SERBIA: Church Members Threatened by Attacks

Date of Bulletin: 21 May 2014

SERBIA

Attackers threw Molotov cocktails at a church in Serbia on April 21, causing minor damage and frightening local believers. One of the Molotov cocktails landed inside the church, partially burning the carpet.

Church members are thankful that the damage wasn't more severe, but several are still fearful. The attackers were arrested and sentenced to 30 days in jail, but the church continues to receive threats.

Voice Of the Martyrs Sources

 

Pray for Serbian Christians

• One of the church members wrote, "Please pray in the name of Christ for our church members and support them in prayer because they really need strength… the people who help in the work of God need strength."
• Pray also that the Holy Spirit will speak to these believers and release them from fear.

Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation; Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

- Psalm 64:1 -

VOM is assisting believers in Serbia with encouragement and literature.

#Serbia #ChristianPersecution #Pray

SYRIA: Danger Increases for Aleppo Christians

Date of Bulletin: 14 May 2014

SYRIA

Believers in Aleppo have asked for continued prayer, as tensions between army officials and rebel forces  have increased since April 12. The city has been without electricity and water for days, and shortages of  gasoline and food have caused prices to skyrocket to as much as five times the normal rate.

A VOM contact said that while traveling to Aleppo, the bus he was in was stopped for five hours because of  the danger of sniper attacks. "I know that we are living under a daily danger of mortars, but waiting for a bullet to go through the bus window to kill you is something different!" he said.

Communion services leading to Easter were canceled as a result of the increased danger, but Good Friday and Easter services were held as planned.

Voice Of the Martyrs Sources
Photo: Syrian refugees

Please Pray!

• Pray for Believers in Aleppo.
• Pray for VOM contacts in Syria who continue to serve Christ faithfully there.
• Pray for their protection and for their families.
• Pray that the light of Christ will shine brightly in the darkness of war.

For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;  I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.

- Psalm 61:3-4 -

Voice Of the Martyrs is assisting believers in Syria with encouragement and literature, and is also providing aid to Syrian Christian refugees.

#Syria #Aleppo #Pray #Christian #VOM #Pebbles4Christ

SOMALIA: Christian Woman Killed

Date of Bulletin: 7 May 2014

Somalia

In April, a young Christian woman, "Sufia," was killed in Mogadishu by a group of armed men. The attackers burst into her home and dragged her outside, shooting at neighbors who tried to rescue her. The men killed  Sufia and then fled the area. Her parents were unharmed in the attack but are devastated by the loss of their  daughter. Police are still searching for the suspects.

VOM Sources

Photo: A Somali refugee woman in Kenya. Many have fled Somalia's violence.

Please Pray!

• Please pray for the safety of those who know Sufia, for other Christians living in a very dangerous situation, and that the love of Jesus would reach those who do not know Him. 

That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those  under the earth.

- Philippians 2:10 -

Voice Of the Martyrs is assisting believers in Somalia by supporting multiple evangelists, who are all Christian converts from Islam.

Open Letter to Sudanese Ambassador to UK & Ireland - Meriam Yahia Ibrahim

‪
Dear Abdullahi H A El Azreg - Ambassador of the Republic of the Sudan to the United Kingdom and Ireland,


I would like to bring Meriam Yahia Ibrahim's case to your government's attention.

On March 4th, a Public Order Court in Khartoum sentenced Meriam to death, in violation of her human right to religious freedom. Meriam Yahia Ibrahim is a Christian mother, pregnant with her second child.

I'm calling today to respectfully ask the Government of Sudan to release Meriam immediately so that she may be reunited with her husband.

Thank you for your time and your Government's consideration of my call for compassion.

Yours sincerely,
Katherine Anne Stones



#Sudan #‎MeriamYahiaIbrahim‬

Source:  http://www.persecution.org/2014/04/28/pregnant-mother-faces-100-lashings-and-death-for-christianity-conversion/

LAOS: Teen Barred from Church

Date of Bulletin: 30 April 2014

A 16-year-old Christian girl is being prevented from attending church by her Buddhist family members. "Tien" loves God and loves attending church, but her family has prohibited her from attending church because she refused to go to temple with them. Tien continued to attend church despite her family's demands, until her grandmother began coming to the church every week to yell at church leaders.

Tien has stopped attending church because she does not want to cause the church trouble. "I really love God and I want to go to church," Tien said. "Please pray for me, that one day my grandmother or my family will understand me."

VOM Sources

Please Pray!

• Pray that Tien will be allowed to go to church.

• Pray that her family will see the change in her life and be attracted to Jesus.

• Pray that the other church members will find ways to encourage her.

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

Voice Of the Martyrs is assisting believers in Laos by supporting itinerant pastors and evangelists, providing training Bible to new believers and vocational training to girls like Tien whose families reject them.