The Persecution & Prayer Alert The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada http://www.persecution.net Wednesday, November 27, 2002

A summary of news concerning the Persecuted Church and how you can respond.

*********************************** Contents: 1. American Missionary Shot Dead (Lebanon) 2. Mob Beats Pastor and Missions Team (India) 3. Baptist Sent to Prison for House Meeting (Uzbekistan) 4. Seven Wounded; Evangelicals Blamed (Mexico) 5. Not a Hate Crime? (USA) 6. Question of the Week

*********************************** 1. American Missionary Shot Dead (Lebanon)

An American missionary was found shot dead in Sidon, Lebanon on Thursday, November 21 in the Christian medical clinic where she worked as a volunteer. Bonnie Weatherall, 31, was followed into the clinic by a gunman and shot three times at close range.

The pre-natal clinic where she worked, serving the Palestinian community in Sidon, was run by the Christian and Missionary Alliance and had been receiving threats because their attempts to convert Muslims. An unidentified Palestinian official told the Jerusalem Post, “the killing was the result of a hostile Muslim reaction in Sidon to the preaching and indoctrination lessons the center was giving to Muslim youths.”

This was the first killing of a westerner in Lebanon since a bomb attack in 1983. The two remaining foreign workers in the clinic have been relocated, but the clinic remains open, serving the community.

“God led us to Lebanon and we knew that we might die,” Weatherall’s husband, Gary, told The Times of London. “I forgive anyone who did that. It doesn’t take the pain. It’s a costly forgiveness … it cost my wife. I loved her in our marriage. We had a really lovely marriage.”

Pray for Gary Weatherall and other family and friends who are grieving at this time. Pray that the impact of this ministry on the Palestinian people in Lebanon will know God’s special blessing. Pray for the murderer, that God will soften his heart and lead him to faith in Christ.

*********************************** 2. Mob Beats Pastor and Missions Team (India)

A local pastor and three members of an Operation Mobilization (OM) team in India were beaten by a mob on November 18. The attack took place in a small town in the state of Goa after they were invited to show the Dayasagar film (the life of Jesus filmed in an Indian context) to a family in their home. While the team was eating with the family following the film, a mob of around 30 people came to the house and dragged the pastor outside. When three team members went to help, they were also badly beaten. They were then interrogated and the windshield of their vehicle was smashed before the police arrived.

The police took the pastor and team to the police station for protection and asked them to file a formal complaint. The incident is under police investigation.

Pray for quick healing for those injured. Pray that the family who had been viewing the Dayasagar film will see and respond to the grace of God. Pray for Christians in various parts of India who are facing regular threats from mobs opposed to Christianity and in particular evangelistic efforts.

*********************************** 3. Baptist Sent to Prison for House Meeting (Uzbekistan)

A Baptist man, Nikolai Nikulin, was sentenced on November 19 to ten days in prison for illegally hosting a religious gathering in his home. According to a report from Keston, seven people regularly met at Nikulin ‘s flat in the central Uzbek town of Navoi. The church is a member of the International Council of Churches Evangelical Christians/Baptists, who reject registration for fear of state interference. His home had been raided several times, with Christian literature being confiscated.

Local Baptists are calling for prayer for Nikulin. Pray for the members of this church and others facing opposition from the authorities.

*********************************** 4. Seven Wounded; Evangelicals Blamed (Mexico)

Evangelical Christians are being blamed for violence that left seven people wounded by gun fire in Los Pinos in Chiapas, Mexico. However, the 27 families who fled the village say that they were not at fault and that the wounded traditionalist Catholic “cacaques” (village leaders) were shot inadvertently shot by their accomplices.

According to a November 26 report from Compass Direct, Juan Lopez Patisht ¡n was being dragged from his home toward a schoolhouse on November 14 when evangelical neighbours heard the screams of his children. When asked what they were doing, the cacaques said that they were going to put him on trial at the schoolhouse. When the cacaques were asked about the charges, they attacked the evangelicals with sticks. Shots were fired from the schoolhouse, the neighbours dropped to the ground and seven of the cacaques were wounded. The cacaques, on the other hand, claim that this was an unprovoked attack against them by the evangelicals, who shot the cacaques.

In the confusion, the evangelicals fled to the woods and later walked to the district capital of San Cristobal de las Casas to report the incident. The 27 families later returned to the village and there have been no further reports of violence. There is continued fear for their safety. Pastor Salvador Lopez from San Cristobal says that police offer limited protection and often participate in attacks on evangelicals in the area. “There is no security for us,” he said. “We can only trust in help from above.”

Pray for safety for those in Los Pinos as well as other evangelicals in Chiapas, where violence against evangelicals appears to be escalating. Pray for the governor of Chiapas, Pablo Salazar, himself an evangelical Christian, as he works to establish safety and justice.

*********************************** 5. Not a Hate Crime? (USA)

On November 13, a Catholic woman, Mary Stachowicz, was murdered in Chicago while trying to convince a homosexual teenager to change his lifestyle. Nicholas Gutierrez, 19, has been charged with first-degree murder, burglary and concealing a murder. However, some have been questioning why this is not being considered under the hate crime laws.

According to CNSNews.com, prosecutors say there is no evidence to suggest that Gutierrez should be charged with hate crimes. This concerns many, since it suggests a double standard in the hate crime laws, as well as media reports.

According to Peter LaBarbera, Senior Policy Analyst for the Culture and Family Institute, Mary Stachowicz was murdered for sharing her Catholic beliefs. “If a gay man had been murdered for trying to convince someone to be gay, it would be a national news story and be deemed a hate crime,” LaBarbera said. “This case tragically displays the intense hatred for Christianity that exists among some in the homosexual community.”

LaBarbera said the Culture and Family Institute would continue to monitor the coverage of the case.

Pray that fairness and justice will be done in this case, both in the courts and the media.

*********************************** 6. Question of the Week

In light of the murder of Mary Stachowicz as she was trying to convince a homosexual teenager to change his lifestyle, do you believe that this case demonstrates a double standard in the laws? We would welcome your comments and discussion on this.

To participate in our poll and discussion, go to http://www.persecution.net and click on “Discussion Forum.” If you have not registered on our forum in the past, click on “Register” and select a username and password.

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