Religious Liberty Prayer List – No. 193 – Wed 30 Oct 2002

WELCOME to the 65 intercessors who have joined the list this month.

***** PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN IDOP – 10/17 NOVEMBER 2002 ***** * The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church * * For resources and links to national websites – * * http://www.idop.org * *************************************************************

DURING OCTOBER WE HAVE PRAYED CONCERNING –

SUDAN: where the Government of Sudan (GoS) had walked away from Peace Talks to launch a major offensive against the South. After meeting resistance, the GoS suspended all humanitarian aid flights in and out of Southern Sudan.

difficult few weeks, the flight ban was lifted from most areas on 6 October. We can also praise God that against all odds, no doubt in answer to the prayer of many, the GoS returned to the Peace Talks in Kenya on 14 October. A cessation of hostilities has been agreed to during the talks. Praise God also because President Bush has signed the Sudan Peace Act which includes a formal finding of genocide against the Government of Sudan and requires an investigation of war crimes. Whilst failing to provide for capital market sanctions, the Act does oblige the Administration to report to Congress on the progress of the peace talks. If the GoS is not negotiating in good faith, then the US will oppose international loans, credits and oil revenues to Khartoum, and initiate moves for the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo on the GoS.

On 27 October it was announced that the GoS had lifted humanitarian aid restrictions to ALL areas in the south, giving Operation Lifeline Sudan, for the first time in its history, unfettered access to the entire south of Sudan. This will be the first time in 13 years that some areas have been permitted to receive aid. The Peace Talks are extremely delicate. The issues of power sharing and sharing of oil revenues are not easily resolved. Peace on the front-line is difficult to maintain. Please continue to pray for peace and that promises will be honoured.

CHINA: where the South China Church leaders who had been sentenced to death for using an ‘evil cult’ to undermine the law, had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment on false charges of assault and rape. Justice has NOT been served. We continue to pray for justice and for the much persecuted South China Church believers to be sustained in their faith and strength while they wait for God’s deliverance.

BELARUS: where both houses of parliament have now passed the oppressive religion law that threatens to drag Belarus back into Soviet era oppression.

signed the law, which he was supposed to do by 14 October. Everyone is waiting. The President is under great pressure with many appeals having come from around the world, urging him not to sign. Meanwhile the churches in Belarus are reportedly ‘not giving up’ as they continue to fast and pray for the law to be repealed. We will add our prayers to theirs!

IVORY COAST: where a failed coup on 19 September led the country into a conflict that has split the nation along ethnic and religious lines, with rebel Muslim soldiers demanding a change of government. There is a tense peace under a ceasefire that paved the way for talks. Christians (who support the government) trapped in rebel (Muslim) held areas have suffered terribly as they have fled south for safety.

Ivory Coast for Islam, with considerable outside help. Expensive, sophisticated arms and ammunition are abundantly available in northern (Muslim) Ivory Coast. One rebel leader, Mr Soro Kigbafory, even boasted that they could fight the government for two years without a supply problem. The media have pictured rebels and their supporters in central Ivory Coast wearing Osama bin Laden t-shirts. Some analysts now suspect an al-Qaeda connection. Peace and mission in Ivory Coast are seriously threatened. This is a spiritual battle for Ivory Coast.

OTHER SITUATIONS IN OCTOBER NEEDING PRAYER –

INDIA: TAMIL NADU ANTI-CONVERSION DECREE

On 5 October, the Tamil Nadu State in southern India issued a decree prohibiting religious conversion by force, allurement or fraudulent means. Whilst that sounds fair, it needs to be interpreted according to the ruling government’s ideology of Hindutva (Hindu Nationalism). Hindutva says, ‘Freedom of religion is not freedom for conversion’ (VHP) and ‘No-one converts voluntarily. It is motivated by greed’ (RSS). Hindutva regards Christian education and spiritual blessings and rewards as ‘allurement’ and divine displeasure (judgement) as ‘force’. All conversions must be reported to a magistrate. Primarily targeted are the oppressed low caste Dalits, who have been deserting Hinduism in multitudes. Pray for international protest and for the law to be repealed.

INDONESIA: ACEH PROVINCE TO PUNISH WITNESSING

On 28 September the Jakarta Post reported that Aceh Province, on the north-western tip of Sumatra island, has introduced caning and imprisonment as the punishment for people ‘who tempt Muslims to desert religious teachings’ or ‘who propagate beliefs other than Islam to Muslims in the province’. Aceh has been under Sharia (Islamic) law since 1 January 2002. Christians in Aceh are often under intense pressure to convert to Islam. This new ruling will make life even more perilous as the cost of Christian witness could be high. Apart from such acts of tremendous courage and self- sacrifice, this also closes Aceh’s millions of Muslims to the name of the only one who can save them. Pray for freedom for Aceh, and for God to supernaturally protect his courageous witnessing servants.

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‘We are human, but we don’t wage war with human plans and methods. We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds.’ 2 Corinthians 10:3,4 (NLT)

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The WEA Religious Liberty Commission sponsors this RL Prayer List to help individuals and groups pray specifically and regularly for religious liberty issues, and in particular to uphold the Church where it is suffering persecution.

RL Prayer is moderated by Ron Clough, a commissioner of the WEA RLC and convenor of the Australian EA RLC.

Elizabeth Kendal researched and authored this message.