VOM Prayer Watch

Prayer Watch

CHINA: House Church Pastor Attacked by Government Agents Li Shuangping, pastor of Linfen house church, was abducted, beaten and threatened by government agents on the night of 13 August. While Li was driving to his home in Shanxi province, a man who appeared to be drunk staggered in front of his vehicle, at which point Li stopped. A black sedan pulled up alongside Li, and three men hurried out. The men forcibly seized Li from his vehicle, with help from the man who pretended to be drunk, and dragged him into the sedan. As one man drove, the other three restrained and harassed him in the backseat. After blindfolding him and tying him with a rope, they beat him for the duration of the journey, inflicting noticeable wounds on his head, neck and torso. The driver strayed from the main roads until reaching a cornfield, where the other men pushed Li out of the sedan. Throughout the journey, one man repeatedly threatened to kill Li for his involvement in the house church. The threats ranged from being tossed in the river to being forced to drink sulphuric acid. The man also threatened to track down and kidnap Li's family. The abducted pastor believes that the assailants work for the local government which has previously targeted him for his involvement with Linfen church. Sources: ChinaAid, Christian Solidarity Worldwide Ask the Lord to provide protection for Pastor Li, his family and his congregation, keeping them at peace and free from the spirit of fear. Also pray that the members of the Linfen house church will continue to gather together in fellowship to the glory of God, reaching multitudes more in China with the Gospel, including Li's abductors.

PHILIPPINES: Displaced Christians Wait to Return Home Voice of the Martyrs is helping hundreds of Christians who were run out of their villages at the end of July by the Muslim Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). The government has provided only 1 or 2 kilograms of rice to the evacuees, not nearly enough to sustain them. VOM has provided 168 Christian evacuee families with food supplies, mosquito nets, sleeping mats, blankets and medicine. The Christians have been unable to return home, as the BIFF remain in their villages, but some of the men still attempt to sneak back into the villages to get food for their families. Source: Voice of the Martyrs USA Please pray that these believers will be able to return to their homes soon. Pray they will be encouraged together as the body of Christ during this difficult time (1 Peter 1:6–7). Pray the Lord will use these believers as a witness for His Gospel, ask Him to bring conviction and repentance to many members of the BIFF.

AFGHANISTAN:  MP - “Execute Afghan Christian Converts” A member of Afghanistan's Parliament has suggested that all those who have converted from Islam to Christianity should be executed, according to Islamic Sharia Law, in order to stop the rapid growth of Christianity among Afghans within and outside the country. An Afghani news service, Ava, has published a report stating that the number of Christians is increasing in the country. The Afghan news service also quoted Nazir Ahmad Hanafi, Afghani Parliament Member, as saying, "Afghani citizens continue to convert to Christianity in India. Numerous Afghanis have become Christians in India. This is an offence to Islamic Laws and according to the Koran they need to be executed". Islamic leaders of Afghanistan consider the growth of Christianity to be a threat. This phenomenon has reached the point where there have been reports that some Afghani Islamic clerics warned the government against the influence of Christianity in the country. A while ago, the Islamic Council of Afghanistan notified President Karzai about more Christian aid-workers and missionaries coming to Afghanistan and the likelihood of more conversions across the country. Source: Mohabat News Thank the Lord for the work of His Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds of Afghani people inside and outside Afghanistan. Pray He will continue to build His church. Pray the Lord will protect workers engaged in humanitarian work and Gospel witness throughout the country.