VOM-USA Prayer Update for October 11, 2013

The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com

Bangladesh—Christians Pressured to Return to Islam
Sources: VOM Sources, World Watch Monitor

2 Corinthians 4:8–10

Christians in Bangladesh have been pressured to worship at a mosque and have been threatened with eviction from their village unless they renounce their faith and return to Islam. The Tangail Evangelical Holiness Church in Bilbathuagani village was created on Sept. 8 by a group of 25 Christians who had been meeting secretly for three years. But on Sept. 13, local council chairman Rafiqul Islam Faruk and 200 demonstrators protested the church, and Christians were summoned to his office. Authorities threatened to burn the believers’ homes, beat them and evict them from the village if they did not renounce their Christian faith. Eight church members agreed to return to Islam after the threats. The Bangladesh constitution grants every citizen the right to profess, practice or propagate any religion, as well as the right to establish, maintain and manage its religious institution.

Nigeria—VOM-Supported Christian Killed by Islamists
Source: VOM Sources

Matthew 25:34

A Christian supported by VOM has been murdered by the Islamic militant group Boko Haram, a VOM worker reports. Sunday Luka, a believer with a wife and 14-year-old son, left his home in Gwoza to find a safer place for his family. His life had been threatened by Islamic fundamentalists, who had already destroyed and burned many churches in the area. Sunday stayed in Mubi with a friend, where he received food and funds from a VOM distribution of relief materials for persecuted believers on Sept. 21. On Sept. 23, Sunday went back to Gwoza to visit his family and give them part of the funds received from VOM. While at home, the Islamists trapped Sunday in his home. They set the house on fire while Sunday was inside, and he died inside the house.

Morocco—Christian Convert Temporarily Released
Sources: VOM Sources, ICC

Romans 10:11

Christian convert Mohamed El Baladi was released from a Moroccan prison where he has been held since his arrest in August. El Baladi’s release is temporary, until his official appeal hearing scheduled for Oct. 10. He was initially sentenced to two and half years in prison for the crimes of evangelism and “shaking the faith of a Muslim.” El Baladi confirmed to family and friends that during his imprisonment he faced severe abuse and pressure to recant his Christian faith and return to Islam. Police also attempted to force El Baladi to provide the names of other believers, both Moroccan and foreign. Reports from friends of El Baladi stated that they believed his family was upset by his conversion and pressed for a harsher punishment to push El Baladi to recant his faith.

Egypt—VOM Project

Pray for a project that supports the continued operation of a Christian book store in the heart of Cairo, Egypt. This is an important facility for VOM Bible and literature distribution throughout Egypt, North Africa and even into the Middle East.

Nigeria—VOM Project