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2015-02-12

  • Church Leaders Face Life-Threatening Hostility
    Photo: Flickr / Cesar Castro G

    Five church leaders working in the northern coastal city of Barranquilla have received death threats from a neo-paramilitary group, reportedly due to their pastoral care for victims of human rights violations. On January 11th, the Black Eagles neo-paramilitary group printed and circulated a threatening note which included the warning, "We know where you live, and your organizations are also in our sights...we are coming for you."

    A public statement issued by the leaders of various denominations noted that it is believed the pastors are being targeted because of their ministry work with victims of violence, as well as their involvements in peacemaking and reconciliation.

    Church leaders have long been a target of armed groups on all sides of the internal conflict in Colombia which involves far-left guerrilla groups and far right neo-paramilitary groups. While guerrilla groups have tended to target church leaders because of an ideological opposition to religion, neo-paramilitary groups often view church leaders as opposing their aims because the Christian message often runs counter to their particular group's objectives.

    First, let us thank the Lord for the various opportunities these church leaders have been given to provide ministry to victims of violence in northern Colombia. Pray that their vital mission projects will continue unhindered, despite the death threats that have been made against them. In fact, may God use this latest opposition against the church in Colombia to spur on His children to a greater level of obedience and devotion! As the church leaders now seek His leading on how to proceed with ministry in the midst of life-threatening danger, let's join them in praying for much-needed protection, wisdom and discernment. Finally, please lift up the members of this opposing neo-paramilitary group to our gracious Heavenly Father, asking Him to work mightily in their hearts through the convicting power of His Holy Spirit so that they may also come to a saving faith in Jesus.

    To learn more about Colombia's persecuted church, please visit our country report.
  • Christian Man Set Free from Prison; Another Re-Arrested
    Pray for Homayoun Shokouhi
    who was recently re-arrested.
    Photo: Mohabat News via Barnabas Fund

    Vahid Hakkani, a Christian man who was imprisoned along with seven others in 2012, has been released from Adel-Abad Prison in Shiraz. The believer was free to return to his relieved loved ones on January 26th. His family and friends had been concerned about Vahid's health, as he had gone on a hunger strike at least twice during the past year to protest his rejected appeal for conditional release.

    Of the seven arrested with Vahid in 2012, four were released later that year and two were set free in 2014. However, Homayoun Shokouhi, who was released just this past November, has since had his bail conditions cancelled and, consequently, was ordered back to prison. He now faces a sentence of three years and eight months, with an additional suspended sentence of eight months. (For more information on Homayoun's short-lived release, visit this page.) Also remaining in detention is Motjaba Seyyed Alaedin Hossein.

    Praise God for the release of Vahid from prison! May he strongly sense the Lord's strength and love in his life as he recovers from his time in detention. Please also remember in prayer the two believers remaining in prison, Homayoun and Motjaba, asking God to make a way for their release in the very near future. Until then, may they put their trust in Him for their daily needs, further strengthened by the prayers and encouragement of the church in Iran and around the world. Please also intercede for all of the officials involved in these cases, praying that they will be introduced to Jesus as Saviour and Redeemer through the testimony of the incarcerated Christians.

    For information on how you can write letters of encouragement to other Iranian Christians languishing in prison, visit VOM's letter-writing site at www.PrisonerAlert.com.
  • Pastor Imprisoned for Evangelism Released!
    Pastor Tandin and his wife

    The case against a pastor who was sentenced to prison for his evangelistic work has been dropped. Tandin Wangyal was originally detained along with another pastor, Mon Thapa, in March of 2014. The pastors were charged with the following: 1) conducting a gathering for a religious purpose without prior approval, 2) showing a film without certificate of approval from media authorities, and 3) collecting "illegal funds." (For more information on these charges, you can read our previous prayer alert.)