Prayer Points 1/15/04
 

Sri Lanka-Between Jan. 1 and 12, 2004, there have been 16 attacks on Christian churches. Sri Lanka's President Chandrika ordered the police to "show no leniency in arresting those responsible" for attacks against Christians. The Catholic Church here condemned the latest attack on Thursday which came amid stepped up violence against Christian places of worship in several parts of the country over the past month. Some Buddhist groups have been demanding a law to ban what they call "unethical conversions". Like their counterparts in India, they falsely accuse Christians of offering cash to poor people to persuade them to convert. A police spokesman said an investigation was under way and a man had been arrested in connection with the attack on the church.

Prayer Points: Pray that President Chandrika would truly enforce her policy and that the Buddhist monks responsible for the attacks would be charged. Pray that the attacks and threats from the Buddhist community would unite the churches. Pray that God would give the Christians boldness and that they would continue to meet regularly for worship.

 

Pakistan- A car bomb exploded outside the Karachi Bible Society on Jan. 15, 2004 injuring 10-15 people. Police had received an anonymous tip that the Bible Society would be targeted and had stationed themselves outside the Bible Society. When the bomb went off it injured several members of the Police squad. It was a large explosion that destroyed 11 cars. The head of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, said the attack had raised concerns across the country. "This terrorist act has increased the sense of insecurity among Christians. We are shocked, grieved and worried," he said. "These people are bent on creating anarchy in the country."

Prayer Points: Pray that the Christians in Pakistan will not succumb to fear but that they will remain faithful to the Lord. Pray that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.

Uzbekistan- An Uzbek official, who fined Baptist pastor Oleg Bader for running children's camps and a children's club attached to his church, has described the fine to Forum 18 News Service as "completely within the law". The church is being forced to change and re-register its statute by 27 January, even though children's work was included in the original statute. The pastor's lawyer has been denied access to the cases documents, and the justice department has refused to tell Forum 18 why this is so. It is feared that, like another church further north, re-registration may be denied and the church declared illegal. Sources have told Forum 18 that the authorities want to close the church because they do not want Christianity to spread in Khorezm region.

Prayer Points: Pray for strength and wisdom for Pastor Oleg Bader and that the church will not be closed. Pray for peace for the children, workers, and staff who have been affected by this fine.



Vietnam - Less than 24 hours before his trial for "resisting an officer doing his duty" was to begin in Ho Chi Minh City, Rev. Bui Van Ba was served a notice postponing the trial to a later date, ostensibly because a judge was unable to attend. Rev. Ba has been under house arrest since a police raid of a prayer meeting at his home on August 18, 2003. Rev Ba, his wife and other pastors were beaten during and shortly after the police raid. The incident has drawn much attention from the media. Local sources believe vigorous and direct appeals by house church leaders to authorities -- including the threat to send demonstrators into the streets, the wide international publicity and interest shown by Western embassies -- are the real reasons for the postponement. Christian leaders in Vietnam warned that authorities could announce a new trial date for Rev. Ba at any time, and asked Christians worldwide to pray with them in the battle to secure rule of law and religious freedom.

Prayer Points: Pray that the local and international pressure would continue and that the case against Rev. Ba would be dropped. Instead of the church fearing the Communist government, pray that the tide would turn and Vietnamese authorities would fear repercussions for their treatment of Christians. Pray for the health of Rev. and Mrs. Ba and for the others who were beaten.