#599 (8/3) "Eritrean Youth Jailed, Beaten for Being Christians"

PRAISES AND PRAYER REQUESTS:

PRAISE! - "North Carolina Governor Signs New Pro-Life Legislation into Law"- 7/30/2013;  http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=1706

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed pro-life legislation into law late Monday requiring abortion clinics to comply with basic medical standards used in outpatient surgical clinics...Court action is certain to follow challenging the law. Considering abortion is a surgical procedure, holding abortion clinics to the same standards as surgical clinics is nothing extreme. Not to mention, nearly half of the states in the country now have this requirement. On the national level, Florida Senator Marco Rubio is preparing to introduce legislation in the U.S. Senate limiting abortions to five months of pregnancy. (Sources: New York Times, TownHall) As the Lord leads, please pray:

• For the courage and integrity of more state legislatures to take pro-life positions.
• About the sanctity of life issues in America.
• For the national legislative attempts that will be introduced by Senator Marco Rubio.

ATTENTION: TODAY is the 25th day of the 30 days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. (see link below for resource material you can download.) Please join me in focusing your prayers EVERY DAY for these over one billion people who need to hear the gospel of Jesus.[NOTE: 1) You can download a  page of helpful basic information about Islam and Ramadan at: http://www.opendoorsusa.org/downloads/pdf-downloads/Islam_reference_guide-1.pdf ; and 2) The following is from a 30-day prayer guide you can download at: http://www.opendoorsusa.org/downloads/pdf-downloads/2013-ramadan-prayer-calendar-1.pdf (The following is from that prayer guide August 3 – 26^th  THE ROCK (Azerbaijan) “… for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:4)  Located on the western shore of the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan is a mountainous country. Though it is a secular state, the majority of the population is Muslim, and Christianity is associated with the country’s arch-enemy, Armenia. It is illegal for unregistered churches to meet, yet registration is almost impossible. Many Christians are unable to find or keep jobs and are watched closely by the secret service. Pray today for brothers and sisters living in Azerbaijan to find solace in Jesus, their spiritual rock.

 "Angry Islamists Turn Wrath on Egypt's Christians,"  By George Thomas, CBN News Sr. Reporter http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/July/Angry-Islamists-Turn-Wrath-on-Egypts-Christians/  Friday, July 12, 201 - "Egyptian Christians are facing growing retaliation by angry Islamists for opposing ousted President Moham3med Morsi. His supporters say Christian leaders were behind his removal from office....On Thursday, the body of a Christian merchant was found decapitated in a cemetery. Last Saturday, a Coptic Christian priest was shot by gunmen in an outdoor market. Also, days after the military coup that removed Morsi from office, Muslim extremists in southern Egypt burned dozens of Christian homes and stabbed four believers to death. "It's part of the Brotherhood's mobilization that they are targeting Christians, that they are renouncing them as behind this. If the Brotherhood is able to portray what happened as a Christian-dominated or Christian-driven protest, then they get to gain massive support in the streets," Tadros explained.PRAY for the nation of Egypt, as it faces a crucial  moment, 1) that the recent events would result in its becoming a true democracy and NOT an Islamic state; 2)  that the peoples' freedoms, in particular the religious freedom of its minorities (specifically its oppressed Christians) would be protected; 3) for peace and stability to return; 4) that the U.S. will effectively reach out to the new government, and 3) for safety for Americans living in Egypt  

"American Pastor Saeed: 300 Illegal Days in an Iranian Prison,"  - by Jordan Sekulow, July 23, 2013 http://aclj.org/iran/american-pastor-saeed-300-illegal-days-iranian-prison ''Today [7/23] is the 300th day of American Pastor Saeed Abedini’s illegal imprisonment in Iran – 300 days away from his wife and kids, 300 days of torment for his Christian faith, 300 days and counting...Pastor Saeed’s wife, Naghmeh Abedini, responded to this positive step:"Thank you to all of the individuals who have prayed, written letters, signed petitions, called government officials, run benefit races, tweeted, and shared Saeed’s story. Thank you to all the government officials from around the world who have stood for my husband.  Iran has listened to your pleas.  While I am encouraged that Saeed is finally getting medical care, the fight is not yet over.  It has been a difficult 300 days – 300 days of torment simply because Saeed loves Jesus Christ.  I am hopeful Iran will do the just and honorable thing and release Saeed.'' ...We continue to work in this country and in the international community to secure Pastor Saeed’s freedom.  And more than 600,000 people around the world now stand in solidarity with Pastor Saeed at SaveSaeed.org. [ I urge you to pray DAILY for this courageous brother in Christ and his family and the hundreds of thousands of other Christians worldwide suffering persecution for their faith. - Stan] 

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"Eritrean Youth Jailed, Beaten for being Christians," - CBNNews.com,  Aug 01, 2013 http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/July/Eritrean-Youth-Jailed-Beaten-for-being-Christians/

The African country of Eritrea is cracking down on Christians.

