The Persecution & Prayer Alert The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada http://www.persecution.net Wednesday, June 18, 2003

A summary of news concerning the Persecuted Church and how you can respond. *********************************** In order to give our staff a much-needed summer break, there will be no regular Persecution and Prayer Alert the first week of July. The Persecution and Prayer Alert will resume its regular operations on July 9. However, we will continue to monitor events around the world and, should an urgent need arise, we will send out a special edition. *********************************** Contents: 1. Arrests, Prison and “Re-Education” For Christians (China) 2. Week of Prayer Called for North Korea 3. Crackdown on Religious Minorities Continues (Turkmenistan) 4. Church Destroyed and Pastor Threatened (Sri Lanka) 5. Church Sued For Persecution Simulation (United States) 6. Question of the Week *********************************** 1. Arrests, Prison and “Re-Education” For Christians (China)

The Voice of the Martyrs has received a series of reports this week, demonstrating the challenges of being a Christian in China.

(a) In February 2003, Mr. He-Man was arrested and changed with “illegal printing.” He was found with various books, Bibles, and CDs and was interrogated for the names of contacts and co-workers. In spite of torture, including having his fingernails torn out, he remained silent. This week we received news that He-Man has been sentenced to five years in prison. As you pray for those serving Christ in prison, please remember He-Man.

(b) According to a report received on June 21, Christian workers from various provinces were meeting in a home in southwest China to discuss future plans when the Public Security Bureau arrested them. No further information is yet available. Please pray for these leaders, their families, and the ministries they were involved in.

(c) Twelve members of an underground church have been arrested and at least eight face “re-education” in a labour camp, according to a June 18 report from Human Rights in China (HRIC). Those arrested include Wang Qiyou, Huang Yuting, Huang Changshou, Huang Tingyi, Huang Guojie and Huang Shaoxian, all members of a house church in Nanong Village in the southwestern province of Yunnan.

Due to continuing government oppression, the house church had requested official recognition by the authorities. On June 6, officials turned up at four locations where the church was meeting. Church leaders thought they were there to work on the documentation. Instead, the twelve were taken to the Funing County Detention Center without warrant or notifying their families. On June 13, the families were finally notified that the eight were being held indefinitely on charges of “engaging in feudalistic superstition.” A government official told the BBC that they had been sent for re-education through labour; effectively a prison sentence without trial. Other raids are continuing in what sources say is the largest scale crackdown on house churches this year.

Pray for your brothers and sisters in China during this continued oppression. We also call on Christians around the world to contact their governments, urging them to put pressure on China to respect the freedom to worship God. Thank you for the many who have contacted authorities about imprisoned believers in China. The Chinese embassy in the US has been so overwhelmed with emails recently they were forced to take down their public email address. We encourage you to continue to politely register your protests. Contact information can be found through our website at http://www.persecution.net/links.htm. *********************************** 2. Week of Prayer Called for North Korea

The Voice of the Martyrs joins with other organizations in calling Christians to specifically remember North Korea in your prayers this week. A coalition of organizations, including Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Release International, Asialink, Open Doors UK, Jubilee Campaign and others has declared June 23-29 a “Week of Prayer for North Korea” and is calling for Christians to specifically pray for believers suffering for their faith.

North Korea is possibly the most brutal oppressor of Christians in the world today. Because of harsh repression, little news is available and the world is often unaware of the brutality of this regime. Christians of all ages, including young children, face imprisonment, torture and death. Whole families are subjected to hard labour and often worked to death or arbitrarily killed. One estimate puts the number of Christians in labour camps for of their faith at several thousand.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide has made available a variety of resources to help in raising awareness and guiding your prayers. We encourage you to access these through their website at http://www.csw.org.uk/northkorea.htm. We call on churches to take time during their services on June 29 to pray for our brothers and sisters suffering in North Korea. *********************************** 3. Crackdown on Religious Minorities Continues (Turkmenistan)

Several reports have been received from Forum 18 News Services in recent days, showing increasing persecution of religious minorities in the former Soviet republic of Turkmenistan. The only officially sanctioned faiths are the Muslim Board and the Russian Orthodox Church.

