Gambia: British missionary freed from jail
The Foreign Office said it had been informed of David Fulton's release on Friday but could not confirm if he had returned to the UK yet. Mr Fulton's wife Fiona was freed in December last year and deported back to the UK after serving a year of hard labour for sedition. In a statement at the time Mr Fulton apologised to the Gambian public and the country's president. Gambia is a former British colony ruled by the same regime since President Yayha Jammeh seized power in a 1994 coup. Its people are given limited scope for free speech. The couple were reportedly advised to admit the sedition charges in an attempt to win a less stringent punishment. The tactic arguably failed when the hard labour sentence was handed out. The pair pleaded guilty in December 2008 in a Gambian court and were sentenced and also fined £6,250 each. The Fulton’s moved to Gambia 13 years ago to work as missionaries. (See Prayer Alert 5008 -12 December 2008)
Praise: God for answering all of our prayers for the Fulton family. (Lk. 4:18)
Gambia: British missionary freed from jail
The Foreign Office said it had been informed of David Fulton's release on Friday but could not confirm if he had returned to the UK yet. Mr Fulton's wife Fiona was freed in December last year and deported back to the UK after serving a year of hard labour for sedition. In a statement at the time Mr Fulton apologised to the Gambian public and the country's president. Gambia is a former British colony ruled by the same regime since President Yayha Jammeh seized power in a 1994 coup. Its people are given limited scope for free speech. The couple were reportedly advised to admit the sedition charges in an attempt to win a less stringent punishment. The tactic arguably failed when the hard labour sentence was handed out. The pair pleaded guilty in December 2008 in a Gambian court and were sentenced and also fined £6,250 each. The Fulton’s moved to Gambia 13 years ago to work as missionaries. (See Prayer Alert 5008 -12 December 2008)
Praise: God for answering all of our prayers for the Fulton family. (Lk. 4:18)
Indonesia: Christian villages at heart of triple disaster
Mainly Christian islands are at the heart of the three-fold disaster of earthquake, tsunami and volcanic eruption that have killed hundreds and displaced thousands in Indonesia this week. A 7.7 magnitude undersea earthquake triggered the three-metre high tsunami, which pounded the Mentawai Islands, off the coast of West Sumatra, on Monday evening. The following day Mount Merapi on the island of Java erupted, spewing out clouds of ash and jets of searing gas. The combined death toll has topped 300 with over 400 missing and tens of thousands displaced as homes were destroyed. Pray: thet the aid agencies and authorities would be enabled to bring speedy relief to those in desperate need.
URGENT PRAYERS: Iran: Authorities to execute Pastor
A Christian pastor in Iran is sceduled for execution this weekend. Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani was convicted of apostasy, a crime that carries the death sentence in the Islamic state of Iran, while his wife was sentenced to life in prison. Nadarkhani led one of the largest Christian communities in Iran; he was singled out by authorities for helping Muslims turn to Christ; he was finally arrested last October after protesting against the enforced reading of the Qur'an to Christian children. Rights activists are petitioning for the release of both Nadarkhani and his wife. Pray: to the Lord that He would send angels to protect Pastor Yousef and bring about his release. (Lk.4:10) More: http://www.worthynews.com/9700-iranian-authorities-to-execute-pastor-for-apostasy
