IRAN: Jailed Pastor's Bible Seized

Date of Bulletin: 23 April 2014

Iranian authorities recently confiscated a Bible and several Christian books from Pastor Behnam Irani, who is serving a five-year sentence on two separate convictions of "crimes against national security." Prisoners are supposed to be allowed religious materials in their cell, regardless of their religion.

The pastor is currently recovering from a February 2014 abdominal surgery. You can write an encouraging letter to Pastor Behnam Irani at www.prisoneralert.com.

Present Truth Ministries
Photo: Pastor Behnam Irani visits with his younger brother while recovering from surgery
 

Please Pray!

• Please pray for Pastor Behnam as he recovers from surgery.

• Pray also for his family; the pastor has a wife and two young children.

• Pray that the Scripture he has hidden in his heart will be a comfort to him as he serves his sentence.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Psalm 119:105 

The Voice of the Martyrs helps Christians in Iran by providing Farsi Bibles and by supporting Christian satellite broadcasts.

EGYPT: Christian Woman Killed in Mob Attack

Date of Bulletin: 16 April 2014

EGYPT

Every Friday, 25-year-old Mary Sameh George drove from Cairo to the nearby Ezbet El Nakhl area to visit a poor family and assist them with basic needs. While driving to visit this family on March 28, she was stopped in the Cairo suburb of Ain Shams by a mob protesting in favor of the Muslim Brotherhood.

"Once they saw that she was a Christian [because of the cross hanging on her rear-view mirror], they jumped on top of the car, to the point that the vehicle was no longer visible," an eyewitness said. "The roof of  the car collapsed. When they realized that she was starting to die, they pulled her out of the car and started pounding on her and pulling her hair, to the point that portions of her hair and scalp came off. They kept beating her, kicking her, stabbing her with any object or weapon they could find."

Voice Of the Martyrs (VOM) sources say the mob also shot her and burned her vehicle.

Christian Post, VOM Sources

Please Pray!

• Please pray that God will comfort and console Mary's family in their time of grief.

• Pray for the safety of all Christians in Egypt and that peace will soon be restored.

• Pray that the perpetrators will be caught and brought to justice.

"These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil."

- Proverbs 6:16-17 -

Voice Of the Martyrs assists Christians in Egypt through VOMedical, the Families of Prisoners fund, Christian radio  broadcasts and discipleship training for former Muslims.

KENYA: Six Killed and 15 Injured in Church Attack

 Date of Bulletin: 9 April 2014

KENYA

Three unidentified, armed men attacked the Joy of Christ Church near Mombasa on Sunday, March 23, killing Pastor Philip Msasa and five others. The gunmen entered the church during Sunday morning service  and opened fire on worshipers.

In addition to the six believers who were killed, 15 others, including some children, were hospitalized with  gunshot wounds. The men later attempted to attack the nearby Redeemed Church, but security guards prevented them from entering.

The attack on the church came one day after Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku warned a radical Islamic imam to stop inciting youth to violence. On Feb. 2, police stormed the Masjid Musa  mosque and arrested several youth after finding materials linking them to radicalization.

One week later, six bombs, an AK-47, ammunition and grenades were found in a vehicle in Mombasa. The situation is very worrisome for Christians, who have been the main target of these attacks.

VOM Sources, AllAfrica

Please Pray!

• Please pray that God will stop the infiltration of radical Islam in Kenya.

• Please pray that He will protect the churches and believers there and give them a stronger burden to reach the lost with the gospel.

• Pray for the injured and the families who have lost loved ones.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

- Romans 8:18 -

Kenya is listed on Voice Of the Martyrs' prayer map as a Monitored Nation - an area being closely monitored by VOM because of a trend toward increased persecution of Christians.

#Kenya #ChristianPersecution #Jesus #Prayer #PebblesForChrist #Christian

NEPAL: Pastor Attacked for Distributing Bibles

Date of Bulletin: 26 March 2014

Nepal

Pastor Mohan Limbu was confronted by about 60 local Hindus while distributing Bibles in a Nepali village. The Hindus accused him of giving the villagers money to convert to Christianity. He was told to leave the village and never return.

After leaving the village on his motorcycle, he noticed about 10 men following him. He tried to outrun his pursuers, but he couldn't escape. The men surrounded him and beat him severely before stealing his  motorcycle and leaving.

Pastor Mohan Limbu suffered two broken ribs and is having difficulty walking because of injuries to his legs.

VOM Sources
Photo: Pastor Mohan Limbu

Please Pray!

• Please pray that this pastor will heal quickly, both physically and emotionally.
• Pray that the presence and peace of God will comfort him and his family.
• Pray that God's word will take root in the hearts of the villagers and turn them from darkness to light.

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."

- 1 Pet. 4:12-13 -

Some of the ways Voice Of the Martyrs assists Christians in Nepal is through radio broadcasts, Christian literature and support for pastors.