AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER

* UGANDA: THE PRICE OF CONVERTING TO CHRISTIANITY

* CHRISTIANS IN EGYPT FEAR A MASSACRE AS CROPS ARE DESTROYED

* UK DOCTORS WANT RIGHT TO TALK FAITH TO THEIR PATIENTS

* EMERGENCY PRAYER ALERT FOR YEMEN

* ZIMBABWEAN REFUGEES SURVIVE IN SOUTH AFRICA

* IRAN: PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE SCRAPS DEATH PENALTY FOR APOSTASY & STONING

UGANDA: THE PRICE OF CONVERTING TO CHRISTIANITY

When Aleti Samusa a young Muslim woman in northern Uganda heard about Jesus in February 2005 and began having dreams about the cross of Christ, it marked the beginning of a nightmare. Her family immediately kicked her out of their home. Samusa sought refuge in a local church in Lotongo village where she found the man she would marry later that year. David Edema, raised as a Christian, began sharing in the sufferings of a convert from Islam by virtue of becoming one flesh with one. His bride’s family did not attend the couple’s wedding.

Edema said it wasn’t long before her relatives threatened to break up their marriage by forcibly taking her from Edema. The couple fled to Yumbe town. Their troubles had just begun. “The Muslims started saying that I am not wanted in Yumbe town and that I should leave,” Edema said. Most houses in Yumbe are owned by Muslims, he said, and since 2006 the couple has been forced to move from one rented house to another without notice. “Nowadays, the situation is getting worse. Muslims are openly saying that they plan to take unspecified action against my family.”

“They are saying that they are going to send evil spirits against my wife because she forsook Islam, and that these spirits will kill her,” Edema said. Asked what steps he has taken in the face of these threats, Edema said “It is pointless to take the matter to court, because the people who are to hear the case are Muslims.” Edema said he and his wife are hoping that God will open a door for them to move to another town. “The sooner the better for us,” he said.

Violence in Yumbe district is not without precedent. In 2004, seven suspected radical Islamists dressed in military fatigues murdered two African missionaries and a Ugandan student in an attack on a college run by local aid group Here is Life. The murder case was dismissed in February by the state attorney, who claimed lack of evidence. In Yumbe, the administrative arm of the government as well as the judiciary is run by Muslims, said Edema. The district is not a safe place for Christians.

Christians and converts to Christianity are a tiny minority in the area, but about three kilometres from Yumbe town is the Church of Uganda in Eleke, with a congregation of about 100. This church has recently sounded alarms about Muslims making land-grabs of its property. A church leader said Muslims seized a substantial portion of the church’s land, but when the matter went to court, the case was dismissed due to lack of a title deed. In May Muslim youths beat a female church worker who had taken a photo of a nearby mosque that was under construction.”

Peter Manasseh, vicar of the Eleke Church of Uganda, said the church has filed a complaint with the local governing council, “but we do not expect any fairness to be done because the person handling the case is a Muslim.” Meanwhile a journalist from a Christian radio station who decided to look into the case was himself beaten. “Muslims caught hold of him, beat him and broke his tooth,” the official said. He said a criminal case has been filed, but that chances for justice were not good. To date no arrests have been made.”

Source: Intercessors Network

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CHRISTIANS IN EGYPT FEAR A MASSACRE AS CROPS ARE DESTROYED

Fears of an impending massacre has gripped the Christian Copts in the village of Ezbet Boshra, El Fashn, which was the scene of a recent Muslim mob attack on Copts. Egyptian State Security has placed all Coptic villagers under curfew since the Muslim assaults. According to Mary Bassit of Copts United, the terrified villagers fear that being confined to their homes, while Muslims are free, might encourage Muslim fanatics to massacre them, especially with the bias of the security forces.

Lawyer Makkar Watany, who was detained with the 19 other Copts after the recent attacks, said that they were mistreated during police detention, with several Copts suffering broken limbs and wounds. “I was singled out as the police knew that I am a Coptic activist and have connections with the NGOs in Cairo. I was beaten by a junior officer, in spite of being a lawyer.” he said. “The other Coptic detainees told the police that they ‘are ready to die as they have nothing more to lose.’”

