URGENT PRAYERS/PETITIONS:
Same -Sex "Marriage"- PLEASE PRAY WITH ME (every day untill the decision is revealed around mid-June) THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL VOTE TO UPHOLD THE 2 LAWS REVIEWED SUPPORTING A TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE.. PRAY that the Court will resist any pressure to MAKE new law based on "cultural trends." PRAY as though the very future of the institution of the family is at stake because it is. PRAY! - for the sake of possibly millions of children, and for our country if it is to continue to be shown any more favor by our Heavenly Father, who I promise you will be very displeased if homosexual marriage is legalized; "GOD IS NOT [TO BE] MOCKED..." - (Gal. 6:7) - Stan [Be sure to check out my brief essay at post #478.]CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR SAEED (Iranian-born AMERICAN pastor) who just started an 8 year sentence for helping the underground churches in Iran) If you have not already, please join over 500,000! who have signed the petition for Pastor Saeed's release and tell your friends about it. http://aclj.org/iran/save-american-pastor-from-iranian-prison-sentence As the Lord leads, please pray: *For Pastor Abedini as he endures one of Iran’s most deadly prisons, potentially beaten and abused regularly, simply because of his Christian faith. *For the pastor’s wife and family and the Holy Spirit’s comfort upon them. * For God to visit his tormenters and all in his cell with him with supernatural dreams of the risen Christ, and use the pastor's actions and words to draw them to repent and turn to Christ; that God would use the pastor's time in that prison to spark a genuine spiritual revival that will bring scores of Iranians to Christ..*For the growing world pressure to finally obtain the pastor’s release. LATEST Update - April 15 - 1)".. During the weekly prison visit today, Pastor Saeed's family reported that his physical condition is worsening - seeing first-hand the marks and symptoms left by the recent beating. These beatings and the internal injuries are causing Pastor Saeed frequent fainting spells. Iranian officials are telling Pastor Saeed it could be an additional two months before he will receive medical treatment. Such a delay is inhumane and a gross violation of Iran’s international obligations. ...In addition to refusing to give Pastor Saeed the medical care he needs, it now appears authorities are stepping up their physical abuse and psychological torture. Pastor Saeed reported that cellmates, who appear to have connections to the Iranian intelligence police, recently threatened they would suffocate Pastor Saeed in his sleep, making his death look like an accident. The daily threat that his life could be taken by his internal injuries or by the hands of cellmates, weighs heavily on Pastor Saeed. (http://aclj.org/iran/beatings-intensify-american-pastor-saeed-condition-worsens-in-iranian-prison PRAY that Pastor Saeed might finally receive the medical treatment he needs. PRAY that God would reveal himself to the pastor's tormenters and turn them to Christ. PRAY that his family, esp. his children, will experience His strength and special presence during this time. And finally, PRAY that , when God has accomplished His will in Pastor Abedini's suffering, he will finally be released 2) More than 550,000 people from 180 countries have signed the petition to Save Saeed. Your voice has moved the U.S., the European Union, and many others to call for his release. Go to Save Saeed.org and add your name to those sending letters to him.
"Tanzania: Islamic Persecutors Target Christian Pastors," By Gary Lane, CBN News Sr. International Correspondent, Friday, April 26, 2013 http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/April/Tanzania-Islamic-Persecutors-Target-Christian-Pastors/[AS I SEE IT: As upsetting as it is to not just read about stories of persecutions of Christians happening all over the world (has been said to be more in the past century than at any other time in recorded history) is the lack of almost any mention in the mainstream media. What is just as upsetting to me is the lack of awareness of American Christians and even then the absence of prayers from our pulpits for our hurting brothrs and sisters in Christ elsewhere. And so\, RIGHT NOW, may I encourage YOU to stop and intercede for our bretheren in Christ. May they each experience God's protection, provision, power, and Presence as they stand so courageously true in the name of Christ. May we take to heart their example in whatever battle He calls us to enter into for His name's sak.. In the name of the Lord Jesus, Amen - Stan]
For many years Christians in Tanzania have felt safe worshipping, given the country's Christian majorities.
