Unknown attackers set fire to the Beth Eden Protestant Church in Manado, Indonesia on the night of December 8. There were no injuries, even though the pastor and his family were living in the building. However, the building received extensive damage. Stephen Liow, the church's pastor, told Asia News that he had been receiving anonymous calls for the past few months from people threatening to burn down the church building.
The Christmas season in Indonesia has often been a time of suffering for Christians who are targeted by Islamic militants. Due to the heightened threat of terrorism, thousands of police officers have been put on alert. A police spokesman said, "Churches and other worship buildings have become our top priority to secure along with entertainment centres, shopping compounds."
Take time during this season to cover the Indonesian church with prayer for safety. Pray that Pastor Liow will have the heart of Christ as he leads the congregation through this stressful time. Pray that the church will have a Christmas full of celebration. Pray that the attacks on Christians in Indonesia will be stopped. Pray that the faithfulness of believers will spark a new work of the Holy Spirit throughout Indonesia.
More information on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia is available at Indonesia's country report or through video reports available on our multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/, including two recent features from "Overcomers TV."
(Source: AsiaNews)
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada has recently begun producing one-minute news videos called "Overcomers TV" which includes one feature this month from Nigeria. A new video feature on Nigeria has also been released this month by VOMC. Both features are available on the multimedia website, 
On December 3, members of the militant Hindu organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attacked a pastor in Hyderabad, India. While Pastor Yesupadam was conducting a prayer service in the village of Ashaiah Nagar, someone called for him to come out. Thinking they were calling him outside to pray for them, he approached seven men who began to beat him. The Hindu militants then took him to the police station where approximately twenty other RSS members were waiting. Handing Yesupadam over to the police, the RSS accused him of converting Hindus to Christianity. The police sub-inspector said that Christians had become a serious headache. Mocking Yesupadam, the police officer said, "Did your mother conceive you through an English man or Telugu man? Are you a Telugu man? Are you an Indian? If you desire to live, stop preaching about Jesus Christ. You know people are killing pastors in the city but still you do not learn anything." In the presence of the police, the RSS members attempted to apply a tilak, a mark of Hindu devotion, on Yesupadam's forehead. When he refused, they threatened to kill him and harm his family. The police did nothing in response to these threats. When other Christians arrived to help him, they were refused entry into the police station and were threatened with death if they did not stop praying.