. Muhammad's call data reportedly revealed the messages were sent from Shaguftah's cell phone number. The police, however, were unable to recover the SIM card from her phone, and Shaguftah argued that she lost her cell phone a month prior to the incident.
Nevertheless, the Gojra police detained the couple, along with their four children (ages five through 13), pressuring them to name someone who could have sent the messages. At last report, the couple was planning to appeal the verdict.
Pray that mercy will be extended to this Christian couple by those of the judicial system, granting them a swift release. Please also bring this couple's children to our Lord in prayer, as Shafqat and Shaguftah have been unable to visit with them since their arrest last summer. May God strengthen the faith of each family member, encouraging them to trust Him wholeheartedly throughout this ordeal. Finally, please intercede on behalf of two other believers, Sawan Masih and Asia Bibi, who have also been sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan.
To watch a three-minute video report about these false charges, please visit our multimedia site at
www.persecution.tv/pakistan-couple.
