The Persecution & Prayer Alert The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada http://www.persecution.net Wednesday, December 18, 2002

*********************************** A summary of news concerning the Persecuted Church and how you can respond. *********************************** Contents: 1. Threats of Christmas Violence (Indonesia) 2. Filipino Pastor Imprisoned (United Arab Emirates) 3. Charges Dropped Against Church Elders (Mongolia) 4. Pastor killed in Escalation of Islamic Violence (Nigeria) 5. Suspected Mastermind Behind Attack Ordered Released (Pakistan) 6. Public Apology Campaign Concluding (Sudan) 7. Christmas Schedule (P&P Alert)

*********************************** 1. Threats of Christmas Violence (Indonesia)

Investigators in Indonesia are looking into threats by a group calling itself “International Battalion of Death” that is threatening more violence against Christians over the Christmas season. On their website, the group blames a “conspiracy of Christians” for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Muslims in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Two years ago, a series of bombs exploded in and around churches in Indonesia during the Christmas season. Nineteen people were killed and more than forty wounded. Last year, bombings in Palu in central Sulawesi damaged four churches and injured four people. In response to threats of violence, hundreds of police are being posted at places of worship in Palu this year. According to The Jakarta Post, each church and mosque in Palu will be guarded by three police officers.

In reflecting on these warnings, Glenn Penner, Communications Director for The Voice of the Martyrs said: “In recent years, Christians in a number of nations have found Christmas to be a time when they face threats or acts of violence. It’s a time when the followers of the Prince of Peace often do not find much peace on earth or much good will toward them. In 1998, Christians in India suffered greatly at the hands of militant Hindus during Christmas time. The next year saw the greatest massacre of Christians in Egypt in a century in El-Kosheh. In 2000 it was Indonesia. We would certainly urge Christians in the West to pause during the Christmas season to remember their brothers and sisters around the world for whom Christmas is a time of uncertainty and fear.”

*********************************** 2. Filipino Pastor Imprisoned (United Arab Emirates)

A Filipino pastor in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been arrested for allegedly distributing Christian materials. According to International Christian Concern (ICC), Rev. Fernando Alconga from Redeemer and King Filipino Church of Ras Al Khaimah in U.A.E. was arrested on November 12 after undercover police agents approached him asking for Christian materials in Arabic. The previous day he had given a package of information to an Egyptian Arab outside the same building. When he told them he had no materials in Arabic, they asked to see what he had in other languages. After showing them cassette tapes, tracts, and New Testaments, he was arrested.

Representatives from the Council of Evangelical Churches that sponsors Rev. Alconga’s ministry were told there would be a hearing on December 1. When they inquired about the hearing on November 30, they were told it was to be postponed. The next day, however, they found that the hearing had been held in a different location. As a result, Alconga was denied legal counsel and representation from the Filipino Embassy. He was refused a translator and was pressured into signing documents in Arabic that he could not understand. Reports from prison say that he is being treated well, however.

On the website for the UAE Embassy in Canada, Sheik Zayed, President of UAE, is quoted as saying: “A Muslim should know what are the true teachings of Christianity, and a Christian should know what are the true teachings of Islam. Sincere people from both sides should enter into dialogue, and should not leave the floor to the extremists who are there amongst both Christians and Muslims. A true dialogue between religions is the real deterrent and strong defense against fundamentalism and extremism.” (http://www.uae-embassy.com/zayed.html). The Voice of the Martyrs urges the government of UAE to demonstrate this commitment to religious moderatism by releasing Rev. Fernando Alconga.

We would encourage you to write to UAE officials asking for fair legal treatment for, and the release of, Pastor Alconga. For more information on writing letters to government authorities, go to http://www.persecution.net/howto/writegov.htm. For contact information, go to http://www.persecution.net/uae.htm.

Brother Fernando Released (United Arab Emirates)

Shortly after sending out today’s Persecution and Prayer Alert we received news from the Council of Evangelical Churches (CEC) that Rev. Fernando Alconga who was arrested on November 12 in the United Arab Emirates has been released but the charges against him have not been dropped. There remains uncertainty as to the legal procedures that will yet ensue in this matter.

