(Source: Compass Direct News)
A Pakistani Christian man, who rescued his eight-year-old nephew from an attack by a group of Muslim boys, has been acquitted of blasphemy charges. The 27-year-old father of two, Dildar Masih, was cleared of all charges on March 26 due to a lack of evidence.
Dildar said despite being called to court three times, not a single accuser stepped forward at the hearings to testify against him. "You cannot imagine my joy when the prison officials told me that I had been acquitted by the court," he said.
The original charge came after his young nephew, Ihtesham, was passing by a nearby madrassa (an Islamic religious school) when a group of boys from the school began to beat him for refusing to convert to Islam (for more,
click here). Dildar saw the attack and rushed to the boy's aid. A short time later, a Muslim mob of about 55 people converged on Dildar's home while he was at work saying Dildar had been heard "abusing Islamic holy words."
Dildar said that despite threats of violence during his imprisonment, he stood by his faith. "I kept on telling God that I had complete faith in Him and would wait for the day when He would set me free," he said.
Praise God for Dildar's release and for his faithfulness while imprisoned! Please pray that his faith will be a testimony to others who were in prison with him, and that they too will place their faith in Christ. Pray for other Christians in Pakistan who are facing false accusations of blasphemy.
Go to the
Pakistan Country Report to learn more about our persecuted brothers and sisters in Pakistan.
Turkish pastor attacked over Easter weekend
(Source: Compass Direct News)
Semir Serkek, a 58-year-old pastor in Instanbul, Turkey, says although he has experienced hostility from Muslims nearly all his life, an attack over the Easter weekend was the first time he had been physically assaulted.
Semir was alone at Grace Church preparing for the next day's Easter celebration when he heard frantic pounding at the door. Four young men in their late teens claimed they had questions and demanded to enter. They then threatened to kill him if he didn't recite the Islamic testimony of faith, and after a period of verbally harassing the pastor, one of the men kicked Semir in the chest, knocking the pastor down a set of stairs. The men then ran away laughing.
However, the attack did not deter Semir from attending a memorial service for three Christians murdered in Turkey five years ago. Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel and Tilmann Geske were brutally murdered by five young men in the southeastern city of Malatya in April 2007 (for more information,
click here). Semir said he personally knew the three men because he worked with them at the same publishing company for many years.
The United States Commission on International and Religious Freedom has recommended that Turkey be designated as a "Country of Particular Concern" this year due to Turkey's long-term and systematic limitations on non-Muslim communities. There are about 4,500 Christian converts in Turkey.
Please pray that the men who attacked Semir will repent and be saved. Please pray that Semir's continued faith will bring God glory. Pray that the commitment of Semir and the three martyred Christians will serve to encourage other believers in Turkey that, although they are hard pressed on every side, they will not be crushed (2 Corinthians 4:8).
Go to the
Turkey Country Report for more on the persecuted Church in Turkey. To post a prayer of encouragement for Turkish Christians, please visit our
Persecuted Church Prayer Wall.
Update: Orphans remain faithful in Laos
(Source: VOM-USA)
A group of 11 orphans in Laos who were threatened with expulsion from school for attending church have shown remarkable faith. The children have continued to attend church, slipping away one at a time to avoid being detained by school officials on their way to worship.
Last August, the headmaster of the government-sponsored school called the boys into his office and told them if they did not stop attending church they would be expelled (for more,
click here). Initially only four of the boys dared to defy the headmaster, but after witnessing the faithfulness of the four, all the boys began attending church again.
The boys have not been confronted by school officials in several months, and those who care for the orphans believe that their steadfast faith has deterred officials from trying to prevent the boys from going to church.
Praise God for these orphans who indeed have the "faith of a child" (Mark 10:15). Please pray that their faithfulness will draw school administrators to Christ and make them open to receiving the gospel.
For more information on the trials Christians face in Laos, go to the
Laos Country Report.
Algerian Christian finds hope amid persecution
(Source: VOM-USA)
An evangelist in Algeria has recommitted himself to the Lord after struggling for months following some persecution for his faith. "Azad" had been a believer for several years, but became discouraged after his father chased him out of his family home, and his wife's family threatened to take her away if he continued to evangelize. A few months later, his boss fired him.
Azad told a VOM worker, "I am so discouraged, and I feel hatred against God." He stopped reading his Bible or going to church. But one day, he asked a Christian friend for something to read. The Christian gave him "Tortured for Christ," a book written by VOM's founder Richard Wurmbrand about his experiences in prison. The book had a profound effect on Azad and he decided he could accept persecution for his faith. Azad understood something he couldn't see before: that he could accept the persecution he experienced as part of God's plan for his life.
Thank God for ministering to Azad during his time of need. Ask the Lord to continue to encourage and strengthen Azad as he shares the Good News with others. Pray that many more Christians in Algeria and around the world will put their trust in God, regardless of their circumstances.
Please visit the Algeria Country Report for more information on
Algeria's persecuted Church.
