Tags

2016-06-16

  • Wife of Imprisoned Pastor Beaten

    While Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh remains imprisoned in Vietnam, his wife Tran Thi Hong has been suffering ongoing persecution in a different manner. On April 14th, Tran was taken from her home and brought to the office of the People's Committee of Hoa Lu Ward where she was interrogated for three hours and beaten by plainclothes agents, resulting in injuries to her head, knees, legs, hands and feet.

    Before these beatings, officials tried to prevent her from attending a scheduled meeting with David Saperstein, the U.S. Ambassador at Large on International Religious Freedom. The meeting was able to proceed after Tran informed the ambassador's delegation that she had been seized and forced to return home.

    In May, Tran was detained and violently interrogated an additional three times. During one of these interrogations, Tran's 18-year-old son tried to intervene in an effort to protect his mother, but was then grabbed and choked by police who had him bound and arrested. Thankfully, he was released later that same day.

    Pastor Nguyen, 45, continues to suffer physical and psychological abuse in a Vietnamese prison because of his faith and advocacy for religious liberty. In 2012, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison for allegedly "undermining national unity." Additional information on persecution in Vietnam is available here.

    Join us in praying that the unwarranted attacks against Pastor Nguyen and his family will cease, and that he will be released from prison prior to his sentenced term. In the meantime, as this family awaits a favourable outcome, ask the Lord to grant them renewed courage and strength. May those who witness their courage wonder at its source and also come to faith in Him. Intercede for the Vietnamese authorities that they may uphold true justice on behalf of the country's Christian believers and, therefore, act with compassion toward them.
  • Fatal Attack Over Facebook Post

    A 24-year-old Christian named Methodus Chimaije Emmanuel was killed by a mob of militants in Nigeria after being accused of posting a blasphemous statement about the prophet Mohammed on Facebook. The killing was part of a larger attack on Pandogari town in which three other people also tragically lost their lives and a church was burned down.

    According to a statement released by army spokesman N.C. Agwu, a member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps was among those who lost their lives after rioters blocked the Lagos-Kaduna Road. "Some arrests have been made in connection with the violence and the suspects (were) handed over to the police," he reports.

    A Baptist pastor in nearby Kagara town further explains that Facebook exchanges between two young people in Pandogari triggered the attacks: "The incident began with Facebook chats between a Muslim and a Christian.... The Muslim youth mobilized other Muslims in the town on claims that the Christian youth had blasphemed the prophet Mohammed." The pastor adds that the militant group then burned down the Fellowship Baptist Church in Pandogari town.

    To learn more about the country of Nigeria, and to review previous reports and video documentaries, go to the Nigeria Country Report.

    Please pray for the people of Nigeria, and especially those who have been affected by the recent killings in Pandogari town. May the group members responsible for the violence be brought to justice. Intercede on behalf of Nigerians in the community who do not yet know Christ, nor understand the impact of their negative actions, that they may seek the truth of the Gospel and grow in God's wisdom and grace. Pray for an end to the scourge of persecution which can only take place when Christians and Muslims fully extend the love and compassion of Jesus Christ in order to reside peaceably and harmoniously.
  • New Believer Thankful for God's Word


    Chinese Christians treasure
    the Bibles that they
    have been given.

    A Christian believer in China recently sent The Voice of the Martyrs ministry a letter of thanks after receiving a Bible during a VOM-sponsored Bible distribution. Wang Xiuling wrote:

    "Thank you for your selfless love and offering which enabled many people here to get Bibles, the precious words of God. To be honest, I have never read through a book in the Bible. I only had a superficial knowledge of God's words. I have not believed in the Lord for long. I am still young in my spiritual life. I hope that I can read God's words carefully this time."

    We appreciate your prayers on behalf of Wang, as well as other recipients of VOM's Bible distribution in China, that they may receive the fullness of God's Word -- and thus increase in their faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus.