The Hearing of Faith

Pure Bible Study 11-30-16 – Paul lays out how man is saved, how he receives the Holy Spirit, and how miracles can be done, it is all done by the hearing of faith.

The Arrival – Part 1

Pastor Mike Online 11-29-16 The hidden meaning behind the new movie Arrival revealed from the pages of the Bible.

PRISONER ALERT

Prisoner Profile

Held 889 days

Zhao Weiliang

Arrested June 2014 in China

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Chinese Christian Zhao Weiliang was sentenced to four years in prison after Chinese officials raided a choir practice on June 25, 2014. As the believers practiced hymns at a factory owned by a church member, about 50 uniformed and plainclothes policemen raided the practice in the village of Sanwuqi in Heze City, Shandong province. Twenty-two believers were arrested, including a pregnant woman and four children.

Zhao was taken separately from the police station to a hotel, where an intoxicated police captain abused him physically and verbally. The police told him, “You can go home as long as you admit what you believe in is a cult…” Zhao refused to give in.

The children, their parents and the pregnant woman were released immediately. The remaining believers were released on bail July 23, 2014, but Zhao and Cheng Hongpeng remained in custody.

On May 27, 2015, Zhao was sentenced to four years in prison under the charge of “using a cult organization to undermine law enforcement.”

According to VOM partners, Zhao’s Total Scope Church is a Bible-based house church centered on the teachings of Christ and is not a cult.

Zhao has a wife, Liu Cuiping, and two small children. He also supported his elderly parents. His wife currently depends on church members to maintain a few acres of farmland.

PRISONER ALERT

Prisoner Profile

Cheng Hongpeng

Arrested June 2014 in China

Print Fact Sheet

Chinese Christian Cheng Hongpeng was sentenced to three years in prison after Chinese officials raided a choir practice on June 25, 2014. As the believers practiced hymns at a factory owned by a church member, about 50 uniformed and plainclothes policemen raided the practice in the village of Sanwuqi in Heze City, Shandong province. Twenty-two believers were arrested, including a pregnant woman and four children.

The children, their parents and the pregnant woman were released immediately. The remaining believers were released on bail July 23, 2014, but Cheng and Zhao Weiliang remained in custody.

On May 27, 2015, Cheng was sentenced to three years in prison under the charge of “using a cult organization to undermine law enforcement.”

According to VOM partners, Chen’s Total Scope Church is a Bible-based house church centered on the teachings of Christ and is not a cult.
Chen has a wife and two children. His mother suffers from advanced esophageal cancer and cannot work.

The Persecution & Prayer Alert

“So many of the believers who have experienced incredible pain and suffering, and those living under constant threat and hardship, all seem to have a clear understanding of the fact that we are not citizens of this world, but rather citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20). This life on earth is just temporary…. Heaven is eternal!” ~ Greg Musselman, The Voice of the Martyrs Canada

NIGERIA: Fulani Herdsmen Accelerate Attacks Source: World Watch Monitor, RLPB, Morning Star News The aftermath of a recent attack by Fulani herdsmen. World Watch Monitor On the evening of November 13th, Fulani herdsmen besieged and attacked five villages located within the Kauru Local Government Area in the predominantly Christian Kaduna State. Armed with guns, knives, machetes and explosives, the Muslim militants killed 45 civilians — mostly women, children and elderly residents — while wounding dozens more and displacing thousands. Numerous vehicles and over 120 houses (including eight house-churches) were torched. It is reported that attacks in northern Nigeria have accelerated in recent months, marked by greater sophistication in training and arms. Frustrated by the endless carnage, Christian leaders have reiterated the call for more security, including the establishment of a military base in Southern Kaduna. Referencing previous attacks in the area, Rev. Dauda Samson of the Evangelical Church Winning All states: “Two churches were destroyed at Angwan Ali and Sabon Gari villages…all 22 Christians killed by the herdsmen (in these attacks) were members of local church congregations in area villages.” National chairman of the Kaninkon Development Association, Waje Goska Williams, concludes by saying, “We are under unprovoked and sustained attacks by people…working closely with the local Fulani (whom) we have lived with for many years.” More information on the serious concerns facing believers in northern Nigeria, as well as previous reports and video documentaries, can be found at our Nigeria Country Report. Pray that the Lord will draw especially near to the persecuted Christians in Southern Kaduna — including those who’ve been displaced — as they struggle with tragic loss, fear, doubt and despair; and against the temptation to hate or retaliate against the perpetrators of the attacks. May they be encouraged to lift their heads and look to Jesus for their comfort, healing, justice and security. May His divine grace strengthen them in their time of tremendous need. Also pray for President Muhammadu Buhari and Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai, asking God to help them in their endeavours to strengthen security in Christian regions and crack down on the illegal activities of the Fulani.

