Somalis who are discovered as followers of Jesus face almost certain death, not only those in their own country but also in neighbouring countries where many Somali believers are forced to flee as refugees. "In Somalia, they kill you if they just find a piece of literature," a VOM source explained.
As members of one body in Christ, let us join with Sufia's loved ones in their suffering and grief at this time (1 Corinthians 12:26). Pray that, in their deep loss, they will trust wholeheartedly in Jesus Christ concerning the promise of His salvation, having the assurance that Sufia's now experiencing the reality of heaven with Him. May the gunmen be found and brought to justice. But even more importantly, may these perpetrators repent of their wrongdoing and come to faith in our Lord. Pray that the church in Somalia will continue to grow, despite the harsh persecution God's children endure.
To learn more about the plight of Somali Christians, please visit our website at
www.persecution.net/somalia.htm.
TURKEY: Pastor Faces Conspirators in Court
Source: VOM USA
In a nationally high-profile case, Pastor Emre Karaali appeared in court on April 1st in the first trial hearing against 13 people who conspired to murder him.
Turkish police revealed the assassination plot to Pastor Emre in January of 2013 after arresting several of the conspirators. The pastor learned that more than a dozen people, including some who had infiltrated his church and babysat his children, had all been involved in a plan to kill him. (To learn more, please visit [url=http://www.persecution.net/tr-2013-01-31.htm]http://www.persecution.net/tr-2013-01-31.htm[/url].)
Nine fellow believers accompanied Pastor Emre to court, but only one, a journalist, was allowed inside the courtroom. The others waited outside and prayed during the two-and-a-half-hour session. The government provided protection for the pastor coming and going from his court appearance.
Only six of the 13 charged in the plot appeared at the trial, in which the judge took Emre's statement. Pastor Emre later shared that the judge "showed a lot of interest in my beliefs. He asked numerous questions.... I was blessed with this wonderful opportunity to share the Gospel with him."
As the trial proceeded, three of the defendants asked the pastor to forgive them. In their testimony, they were apologetic and stated that they did not know what they were getting involved with. According to the pastor, the other defendants "accused me of disrespecting the Quran and of deceiving children's minds."
As Pastor Emre faces his next trial date on June 19th, he requests prayer that the trial will continue to go well and that it will be judged fairly. He also shared that he is holding fast to Isaiah 41:10, which reads: "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand" (NKJV). Pray that God will use Pastor Emre's testimony to impact the lives of those who tried to murder him, as well as the judicial authorities involved in this case.
To share your own prayer requests or passages of Scripture for Pastor Emre, please visit our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall at
www.persecution.net/prayerwall.
RECENT PRISONER UPDATE
CHINA: Pastor's Trial Indefinitely Suspended
Sources: China Aid, Christian Solidarity Worldwide
The trial for an imprisoned pastor charged with "fraud" and "disturbing public order" began on April 10th, only to be suspended indefinitely due to the high tension and the dismissal of his lawyers.
Pastor Zhang Shaojie, who belongs to a state-sanctioned church in Nanle County, Henan Province, was detained in November of 2013 without any formal documentation after church members petitioned a higher authority about a land dispute involving the church. Over 20 church members were also detained. (For more information on his arrest, go to
www.persecution.net/cn-2014-01-30.htm.)
On April 9th, the night before the trial began, Pastor Shaojie's wife and their daughter (along with her one-year-old baby girl) were taken to the Nanle County Public Security Bureau for "interrogation." They were finally released at 1:30 a.m.
When the hearing took place the following day, Nanle County was under a complete lockdown, including a curfew for all residents and the mandatory stationing of guards at every intersection. Only two of Pastor Shaojie's family members were allowed to attend the trial, and a U.S. Embassy official was barred from the courtroom.
During the trial, Pastor Shaojie also decided to dismiss his lawyers from the case -- a decision he made following concerns that they might lose their licenses for representing him.
During this time of great uncertainty for Pastor Shaojie and his family, pray that God's peace and joy will permeate their hearts. May the trial resume again soon, and may justice be done for this wrongly accused pastor. Until then, pray that Pastor Shaojie will use his time in prison to share God's love and light with those who do not yet know our compassionate Saviour.
Visit our China Country Report at
www.persecution.net/china.htm to learn more about China's persecuted church.