Now, their security is quickly evaporating following a wave of persecution threatening churches and targeting pastors. Tanzanian churches are growing and witnessing a new unity, but Christians have paid a painful price.
Persecution of Pastors
Generosa Kachila told CBN News she burst into tears when her neighbor stormed in with the nightmarish news,"I shouted, my Jesus, my Jesus, why have you forsaken me?" February 11, 2013, a Muslim mob brandishing machetes murdered Generosa's husband, Tanzania Assemblies of God Pastor Mathayo Kachila. The brutal attack occurred as the pastor walked to the home of a friend. The motive? Anger grew after Christians began butchering and selling meat. The lucrative business traditionally belonged to Muslims, who prepare it in their religious way known as halal.
In his last few breaths, Pastor Mathayo identifed his killer. Ezekiel Meschach said the pastor told him it was a neighbor named Abdallah. "I was not surprised because just before the attack I saw Abdallah leaving the mosque carrying a machete," Meschach explained. "He grew a long beard and often wore pants and a vest that resembled those worn by Taliban fighters." Locals believe Abdallah fled to neighboring Burundi.
Witnesses On The Run
Victor Ligala is also on the run, but not for committing murder. Militant Muslims threatened to kill him because he videotaped the riot, capturing their images on camera. Ligala also visited the local morgue and shot exclusive photos and video of the deceased pastor's wounds. They are too graphic to show without blurring the images. Ligala expressed frustration about his inability to help save the pastor's life:
"I was highly affected by seeing the pastor killed in that way because he was a fellow Christian and I didn't have any power to rescue his life, but only to watch events unfold. I have known him for a long time," he said.Ligala is a teacher who is now without money because he is in hiding from those who are threatening to kill him. He said he does not regret shooting the video."I want the whole world to learn that has happened to our country, so nothing like this will happen again," he explained.
Targeting Catholic Priests
It is not just Protestant pastors who are facing threats -- Catholics are also being targeted. Last Feb. 17, Father Evaristus Mushi was arriving at St. Theresa's church in Zanzibar to celebrate mass. He was gunned down about 10 yards away from the church entrance.Sister Maria Gaspara said Father Mushi was a kind and loving man who possessed a good sense of humor. She told CBN, "He was devoted to his work. He loved Jesus." Some Tanzanian Christians say Father Mushi's murder proves that the goal of Islamic extremists is to target church leaders. One pastor who knew Mathayo Kachila, Pastor Isaiah Ikiri, said he believes Islamic extremists have a long-term strategy for Tanzania. "They plan to Islamize the whole of Tanzanian nation. Islamic leaders have urged Muslims to come together to attack, fight and kill bishops, priests and pastors," Ikiri said.
Anglican Bishop Michael Hafidh was among those targeted. He said many Zanzibarian Christians are afraid.
"We are sometimes standing strong," Bishop Hafidh said. "But you know we are human beings. Fear comes in sometimes.They don't know tomorrow what is going to happen for me or for another one. I tell my congregation don't be afraid, God is with us."
And Mathayo's widow Generosa believes God is with her and her 12 children. She trusts He will provide for them and she believes God has a greater purpose in Mathayo's death.
"I believe God knew Mathayo's destiny and no matter how he lived it was necessary that he go through this so that it would be a lesson to the remaining people, but also so the Lord can harvest into His kingdom," she said.
And while the recent deaths of these faithful pastors now leave even fewer laborers, Tanzanian Christians say they are ready to follow their example and reap a bountiful harvest.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
"Six Arrests Made in Tanzania Church Attack,"CBNNews.com; May 07, 2013, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/May/Six-Arrests-Made-in-Tanzania-Church-Attack/
"Tanzanian police have arrested six people, including four Saudi Arabians, in the investigation of a church bombing in Arusha. At least two people died and nearly 60 were wounded when a motorcyclist tossed a bomb into St. Joseph's Catholic Church Sunday..."
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