Print friendly version  August 20, 2008 “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” (Romans 16:20) Dear Theresa,  Iranian Christian Couple Dies From Police Attack* An Iranian Christian couple in their 60s died last week from injuries sustained when secret police raided their house church service and severely beat them, according to a source for Compass Direct News. Amiri and his wife hosted the house church meeting just outside the central Iranian city of Isfahan. The secret police beat and arrested all those in attendance. Amiri died in a hospital on July 30 from injuries sustained from the beating and Amiri’s wife, Sakineh Rahnama, died on August 3 from stress-related causes, according to Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN).  Read more about Amiri and his wife… Christians Attacked in Central Nigeria* Blaming the death of their leader on Christian prayers, an Islamist group launched a hate campaign in response to an evangelistic event in 2004. The group is reportedly attacking Christians in this Kwara state capital with renewed bitterness, area Christians told Compass Direct News. At least three Christians have died and several others have been injured in attacks with machetes and other weapons since June, clergymen said. The Kwara chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has received 10 reports of Christians being attacked by these Muslim extremists in the past two months, Rev. Fawenu said, adding that he believes unreported assaults on Christians average about four a day.  Read more about Christian persecution in Nigeria… Authorities in Laos Detain 90 Christians* In recent weeks, authorities in Laos have detained or arrested at least 90 Christians in three provinces. In one incident on July 21, sources for Compass Direct News reported that Laotian officials detained 80 Christians after residents seized a Christian neighbor identified only as “Pew”; They had poured rice wine down Pew’s throat, killing him by asphyxiation. When mourning family members buried the Christian and put a wooden cross on the grave, village officials accused them of “practicing the rituals of the enemy of the state” and seized a buffalo and pig from the family as a fine.  Read more about these events in Laos.... Prayer Points: Pray for Amiri and Sakineh’s family as they mourn the loss of their loved ones. (Job 16:20) Pray for the other Iranian house church members who remain detained by authorities. (Isaiah 42:7) Pray that the attacks on Christians in Nigeria will cease and that their perpetrators will repent of their actions and turn to Christ for forgiveness. (Mark 1:15) Pray for the Laotian Christians who have been detained to have a peace beyond understanding that defies their difficult circumstances. (Isaiah 26:3) Please keep China in your prayers as the Olympics continue in Beijing. Download prayer points/fact cards here. *News Source: Compass Direct News  Praying with you,  Christina and the Prayer Force Team    Open Doors USA 1-888-5-BIBLE-5 http://members.opendoorsusa.org/site/R?i=8xK1DfwgR6wwiOxWznz6HQ..

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2008

Dear Theresa, I want you to take a few minutes to watch a special video preview that my team has prepared for you, live from the United Kingdom (UK).   My son Jordan Sekulow went there to work on a critical story on religious freedom that will air on our television and radio programs in the weeks to come.   You will meet a young couple who converted from Islam to Christianity and are now facing deportation to Syria.  This will be a death sentence for them.  They sought political asylum in the UK because of the danger they would face back in Syria.  Under Sharia law, changing one's religion from Islam to Christianity is apostasy and is punishable by death.   I urge you to watch this very brief video update now.  Religious persecution worldwide is an increasingly urgent matter to which we are not immune here in the United States.   We must remain vigilant - protecting our Christian brothers and sisters and fighting for religious freedom on their behalf.   And we must keep our eyes open to the threats at the United Nations, poised by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).  Their dangerous resolution discriminating against Christians - so that practicing your faith is an international crime - is the most aggressive, far-reaching, anti-Christian push we are up against today.   Please commit this serious matter to prayer.  To learn more about the ACLJ's efforts to protect your religious freedom - and combat the OIC's resolution at the United Nations - please visit www.aclj.org today.  Thank you.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Missionary Run Down by a Motorcycle

Gospel for Asia
For Immediate Release

ASSAM, INDIA (ANS) -- On August 12, an anti-Christian extremist on a motorcycle viciously ran over Gospel for Asia native missionary Anek Layak while he was walking on the side of the road with two other GFA missionaries. Then the radical got off his motorcycle and assaulted all three missionaries.

