Prayer News and Requests

UPDATE: Believers falsely held in prison in EGYPT were finally released, most pending further investigations. They were arrested after the Egyptian military fired on Christians and ran over them with armored vehicles during the protest of a church demolition. Believers are thankful for the release of the innocent, but disappointed at the lack of justice for the Christians’ deaths, which are being treated as accidents caused by “neglect.”

Ask God to encourage the believers in Egypt. “For Your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in Your faithfulness.”

Updated from previous prayer request: 34 Believers Arrestsed

LEARN MORE: Arrested for the Name of Christ

Mina Talaat did not attend the protest in Maspero, Egypt, but he was arrested anyway because of his faith. His mother says, "Mina was stopped by a soldier, who called a group of 20 people to come quickly, as he had found a Christian. The group beat Mina with short leather batons until his jaw was broken and he had to hold it back with his hand. He also had wounds in the head requiring 12 stitches."

Why was this man arrested and beaten for his faith?

The story starts last fall, when we prayed for Christians in Egypt whose church, homes, and businesses were destroyed. The church was in the process of being renovated and had the required permits. Muslims were blockading the village and demanded the demolition of the century-old church. As is usual when Christians face injustice in Egypt, “reconciliation” meetings were held at which the church was pressured to make concessions to Muslims. Nevertheless, many Muslims were not satisfied. A local imam “called on the people to take matters into their own hands.” A mob of between 1,000 and 3,000 people destroyed the church, along with Christians’ homes and businesses.

Soon after this incident, Christians protesting the church’s destruction were themselves attacked. Although the protests were peaceful, approximately two dozen Christians were killed. A mob attacked them with stones and sticks and the army shot at them with live ammunition and ran over them with armored vehicles. (To read Elizabeth Kendal’s overview and analysis of the situation, click here. If you want to read Assist News’s report on the half-hearted prosecution of responsible soldiers, click here, although beware of graphic images.)

Afterward Christians were arrested, supposedly for “inciting violence, carrying arms and insulting the armed forces,” even though some were not even present at the protest, but were rounded up for merely being Christians. According to various different reports, all of the Christians who were arrested have finally been released. They could, however, face more investigations.

Mina Talaat is free now, but how many like him are still in prison for their faith throughout the Islamic world?

“Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” –Hebrews 13:3

UPDATE: A Christian appealing a fine and 5-year prison sentence in ALGERIA has had his court hearing indefinitely postponed. He was convicted last year after a Muslim initiated a religious conversation with him and tried unsuccessfully to make him recite the Islamic creed. The Christian was also accused of giving a CD about Christianity to a Muslim.

Pray that his appeal will be heard and granted. “To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.”

Update on previous prayer request: Believer Sentenced to Prison

LEARN MORE: Life on Hold 

Imagine your life is on hold: at any time, you could be summoned back to court and told to serve your five-year prison sentence. But you don’t know if or when you will be called back. That is the situation of Abdelkrim Siaghi, a convert from Islam who was accused of insulting Mohammed and of proselytism in Algeria.

His crime? While he was out shopping one day, a merchant started a conversation with him about religion. His answers didn’t align with the teachings of Islam. The merchant got upset and tried to make him recite the Muslim creed, professing faith in Allah and Mohammed. Abdelkrim refused. The merchant was offended, and accused him of giving a CD about Christianity to someone.

In May of 2011, a judge sentenced Abdelkrim to a fine and five years in prison—a sentence over and above even the prosecutor’s request. He appealed that sentence. Reportedly the judge hearing his appeal has not been able to find any evidence against him. But instead of granting his appeal, the judge has postponed the trial indefinitely. Abdelkrim doesn’t have to serve the sentence yet, at least until the appeal is heard. But his name isn’t cleared, and his life, along with the lives of his wife and their young child, could be interrupted at any time. In July we prayed for encouragement for the three of them. Please join us today in praying that the appeal will be heard and granted.

“Behold, we consider those blessed who remain steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” –James 5:11

Seven baptized converts from Islam in INDIA were detained and beaten by police on accusations of accepting money to convert. The Muslim background believers say that they converted willingly and deny being bribed. They were released on November 2.

Ask God to strengthen and encourage them in their faith. “He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”

UPDATE: A Christian couple released from prison in IRAN last year was attacked, denied employment, put under surveillance, and forced to leave the country.

Pray that God will use them and bless them in the country where they are refugees. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”

Recently an Islamic group called for the demolition of five churches in INDONESIA.

Pray that the congregations will persevere and not become discouraged. “And since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…”

Last fall Muslims killed a Christian leader, burned his home, and raided a village in NIGERIA. The local pastor reports that about five dozen of his church members were driven outside the village and are homeless.

Ask God for encouragement and provision. “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice…. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.”

A pastor in INDIA was arrested on November 17 after Muslims accused him of “luring” other Muslims to Christianity. He was released on bail.

Pray for courage for him and his family during this time. “For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.”

As Islamist groups rise to power in EGYPT, Christians are concerned about increasing persecution.

Ask God to give them wisdom and courage in knowing how the church should respond to mounting pressure. “He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.”

This December in the Kurdistan region of IRAQ, an imam’s Friday sermon reportedly inspired Muslims to attack local businesses, many of which were owned by Christians. Muslims chanted jihad and anti-Christian slogans during the attacks. Some area residents retaliated. Hundreds of Christian families are now afraid because of the volatile situation.

Ask God to encourage the believers and give them wisdom in how to respond. “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.”

In IRAN this winter believers are expecting another wave of imprisonments. Last year over 120 Christians were arrested.

Ask God to protect believers and give them strength in Him. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

In PAKISTAN on November 25, Muslims attempting to seize Christians’ land beat two women and shot at others who came to their aid.

Ask God to encourage and strengthen them. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

In ETHIOPIA, a group of Muslims distributed literature with their plans to make Ethiopia an Islamic country under the rule of Sharia law.

Pray for wisdom and courage for Christians in the region. “...she considered Him faithful who had promised.”

A house church leader in IRAN has been in prison since Christmas Eve 2010. He has withstood authorities’ pressure to make him abandon his faith and evangelism efforts. After sharing the gospel with fellow prisoners, he was transferred to another prison and threatened with the death penalty.

Pray for courage and for his release. “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”

A Christian evangelist was shot to death by suspected Islamists in November in PAKISTAN. Pray that his testimony will lead many to Christ.

Ask God to comfort and provide for his widow and children. “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”