Prayer Points Aug. 15
 

China – Underground house church believers continue to be targeted by
Chinese authorities. Compass Direct reported that at least 53 house church members were arrested during June. Also, on July 13 a prayer meeting in Xiao Shan City, Zheijiang province was raided and three house church leaders were arrested while another narrowly escaped. Pastor Gong Shengliang, the imprisoned South China Church leader, was recently able to receive a visit from relatives. However, he is still in poor health and needs continued prayer.

Prayer Points: Pray for house church Christians to remain strong in their faith and zeal for seeing their nation reached for Christ. Pray that imprisoned Christians would be strong witnesses and bring many people to faith. Continue to pray for Pastor Gong’s health. Ask God to miraculously open the prison doors for Gong to go free.

Palestinian Authority – Barnabas Fund reported on July 29^th that a Muslim convert to Christianity was brutally murdered sometime during mid-July. The man had gone into the mountains with Christian materials, and had not been heard from since. His mutilated body was delivered to his family in four pieces. Other Muslim converts have reported being persecuted by Palestinian militants, particularly members of Hamas.

Prayer Points: Pray that God would use the unrest in Israel/Palestine to bring many people to Himself. Pray for God’s protection over Muslim background believers. Ask God to provide for the family of the brother who was killed.

Russia – American Christian Andrew Okhotin has been detained by Russian authorities since March 29, 2003 when he entered the country to deliver $47,500 of humanitarian aid to Russian Christians. Okhotin refused to pay a large bribe to Russian customs officials and was then charged with smuggling contraband currency. He is scheduled to stand trial and could get five years in prison for his so-called crime. While this does not represent religious persecution, per se, such arbitrary arrests are concerning and could affect the Christian community and foreign missionaries as well.

Prayer Points: Pray that all charges against Okhotin would be dropped and that the money could still reach its intended recipients. Pray that Christians seeking to help their fellow believers would not be hindered.

Sri Lanka – A recent series of attacks against Christian churches in Sri Lanka appear to be linked with Anti-Conversion legislation being considered by the Parliament, according to the Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (EASL). Five churches were attacked by gangs of Buddhist monks over the weekend of August 2-3. Monks targeted the Methodist Church in Rathgama, the Assembly of God (AOG) Church in Thanamalwila, the AOG Church in Lunugamwhehra, the AOG Church in Ganemulla, and Calvary Church in Hikkaduwa. Several Christian workers were beaten and needed to be hospitalized. EASL believes the attacks are intended to create anti-Christian sentiment so that anti-conversion legislation will be passed.

Prayer Points: Pray for each of the churches that was attacked. Ask the Lord to give the believers the grace to forgive their enemies. Pray that these violent attacks would backfire and cause legislators to vote against the anti-conversion bill.

Praise Report:

Saudi Arabia – An Eritrean Christian held for more than five months has finally been deported from the Briman deportation prison in Jeddah. Praise the Lord that Brother Girmaye Ambaye is free! Pray that the Eritrean-Ethiopian church in Saudi Arabia would continue to flourish and grow and that authorities would stop harassing expatriate believers.