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2015-06-18

  • Home At Last!

    Upon returning to their village,
    some of the families
    discovered that their homes
    had been vandalized.
    Photo: Open Doors International
    via World Watch Monitor

    Returning to their homeland has proven to be a bittersweet moment for a group of formerly exiled Christian families. Two months have already transpired since the 49 evangelical believers were permitted to resettle in their village of Buenavista Bauhuitz, Chiapas, Mexico. Prior to their return, they had undergone a five-year exile period which was imposed on them by the leaders and authorities of their village; a consequence they suffered for leaving the "traditionalist" church where a blend of indigenous paganism and popular Catholicism is practised. A video report providing more details of their forced expulsion can be viewed here.

    For these enduring Christians, the journey home has come at a great cost as they are now trying to piece their lives back together again. The process began by assessing the damages done to their homes during the absence. Thankfully, they have since been able to reconnect to the community's supply of water, electricity and medical services, all of which had been denied right up to the leading moments of their eviction.

    In addition, the adults of each family must pay a mandatory annual fee (580 pesos or $40 US per family) toward the village's traditional festivals. It was a condition upon their return, but one they consider a small sacrifice to make. They are all just happy to be home again.

    Anthony Rhodes, a spokesperson for the Voice of the Martyrs Canada, said that he hopes the families' return home will be the beginning of reconciliation in the community: "We rejoice with our brothers and sisters who have been granted the ability to return to their homes, but hope and pray that the restoration process will not end here. Livelihood and homes are in need of repair, with communal harmony and acceptance remaining tenuous due to religious differences."

    Praise God for the safe return of these Mexican believers, asking that His protective hand remain upon them as they rebuild their homes as well as their lives. Please continue to lift up these persevering families and their fellow community members in prayer, earnestly pleading for Christ's love to indwell within each of their hearts so community relations between the villagers will greatly improve and eventually grow stronger. May the Lord also touch the hearts of the leaders and authorities within the village -- enlightening them to the truth and wisdom of the Scriptures -- so they can govern the people justly and in a manner that will result in blessing for the entire community.
  • Pastor Abducted After Receiving Fake Plea for Prayer
    An outdoor church structure in Sri Lanka.

    A pastor from a local district in Sri Lanka was abducted and assaulted by someone who duped him into believing a sick relative was in need of prayer. After being persuaded to follow a man who requested a pastoral visit for his allegedly ailing mother, the innocent pastor was driven to a nearby Buddhist worship site. During this time, the kidnapper made threats on his life if he didn't kneel and request the forgiveness of the opposing religious leaders. However, since the site was occupied when the men arrived, the kidnapper and his accomplice drove the pastor to an isolated area instead where they threatened to destroy his church unless he closed it down. The pastor was then beaten by the assailants and left abandoned.

    Over the past two months, there have been several incidents in which Sri Lankan pastors have been harassed, assaulted and ordered to stop church activities. The rise of militant Buddhist nationalist groups in Sri Lanka during the past few years has intensified the persecution of Christians. To date, more than 250 churches have been destroyed or damaged in the sectarian violence. While the Sri Lankan constitution claims religious freedom for all, minority evangelical Christians (representing only about one percent of the population) have experienced violent persecution, as well as discrimination in employment and education. Previous news reports on persecution in Sri Lanka can be found at VOMC's country report.

    Please intercede on behalf of the victimized pastor and his church, requesting that this community of believers be shielded from any further threat of danger. In fact, may the Lord provide supernatural protection for all of Sri Lanka's pastoral leaders, as well as their families and congregants, especially those who are being targeted for boldly testifying of their faith. In addition, pray for an increased measure of faith, wisdom and guidance as these pastors continue to minister amid the mounting challenges in order that many others will experience God's love and salvation -- including those opposing them.
  • No Religion Without Permission

    Uzbekistan has enacted a "Prevention Law" aimed at prohibiting the practice of religion without state permission. This law empowers state bodies, committees and district councils to enforce religion laws. It also requires them to report those they suspect might be guilty of religious crimes, such as "teaching" religion or storing religious materials without permission.

    Persecution against Protestant believers has escalated as police raids, administrative detentions and massive fines are issued for merely sharing one's faith or possessing Christian materials. Police brutality and torture are endemic. For example, on May 8th, Murot Turdiyev was beaten and then strangled by police until he lost consciousness. Another believer, Guljahon Kuzebayeva, who merely shared her faith with family members, is so afraid that she's been in hiding since the police raided her home about 12 months ago.

    While Uzbekistan is a secular state, religion is tightly controlled. Christians represent a mere 0.75 percent of the majority Muslim population. Following global trends, Uzbekistan's Muslims are also being radicalized. Unfortunately, as radicalization advances, so does the intolerance of Christianity. More examples of this can be found here.

    Pray that the Lord will minister strength, encouragement and healing to Murot, Guljahon and others who have been directly affected by the harsh actions of the government. Ask Him to give Uzbekistan's Christians, especially pastors and evangelists, great wisdom as they seek to navigate and provide spiritual leadership among an increasingly hostile and difficult environment. Also pray for overall church unity, so that the country's believers will be a blessing and strength to each other through these trying times.