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News and Prayer for the Persecuted
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Christian Family Almost Lynched Following Father Collecting Water from Mosque's Tap
A Christian family in Pakistan was nearly lynched by local Muslims after the father was confronted for collecting water from a mosque's tap. According to local sources, the mosque's tap is the village's only source of clean water. When local Muslims discovered that
40-year-old Aftab Gill,
who cares for his five children, was collecting water from the tap, they told him that he would only be allowed to collect water from the mosque if he converted to Islam. When the Christian and his sons refused, a mob gathered and beat the Christian family.
- Pray for the physical and spiritual healing of Aftab Gill and his family during this time
- Pray that the Gill family, who was forced to leave their home, will find a safe new village
- Pray that the government of Pakistan will ensure that Christian communities will have the same amount of access to clean drinking water as Muslims
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Marine Corps Refuses to Remove 'God Bless the Military' Sign Following Complaint
As previously reported, in September the Military Religious Freedom Foundation issued a complaint regarding a sign reading, "God Bless the Military," on a Hawaii Marine Corps base. The group stated that the presence of the sign is unconstitutional and demanded that it either be removed entirely or relocated to the chapel. However, along with the support of Alliance Defending Freedom, the commanding officer of the base recently responded to the complaint, stating that they refused to remove or relocate the sign.
- Praise God for the courage of the commanding officer of Marine Corps Base Hawaii for standing for Christ and refusing to remove the sign
- Pray that the MRFF will drop its complaint under the statement that, "Several Supreme Court cases and other federal cases, support the conclusion that the message on the sign does not violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution."
- Pray for the protection and blessing of the military, and their families and the civilians who work with them
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Christian Chibok Girls Alive Says Escapee
One Christian Chibok girl escaped from Boko Haram about two weeks ago, eventually finding herself in the hands of the joint task force assigned to defeat the terrorist group. While in military custody, she explained to them that most of the girls were forced into marriage and conversion to Islam, while others were either shot or beheaded. According to her, there are about 59 girls left in the main camp. While imprisoned by Boko Haram, she was raped repeatedly, impregnated, and contracted venereal diseases. According to her, Boko Haram is in disarray, aimlessly moving around the region, leaving IEDs and other explosives behind in order to slow down the military's efforts. The Chibok girls have been missing since their abduction in April of 2014.
- Pray for the Christian girl's speedy recovery during this time of transition
- Pray that the international community will not lose hope and forget about the Chibok girls, but continue to pray for their return
- Pray that God will continue to bring division and disarray amongst Boko Haram and that they will be brought to justice for their crimes against Nigeria's people
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Pakistani Christian Accused of Blasphemy Released on Bail by Lower Court
10/12/2015 Pakistan (UCA News)
Last month, Pakistani Christian, Pervaiz Masih, was accused of committing blasphemy by a Muslim co-worker in Kasur District. In a rare move, the lower court has granted Masih bail and he has now been released from police custody. Historically, lower court decisions have been significantly influenced by local extremists rendering the release of any religious minorities accused of blasphemy impossible despite the merits of the case. This positive action has encouraged many human rights activists who hope that this is the beginning of sensible change when it comes to Pakistan's notorious blasphemy laws.
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Remembering the Maspero Massacre of Egyptian Christians Four Years Later
ICC marks with sadness the fourth anniversary of the Maspero Massacre that occurred on the streets of central Cairo on October 9, 2011. 28 individuals were killed and more than 200 injured when military vehicles drove through a crowd of protestors and then opened fire. Four years later, though the incident has been well documented, the families of those martyred on that day continue to press for answers and justice. The Christian community is still shaken both by the attacks from the military and the continuing impunity that raises even more questions of what place there is for Christians in a country that too often remains divided along religious lines.
- Pray for the families of the 28 individuals who were killed during the Maspero Massacre
- Pray for the recovery of the more than 200 who were injured during the Maspero Massacre and pray for them as they continue to rebuild their lives in spite of the continuing impunity of military forces in Egypt
- Pray that commanders who were responsible for giving the orders to the soldiers will be brought to justice and that there will be a serious investigation to determine the fate of those who opened fire on peaceful Christian protestors
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Beef Lynching Shows Dangerous Side of Radical Hindu Nationalism Ideology in India
India has often been identified as a place of religious tolerance and pluralism. Unfortunately, that identity has come under assault in recent days following the lynching of a Muslim man who was rumored to have slaughtered a cow and consumed beef. Since taking power in May 2014, the Hindu nationalist party BJP has worked to implement and foster its Hindu nationalist ideology across India. Anti-conversion laws and national beef bans are in the process of being proposed to help "protect" India's Hindu identity. What is being lost in this ideology is the identity of religious tolerance and pluralism.
- Pray that this incident will inspire and urge Indian political parties to respond to rising political extremism and "hate speech" in India
- Pray that Narendra Modi will no longer be silent, but begin to assure that the Constitution be respected by all, including his party members and party sympathizers
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