Iran: Christian updates
On February 10th Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence ordered the Emmanuel Protestant Church and St Peter’s Evangelical Church (the last two officially registered churches holding Friday Farsi-language services in Tehran) to discontinue worship. Friday services in Tehran attracted the city’s converts to Christianity as well as Muslims interested in Christianity as Friday is most Iranians’ day off during the week. Authorities told the churches they can hold the services on Sunday, a working day when most Iranians are not able to attend. For full story see: http://www.christianpost.com/news/churches-forced-to-stop-farsi-worship-in-tehran-iran-69827/ Meanwhile the health of a jailed pastor of one of Iran's largest evangelical house church movements is deteriorating and there were fears Monday he may die. Behnam Irani was jailed for what critics view as ‘trumped up’ charges of ‘crimes against the Islamic state’ and is experiencing intestinal disorder. His family is very concerned because his brother died from intestinal cancer.
Pray: that God will supernaturally intervene to thwart strategies against Christian worship and outreach. (Ps.35:22-24)
More: http://www.worthynews.com/11273-jailed-iranian-pastors-health-deteriorating
Nigeria: Security increased after market attack killed 30
Security forces patrolled Baga market on Tuesday after an assault by Islamist sect Boko Haram killed 30 people when gunmen stormed the fish section spraying stallholders and vendors with bullets and setting off bombs. It appeared to be a retaliatory attack for the arrest of a suspected Islamist inside the market last week. The government says it wants to start negotiating with the Boko Haram Islamist group blamed for a series of recent attacks across northern Nigeria. - Recent key events include: August - suicide bomb at UN headquarters, killing 23 people. November - 63 killed in bomb and gun attacks in Damaturu. December - 70 killed in days of fighting between security forces and Boko Haram. Christmas Day - bomb killed 40 people. January - more than 100 killed in one day of co-ordinated bombings and shootings after Boko Haram tells Christians to quit the north. Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13951696
Pray: for all the people suffering in the aftermath of Boko Haram attacks to know God's provision, peace and protection. (Ps.34:17-18)
Congo: Post election violence against Church opposition
February 2nd official results from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s elections were disputed by international and local observers saying the election was flawed when President Joseph Kabila and his allies gained an outright parliamentary majority. These were the first elections since the end of the war in 2003 that left four million dead. When the results were stated veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi declared himself president and called for a boycott of parliament, and the Congolese Roman Catholic Church challenged the credibility of election results. The recent backlash to opposition has used a nun’s death, three priests arrested and two nuns being assaulted. Unease heightened after police violently broke up a peaceful march the church organized to demand truth about the November polls. Two weeks earlier, Sr Mary Lilliane Mapalayi had been killed at a school in western Kasai province where she served as a treasurer.’
Pray: that the truth about the November polls will be revealed peacefully.(Pr.25:15)
More: http://www.eni.ch/news/item.php?id=5481
Afghanistan: Koran burning
The remains of burnt Korans were found by local labourers at a US airbase, enraging locals and by Wednesday four people had been killed and 20 injured as protests spread, in spite of US apologies. Taliban prisoners were using the books to pass messages to each other. Protesters shouted, ‘Death to America!’ and threw stones at Camp Phoenix. Riot police used water cannon to disperse protesters blocking the main trade routes into the capital. Witnesses said security guards were firing into the air. There were also reports of people chanting pro-Taliban slogans. One protester said, ’When the Americans insult us we will join the insurgents.’ The US Embassy in Kabul is on lockdown with all travel suspended. In Afghanistan anti-foreign sentiment is on the rise and locals claim foreign troops are not respectful of their culture or Islamic religion.
Pray: that leaders in the area would have wisdom and discernment as they work to subdue and diffuse the situation. (Pr.24:3)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17123464