Watany expressed fears of a massacre. “There are 1500 security police in a small village with 500 inhabitants, of which only 200 are Copts. I refrain from even looking out of the window for fear of getting shot.” Human rights organizations and the media are prevented from entering the village; telephone and Internet lines are disconnected; cell phones are working sporadically. The Governor of Beni Suef, Dr. Ezzat Abdulla said that “Christians need a permit before being allowed to pray to avoid friction however he was ready to give them a place far away to use for prayer.

In a TV interview the Governor was asked why Copts have to request permission to pray while Muslims do not; the governor did not answer. Less than 24 hours later, the director of the local council, overturned the Governor’s promise of finding a place for the Copts to pray. He declared that there is no place available and that the Copts will have to pray in the nearby village’s church. Watany said “This is completely unacceptable, the neighbouring village’s church is 3 miles away and extremely small, hardly accommodating its own congregation.

The terrified Copts are confined to their homes, while Muslims are celebrating outside,” he said. Reports state that crops belonging to Copts were destroyed on three consecutive days. “The crops used to be destroyed at night, now with the presence of the security forces, it is done in broad daylight,” said Watany. State Security soldiers have said they will continue with their assaults and intimidations against the Copts. When asked by a Copt why they were doing this, one member of the security forces, said “We just feel like it, and we will take you one house at a time.”

The Egyptian Union Human Rights Organization EUHRO has issued a press release demanding the intervention of the Minister of Interior, accusing him of failing to protect the Copts and their property. The Press Release went on to say that the Egyptian Government should assume full responsibility for the recent events by failing to enact the long overdue unified law for building places of worship and the present inequality between Muslims and Copts in the provision of places of worship.

Source: International News Agency

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UK DOCTORS WANT RIGHT TO TALK FAITH TO THEIR PATIENTS

Doctors are worried that religion is being seen as unhelpful and are demanding the right to discuss spiritual issues with patients and to offer to pray for them. Medics are telling the British Medical Association that staff should not be disciplined as long as they handle the issue sensitively. Dr Bernadette Birtwhistle, a member of the Christian Medical Fellowship said: “Many of us feel we cannot talk to patients about their spiritual or religious needs or ask them about praying. Freedom of speech is being curtailed too much and I don’t think that is always in the benefit of patients.”

The doctors said recent cases where health workers had got into trouble were making people fearful. Last year nurse Caroline Petrie was suspended after offering to pray for a patient, although the 45-year-old was later allowed to return to work. Only last week a Gloucestershire nurse said she had left her job at a local hospital after being told she could not wear a crucifix – although the hospital said it was because of health and safety rules, not religion.

But atheists said it was wrong to mix religion and health care. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said “We are committed to the principle of ensuring that patients and staff have access to the spiritual care that they want, whatever faith or belief system they follow. Although all staff should be sensitive to religious needs and preferences of patients, the delivery of spiritual care should be provided by the hospital chaplaincy service. Christian doctors should not promote their faith to people at a time when they are particularly vulnerable, that is totally unacceptable.”

Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, agreed it was not the role of doctors and nurses to bring up religion. “We have to be very careful how we tread on this issue. If we say it is ok for doctors and nurses to provide spiritual care and pray for patients it can all too quickly get out of hand and we will have staff preaching in the wards. “The risk is that it makes patients feel uncomfortable. They may feel compelled to say ‘yes’ thinking their care will suffer. “We should be very clear that patients should have to ask for this, not be offered it.”

Source: BBC News

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EMERGENCY PRAYER ALERT FOR YEMEN

Nine foreigners were kidnapped in Yemen in June. Three of the victims have already been killed with the rest still missing. The fate of the others is unknown although there are rumours all may have been murdered. Initial reports said that they were relief workers, however the Foreign Ministry in Berlin believes that members of the group were involved in missionary activities. Yemeni authorities have suggested that the kidnapping was an act of revenge carried out by local Muslims whilst also suspecting that al-Qaeda may have been involved.

