The Persecution & Prayer Alert The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada http://www.persecution.net Wednesday, December 11, 2002

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

*********************************** Contents: 1. Violence Against Christians Continues (India) 2. Report from Kaduna (Nigeria) 3. Question of the Week 4. Evangelical Leaders Held Without Charge (Ethiopia) 5. Greg Musselman to Join The Voice of the Martyrs (Canada)

*********************************** 1. Violence Against Christians Continues (India)

Four native missionaries were recently attacked on their way to an evangelistic gathering in Tamil Nadu, India. According to Gospel for Asia, the missionaries were traveling to a village for an open-air meeting when they were threatened and attacked. Two of the missionaries are being treated for severe internal injuries. Pray for their quick recovery.

Christians in the state of Gujarat have also raised concerns about elections to be held this Thursday. The election manifesto for the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) includes several proposals of concern to Christians, including a law banning religious conversions. “By openly reiterating its divisive agenda, the BJP is trying to polarise the Hindu majority against the religious minorities,” said Bishop Vinod Kumar Malaviya (ENI). Such divisions have often resulted in violence against Christians.

Sectarian violence is common in Gujarat and security is tight with the upcoming election. Pray that these elections will not result in violence. Pray that religious freedom will be respected throughout India. Pray for safety for those spreading the Gospel.

*********************************** 2. Report from Kaduna (Nigeria)

Violence in Nigeria has been a major news story in recent weeks, with the riots centering on the Miss World competition resulting in over 200 deaths. This week, The Voice of the Martyrs received a report from a representative in Nigeria, detailing some of the results. He had been advised until now to remain silent until the situation had calmed. Along with the many deaths and injuries, he reported how 102 churches in Kaduna were burned and two pastors killed, as the rioters centered their attacks on anyone suspected of being a Christian. All of the churches in Lemu Road, Kaduna were either burnt or vandalized by the Moslem rioters.

This is not the first time that violence has erupted in Kaduna with tragic results. In February 2000, riots in Kaduna led to the deaths of over 2000 people. Earlier this year, The Voice of the Martyrs opened a new office in Kaduna, after the previous office was burned down in the riots of 2000. A representative from VOM Canada was there for the opening and returned with testimonies of believers experiencing the cost of discipleship in Nigeria. We encourage you to read his newsletter article at http://www.persecution.net/nlarchive/article1.htm. To subscribe to VOM’s free monthly newsletter which contains in-depth analysis and personal testimonies of today’s persecuted church, go to http://www.persecution.net/nlorder.htm.

The Church in Nigeria needs the prayers of Christians around the world. Pray for safety and for strength in the midst of opposition. Pray that Christians will respond to violence in a Christ-like fashion.

*********************************** 3. Question of the Week

Last week, Nigerian church leaders warned that Christians in Nigeria (and young men in particular) are getting tired of turning the other cheek in the face of continuing attacks by Muslim militants.

Our question for your discussion this week is: Is turning the other cheek always the best option when faced with persecution? Why or why not?

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.

*********************************** 4. Evangelical Leaders Held Without Charge (Ethiopia)

Two evangelical Christian leaders are continuing to be held by police without charges in Maychew, despite a court order to withdraw the case against them. The two men, Kiros Meles and Abebayeh Desalegn, were arrested last April after a two-day riot in which Maychew’s five evangelical churches were looted and destroyed by a mob of Ethiopian Orthodox militants. According to Compass Direct, a judge has given the local police until today to produce solid evidence, or she will order the men released.

During riots in April, a young man identified only as Haile was shot and killed. While all indications point to a bullet fired into the air by the local police chief, Meles and Desalegn were arrested as suspects. They have made eight court appearances and each time the hearing was postponed as the police search for more evidence. Finally, on October 29, the judge ordered that they be released because of the lack of any evidence against them. The police, however, refused to release them. On November 29 police told the courts that they had evidence and asked for more time. They were given until December 11.

The families of the men report that they have not been mistreated in prison and they are optimistic that today’s hearing will bring their release. However, the ordeal has taken a toll on the families, with continued harassment, and stones being thrown at their homes, breaking glass windows and doors.

Earlier this month, a team from The Voice of the Martyrs Canada was in Maychew and found a positive mood among the Christians in the city. They were concerned about the violence that they continued to suffer, but they are not defeated. The beatings are continuing; the team spoke with one man whose wife had been beaten the previous day.

Evangelical churches in Ethiopia have grown greatly in recent years and now make up almost 20 percent of the population. Ethiopian Orthodox priests have denounced evangelical groups as “cults,” urging their members to attack them verbally and physically in an attempt to have them return to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Children have been told to beat evangelical children. One man told the VOM team, “We cannot go back to the darkness we were in before. We cannot go back.”

Pray for Kiros Meles, Abebayeh Desalegn, and their families. Jesus said, “On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Pray for the Ethiopian Christians as they stand firm for Jesus Christ.

The Voice of the Martyrs has put together a video outlining how we are striving to help those suffering in Ethiopia. This video, Gathering the Scattered, is free for those in Canada. To request a copy, visit our online catalog at http://www.persecution.net/catalog.htm.

*********************************** 5. Greg Musselman to Join The Voice of the Martyrs (Canada)

The Voice of the Martyrs is pleased to announce that veteran broadcaster Greg Musselman will be joining the Communications Department of The Voice of the Martyrs in Canada on January 1, 2003. Greg has spent the last 7 years with Trinity Television doing the Christian news segment for “It’s A New Day” which airs on television stations across Canada. He also hosts the weekly Christian news program “Christian World News” on NOWTV in Vancouver.

During his time with Trinity Television Greg produced many stories relating to the persecution of Christians around the world. Three years ago he started to travel with teams from the Voice of the Martyrs and has interviewed persecuted Christians in Sudan, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Egypt. Greg has also spoken in churches across the country representing The Voice of the Martyrs to make Canadian Christians aware of what our brothers and sisters are going through in other parts of the world because of their relationship with Jesus. “I’m delighted to be joining VOM and focusing my time and energy on what has become a passion in my life, the Persecuted Church, and sharing their stories of challenge and victory,” says Musselman.

Greg formerly pastored in both Alberta and Manitoba and currently freela nces with The Sports Network (TSN) as their Manitoba reporter.

Greg and Arlene Musselman and their four children will continue to be based in Winnipeg. He will work with Glenn Penner in the Communication Department and will be the Western Canada Representative for The Voice of the Martyrs. *********************************** The Persecution & Prayer Alert is a ministry of The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada. (Mailing address: P.O. Box 117, Port Credit, Mississauga, Ontario L5G 4L5) Tel. (905) 670.9721. Fax: (905) 670.7642 Website: http://www.persecution.net

*********************************** Contact Person: Glenn Penner, Communications Director.

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