INDONESIA: Young Children Victims of Church Attack Source: The Jakarta News, BBC, Reuters, VOM contacts Intan Olivia Marbun A three-year-old girl has died from injuries after an attack took place at a church on the island of Borneo. Little Intan Olivia Marbun was severely burned when an attacker threw petrol bombs at a group of small children playing outside Oikumene Church near Samarinda on November 13th. Three of Intan’s young friends — Alvero (4), Triniti (4), and Anita (2) — were also badly burned. Police arrested a 32-year-old suspect after he was captured by local people following the attack. The police stated that the attacker was imprisoned in the past on terrorism charges. He has been identified as a militant linked to local extremists supporting the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group. “The man passed by the church and threw what we suspected (were) low-explosive cocktail bombs, causing injuries to four children who were playing there,” local police spokesman Fajar Setiawan reported. Police say the attacker was wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the word “jihad.” The spokesperson added that “Intan suffered extensive burn injuries and respiratory problems, and doctors could not save her.” Indonesia, which has the world’s largest Muslim population, is also home to significant numbers of Christians, Hindus and Buddhists. The country has suffered a series of attacks inspired by the ISIS militant group in recent times. Additional reports on persecution in this country are available at the Indonesia Country Report. Please uphold Intan’s grieving family and other members of this victimized Christian community, asking the Lord to comfort and strengthen them in their shock and sorrow. Also intercede for the three young children who thankfully survived the attack yet were hospitalized because of the seriousness of their injuries. May they fully recover — not only physically but also from the emotional trauma. Pray that this church fellowship will be able to safely meet for worship services so they can encourage one another in the faith. May their witness continue to reach many, including those who currently oppose the Gospel.

PRAISE REPORT

SUDAN: Christian School Resumes after Attempted Takeover Source: World Watch Monitor A school in Sudan. (cc) Photo: Flickr / SuSanA Secretariat A judge in eastern Sudan ordered a Christian school, which government officials had previously taken over, to resume classes under the prior Christian administration. “The court has ordered the school to continue its function with the current administration and without interference from the commissioner,” announced the school’s headmaster, Rev. Samuel Suleiman Anglo. “Things are normal, thank God.” The Appeal Court for Administrative Affairs in Madani, Al Jazirah state, cancelled a previous order by which the Madani commissioner had called for the closure of the Evangelical Basic School. On October 24th, armed police — along with civilians from Khartoum and elsewhere — had seized the school, which serves more than a thousand students aged three to 18 and belongs to the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church. Harassment, arrests and persecution of Christians of various denominations have intensified in Sudan since the secession of South Sudan in July 2011. Since 2012, Sudan has expelled foreign Christians and bulldozed church buildings on the pretext that they belonged to the South Sudanese. The Sudanese Minister of Guidance and Endowments announced in April 2013 that no new licenses would be granted for the building of new churches in Sudan, citing a decrease in the South Sudanese population. To learn more about the political and spiritual climate of this country, click here. If you would like to post a prayer of praise or petition on behalf of our persecuted family around the globe, visit VOMC’s prayer wall.

The Persecution & Prayer Alert is a ministry of: The Voice of the Martyrs Canada, P.O. Box 608, Streetsville, Ontario, L5M 2C1 Tel. (905) 670-9721 Website: www.vomcanada.com

PRISONER ALERT

Prisoner Profile

Held 351 days

Yang Hua

Arrested December 2015 in China

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Yang Hua’s wife, Wang Hongwu, came to pick him up on Dec. 20, 2015, from the detention center in China where he had been held since Dec. 9 for his involvement with Living Stone Church, also known as Huoshi Church. But instead of signing paperwork and bringing her husband home, Wang Hongwu witnessed four men from “Detention Management” throw Yang Hua in an unmarked van.