Anek, who serves as a professor at a local GFA Bible college, sustained severe injuries to his head and was hospitalized. After receiving treatment, the missionary was released. Although his wounds have not completely healed, Anek has resumed teaching the students at the college. 

The extremist who attacked Anek and the other missionaries has been actively opposing the ministry in his village for quite some time.

"It seems he has taken a challenge to beat our people and oppose our ministry," a GFA field correspondent said about the extremist.

GFA leaders in Assam filed a report with the local authorities, but at this time, the police have not taken action against the radical. The village leaders are also unwilling to stand up to the him.

Because the situation is still tense, GFA missionaries have not been able to minister as freely over the past week. They ask for prayer that the extremist will come to know the love of Christ, and that Anek's witness will be an example to those in the village who oppose the ministry. They also request prayer that Anek will continue to heal quickly.

SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA (ANS) -- A Degar Christian was recently tortured and killed by Vietnamese security police.

According to a news release from the Montagnard Foundation, the murder of Y-Cung Nie occurred on April 14 after his involvement in a demonstration protesting the arrest of three Christians who had been arrested a few days previously.

The Degar (or Montagnards) are the indigenous peoples of the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

The mission of the Montagnard Foundation is to protect the lives and culture of the Montagnard people.

Following the demonstration, Y-Cung Nie returned to his village and went home. According to the news release, shortly after that, Vietnamese law enforcement stormed Y-Cung Nie's house, arrested him, and took him to a nearby wooded area where they tortured and killed him.

The Montagnard Foundation said that following the murder, police told Y-Cung Nie's family about the death. They said his family needed to retrieve and bury the body. Then police reportedly told the family not to tell anyone (especially Degards living in the United States) about Y-Cung Nie's death, saying if they did that they would be killed.

According to the Montagnard Foundation, when Y-Cung Nie's family went to pick up his body, they were horrified to see that it had been beaten beyond recognition.

Prior to the burial, the family cleaned and dressed the corpse. The Montagnard Foundation said Vietnamese security police stayed there during the entire process, fearful that the family would take photos or report the incident to outsiders. Police stayed with the family until April 16 when Y-Cung Nie was buried.

Y-Cung Nie was born in 1982, and came from the village of Buon Cuor Hdang, district of Cu Mgar in the province of Daklak.

The Montagnard Foundation commented in the news release, "The Vietnamese soldiers seem to have been given a mission to shoot to kill (anyone they want) in the Central Highlands, just as it was when Vietnam was at war with America many years ago."

The Foundation reported on another, more recent, killing. According to the release, on Aug. 9, a Christian man called Y-Phit Kbuor, along with his two sons, went fishing at the river of Ea Kin about 20 kilometers from the village of Buon Tri.

Returning home, they encountered a group of Vietnamese soldiers who reportedly told them to stop and put their hands in the air. While obeying the instruction, the Vietnamese soldiers opened fire.

The Montagnard Foundation said that Y-Phit Kbuor died right there, but his two children escaped the massacre. They returned home to their village, and told their mother and other residents what had happened to their father.

A number of villagers went with Y-Phit Kbuor's family and relatives to retrieve his corpse. When they arrived at the scene of the murder, the Vietnamese soldiers were still there.

According to the news release the soldiers apologized to the family, and said they had made a mistake. They also paid the family ... for the coffin and the cost of the funeral.

The Montagnard Foundation said actions like those reported in this story make it evident that Vietnamese laws only protect people of distinct Vietnamese ethnicity.

The Foundation commented, "The indigenous Degar people are a distinct ethic group, with different ancestry and a completely different culture and language from the Vietnamese. This is why Vietnam finds it so easy to annihilate our people."

The Foundation said it is very sad that the world's governments, "who profess to be moral and civilized, not only sit idly by ignoring the evil and inhuman (actions) of the Vietnamese government, but actually aid them with financial support because of their business investments in Vietnam."

For more information, go to http://www.montagnard-foundation.org/