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2015-05-14

  • Pastor's Life Threatened for Evangelizing

    After evangelizing Muslims and baptizing a former Islamic religious leader, a Pakistani pastor is now receiving death threats.

    "Azhar" regularly shares the Gospel with his Muslim neighbours and has baptized a number of believers from similar backgrounds, including a former imam known as "Rashid." Trouble started for the pastor after Rashid stopped attending the local mosque. Fellow Muslims tried to convince Rashid to return to Islam, but he wouldn't. His relatives then labelled him as an apostate; a traitor to the faith. They issued death threats against Rashid, as well as his wife and children who had also become believers. After Rashid and his family fled the area, the convert's angered relatives turned against Pastor Azhar.

    The pastor was told to return Rashid to them or face death. The threats continued to escalate for several months until they found Pastor Azhar's son and severely beat him. The relatives also informed militant groups of the pastor's activities, and he is now constantly monitored by the fundamentalists' widespread network. Like Rashid, Pastor Azhar had no choice but to flee the village to protect his family. Thankfully, VOM helped him relocate to a safer area. Though the pastor has changed cell phone numbers on numerous occasions, he still receives death threats. It is not certain how the militants continue to find his phone number.

    Though Pastor Azhar has been forced to relocate, the threats have not discouraged his desire to minister to others. He continues to share the Gospel with Muslims and encourage new converts in their faith. "Thanks to God that He is still using us for His Kingdom," he recently shared.

    Thank the Lord for the powerful ways in which He is using His servants Azhar and Rashid among this community. May their steadfast faith inspire many more to learn about Jesus and come to faith in Him. Pray especially that God will encourage the faith of these men and their family members as they face persecution and the threat of future violence. Also ask that the wider Christian community will uphold them during this time of trial through prayer and practical assistance.

    To learn more about the difficulties Christians endure in Pakistan, visit our website.
  • Church Leaders Face Possible Death Sentence
    The Rev. Peter Yein Reith
    Photo: Morning Star News

    Two South Sudanese church leaders are currently facing serious charges that could lead to life imprisonment or even the death penalty. The severe charges levied against Rev. Michael and Rev. Reith are the latest development in a series of repressive official actions targeting Christians in Sudan.

    Rev. Michael and Rev. Reith were brought before a criminal court in Khartoum, Sudan, on May 4th. During the hearing, the clergymen were charged jointly with undermining the constitutional system, waging war against the state, disclosure and receipt of official information or documents, arousing feelings of discontent among regular forces, breach of public peace, and offences relating to insulting religious beliefs. Of the five charges, two carry the death penalty or life imprisonment in the event of a guilty verdict. A subsequent hearing has been set for May 14th.

    Rev. Michael has been in detention since December of 2014, while Rev. Reith was detained since January of this year. Both were initially held by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) without charge, yet they were granted neither access to lawyers nor their families until March, when they were transferred to the custody of the Attorney General. It was while in the Attorney General's custody that the two men were finally given access to legal representation and family visits.

    Rev. Michael was arrested shortly after making a speech at a church involved in a land dispute with government-supported private investors. At the time of his arrest, NISS agents reportedly stated that they were offended by the pastor's speech, which encouraged church members to continue standing firm through the trials they were experiencing. The Sudanese authorities have also attempted to illegally sell other properties belonging to the church.

    Remember these two church leaders in your prayers, asking the Lord to give them strength and courage as they face the serious allegations. Pray that all of the charges will be dropped and that these men will be free to return to their loved ones and resume their ministry work. In addition, please intercede on behalf of the many other persecuted Christians in Sudan who are also presently suffering for Christ's sake.

    For more information on Sudan's persecuted church, read our Country Report.
  • Believers Sentenced to Additional Five-Year Prison Terms
    Photo: Mohabat News

    Two Christian men, Ebrahim Firouzi and Sevada Aghasar, were recently sentenced to prison because of their Christian faith. The two were charged with "action against national security through collusion and gathering."

    Ebrahim, a Christian convert from Islam, who is already serving another sentence in Rajaei-Shahr Prison, was handed an additional five-year prison term. Ebrahim was previously arrested in August of 2013. Prior to that, he had been convicted of several charges -- including propaganda against the Islamic regime, evangelism, contact with anti-Islamic agents abroad, and founding a Christian website, for which he was sentenced to one year in prison and two years of exile. (For a previous prayer alert report on Ebrahim, please visit our website.)

    Sevada, an Iranian-Armenian Christian who is presently free on bail, was sentenced to five years in prison. The Christian was temporarily released in March of 2014 after enduring six months in Evin Prison. Should the appeal court approve his sentence, Sevada will be returned to prison to serve this new jail term. (You can read more here about his arrest and release.)

    Pray that the church in Iran will continue to grow despite the harsh consequences many Christians face for loving and following Jesus. Specifically, may the Lord use His faithful servants, Ebrahim and Sevada, to draw many into relationship with Him, especially the prison guards and other authorities involved in their cases. Please also pray that God will make a way for these men to be released from prison very soon and that He will keep them from harm.