Yang Hua (also known as Li Guoshi, his legal name) serves as a pastor of the Living Stone Church in the southwestern city of Guiyang, China. He is a third-generation pastor and is no stranger to persecution. His father spent time in jail in the late 1960s for his Christian faith. Yang Hua has also been detained before.

The church has been the subject of government harassment since it was founded in 2009 by Yang Hua and Pastor Su Tianfu. In that time, the church grew from approximately 20 to more than 700 members. Authorities have continued to pressure the church to join the government-sanctioned Three-Self Movement or face destruction. Members are monitored, interrogated, and prohibited from attending prayer groups.

Torture In Prison
Yang Hua was transferred to criminal custody on December 22. After his arrest was approved in January, he was accused of “divulging state secrets,” but given no trial date. His wife and his two lawyers were initially denied permission to visit him. When they were finally permitted to visit, they observed prison officials’ harsh treatment and Yang Hua’s poor health.

Recently, Yang Hua reported that government prosecutors have threatened his life, along with those of his wife and children, and stomped on his feet in an effort to force his cooperation. One of the prosecutors told him, “I am a torture expert. I know how to beat you up without leaving a mark on your body for people to see. Doctors won’t be able to diagnose you. Even you won’t know what you died of.”

With the aid of his lawyers, Yang Hua filed a lawsuit against the prosecutors, despite the danger it could cause him. One of his lawyers believes that the pastor was arrested on false charges to intimidate Living Stone Church and that Yang Hua’s case demonstrates the arbitrary denial of basic human rights for many Chinese Christians.

Though she is caring for the couple’s two sons alone, Yang Hua’s wife is most concerned about the well-being of Living Stone Church members in their pastor’s absence. She worries that the government harassment will cause believers to fall away from their faith.

Though the couple faces many personal difficulties ahead and the church faces an uncertain future, they remain committed to the Lord. In a letter to his wife dated June 6, 2016, Yang Hua encouraged Wang Hongwu to continue doing the Lord’s will through prayer, gratitude, and trust in God’s plan, writing, “Let’s pray and leave other things to God.”

A Letter from Prison – Nov. 2016

Yang Hua wrote to his wife from prison on Nov. 8. “After reading your letter, I know some of your concerns. Praise the Lord … Never be dejected and despondent, always look up at our Lord, and always keep the spiritual life above the chaos of the real environment. Rest in God’s arms. ‘Some rely on chariots, some on horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord,’ (Psalm 20:7). Be upright and take care. Be prepared for the rest of the road. I will go with you. If the Lord doesn’t allow it, not a single hair will drop to the floor.”

PRISONER ALERT

Prisoner Profile

Yuri Pak

Arrested October 2016 in Kazakhstan

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Yuri Pak, a teacher, dean of a high school and a local church leader in Kazakhstan was sentenced to two years in prison, after being convicted of making a false emergency-services call.

On April 14, 2015, someone (likely a student, since Yuri left his phone in a classroom) used Yuri Pak’s cellphone to make a prank phone call to Kazakhstan’s emergency services. The emergency-services call recordings show that the call was six seconds long.

However, authorities were quick to charge Yuri with making a bomb threat in that call and arrested him. During the trial, the “evidence” used against him was a two-minute-long recording of a man, obviously drunk, and using rough prison jargon. Expert witnesses testified that the caller’s voice does not match Yuri’s voice. Additionally, the caller references spending 10 years in prison and being angry at police, but Yuri Pak has never been in prison.

As a testimony to his character, Yuri’s students came to his Oct. 3, 2016 trial to support him. His pastor also wrote a letter of support. Various local news stations reported on the spurious trial, but even with all that support, he was sentenced to two years in prison, apparently in retaliation against his involvement in a Christian church.

The church in which Yuri was a lay leader has services in both Russian, the official business language inherited from when Kazakhstan was part of the Soviet Union, and Kazakh, the majority language. Preaching Christianity in Kazak is viewed as trying to convert local Muslims.

Yuri has a wife and two children. As he is currently in a pretrial detention center (where he can’t receive mail), letters will go to his family.