We thank God for this development. CEC asks for your continued prayers on his behalf and we ask that you still write to UAE officials, asking that all charges be dropped against him.

*********************************** 3. Charges Dropped Against Church Elders (Mongolia)

“Shouts of praise and rejoicing be unto the Lord!” This is the beginning of an email received this morning by The Voice of the Martyrs.

On November 6, The Persecution & Prayer Alert reported that the elders of the Church of All Nations in the Bayangol district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia were facing criminal charges and confiscation of all tithes and offerings because they were not registered, despite efforts to register since 1999.

This morning The Voice of the Martyrs received notice that all charges against the church have been dropped. The church thanks everyone for their prayers and asks that Christians continue to pray that they will be able to register, to prevent further problems. The Buddhist government of Mongolia has been working to prevent the growth of Christianity in the country. Despite these efforts, the Church of All Nations has moved into a larger hall and is continuing to grow. *********************************** 4. Pastor killed in Escalation of Islamic Violence (Nigeria)

The Voice of the Martyrs has learned that a prominent Nigerian church leader has become the latest victim of Islamic violence against Christians in Plateau State. 69-year old Bitrus Manjang, vice president of the Church of Christ, Nigeria was murdered on December 12 in his home town of Riyom, about 30-miles from the city of Jos. Pastor Manjang was gunned down by a rioting Muslim mob as he stepped from his car after parking in his garage. Also killed in the attack were his daughter-in-law and six-year-old grandson. Manjang had just returned from several church meetings in the city of Jos when a mob of Islamic militants entered his village at 5:00 P.M. Five other people were killed and at least a dozen were hospitalized with injuries.

Pastor Manjang’s death is the latest act of violence against Christian leaders in Nigeria’s Plateau State. Earlier this year, Muslims attacked Christian residents of Riyom and one week ago Christians were attacked in the remote village of Bacit.

Pray for comfort for Manjang’s family. Pray that Christians in Nigeria will stand firm in their faith and trust in Christ.

*********************************** 5. Suspected Mastermind Behind Attack Ordered Released (Pakistan)

The head of an outlawed Islamic militant organization has been ordered released from prison. The Lahore High Court ordered on December 14 that Maulana Mohammad Masood Azhar, head of Jaish-e-Mohammad, be released from house arrest, stating that there was not sufficient evidence to continue to hold him.

However, news reports today indicate that local police have refused to release him in hope that his detention order will be extended. If it is not extended by December 20, he will have to be released. Security is extremely tight, with more than two dozen police posted around the house.

Maulana Azhar was arrested December 2001 after the attack on St. Dominic church in Bahawalpur that left seventeen Christians dead. He is also the main suspect in planning the attack on India’s parliament in December 2001. He has previously served six years in prison in India as head of a militant Islamic group in Kashmir and was released in 1999 in exchange for passengers of a hijacked Indian Airlines jet.

Pray that justice will be served and that all those responsible for the Bahawalpur attack will be brought to justice. Pray for protection for Christians in Pakistan who face constant threats from militant Islamic groups.

The feature article of the January 2003 edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter focuses on the persecution facing Christians in Pakistan today. You will not want to miss this important report. To subscribe to this free publication, go to http://www.persecution.net/nlorder.htm.

*********************************** 6. Public Apology Campaign Concluding (Sudan)

For the past several months, The Voice of the Martyrs has been involved in spearheading a public apology from the people of Canada to the people of Sudan because of Canada’s complicity in the suffering they have been facing.

This campaign will be concluding on December 31, 2002. If you have not yet participated, or if you would like more information, go to http://www.persecution.net/sudan.htm.

*********************************** 7. Christmas Schedule (P&P Alert)

In order to give our staff a much-needed Christmas break, there will be no Persecution & Prayer Alert sent out next week (December 25). The Persecution & Prayer Alert will resume on Tuesday, December 31. As always, The Voice of the Martyrs will continue to monitor persecution around the world and will send out special editions if critical needs arise before December 31.

For this reason, and also because of the large number of stories in this edition of the Persecution & Prayer Alert, there will be no Question of the Week for this week only. We would encourage you to participate in discussions already on-going on our forum. To participate, 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.

*********************************** 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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