Psalm 33:18–19

A Christian worker in Kyrgyzstan recently filed a complaint against a Muslim village leader who, along with a small mob, attacked the worker and his friends on April 11 as they distributed humanitarian items in Ak-Kyia village. The Christian worker, Narsbek Sydykov, suffered a concussion, cuts and bruises in the attack, but authorities were slow to investigate his complaint. Narsbek’s lawyer and a state-level prosecutor finally succeeded in initiating an investigation, but those accused of the attack were released from jail after reportedly offering the judge a bribe. The next court hearing is scheduled for July 17. “We ask you to pray very hard for us and this situation,” wrote Narsbek. “If there is no punishment for this attack, then these people will only feel emboldened and will do this again. We know that our father holds everything in his hands, but we are feeling somewhat hopeless.”

Exodus 15:1–2

An Indian pastor was freed from prison in Karnataka state on Friday, July 6, following prompt intervention by the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), a VOM partner. Pastor Mounesh, 35, was taken into police custody the previous day after a group of Hindu radicals accused him of forced conversions (Karnataka does not have an anti-conversion law). The pastor was leading a monthly prayer meeting at his home with about 50 members of his house church when 30 Hindu radicals burst into the home and began beating the believers. GCIC reports that the attackers were shouting and accusing Pastor Mounesh of forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity. The radicals destroyed all of the Bibles and Christian tracts in the home. When police arrived, they took Pastor Mounesh to the police station for questioning. GCIC representatives went to the station immediately and negotiated the pastor’s release by 12:30 a.m. In response, about a dozen radicals appeared at Pastor Mounesh’s home that afternoon and assaulted several church members, three of whom were admitted to the hospital. Thank God for Pastor Mounesh’s testimony and faithfulness, and pray for the healing of the three church members who were injured.

Deuteronomy 6:6–8

On Monday, July 2, police and security agents raided a vacation Bible school in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, detaining 70 children and seven teachers. The children were attending special summer classes arranged by a house church in Urumqi, Xinjiang, when police arrived and held them for questioning. China does not allow religious instruction for children. Some of the children’s parents and Bible school staff were also questioned. The children were released, but at least four female teachers remain in detention. Pray for the release of the Bible school teachers and for this house church’s continued commitment to teach children about God.