PRISONER ALERT

Prisoner Profile

Held 2447 days

Tohar Haydarov

Arrested March 2010 in Uzbekistan

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08/15/2011 Update

On March 9, 2010, a criminal court in Uzbekistan sentenced 27-year-old Tohar Haydarov to 10 years in prison for the “illegal sale of narcotic or psychotropic substances in large quantities.” Members of the Baptist church in Uzbekistan insist that the charges are fabricated and that Haydarov’s sentence was punishment for his religious activity. It is unclear why Haydarov received a 10-year sentence.

According to Forum 18 News, Baptists insist that police planted drugs on Haydarov, and church members insist that he is “a man with a pure conscience and an honest Christian.” Haydarov’s appeal was denied.

Parole Will Not Happen – April 2016

Prison authorities in Uzbekistan have told Tohar Haydarov that a mid-2016 parole from his 10-year sentence “will not happen.” Officials offered no further explanation about why the Christian, who has served more than six years of his sentence, is not eligible for parole. Tohar told fellow church members during a January visit that he continues to “feel like God is next to him in prison.” He also knows many people from around the world write letters to him, but he only receives a handful of the letters. He thanks those who are praying for him and thinking about him.

Sentence Confirmed; Prisoner Shown Letters

A judge recently confirmed Tohar’s ten year prison sentence, for charges church members say are false. “The court correctly stated the criminal act of Tohar Haydarov, and the punishment was given in proportion to the act, taking into account the public danger of the act,” the judge wrote.

Prison authorities recently showed Tohar some of the many letters sent to him, but he is not allowed to read them, because “there are too many citations from the Bible in them.”

The Christian Industrial Complex

Pastor Mike Online 11-17-16 Topics include critique of elitism whether it exists in Government, Big business, Academia, or an elitist mentality that exists in many churches, seminaries, and denominations, what Jesus referred to as the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, and the power and God given rights of the common Bible Believer.

Greg Hunter-Weekly News Wrap-Up 11.18.16

“OverSized” Chick Tract, 1964

The Persecution & Prayer Alert

“This is the prayer we need to pray for ourselves and for one another: ‘Lord, open our eyes that we may see.’ For the world all around us…is full of God’s horses and chariots, waiting to carry us to places of glorious victory. And when our eyes are thus opened, we shall see in all events of life, whether great or small, whether joyful or sad, a chariot for our souls.” ~ Lottie Cowman referencing 2 Kings 6:17

INDIA: Christian Family Brutally Beaten Source: International Christian Concern A 60-year-old Christian man died from injuries experienced during an attack, allegedly by Hindu radicals, in the Bastar District of India’s Chhattisgarh State. According to local believers, four members of the family, including a pregnant woman, were brutally beaten because they refused to denounce their Christian faith. The attack took place on October 8th in Kuther village. According to locals, the perpetrators broke into the home of Sularam Kashyap and his pregnant wife, Sudri, severely beating the Christian couple along with Sularam’s parents. As a result of the attack, all four Christians were hospitalized at the Government District Hospital of Jagdalpur. While in the hospital, the Christian family was visited by an aid worker who attempted to record the family’s testimony. This reportedly upset police from the Lahundiguda Police Station, who ordered the injured family to leave the hospital on October 15th. Because of the severity of his injuries and the lack of proper medical treatment, Sularam’s 60-year-old father, Sukru Kashyap, died at home on October 31st. In June 2014, more than 50 villages within the Bastar District, including Kuther village, passed resolutions effectively banning the practice of non-Hindu faiths. Though these resolutions were later ruled unconstitutional by the Chhattisgarh High Court, Hindu radicals have used them to justify assaults, threats and social boycotts against Christians living in the district. As a part of the social boycott against Christians, local Hindus blocked Sularam from burying his father in the Kuther village graveyard. Thankfully, Sularam was able to perform the burial there the next day but only after police intervention. Ask the Lord to minister to this distraught family by healing them of their injuries, strengthening their faith and comforting them in their grief. Thank Him for the faithfulness of their Christian community; praying that they will continue to stand firm and utilize every opportunity to share the Gospel. Intercede for those currently opposing His people, asking God to remove the hatred from their hearts and bring them to a saving knowledge of Christ.

