Believers at Beijing's Shouwang Church in China are full of joy and praise despite 17 months of difficult outdoor worship. The believers have been meeting outdoors since the government began thwarting their efforts to rent premises to worship indoors (
click here to learn more).
While recently conducting their 38th outdoor worship service of the year, 22 believers were arrested. Ten were released soon after, while the rest were detained at a local police station. The remaining believers were released in the afternoon.
Raids and confiscations of Christian literature rampant in Uzbekistan
Authorities continue to raid homes, confiscate religious literature and interrupt Christian worship in Uzbekistan, punishing alleged offenders with fines of up to 50 times the minimum wage.
In one case, court bailiffs confiscated basic household goods owned by Artur and Irina Alpayev to compensate for an unpaid fine they received for "illegally" keeping Christian books in their home. A refrigerator, piano, washing machine and dining table were taken from the Baptist couple who require these items to care for their five children.
Police also raided the home of Valentina Pleshakova and her disabled daughter, Natalya, seizing and destroying their religious literature and beating Natalya. Police then pressured Natalya to convert to Islam. The women were freed the following morning. Although they were each heavily fined, the fine was converted into an "official warning" after the intervention of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Uzbekistan.
Please pray that these anti-Christian acts of hostility will be thwarted. Pray that the Alpayev family's belongings will be returned. Pray that Valentina and Natalya will remain steadfast in their faith, acting as an example to believers and non-believers alike. Pray that God will grow His Church in Uzbekistan.
To learn more about the trials believers face in Uzbekistan, go to the
Uzbekistan Country Report. To post a prayer for our brothers and sisters in Uzbekistan, visit our
Persecuted Church Prayer Wall.
Church bombed in repeat attack on believers in Nigeria
(Sources: Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Christian Post)
At least three people have been killed and more than 48 injured in a suicide bombing at a church in Bauchi Town, Nigeria. Among those confirmed as deceased are the bomber and a woman and child who died at the scene. Many others are hospitalized with life threatening injuries.
The bomber, a suspected member of Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram, detonated his explosives at the church gate after being refused entry.
This is the second such attack on Christians in the town within one week. The previous Sunday, four gunmen opened fire on a building, killing five at the scene and injuring four who later died in hospital.
It is believed that Boko Haram, which translates as "Western education is sin," is attacking Christians in the north to incite sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians in order to press for the separation of the Muslim-majority north from the Christian-majority south.
Please pray for those who have lost a loved one or whose loved ones are suffering from injuries. Please pray that the violence of Boko Haram will cease and that a supernatural peace that surpasses all earthly understanding will envelop Nigeria. Pray that Christians in Nigeria will not retaliate in anger but will show Christ-like love to their persecutors.
Go to the
Nigeria Country Report to learn more about Nigeria's persecuted Church. To watch a new video interview with three Nigerian women whose husbands were killed for their faith,
click here.
Pastors fined and harassed in Russia
(Source: Forum 18 News Service)
Aleksandr Kravchenko, a Russian pastor, has been fined for conducting religious worship without state approval. He is the first religious leader in Russia known to be fined under the country's new Demonstrations Law. Pastor Aleksandr insisted in court that advance notification is not legally required for religious events.
In Moscow, Pastor Vasily Romanyuk may be prosecuted for holding an "unapproved meeting" after he led Sunday worship at the ruins of his church. His church was demolished by authorities earlier this month (for more,
click here).
Meanwhile, in the country's north, police raided a Sunday morning church service at a hall believers have rented for over two years.
Please pray that these Christian leaders will continue to witness boldly for the Lord. Pray that they will rely on the Lord to give them the words to say when they stand before accusing authorities (Matthew 10:19). Pray that Christians throughout Russia will not be deterred from spreading the message of Christ's forgiveness and redemption.
To learn more about the suffering of our Christian family in Russia, go to the
Russia Country Report.
Update: Pakistani teenager's case goes to juvenile court
(Source: Asia News)
14, a Pakistani teenager who was accused of desecrating the Qur'an, faces her next hearing at a juvenile court on October 1.
Rimsha has a mental age younger than 14 years old, and some reports indicate that she has Down Syndrome. Accused of desecrating the Qur'an in August, Rimsha was released on bail earlier this month. Her accuser has since been arrested himself for blasphemy after a witness claimed he planted burned pages of the Qur'an to implicate Rimsha (for more on Rimsha's case,
click here).
Please pray that God will grant wisdom to Rimsha and all those involved in her case. Pray that she will be acquitted of the charges. Pray that this ordeal will draw Rimsha and her family members closer into relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray that God will comfort Rimsha and others like her in Pakistan who have been falsely accused of blasphemy.
For more information about persecution in Pakistan, please visit the
Pakistan Country Report.
