Hello Black Kettle readers. Blogger claims to have tagged my blog - The Black Kettle - as spam and disabled it without warning me and without providing me recourse to get it reviewed by a human being over at Blogger. They shut me down on April 29th. Since then I have been trying every which way to get TBK back up so that I could at least explain to my regular readers and provide them with an alternate site to go to. I am hoping that by creating this blog with a similar name some of my regulars will find me here. If that is the case PLEASE leave me a note to let me know. I apologise for this and although I am more than a little suspicious about what happened I still hope it has all been an honest mistake and that Blogger will restore TBK.
Tim
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The Persecution & Prayer Alert
The Persecution & Prayer Alert
The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada
www.persecution.net
1. Christian girl raped and murdered in Pakistan
A nine-year-old Pakistani Christian girl was gang-raped and murdered on April 9, according to a May 2 report from The Christian Post. Nisha Javid was abducted while walking near her home in Essangri village, Punjab province. Her battered body was found two days later in a canal. Although the police were initially involved in the search for Javid, they have since taken little action in apprehending the perpetrators. Christians believe the attack, which occurred the day before Good Friday, was an attempt to frighten and intimidate the Christian community.
Pray for the Javid family as they grieve. Pray that, in their sufferings, they will know Christ's abounding comfort (2 Corinthians 1:5). Pray that those responsible for this attack will be brought to justice and turn to Christ in repentance.
For more on how Christians suffer in Pakistan, go to www.persecution.net/pakistan.htm.
***********************************
2. Church leaders detained in Henan province, China
On April 30, a house church communion service in Xinye city, Henan province was raided by officials, according to a May 4 report from ChinaAid. Eighteen Christians were taken to a local Public Security Bureau office where they were each forced to pay a fine of 1,000 yuan (approximately $170 CAD). Sixteen of the believers, including 10 pastors from Hubei province, remained in detention at last report.
Pray that the detained believers will be released. Pray that God will open doors of opportunity for Christians in China to share the gospel, even in times of suffering (Colossians 4:2-3).
To learn more about those suffering for Christ's sake in China, go to www.persecution.net/china.htm.
***********************************
3. Muslims attack Christians following blasphemy accusations in Pakistan
On May 1, a mob of approximately 500 armed Muslims launched attacks on Christians in the village of Chak, Punjab province, after five local believers were arrested for blasphemy. The Christian men were accused of breaking into a government-run primary school for girls a week earlier and smearing a page of the Quran with ink and gum. They were also accused of leaving a message on the blackboard that linked one of the men, a well-known social activist, to the scene. The militants, angered by the alleged blasphemy, vandalized homes and threatened believers with death. Muslims from a neighbouring village tried to burn down the houses of the accused men but were stopped by authorities. Twelve Christian families have since fled the area in fear.
Pray that the arrested Christians will be released. Pray that the assailants will come to repentance and salvation. Pray that Pakistani Christians will know God's care and provision.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Pakistan, go to www.persecution.net/pakistan.htm.
***********************************
4. Christian released from jail in Libya
Daniel Baidoo, a Ghanaian Christian who was convicted of attempting to convert Libyans to Christianity and sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2001, was released from Libya's Jedidah Prison on April 29. Baidoo was arrested at a post office where he had gone to collect a parcel of Arabic Christian literature mailed to him from a ministry in the United States. Evangelizing to Muslims is prohibited in Libya and the government monitors religious literature coming into the country. Baidoo's release was secured by Ghana's Vice President, John Dramani Mahama, who was in Libya on an official visit. Baidoo departed for Ghana on April 30.
Thank God for Baidoo's release. Pray that the Libyan government will respect religious freedom. Ask God to give wisdom and guidance to Baidoo as he serves Him.
To learn more about the persecution Christians face in Libya, go to www.persecution.net/libya.htm.
***********************************
5. Update: Kidnapped man released in the Philippines
Ernan Chavez, who was taken hostage by Muslim rebels in the village of Sitio Arco, Basilan province, Philippines (see www.persecution.net/ph-2009-04-22.htm), was released on April 20 after nearly two weeks in captivity. Chavez was among nine villagers taken, two of whom were killed. Chavez was released in the town of Al-barka after his family paid the captors a ransom amount of P50,000 (approximately $1,220 CAD).
***********************************
6. Hear the voices and see the faces of the Persecuted Church
It is one thing to read about the Persecuted Church. It is quite another to see their faces and hear their voices. Be sure to watch this month's edition of The Persecution Report, which includes interviews and reports from North Korea, Egypt, India, and China. You can view The Persecution Report by going to www.persecution.net.
If you have a website, consider adding the Persecution Report as a way to raise a voice for suffering Christians. For more information, go to www.persecution.net/weblinkshelp.htm or contact our webmaster at www.persecution.net/contact.htm.
***********************************
7. In this week's VOMC weblog (www.persecution.net/weblog.htm)
Check out the latest posts by VOMC staff:
a) In three separate posts, Glenn Penner comments on how the recent order by the Egyptian government to kill all pigs in the country has been negatively impacting the Christians there.
b) Do you receive The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter? If so, Glenn encourages you to share the message with other Christians in "Pass it on."
c) Glenn shares his response to a disturbing report of how Pakistani authorities are refusing to cooperate in the investigation of the rape and murder of a nine-year-old Christian girl in "Pakistani police accused of inaction in finding those responsible for gang-rape and killing of 9-year-old Christian girl."
d) In "Stooping to serve the Lord" Glenn shares some thoughts on the kind of leadership that God calls for today.
e) Read Glenn's response to the Alberta government's recent decision not to strip its Human Rights Commission of its abusive powers in "Alberta minister's freedom of expression suppressed." VOMC's May newsletter focuses on religious freedom in Canada. Subscribe today at www.persecution.net/nlorder.htm.
f) Participate in the debate regarding whether or not the U.S. military was correct in destroying Bibles that soldiers planned to distribute in Afghanistan in "U.S. military destroys Afghan Bibles."