CHINA: Christian Magazine Editor Under Investigation Source: icommittopray.com The Chinese government has shut down a quarterly Christian magazine that encourages the faith of up to 100,000 believers and provides information on recent incidents of persecution. The underground magazine, Ai Yan (which translates as Love Feast), benefits thousands of urban underground churches, as well as rural house churches. Recently, police have closed the factory that prints Ai Yan and arrested the owner. The editor, who is also under police investigation, subsequently decided to temporarily suspend the publishing of Ai Yan. She is hoping to begin printing a second magazine titled, Show the Way. Thank you for upholding the arrested printer, asking God to mediate on behalf of this case. Pray also that the editor, who is presently under investigation, will find a way to print the second magazine, “Show the Way,” while “Ai Yan” is suspended. May the printing and distribution of Christian publications in China resume without government interference so unity can be promoted among the country’s numerous believers and encouragement provided for their ongoing spiritual growth.

PRAISE REPORT

IRAQ: The Cross Returns to the Nineveh Plain Source: World Watch Monitor Another newly erected cross was placed on the roof of a church in Qaraqosh. Photo: World Watch Monitor There were tears, praying and singing as the cross — deemed illegal by ISIS — returned to the Christian villages in Iraq’s Nineveh Plain. News continues to emerge of villages being reclaimed from ISIS, and signs of the terrorists’ previously committed destruction become apparent. As soon as it was remotely safe, priests were escorted back to their villages by car. In Christian villages like Karamles and Qaraqosh — half an hour’s drive east of Mosul — they were among the first non-combatants to return to villages liberated from ISIS occupation. Father Thabet, who lives with his congregation within a complex for internally displaced people in Erbil, brought a cross about the size of a man with him when he returned to his home village of Karamles. “I am so happy I can do this. I’m smiling from cheek to cheek, and I weep tears of joy at the same time. This is the trip I have been praying for…two years now,” he said. The Christian leader climbed Barbara Hill, next to his village, and planted a cross covered with flowers firmly into the ground in an area overlooking Karamles. ISIS conquered the Nineveh Plain — including Iraq’s second city of Mosul and many Christian villages surrounding it — in 2014. Tens of thousands of Christian families had to run for their lives. The battle for Mosul is still being fought, but large Christian settlements surrounding Mosul, like Karamles and Qaraqosh, are thankfully already liberated. It is expected that it will take some time before families can start returning to their villages close to Mosul. Most of them will wait for Mosul itself to be liberated and for ISIS to be driven out completely. Praise God for this opportunity, making it possible for these followers of Christ to return home. Continue to pray for the protection of the country’s civilians as ISIS becomes more desperate. Ask that the city of Mosul and all surrounding villages will soon be liberated and made safe so that many more people will have the opportunity to return home and rebuild their communities. May the name of Jesus be proclaimed all over Iraq so that His church will not only recover from the aftermath of severe persecution but may also flourish, grow strong, and become firmly united together in Him. If you would like to post a prayer of praise or petition on behalf of our persecuted family around the globe, visit VOMC’s prayer wall.

The Persecution & Prayer Alert is a ministry of: The Voice of the Martyrs Canada, P.O. Box 608, Streetsville, Ontario, L5M 2C1 Tel. (905) 670-9721 Website: www.vomcanada.com

Who Hath Bewitched You

Pure Bible Study 11-16-16 From Galatians 3. Paul reveals the relationship between witchcraft and the religion of works-based blessings, or, self righteousness.

The Temples Frame

The Persecution & Prayer Alert

“A Communist officer told a Christian he was beating, ‘I am almighty, as you suppose your God can be. I can kill you.’ The Christian answered, ‘The power is all on my side. I can love you while you torture me to death.'” ~ Richard Wurmbrand

