Pakistan: Muslims murder Christian family
Islamic extremists killed Edwin Paul, a Christian lawyer and evangelist, his wife and their five children at their home in north-western Pakistan because he mounted legal challenges against a Muslim charging a Christian exorbitant interest. A Muslim neighbour said that the previous day armed men stopped Paul, took him by the collar and said, 'Leave the town in 24 hours. We know how to throw out Christians; we will not allow even a single Christian to live here. We will hang them all in the streets so that no Christian would ever dare to enter the Hazara land.’ Hazara are settlers to the area from northern Pakistan and they financially support Islamic extremist groups. They are known for charging up to 400 percent interest to Christians. The Paul family had moved to the area in February. Pray: that the Christians in Pakistan would be protected, strengthened and emboldened as they bring about His justice and ask God to remove the spiritual cloud of Islam over the nation. (Is.51:4-6) More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=34336&PN=1&TPN=1
Iran: Persecution update
A young Iranian believer from a Muslim background died of injuries sustained when he was severely beaten by a relative. Elam Ministries report that the relative took exception to the believer’s clear commitment to Jesus. He leaves a wife and two young children. According to the Farsi Christian News Network, three of 15 believers arrested on 8th July for their faith remain detained. A number of others continue to be detained for their faith in Iran, all are under pressure to recant their faith but are refusing to do so. According to Iranian State Television in September nine believers have also been arrested in Hamedan on charges of evangelism. We can praise God that nearly five months after being released from prison, an Iranian court has acquitted Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad of all charges related to being Christians and engaging in Christian activities. Pray: that prisoners will know the presence and peace of Jesus, remain clearly committed and fulfil the Father's purposes for their lives. (Ps.23:3-5) More: htp://www.givengain.com/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=cause_dir_cause&cause_id=%20%20%201489
Worldwide: Unreached People Prayer Initiative
Thirty-six years ago at the first Lausanne Congress Strategic Prayer Group meeting Ralph Winter spoke about the ‘Hidden People Groups’ (see also this weeks British Isles INSIGHT ARTICLE). That first meeting initiated much activity centring on the 10-40 window. This year they meet again in Cape Town 2010 and are sensing the Lord calling His church anew to times of strategic prayer for the ‘least reached’ nations; but this time his church will be able to use the tools of the 21st century to touch people groups of the world. We are invited to unite through technology and bring in the harvest. Their desire is to see strategic prayer groups established and interceeding both over Skype and on-site in particular nations among unreached people groups, believing the Lord will give us His strategies to bring in the harvest! They are encouraging a partnership with existing prayer networks and intercessors to create a synergy of divine connection and increasing passion for prayer for the unreached. PRAISE GOD! Pray: that the church would unite through this initiative and not see it as something separate from what they are already doing. (Nu.2:2 & Is.18:3)
Kenya: Day of prayer 10.10.10
Bishop Dominic Kimengich said Kenya suffers from illiteracy, poor leadership, a large refugee population from Somalia and the Sudan, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and growing gang violence connected to guns available from unstable bordering nations. Kimengich hopes to help his people to be strong in faith and peaceful and resourceful in spirit; he also wants to promote education and self-reliance as ways to ’ plift the living standards of the people.’ This Sunday is a day of prayer for the nation. see How to Pray for Kenya Globally we can join the Kenyan Church and pray they would continue to be strong on the issue of social justice, be the voice of the voiceless, and offer Christian values that bring the people together in unity through Christ as the children of God. Kenya is beginning to see themselves as a nation and starting to say, ‘What can we do for ourselves?’ Pray: that Kenya will continue to take a new direction with God’s help.(Ps.16:11) More: http://www.mlive.com/living/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/10/committed_to_god_and_kenya_new.html