Eritrean authorities arrested 39 high school students because of their faith in Christ. In Eritrea, which is 50 percent Muslim, worship that is not government sanctioned is considered a crime. Morning Star News  reported that the students have been detained in harsh conditions and suffer beatings. They could face a long imprisonment and be excluded from graduation if they refuse to renounce Christ.

An estimated 1,200 Christians, mostly Protestant, are currently incarcerated in Eritrea because of their faith.

FURTHER INFORMATION:  

Eritrea  [located north of Ethiopia, east of Sudan, and across the Red Sea from Yemen]

Leader: President Isaias Afewerki

Government: One-party state Religion: Islam/Christianity

Population: 6.1 million (2.5 million Christians – mostly Orthodox)

"Eritrea's  history is intertwined with that of Ethiopia...[It] was part of the Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum, an Italian colony for many years until it was captured by the British. After a period of United Nations supervision, Eritrea was awarded to Ethopia in 1952, but the arrangement did not last. After 31 years of fierce fighting, Eritrea formerly declared itself an independent nation in 1993." - from Light of the World, p. 164, 1997.] 

"In a desperate attempt to maintain power and control, the Eritrean government keeps a tight reign on religious activity within the country. Unregisered religious gatherings were declared illegal in 2002 and all evangelical churches were closed in 2002  [Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran and Islam churches have been unaffected.]. The government also persecutes non-traditional Christians, but members of the Orthodox Church also report on evangelical believers, and Muslim extremists are ready to take over where the government leaves off. When Christians are discovered they are arrested and held in shipping containers in military camps. At least 105 Christians were arrested in 2012, and 31 Christians were reported to have died in prison. Jail conditions are notoriously bad, with many believers incarcerated in shipping containers." [Open Doors USA]  

PRAY:

- For God’s strength for Christians imprisoned in containers, especially those arrested in 2012

- For spouses and families who are forced to live as refugees in different countries

- For worldwide awareness, prayers, and support for the plight of Eritrean Christians.

- That the persecution and suffering of the Eritrean church over the last decade will produce a great spiritual harvest in the years to come. 

- See more at: http://www.worldwatchlist.us/world-watch-list-countries/eritrea/#sthash.5nayVlhK.dpuf

STORIES OF PERSECUTION ELSEWHERE (c/o Open Doors Ministries):

1) Indonesia - Earlier this year, the churches in West Java were raided, torn down, and closed by local authorities. Many pastors are now holding open-air Sunday worship services. [PRAY for these fellow believers as you worship in your church this Sunday.]

 2) Syria - In the midst of the ongoing war, Christians are being injured, kidnapped, robbed, and savagely attacked on a daily basis. There is tragedy for every family. Millions live in fear and suffer trauma 24 hours a day. [PRAY for believers to persevere and remain strong in the midst of harsh persecution in an already destructive war.]

3) Bhutan [A tiny mountain kingdom with China on its northern border and Nepal and India to the West.]

Leader: King Jigme Wangchuck

Government: Constitutional Monarchy

Main Religion: Mahayana Buddhism

Population: 750,000 (20,000 Christians)

Despite its transition from absolute to constitutional monarchy, Buddhism continues to play a dominant role in Bhutan. The constitution promotes religious tolerance, but parliament is still considering an amendment to the penal code aimed at prohibiting ‘conversion by coercion or inducement’. Christians can generally meet in private homes without government interference, but the authorities restrict the construction of non-Buddhist places of worship and the celebration of some non-Buddhist festivals. Although reports of Christians being arrested or physically harmed are decreasing, believers still face persecution and harassment.

PRAY: - The media portrays Christians negatively. Pray for positive change in society’s attitude to Christianity

- The church lacks trained leaders. Pray for training opportunities for pastors and church workers

- That the transition to a more democratic rule would bring genuine change for religious minorities.