NORTH KOREA: Detained Canadian Pastor Hospitalized Sources: The Gospel Herald, UPI Hyeon was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour. A Canadian pastor, who was arrested in North Korea last year for allegedly plotting to overthrow the state, is presently hospitalized because of poor health. According to Canadian diplomats, Hyeon Soo Lim has been receiving treatment in the hospital since August. Hyeon, a pastor of Light Presbyterian Church in Toronto, had gone missing in January 2015. The following month, news of his arrest broke out, reporting that North Korean officials accused him of committing crimes against the state. In August 2015, North Korean state news released a video of Hyeon confessing to the alleged crimes. However, those monitoring persecution noticed that he appeared to be reading from a script, raising suspicions that the pastor had been coerced into confessing the crimes. In December of that same year, after a brief trial, Hyeon was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour. The pastor is in his 60s, and many people — including his family — expressed concerns over his health. For almost 20 years, Hyeon has been involved in humanitarian work in North Korea, where he helped establish orphanages and nursing homes. By the time of his arrest, he had travelled to the country more than a hundred times. During an interview with CNN in January, Hyeon said he was required to work eight hours a day, six days a week, in the labour camp. He dug holes for the planting of apple trees. “I hope I can go home someday,” Hyeon added. “Nobody knows if I will ever go home, but that is my hope. I miss my family. I am longing to see them again, and my congregation.” Please pray for Pastor Hyeon during his time of need. Ask the Lord not only to heal him physically, but to also comfort him in his longing to be with family. May he be released from imprisonment at the labour camp so he can return safely home — whole in both body and spirit. Intercede for Pastor Hyeon’s captors that they may come to know Christ through his testimony, and thus receive the assurance of God’s salvation and promise of eternity.

UGANDA: Burning of Home Where Converts Took Refuge Source: Morning Star News On October 30th, militant Muslims of a village in eastern Uganda gutted the home of a Christian family for providing refuge to two boys who were threatened with violence for leaving Islam. Stephen Muganzi, 41, explained that the two teenaged boys sought refuge on October 16th after their parents began questioning them about their conversion to Christianity and subsequently threatened to kill them. The two boys, aged 16 and 17, had secretly become believers about seven months earlier. After the youths fled their homes and the parents began searching for them, Stephen himself began receiving threats: “I started receiving threatening messages on my phone accusing me of converting the boys to Christianity, as well as housing them in my house without the parents’ permission. But I did not take (them) very seriously.” The boys’ fathers (names withheld, for the security of their endangered sons) organized a group of sharia (Islamic law) vigilantes to punish them for apostasy. The mob, including the boys’ fathers, then set fire to the Christian man’s home. The church sent one of its elders to check on the extent of the damage. “The loss is enormous,” the elder announced. While at the premises of the burned home, he also discovered leaflets that were left behind by the attackers. The notes read: “Be informed that we are not yet finished with you. Expect more. Worse things are on the way.” Stephen’s family and the youths have been forced to seek shelter elsewhere. Thank you for joining with us in praying for the safety of the imperilled teens whose lives are being sought by the militant Muslims of their community, a situation instigated by their very own fathers. May these young believers experience the comforting presence of their Heavenly Father in personally meaningful ways. Also pray for Stephen and his family, who have kindly offered to help the two boys in an effort to keep them safe and their newfound faith strong. May the Lord give Stephen the strength and provision to continue assisting the boys, ensuring that they have good quality care, education and a promising future.

PRAISE REPORT

NIGERIA: Released Chibok Girls Reunite with Their Families Sources: BBC News, VOMC contact Some of the kidnapped Chibok girls. Further to VOM Canada’s previously announced report on October 13th, the day on which 21 of the Chibok schoolgirls were safely released from captivity, here is an update on the students’ joyful reunion with their families which took place a few days after their release…. During an emotional ceremony on October 16th in the capital city of Abuja, 21 of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls were joyfully reunited with their families. The girls, who were among more than 200 kidnapped in April 2014, survived almost two-and-a-half years of brutal captivity by the Boko Haram terrorist group. One of the freed girls openly expressed her gratitude for the Lord’s help while testifying at the ceremony: “I was…(in) the woods when the plane dropped a bomb near me but I wasn’t hurt. We had no food for one month and ten days but we did not die. We thank God.” Another girl stated, “We never imagined that we would see this day but, with the help of God, we were able to come out of enslavement.” Excited relatives were waiting with great anticipation for this reunion which took place three days after the girls’ release from captivity. One parent announced, “We thank God. I never thought I was going to see my daughter again, but here she is… Those who are still out there, may God bring them back to be reunited with their parents.” Most of the students kidnapped in April 2014 are still missing, and some may have died in captivity. It is unclear how the release was negotiated, but a government official reports that further negotiations are under way to free more of the schoolgirls. To view a brief news clip of the 21 Chibok schoolgirls being joyfully reunited with their families, visit this page. Let us rejoice over the Lord’s deliverance of these girls, remaining mindful to pray for the safe and speedy release of their companions still in captivity. If you would like to post a prayer of praise or petition on behalf of our persecuted family around the globe, visit VOMC’s prayer wall.

