Pray For These Christians in Iran, China, and Nigeria

The following are prayer updates from VOICE OF THE MARTYRS for May 27, 2008:

VOM News and Prayer Update: May 27, 2008

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,”  (1 Timothy 1:12)

IRAN

Iranian Police Arrest 12 Christian Converts, Four Remain in Prison – Compass Direct News

On May 12, Iranian police arrested 12 known Muslim converts to Christianity and confiscated their books, computers and printers in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz. According to Compass Direct News, “The arrests began at 5 a.m. on May 11, when two couples were taken into custody before boarding their flights at the Shiraz International Airport and sent directly to jail. All four were subjected to hours of interrogation, questioning them solely ‘just about their faith and house church activities.’” Compass Direct News added the detained Christians had been identified as: Homayon Shokohie Gholamzadeh, 48; his wife, Fariba Nazemiyan Pur, 40; Amir Hussein Bab Anari, 25; and his wife, Fatemeh Shenasa, 25. Although the two wives were released the same day, Anari was detained until May 14, and Gholamzadeh remains jailed. “Two hours after the early arrests of May 11, police authorities invaded the home of Hamid Allaedin Hussein, 58, arresting him and his three adult children: Fatemah, 28; Muhammed Ali, 27; and Mojtaba, 21. All the family’s books, CDs and computers were hauled off as well. Hussein, his daughter and one son were released later the same day, but [his] son Mojtaba remains in prison,” Compass Direct added. On May 13, local police also arrested two more former Muslims involved in a separate house church in Shiraz as the Christian converts were talking together in a city park. Both men, Mahmood Matin and a second man identified only as Arash, are still in jail. Yet another arrest incident was reported last month in the northern city of Amol, in Mazandaran province near the Caspian Sea. Two of the arrested converts to Christianity, one a pregnant woman, are still imprisoned with no news of their whereabouts. Psalm 91

CHINA

Prominent House Church Leader Arrested – China Aid Association

On May 19, Pastor Lou Yuanqi, a prominent house church leader in the town of Qingshuihe, Xinjiang province, was arrested by police. According to China Aid Association, “After being interrogated for an hour in the township police station, Yuanqi was transferred to a detention centre and charged with ‘inciting separatism.’ The pastor has been previously arrested several times. This is the first instance, however, of him being placed under criminal detention which means that he will likely face a serious indictment in court.” Pray for Pastor Yuanqi to experience the joy and peace of Christ while he suffers. Pray for Chinese house church leaders to stand in God’s grace as they continue to face pressure from the authorities. Acts 5:40-42

NIGERIA

Teenage Girls Kidnapped By Muslims; Rescue Incites Violence – Compass Direct News

On May 12, the police rescued two Christian girls, Mary Chikwodi Okoye (15) and Uche Edward (14), kidnapped by Muslim militants three weeks earlier in Bauchi state, Nigeria. According to Compass Direct News, “The kidnappers initially took the girls to the house of a Muslim leader in the town of Wudil. Okoye’s foster father and a group of believers heard where the girls were being held. When they arrived at the home, however, the girls had been relocated to the residence of a Muslim leader in Ningi. When the team went to this home they were told by the leader that the girls had converted to Islam and could not be released. The police then stepped in and evacuated the girls to eastern Nigeria where they were reunited with their biological parents.” Compass added that the following day, Muslims associated with a paramilitary arm of Kano state’s Sharia Commission went on a rampage, attacking Christians and setting fire to local churches, in protest of the girls’ release. Six church buildings, the Deeper Life Bible Church, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, All Souls Anglican Church, Church of Christ in Nigeria, Redeemed Christian Church of God and the Redeemed Peoples Mission, were destroyed in the attack. The Muslims also attacked shops belonging to Okoye’s foster father, looting and destroying goods worth over 50 million naira (US $430,198). Thank the Lord that Mary and Uche were found safe. Ask God to strengthen those affected by the mob attack to enable them to remain steadfast as they suffer. Pray that young Christian girls in Nigeria who have been kidnapped by Muslims will remain strong in faith and be freed. Revelation 2:10

Posted by Tim A. Blankenship on Trial of Faith.