Religious Liberty Prayer List - No. 204 - Tue 28 Jan 2003

WELCOME to the 65 intercessors who have joined the list this month.

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DURING JANUARY WE HAVE PRAYED CONCERNING -

MISSION facing increasing risk in 2003.

CHINA: where calls for reform and severe persecution of Christians occur side by side.

church leader Xu Guoxing (Philip Xu) was arrested, along with all his parishioners, during a police raid on a house church worship meeting. The parishioners were later released. On 7 January Mr Xu's mother was notified of his sentence to 18 months' reform through labour, though no charges were specified. On 15 January, AFP news reported Mr Xu's imprisonment noting, "Two days ago Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji vowed to continue the crackdown on 'illegal' religious activities while in the same breath pledging to protect religious freedoms." As long as house church fellowships are illegal, some 80 million Chinese believers will continue to be treated as criminals. Pastor Xu has previously served 6 years' hard labour. His health is frail. Please pray for strength and for justice.

SRI LANKA: where militant Buddhist nationalism is driving an increase in violent persecution against Christians.

ALSO IN JANUARY -

JORDAN: CHRISTIAN MOTHER'S ARREST ORDERED

Siham Qandah's husband, Hussam Rasmi Issa Jibreen, allegedly converted from Christianity to Islam before his death in 1994 in Kosovo, where he served with the UN Peacekeeper force. The Jordanian courts accepted as "proof" a statement of conversion signed, not by Jibreen but with an "X" and two Muslim witnesses. This is the basis for Siham being ordered to hand over her daughter Rawan (14) and son Fadi (13) to be raised as Muslims by Siham's estranged brother, Mr Al Muhtadi, a Muslim cleric. Siham has refused. At Muhtadi's request, the courts on 20 January ordered Siham's arrest and imprisonment for 30 days unless she relinquishes her children. Her lawyer has lodged an appeal for a temporary stay on the order. Pray for mercy and justice.

IVORY COAST: PEACE ACCORD SIGNED

Fighting broke out in Ivory Coast in September 2002 after a failed coup led by rebel soldiers and northern Muslims. The nation has split along ethnic and religious lines with Christians (mostly in the south) generally supporting the government of President Laurent Gbagbo (a Christian) and Muslims (mostly in the north) generally supporting the well funded and well armed rebels. The rebels have demanded that President Gbagbo resign and order fresh elections. The Muslims claim to be fighting discrimination whilst the government says the rebels are simply power hungry. Clearly, war would mean massive loss of life and destabilising all West Africa along ethnic and religious lines.

The Ivory Coast peace accord signed in France on 25 January has the rebels celebrating and the government supporters in despair, some of them rioting against French interests in Abidjan. President Gbagbo reluctantly acceded to the accord as the only means of avoiding war. Gbagbo will remain president but with reduced powers. The rebels will take key positions in a government of national unity which will be led by career diplomat and businessman Seydou Diarra, 69, a northern Muslim. Most controversially, rebel leaders will take charge of the defence portfolio and thus control the army which has been loyal to President Gbagbo! To whatever extent security is restored, the peace will be tenuous. Pray for the future of Ivory Coast, especially that religious freedom remains in place.

INDIA: INTOLERANCE GROWS

On 13 January, visiting American preacher Joseph Cooper (68) was walking with Indian companions from a meeting in the southern Indian state of Kerala, when he was violently assaulted by a mob of some 10 Hindu militants with swords, sticks and iron bars. Mr Cooper survived primarily because his companion, local pastor Benson Sam, threw his body on top of Cooper to keep him from being killed. Other believers rushed to assist and the attackers fled. As Cooper recovered in hospital, the Kerala VHP launched a legal attack for his arrest for preaching while on a tourist visa and for "denigrating Hindus". On 20 January the police ordered Cooper to leave the country in seven days. The VHP saw this as evidence that the police held Cooper "responsible for the violence" although they were disappointed that he was not charged and arrested. The incident has inflamed the anti-missionary, anti-conversion debate in Kerala.

------------------------------------------- IN ALL OF THE ABOVE SITUATIONS PLEASE PRAY: -------------------------------------------

* for God to intervene and in his mercy bring justice.

"The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice...So he himself stepped in to save them with his mighty power and justice." Isaiah 59:15b, 16b

* for God to sustain the persecuted and fearful with physical and emotional strength, supplying all their needs, and granting them spiritual blessings and effective witness.

"The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you." Deuteronomy 33:27

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The WEA Religious Liberty Commission sponsors this RL Prayer List to help individuals and groups pray specifically and regularly for religious liberty issues, and in particular to uphold the Church where it is suffering persecution.

RL Prayer is moderated by Ron Clough, a commissioner of the WEA RLC and convenor of the Australian EA RLC.

Elizabeth Kendal researched and authored this message.