The Persecution & Prayer Alert is a ministry of: The Voice of the Martyrs Canada, P.O. Box 608, Streetsville, Ontario, L5M 2C1 Tel. (905) 670-9721 Website: www.vomcanada.com

Pastor Mike Online 11-8-16

John Podesta – Marina Abramovic, her occult based performance art, powerful leaders in this world being led by familiar spirits, the lies told by the media, and why they are told, and much more!

The Nest Among The Stars

Pastor Mike Online 11-3-16 – The Prophets Amos and Obadiah both foretold of man’s attempted escape from God’s wrath by either digging a deep pit or by building a nest among the stars. Now a new nation is being planned, a nation whose city will be built in space, named after the city of the gods – ASGARDIA!! Find out how this fits in with Bible prophecy.

Greg Hunter Weekly News Wrap-Up 11.4.16

Greg Hunter of USAWatchdog.com gives his analysis on the past weeks stories in the Weekly News Wrap-Up.

PRISONER ALERT

Prisoner Profile

Held 2511 days

Yang Rongli

Arrested November 2009 in China

RELEASED!

Print Fact Sheet

08/15/2013 Update

11/02/2016 Update

On Nov. 25, 2009, Pastor Yang Rongli and four other Linfen-Fushan church leaders from Shanxi Province were sentenced to criminal detention for two to seven years, according to China Aid Association. The five church leaders were accused of “gathering people to disturb the public order,” because they organized a prayer rally on Sept. 14, the day after 400 military police raided the church’s grounds. During the raid, more than 30 believers were seriously wounded and 17 buildings were destroyed.

Yang Rongli Released Oct. 10, 2016

Yang Rongli was released on Oct. 10 after seven years in prison. After her release, according to China Aid, she “showed physical signs of the brutality she endured while incarcerated.” Pastor Yang suffers from several complications, including a heart problem and diabetes as well as kidney stones. She did not receive treatment for these conditions while in prison. Even so, she was reportedly in good spirits.

She remains under government restriction.

Yang Rongli Severely Ill – August 2013

Halfway through her sentence, Yang Rongli is suffering with severe medical problems. She is suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, and hepatitis – she feels dizzy and disoriented all the time. The prison will not provide the medical care she desperately needs. Please pray for her health and that the prison officials will have mercy on her and allow her to receive treatment.

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The Persecution & Prayer Alert

“Here is a simple rule of thumb for behaviour: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that…. ‘I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return…. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.'” ~ Eugene Peterson’s commentary on Luke 6:31-36

IRAN: Christians Facing Persecution in Refugee Camps Source: World Watch Monitor A message by militant Muslims posted on the walls of the refugee centre. Photo: Open Doors Germany Religiously motivated violence among immigrants at a refugee centre in the central German town of Rotenburg an der Fulda has left life for some Christians “still unbearable” despite praiseworthy responses to incidents this summer. A case study, which Open Doors has released as an example for other refugee centres to follow, notes that “much action is needed” and demands there be “no more integration experiments at the expense of Christians.” According to the report, the victims of religiously motivated attacks in most centres represent the minority, and the reasons why (militant) Muslims attack Christians and other religious minorities are not well known to the facilities’ operators and management. The following letter was written by group of Iranian Christian refugees: “We, the Iranian refugees based in the city of Rotenburg, have fled from the Islamic Republic of Iran because we have been accused of being Christians and, therefore, have repeatedly been threatened by torture, imprisonment and the death penalty…. Here, where we have been accommodated presently, we are exposed to the same kinds of threats as before, this time at the hand of Afghan Muslims, and we fear for our lives. The Afghan refugees…call us Iranian Christians ‘apostates’ and ‘infidels’ because of our decision to leave Islam and consider the shedding of our blood as legitimate (or even necessary). The Muslim Afghans, who by far outnumber us, have beaten us repeatedly…. They have threatened to kill us…. Therefore, we are very much afraid. We are asking you, our fellow citizens, desperately for help. You, who engage yourselves in the protection of pets, please also engage yourselves on our behalf. We are suffering these threats and difficulties because of our faith. In the hope for the day when throughout the world no one will be suppressed because of their faith. Thank you very much, your Iranian Christians.” Please uphold in prayer the Christians in refugee centres and camps around the world who are experiencing persecution from fellow inhabitants. Pray a blessing of unity among all the refugees, so that even if they don’t practise the same religion, they will live in harmony with one another. Ask the Lord to provide opportunities for His people to express compassion and kindness to others so that: 1) the Gospel may be proclaimed through both word and deed, 2) peace will prevail, and 3) His name shall be exalted.

