The Persecution & Prayer Alert

The Persecution & Prayer Alert

The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada

http://www.persecution.net

Thursday, October 27, 2011

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ?

Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or sword?

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who
loved us.”

– Romans 8:35,37

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In this week’s edition: reports from Somalia, Maldives, Nigeria and
China.

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1. Islamic extremists behead 17-year-old Christian in Somalia

(Source: Compass Direct News)

Al Shabaab militants murdered a teenage boy on September 25 after
monitoring Bible studies hosted by the boy’s family near Mogadishu,
says a journalist in the Somali capital. Islamic militants began
watching the family of Guled Jama Muktar after the family arrived in
the country from Kenya in 2008. “I personally know this family as
Christians who used to have secret Bible meetings in their house,” the
source said. According to witnesses, al Shabaab members arrived at
Guled’s home at 6 a.m. while he was getting ready for school and his
parents were already at work at an area market. “The neighbours heard
screaming coming from the house, and then it immediately stopped,” the
source said. The neighbours informed the parents, who quickly returned
home to bury their son fearing further violence. The family then fled.

This latest killing is not an isolated occurrence. A mother of four
was brutally killed for her Christian faith in January (for more, see

http://www.persecution.net/so-2011-01-20.htm

), a young Christian man was shot dead this past spring (click

http://www.persecution.net/so-2011-04-28.htm

for details), and a kidnapped Christian convert’s decapitated body
was found in September (read the story at

http://www.persecution.net/so-2011-09-22.htm

). Muslim extremists from al Shabaab, which has ties to al Qaeda,
control the south and centre areas of the country. Al Shabaab has been
designated a terrorist organization by several western governments.

Please pray that the family of Guled would find peace and rest in the
Lord and that their faith would remain strong despite this loss. Pray
that al Shabaab would be thwarted in their efforts to harm and kill
Christians and that God’s love and protection would surround His
faithful followers in Somalia. Pray for lasting peace in this war-torn
nation.

To post a prayer of solidarity with those mourning the loss of Guled,
go to our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall at

http://www.persecution.net/prayerwall

. To learn more about persecution in Somalia, please visit

http://www.persecution.net/somalia.htm

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2. Indian teacher arrested and deported for owning a Bible in Maldives

(Source: Compass Direct News)

Police in Maldives arrested and held Shijo Kokkattu, a 30-year-old
teacher from India, for more than two weeks before deporting him
earlier this month for keeping a Bible in his home, according to a
foreign source in the capital city. Shijo was arrested during a police
raid in late September prompted when his colleagues found Christian
materials on a school computer he had used and reported it to
authorities.

The country’s 2008 Constitution is decidedly anti-Christian and states
that a “non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives.”
Expatriates following other religions can practice their faith only
individually and within their respective homes. Last month, the
Ministry of Islamic Affairs published new regulations to control
propagation of non-Islamic religions in the country. Any violation is
punishable by imprisonment of between two and five years, banishment
or house arrest. Foreigners who are found proselytizing are to be
deported.

Please pray that Shijo’s position would be restored and that the
Maldivian authorities would relent in their efforts to further
restrict and repress the Christian faith. Please pray that Christian
leaders and teachers would continue to persevere in their efforts in
Maldives despite the risks to their careers and well-being. Pray that
religious freedom will be respected in Maldives.

Go to http://www.persecution.net/maldives.htm
for more on persecution in Maldives.

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3. Evangelist murdered in Nigeria

(Source: Compass Direct News)

A 36-year-old Christian evangelist was shot and killed in
violence-ridden Borno state, Nigeria, the day after his family
members, along with other Christians, were evacuated from the region
in the face of death threats by Boko Haram extremists. Mark Ojunta was
ministering in Nigeria’s northeastern state with Calvary Ministries
(CAPRO) when he was murdered. “Brother Mark took his family out on
Friday (Aug. 26), but he went back to the field because he had a class
with some believers on Saturday,” said CAPRO international director
Amos Aderonmu. “It was in the night that the sect came to where they
were staying and knocked at the door, and he tried to escape but could
not get away.” Mark is survived by his wife, Ema, and two children,
3-year-old Kambe and 9-month-old Akira, as well as his parents and
sisters. The killing came less than three months after the June
murders of a Church of Christ pastor and his church secretary in
Maiduguri (for more information, go to

http://www.persecution.net/ng-2011-06-30.htm

).

Boko Haram leaders, who have claimed responsibility for these and
other attacks and church bombings, have declared they want to
establish an Islamic theocratic state in Nigeria. They reject
democratic institutions, which they associate with Christianity. Many
Christians have left the area, and some churches have shut down as
many of their members have lost their lives.

Please pray that the Lord will place a hedge of protection around
Christian leaders and teachers so they can reach more souls in
northern Nigeria. Please pray that Ema, Kambe and Akira would find
peace and strength amid their loss and lean on the Lord through their
grief. Pray that God will receive glory as more Nigerians turn to Him
despite efforts to deter the spread of the gospel.

To learn more about Nigeria’s suffering believers, go to

http://www.persecution.net/nigeria.htm

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4. Christian student fellowship banned in Inner Mongolia, China

(Source: China Aid Association)

Chinese police and government officials shut down a Christian student
fellowship group in Inner Mongolia, China, and detained its leader in
September. Authorities cited “illegal evangelism” as the reason for
the ban. Mengfu (Blessed) Fellowship was forced to close and its
leader, Liang Guangzhong, was put into administrative detention for 15
days as part of China’s ongoing persecution of house churches and
Christian groups that meet outside government-approved churches.
Officials also confiscated cash from the offering collection box as
well as electronics and materials used for teaching. The Mengfu
Fellowship has hired a Christian lawyer to formally request a review
of the orders.

Please pray that the Mengfu Fellowship would be legally vindicated and
their fellowship would be restored. Pray their faithfulness will
encourage other believers facing similar challenges in the region.
Pray that God will raise up many more young people in China to
wholeheartedly follow and serve Him.

For more on our suffering brothers and sisters in China, please visit

http://www.persecution.net/china.htm

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The Persecution & Prayer Alert is a ministry of The Voice of the
Martyrs, Canada. (Mailing address: P.O. Box 608, Streetsville,
Ontario, L5M 2C1)

Tel. (905) 670.9721. Website: http://www.persecution.net