News of persecuted church. Aid for Christians suffering persecution

From Twitter

• Court ratifies death sentence for three men convicted of 2010 attack on Iraq church that left more than 50 dead http://t.co/ZVI9p68G 19 hours ago

• Egyptian Christians are concerned about their future under the new parliament. http://t.co/GwXFiJxM Thu, Feb 2012 16:47

• “It’s like the Middle Ages” says secular Tunisian columnist amid rising tide of #Islamism http://t.co/rXDihAp8 Thu, Feb 2012 10:03

• Indian Christians targeted in 140 violent incidents last year http://t.co/uQZISBZI Wed, Feb 2012 12:27

• Sign our Proclaim Freedom petition calling for governments to take resolute action on behalf of persecuted Christians http://t.co/lCVhzS8A Tue, Jan 2012 17:09

Daily prayer

• Twenty-two children of Arab Christian workers who minister in a Middle Eastern country are receiving a Christian education thanks to support from Barnabas. State schools in this country are often in extremely poor physical condition, classrooms are overcrowded, and under-qualified staff teach by rote. Islam is heavily promoted, and the memorisation of extensive passages from the Qu’ran is compulsory. Discrimination against non-Muslim children is often open and aggressive. One of the Christian mothers said, “My son is so thankful. He was so frustrated with the national curriculum, but now he feels motivated to learn and enjoys school.” Give praise that these Christian children can receive a Christian education and pray that they may grow up into mature believers. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed 12 hours ago

• In August 2011 a South Korean pastor died in a suspected poison needle attack after smuggling runaways from North Korea to safety. Christians in North Korea are thought to number at least 400,000, but they are cruelly persecuted: they live in constant danger of imprisonment and torture in the regime’s notoriously brutal labour camps, and even of execution. Those who try to help them escape across the border do so at the risk of their lives. Pray for deliverance for our brothers and sisters in their distress, and that the Lord will protect those Christians in neighbouring countries who reach out to help them. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Fri, Feb 2012 00:00

• “Believers have passion and joy in their hearts. We give thanks to God, for He has granted us hope and faith, has restored us from weariness, and has enabled us to trust Him alone,” says a recent statement from Shouwang Church in Beijing, China. Continue to pray for our valiant brothers and sisters, who have continued to meet in the open air to worship the Lord despite persistently harsh treatment by the authorities. Many believers have been detained at the venue, on their way there, or even because the police suspect that they intend to go. The church was evicted from its meeting-place in April 2011 by the government, which had previously pressured property owners not to sell or lease premises to them. Pray that the Lord will honour the faithfulness of His people and that they may soon be granted a safe place to worship. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Thu, Feb 2012 00:00

• Pray for a congregation in Tai’an, Shandong province, China, whose church building is facing demolition. Although the church belongs to the officially approved Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM), property developers have secured government backing for the demolition, despite the fact that the buildings are designated as protected national historical landmarks. One wall of the church compound has already been pulled down; when some elderly church members tried to stop the destruction, they were beaten to the ground. The church has launched an appeal, but TSPM churches are subject to tight control by the authorities and have little defence against arbitrary decisions of this kind. Pray that the Lord will strengthen the church at this time of uncertainty. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Wed, Feb 2012 00:00

• The first elections held in Tunisia since the revolution of January 2011 brought bad news for the country’s isolated and vulnerable Christians. The Islamist Ennhada party emerged with the largest share of the vote and won over 40 per cent of the seats in the national constituent assembly. Its victory will give it a dominant role in shaping the new political landscape, which is now likely to have a more openly Islamic character. Many of the few hundred indigenous Christians are already secret believers, and their safety will be endangered even further by a mainly Islamist regime. Pray that the Lord may overrule Tunisia’s future for the good of His people. “God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne” (Psalm 47:8). Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Tue, Jan 2012 00:00