A kindergarten teacher’s job is being threatened because of her faith. Days after she was fined for attending a church meeting in Abadan, the education department contacted Gozelya Syraeva asking for her “voluntary” resignation. Speaking to Forum 18, Syraeva said, “I do not preach to the children, because I know it is against the law. They are trying to sack me simply because of my religious beliefs.” The director of the kindergarten’s job has also been threatened if Syraeva retains her position.

A Baptist church meeting in an apartment in Turkmenabad was raided on June 13 and those present were taken to the police station for several hours of questioning. Each member has been fined 250,000 manats ($63.00 CDN). The owner of the apartment, Yeldash Roziev, was fined 500,000 manats and authorities have threatened to take away his apartment. During questioning, officers told Roziev and another member, Aleksandr Frolov, “We have been on your tracks for three months now, and we’ll put you away for 12 years.”

The church serves mainly to minister to the deaf and mute community. All of those fined, other than Roziev, are deaf and mute and receive a monthly disability benefit of 300,000 manats. The church is the tenth religious community known to be raided since the latest crackdown began in early May.

Pray for continued endurance for believers in Turkmenistan. Pray for the ability to stand firm in their faith and to minister to those around them, even while facing constant threats. *********************************** 4. Church Destroyed and Pastor Threatened (Sri Lanka)

St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Orutota, Gampaha, was destroyed when a mob of about 100 people attacked the church around midnight on June 3. They first broke the streetlights and then flattened the small hall, which was nearing completion. A Christian family next door to the church was threatened with death if they left their house, which was later damaged by the mob.

One arrest has been made in the attack. People in the village have threatened to bomb the church if they ever rebuild.

These types of incidents are not uncommon in Sri Lanka, as Buddhist leaders frequently stir up opposition to Christians. Pray for safety for believers in Sri Lanka. Pray that the police will provide the protection needed. Pray for St. Stephen’s church as they consider their future plans. *********************************** 5. Church Sued For Persecution Simulation (United States)

An underground church simulation on March 23, 2002 at the Forest Hills Baptist Church of Maryville, Tennessee has resulted in one family suing the church for two million US dollars, claiming that it was “a dangerous, cult-like event that was unlawfully and deceptively conceived, sponsored, promoted and supervised by Forest Hill Baptist Church, its pastor, its deacons, its youth director and several of its members.” The pastor of the church says the kids and parents were well aware of what was going to happen. In fact, the congregation was reportedly told well ahead of time what the event would entail. Though not involved in the event, a Blount County Sheriff’s deputy was on site and no criminal complaint was ever brought against the church before the suit was filed late last week.

The family of the girl suing the church claims that church leaders kidnapped, assaulted and neglected her. She claims in her lawsuit that she was blindfolded, handcuffed, thrown into a van with other teens, and told to deny Christ or she would be shot. She says that when she refused to deny Christ, she heard gunshots before being doused with water. Church leaders, however, deny that anyone was injured in the event and dispute the severity of the treatment that the family claims participants underwent as part of the event. Pastor Harry Sherrer told a local television reporter, “the 30+ young people and adults who participated were really impressed.” One Tennessee reporter mused, “Of course, I suppose it’s possible that everyone else at the church is lying and this family is telling the truth. I wonder, then, why it took Janie (not the girl’s real name) more than year to realize she was so permanently scarred by this event. And I wonder why the attorney representing them happens to have quite the reputation for frivolous lawsuits” (http://www.upforanything.net/archives/cat_from_the_news_desk.html ). *********************************** 6. Question of the Week

Following up on the persecution simulation reported above, our question this week is: Has your church ever had this kind of event? We would welcome your comments on whether you consider this an appropriate activity for a church youth group.

To participate in our poll and discussion, go to http://www.persecution.net and click on “Discussion Forum.” If you have not registered on our forum in the past, click on “Register” and select a username and password. *********************************** The Persecution & Prayer Alert is a ministry of The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada. (Mailing address: P.O. Box 117, Port Credit, Mississauga, Ontario L5G 4L5) Tel. (905) 670.9721. Fax: (905) 670.7642 Website: http://www.persecution.net *********************************** Contact Person: Glenn Penner, Communications Director.

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