Government officials believe the kidnappings and murders could be the work of a rebel group active in Yemen since 2004. They are also worried it may be a “prelude” to a larger offensive. One report said the attack is “unprecedented in the history of kidnappings in Yemen. ” The Foreign Ministry in Berlin has stated that the abductions could be the result of missionary activities. Apparently members of the kidnapped group had been warned to stop proselytizing. Another report said that the group had been warned to stay in the town of Saada to avoid the threat of an attack.

Please pray:

* the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be allowed to be preached openly and freely without any backlash or retaliation from the Yemeni Government or pro-Islamic groups. Pray God’s Kingdom will firmly be established in this land.

* for the safety of the remaining hostages and for the families who have lost loved ones. Pray for God to protect them and for His faithfulness to be their shield. Pray the hostages will immediately be released unharmed. (Psalm 91:4)

* for God to give wisdom to Yemeni authorities, revealing the group responsible for this act of terror. Pray for supernatural direction in finding the extremists and capturing them. Pray for the kidnappers to quickly be brought to justice. (Daniel 2:22)

* for this violent act to be contained and not allowed to spread terrorism throughout the region. Pray for swift justice that will keep militant groups from seeing this as an opportunity to unleash more fear and suffering on innocent people. Pray for the members of terrorist gangs to become disenchanted with the ways of the devil. Pray for God to open their eyes to the emptiness and depravity of their cause, and turn their gaze to Jesus Christ. (Acts 26:18)

Source: Windows International Network

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ZIMBABWEAN REFUGEES SURVIVE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Zimbabwe is not in the news as much as it has been for some time. But the huge problems facing the country have not been solved. In the Johannesburg City centre the refugees are still sitting in and around the Central Methodist Church (CMC). 1000 are sleeping inside, squashed together row upon row, even on the staircases and on the seating inside the main sanctuary. And there are over 2000 sleeping on the sidewalks outside. During the day nobody is allowed to stay inside and they have to be out early in the morning, to find odd jobs or to beg – or steal.

There are toilet and washing facilities in a garage nearby. There is a soup kitchen inside but only the people sleeping in the streets go in to find food. Some months ago there was talk that there would be six more buildings made available to ease the congestion, but thus far nothing seems to be really happening. And the winter cold has set in. There are little children living in totally unacceptable conditions, cared for by a few women. UNICEF has sent a social worker in to do assessments of the children, but have to await court orders to move the children to a better place of safety.

We need to pray for a sense of urgency and an attitude of caring in the South African government to bring relief to people in distress, and we need to pray for solutions in the Zimbabwean government so the people can return to their own country. At the same time we need to praise the Lord for the wonderful work He is establishing in Zimbabwe with their underground church. Faithful Christians are holding on and refuse to flee.

Source: Intercessors Network

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IRAN: PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE SCRAPS DEATH PENALTY FOR APOSTASY & STONING

A decision has been made by the Iranian Government’s Parliamentary Committee to remove articles stipulating the death penalty for apostasy from the Islamic Penal Code. Ali Shahrokhi of the Legal and Judicial Committee of the Parliament reportedly told the Iranian state news agency of this pronouncement. Mr Shahrokhi also stated that stoning was not ‘in the interests of the regime’. He told IRNA that “Islam has set a strict set of conditions for the implementation of punishments such as stoning, that they can rarely be proven.”

The new Islamic Penal Code bill will now be sent to the Iranian Parliament for a final vote before its review by the Guardian Council. Alexa Papadouris, Advocacy Director at Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said: “CSW warmly welcomes this positive development but until the Bill is finalized by the Parliament and Guardian Council, there is still a danger that the judicial committee’s review may not be taken into account. The international community must continue to urge the Iranian Government to ensure that the final bill does not include any punishment for apostasy.”

Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

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Australian Prayer Network

July 6, 2009

Related Articles:

• SUDAN & BURMA: CHRISTIAN REFUGEES IN PERIL
• Pray for the World 6 February 2012
• PRAYER OF A HUMBLE SERVANT
• Prayers for Help in Times of Trouble
• Pray for the World (January 31, 2012)

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