KAZAKHSTAN: Judges’ Religious Freedom May be Restricted Source: Forum 18 Judges in the central Asian nation of Kazakhstan could be deprived of their rights to freedom of religion or belief if the proposed Code of Judges’ Ethics is adopted in its current form later this month. Judges could face disciplinary action for talking about their faith with others, being among the legal founders of a religious organization, attending a religious conference as a private individual or “providing support in any form” to a religious organization. The code, which would apply to all of Kazakhstan’s estimated 2,660 judges, may be adopted at the next Congress of Judges. According to Madiyar Balken, a Supreme Court judge and secretary of the Union of Judges association, the congress meeting is scheduled to be held in the capital city of Astana on November 24th. Judge Balken justified the proposed restrictions, insisting that judges “shouldn’t be very active in their religious conduct.” Aina Shormanbayeva, an Almaty-based lawyer who heads a non-governmental organization, International Legal Initiative, is among several legal specialists concerned by the union’s proposed rules. In violation of its international human rights obligations, Kazakhstan already bans meeting for worship without state registration, talking to others about religion without state permission, and publishing or distributing literature about religion without state permission. Join with us in prayer, especially on behalf of the Christian judges in Kazakhstan. Pray that any measures threatening their basic human rights — including the expression of their faith — will not be approved. In fact, we pray that throughout the deliberation process, these judges will be granted a platform among their peers to voice their beliefs and demonstrate their high standard of Biblically based ethics. May the country’s believers in no way be hindered from worshipping their Creator or sharing their faith with others.

PRAISE REPORT

PAKISTAN: Blasphemy Charges Dropped Against Child Source: CLAAS (Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement) Blasphemy charges have been dropped against a young Christian boy in Quetta, Pakistan. The youngster and his mother were both accused of burning pages of the Quran, an incident that allegedly took place on October 20th. While the child and his mother remained behind bars, local Christian leaders negotiated on their behalf. Thankfully the matter was resolved a day later, resulting in the release of the mother and son. The blasphemy accusations were quashed and an official complaint was filed against some unknown persons. Nasir Saeed, Director of CLAAS in the United Kingdom, said this is not the first time a minor has been charged with a blasphemy offence. He then cited examples. One such case took place in 1993 when 12-year-old Salamat Masih was charged under the blasphemy law for a crime he never committed. In 2011, a 13-year-old Christian girl by the name of F. Bhatti was accused of blasphemy by her Muslim teacher for misspelling a word. The director further states in regards to this concern: “The Government of Pakistan must consider such cases and take appropriate steps to bring necessary changes to stop the ongoing misuse of this law. The international community has continuously expressed its concern and called for amendments.” Please pray that the needed amendments will be made so the country’s citizens — including its children — will be protected from injustice and abuse. May our Lord’s mercy and justice prevail, not only in the judiciary system but also in the hearts of the country’s majority. If you would like to post a prayer of praise or petition on behalf of our persecuted family around the globe, visit VOMC’s prayer wall.

The Persecution & Prayer Alert is a ministry of: The Voice of the Martyrs Canada, P.O. Box 608, Streetsville, Ontario, L5M 2C1 Tel. (905) 670-9721 Website: www.vomcanada.com

 

Our Daily Cross

Pure Bible Study 11-2-16, A much needed, but mostly ignored teaching in American churches is the doctrine of personal sacrifice and cross bearing in a Believer’s life. What did Paul mean when he told the Galatians, “I am crucified with Christ?”