Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin - No. 235 - Wed 03 Sep 2003

--------------------------------------- NORTHERN UGANDA: THE LRA FIRES UP AGAIN ---------------------------------------

The predominantly Christian people of Northern Uganda have suffered severely for many years at the hands of the blasphemous terrorist cult-militia, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), headed by feared spirit-medium, Joseph Kony. This prayer ministry first covered the situation in a Religious Liberty Prayer (RLP) bulletin on 15 May 2002 (RLP 168). The next RLP on Uganda appeared exactly a year later, when more than 5000 children had been kidnapped by the LRA over that period and the Church was struggling to cope with it. ('The Children, the Church and the LRA', RLP 219, 14 May 2003)

Following that RLP, the local Acholi Religious Leaders' Peace Initiative (ARLPI) had some remarkable success. Peace dialogue between the rebels and Christian leaders resumed, and several senior LRA commanders defected. That outraged Joseph Kony who then led horrific raids on 5 and 15 June, killing many people and mutilating dozens across several villages. He responded to the ministry of the ARLPI by ordering the killing of all clergy. RLP 224 was issued on 17 June urging prayer for the protection of Christian workers, and for binding the evil forces associated with Kony. Relative peace descended on Northern Uganda, humanitarian groups were able to step up their work, and children were rescued in large numbers (although 89% of all rescued girls have AIDS). Rebels were defecting and Kony appeared hamstrung. He responded again by naming religious leaders whose heads he wanted, believing they had cursed him. However, none have been killed.

On Saturday 30 August, LRA rebels hacked eight civilians to death in Soroti district, before raiding a nearby primary school and abducting two children (since rescued by the Ugandan military). On Sunday 31 August, six civilians died in another LRA raid. On Monday 1 September, LRA rebels ambushed a bus and bludgeoned and hacked 25 people to death, including a local Roman Catholic priest. The situation in Soroti is critical as food and medical supplies are running out for over 120,000 displaced people camped there.

On 23-24 August, the Ugandan military captured David Okello, bodyguard of Vincent Otti, the LRA deputy leader. Okello has told the authorities that Kony has two bases in Southern Sudan and is being briefed with intelligence and armed each month by generals of the Sudanese National Islamic Front / Government of Sudan Army.

African Traditional Religions, witchcraft, occult practice and occult-inspired violence against Christian populations have grown markedly in the past decade of escalating persecution and spiritual warfare. This is merely another front-line, another strategy, of the one who inspires all persecution. Vigilant prayer is needed. (Ephesians 6:12 & 18.)

'Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.' Elisha, 2 Kings 6:16

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:

* God to bind the demonic forces associated with Joseph Kony and the LRA, stop the flow of arms, support and intelligence from Sudan, bring Kony to justice and end the LRA terror for all time.

* God to empower the Christian ministries working to protect children from abduction, rehabilitate abducted children, provide medical and emotional care to traumatised and mutilated victims, and meet the needs of the 800,000 civilians displaced by LRA terror in Northern Uganda.

'So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened.' Jesus, Luke 11:9,10 NIV

* God to pour out his Holy Spirit powerfully on the bishops, Christian leaders and evangelists who are courageously ministering and peacemaking through these dark days, that their ministry and testimony will bring healing and fruit.

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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ------------------------------------------------------------

THE LRA FIRES UP AGAIN IN NORTHERN UGANDA

An amazing spiritual battle is going on in Northern Uganda between the forces of the blasphemous terrorist cult-militia, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Church, which is both suffering severely and rallying heroically. LRA evil is perpetrated, prayers go out from the global Church, prayers are answered, evil responds - and the cycle goes on. In this battle, vigilance is the key. Over recent weeks the LRA has inflicted several appalling massacres. However, we have seen God answer our prayers in the past, and so we pray again, that God will bind the evil forces of the LRA, bring LRA leader Joseph Kony (a spirit medium) to justice, and bring healing and peace to the suffering Church in Northern Uganda.

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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.

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