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2015-07-23

• Authorities Crushing Christian Minorities

  

  A new report from Human Rights Watch announces that the oppression of Vietnam's Christian "Montagnards" (meaning "mountain people") has reached a critical state. The report, Persecuting "Evil Way" Religion: Abuses against Montagnards in Vietnam, claims government authorities have arrested Christians, detaining them sometimes for days or even months at a time. Many of the detainees, who follow a form of evangelical Protestantism not recognized by the government, were also beaten.

  Periodic bouts of persecution are nothing new among Vietnam's Christian minorities. Such treatment has been especially harsh in the Central Highlands, an area where Protestant missionaries worked both before and during the Vietnam War. Today, many of the ethnic minority tribes there still practise evangelical Christianity.

  While Vietnam's constitution contains a guarantee of religious freedom, it only extends as far as the government allows. According to the Human Rights Watch report, persecution of the evangelical Christian minority became official policy in January 2013 when the communist Vietnamese government passed "Decree 92." The new law clamped down on religious groups not registered with the government, prohibited the "manipulation of freedom of belief and religion," and outlined "propaganda against the state" and threats to "national unity." To learn more about persecution in Vietnam, click here.

  Pray that the Lord will greatly strengthen the resolve of His people in Vietnam, enabling them to persevere in spite of severe opposition. May they have the reassurance of His peace and protection as they endeavour to love and serve Him with joy. Ask that He pour out His Spirit upon these faithful Christ followers so they may be mightily used to reach those who have yet to know Him personally as Saviour -- including those in governing authority.

• New Laws Prompt Fears of Religious Liberty Crackdown

  New security laws recently passed by the Chinese government could further limit religious freedom on the Chinese mainland and beyond. China Aid warns that the wording of these new laws is "intentionally vague" and may prompt greater "persecution and abuse based on perceived threats to national security." Among its provisions are further restrictions on "foreign influences" and what they consider "cults."

  The new security laws also expand China's restrictions on religion into Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Some Hong Kong-based pastors fear that they might be penalized for activities such as serving mainland Christians via the Internet, hosting their visits, or even preaching to people from mainland China who are presently living in Hong Kong.

  On July 1st, the same day the new laws were enacted, Hong Kong pastor Wu Xiaohe was summoned by the Religious Affairs Bureau in Shenzhen city and told he could no longer invite mainland Chinese Christians to Hong Kong for training. Officials told him that "at least 300 more religious leaders" would receive similar summons. Informative video clips and reports on the challenges facing believers in China are available at this page.

  Please remember our brothers and sisters in China and surrounding areas. Pray that the country's officials will no longer see the church as a threat to national security but rather as a positive force for the good of society as a whole. Ask God to continue overseeing the growth of His church in this part of the world, calling even those who would try to hinder religious freedom. Also pray for wisdom on behalf of the Christian leaders as they strive to carry out the Great Commission. Thankfully, He will never abandon the Godly, nor will He forsake His faithful ones (Psalm 37:28).

• Additional Challenges Faced by Christian Families

  Photo: Flickr / Joe Driscoll (cc)

  Authorities in the village of Mariano Matamoros, Chiapas State, have illegally cut utilities to the homes of 30 Christian families, leaving them without a supply of water or proper sewage services. This incident is one of the many attacks against evangelicals in the area. The individuals responsible for harassing these families are known as "traditionalists," a group of Mexico's indigenous peoples who have erroneously combined their ancient Mayan rituals with Catholic ordinances.

  Problems began in 2012, when traditionalists in the village began to physically harm the Christians, attempt conversions by force, and confiscate privately-owned property without legal grounds. In the midst of the ongoing violence, appeals were made to the Chiapas State government to protect the families' religious freedom.

  Although the state government guaranteed the protection of these Christians' rights and the return of their illegally-confiscated land, these promises have not been enforced. As a result, a new decree was issued by the opposing village leaders, barring the evangelicals from selling or purchasing any land in the area. The situation for these families is not only distressing, but indicative of the state government's failure to protect the religious freedom of its citizens.

  Similar promises of protection were made to seven other villages in the state, with a deadline to enact these guarantees set for April of 2014. However, once again the government has not come through. While one group of displaced families from the village of Buenavista Bahuitz was allowed to return home, the conditions of their return do not align with the previously made agreements to protect their freedom of beliefs. (An earlier report on the situation can be found here, as well as a 22-minute video clip.) All other communities have seen little to no change.

  VOM Mexico's president, Luis Herrera, who also serves as Director of the Coordination of Christian Organizations in Chiapas State and legal representative for the families of Mariano Matamoros, has been notified by village authorities that they are planning to confiscate the families' private land. This would then leave the members of this Christian community homeless and displaced.

  Please uphold all the Christian families who are facing persecution in various areas of Mexico's Chiapas State. Pray that they will not be deterred by the injustice, threats of violence or any other form of intimidation, but rather further strengthened and renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Ask the Lord to move mightily in the hearts of the state's governing officials, granting them wisdom, mercy and a desire to intervene justly. May He also work in the hearts of the antagonizing village leaders, revealing to them spiritual truth and the reality of His life-changing presence so they will realize the error of their ways and come to a point of sincere repentance and salvation. (We are reminded in Acts 9:1-22 of Saul's dramatic conversion.)