To make comments on these and previous VOMC weblogs, go to www.persecutedchurchblog.com.
The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada
www.persecution.net
1. Christian girl raped and murdered in Pakistan
A nine-year-old Pakistani Christian girl was gang-raped and murdered on April 9, according to a May 2 report from The Christian Post. Nisha Javid was abducted while walking near her home in Essangri village, Punjab province. Her battered body was found two days later in a canal. Although the police were initially involved in the search for Javid, they have since taken little action in apprehending the perpetrators. Christians believe the attack, which occurred the day before Good Friday, was an attempt to frighten and intimidate the Christian community.
Pray for the Javid family as they grieve. Pray that, in their sufferings, they will know Christ's abounding comfort (2 Corinthians 1:5). Pray that those responsible for this attack will be brought to justice and turn to Christ in repentance.
For more on how Christians suffer in Pakistan, go to www.persecution.net/pakistan.htm.
***********************************
2. Church leaders detained in Henan province, China
On April 30, a house church communion service in Xinye city, Henan province was raided by officials, according to a May 4 report from ChinaAid. Eighteen Christians were taken to a local Public Security Bureau office where they were each forced to pay a fine of 1,000 yuan (approximately $170 CAD). Sixteen of the believers, including 10 pastors from Hubei province, remained in detention at last report.
Pray that the detained believers will be released. Pray that God will open doors of opportunity for Christians in China to share the gospel, even in times of suffering (Colossians 4:2-3).
To learn more about those suffering for Christ's sake in China, go to www.persecution.net/china.htm.
***********************************
3. Muslims attack Christians following blasphemy accusations in Pakistan
On May 1, a mob of approximately 500 armed Muslims launched attacks on Christians in the village of Chak, Punjab province, after five local believers were arrested for blasphemy. The Christian men were accused of breaking into a government-run primary school for girls a week earlier and smearing a page of the Quran with ink and gum. They were also accused of leaving a message on the blackboard that linked one of the men, a well-known social activist, to the scene. The militants, angered by the alleged blasphemy, vandalized homes and threatened believers with death. Muslims from a neighbouring village tried to burn down the houses of the accused men but were stopped by authorities. Twelve Christian families have since fled the area in fear.
Pray that the arrested Christians will be released. Pray that the assailants will come to repentance and salvation. Pray that Pakistani Christians will know God's care and provision.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Pakistan, go to www.persecution.net/pakistan.htm.
***********************************
4. Christian released from jail in Libya
Daniel Baidoo, a Ghanaian Christian who was convicted of attempting to convert Libyans to Christianity and sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2001, was released from Libya's Jedidah Prison on April 29. Baidoo was arrested at a post office where he had gone to collect a parcel of Arabic Christian literature mailed to him from a ministry in the United States. Evangelizing to Muslims is prohibited in Libya and the government monitors religious literature coming into the country. Baidoo's release was secured by Ghana's Vice President, John Dramani Mahama, who was in Libya on an official visit. Baidoo departed for Ghana on April 30.
Thank God for Baidoo's release. Pray that the Libyan government will respect religious freedom. Ask God to give wisdom and guidance to Baidoo as he serves Him.
To learn more about the persecution Christians face in Libya, go to www.persecution.net/libya.htm.
***********************************
5. Update: Kidnapped man released in the Philippines
Ernan Chavez, who was taken hostage by Muslim rebels in the village of Sitio Arco, Basilan province, Philippines (see www.persecution.net/ph-2009-04-22.htm), was released on April 20 after nearly two weeks in captivity. Chavez was among nine villagers taken, two of whom were killed. Chavez was released in the town of Al-barka after his family paid the captors a ransom amount of P50,000 (approximately $1,220 CAD).
***********************************
6. Hear the voices and see the faces of the Persecuted Church
It is one thing to read about the Persecuted Church. It is quite another to see their faces and hear their voices. Be sure to watch this month's edition of The Persecution Report, which includes interviews and reports from North Korea, Egypt, India, and China. You can view The Persecution Report by going to www.persecution.net.
If you have a website, consider adding the Persecution Report as a way to raise a voice for suffering Christians. For more information, go to www.persecution.net/weblinkshelp.htm or contact our webmaster at www.persecution.net/contact.htm.
***********************************
7. In this week's VOMC weblog (www.persecution.net/weblog.htm)
Check out the latest posts by VOMC staff:
a) In three separate posts, Glenn Penner comments on how the recent order by the Egyptian government to kill all pigs in the country has been negatively impacting the Christians there.
b) Do you receive The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter? If so, Glenn encourages you to share the message with other Christians in "Pass it on."
c) Glenn shares his response to a disturbing report of how Pakistani authorities are refusing to cooperate in the investigation of the rape and murder of a nine-year-old Christian girl in "Pakistani police accused of inaction in finding those responsible for gang-rape and killing of 9-year-old Christian girl."
d) In "Stooping to serve the Lord" Glenn shares some thoughts on the kind of leadership that God calls for today.
e) Read Glenn's response to the Alberta government's recent decision not to strip its Human Rights Commission of its abusive powers in "Alberta minister's freedom of expression suppressed." VOMC's May newsletter focuses on religious freedom in Canada. Subscribe today at www.persecution.net/nlorder.htm.
f) Participate in the debate regarding whether or not the U.S. military was correct in destroying Bibles that soldiers planned to distribute in Afghanistan in "U.S. military destroys Afghan Bibles."
To make comments on these and previous VOMC weblogs, go to www.persecutedchurchblog.com.
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