SHATTER THE SILENCE April 30, 2003 VOLUME 7, ISSUE #4

********************************* PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH ********************************* Our mission is to awaken followers of Christ and concerned others to the plight of persecuted Christians, calling the Church to compassionate prayer and action. *********************************

IN THIS EDITION: 1. PPC Welcomes Two New Partnering Organizations for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church 2. Gospel for Asia: Missionary Nearly Killed for Showing Film 3. Christian Freedom International: Invitation to upcoming “Christian Freedom Conference 2003” 4. First U.N. Resolution Passed Against North Korea 5. Christian’s in Crisis Encourages Believers to Continue Praying for Indonesian Christians 6. Voice of the Martyrs Plans “Action Packs” for Iraq 7. Open Doors Urges Prayer and Remembrance for Vietnamese Christians 8. International Christian Concern Provides a Glimpse of Conditions Facing North Korean Christians ************************************************************************

1. PPC Welcomes Two New Partnering Organizations for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

Prayer for the Persecuted Church is pleased to announce a partnership with two more organizations who share in our vision “to awaken followers of Christ and concerned others to the plight of persecuted Christians.”

“Gospel for Asia” is ministry whose stated mission is to “reach the unreached of Asia with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and fulfill the Great Commission through recruiting, training, sending and assisting qualified laborers to win the lost and plant local churches in partnership with the body of Christ.” While many of the 13,000 indigenous missionaries supported by GFA are confronted with persecution, they remain hard at work: nearly one new Asian Christian fellowship is being planted every two hours.

Christian Freedom International (CFI) is an interdenominational human rights organization that combines advocacy with humanitarian assistance for persecuted Christians on the front lines. Active in some of the most dangerous countries on earth, including Burma and Sudan, CFI is a recognized voice for persecuted Christians around the world. The mission of CFI is to reach the part of the persecuted church that is the most repressed, cut off, and isolated.

I trust that you will continue to be challenged to partner with our suffering family in Christ through these and other persecuted church ministries, all of whom continue to work to “Shatter their Silence.”

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2. Gospel for Asia: Missionary Nearly Killed for Showing Film

Angry men severely beat and nearly strangled Gospel For Asia native missionary, Titus, for trying to show a film on the life of Jesus to an unreached village in Jharkhand, India. But this horrific experience has not stopped the Gospel from going forth.

Just days after some of the men threatened to kill him for sharing the good news in their village, Titus bravely returned so he could try to get back the confiscated film equipment. What happened next is unbelievable: After several meetings, the village committee returned the film equipment unconditionally and in good shape!

The very men who said they wanted to kill Titus are now eager to see the film on the life of Jesus. A GFA film team will come soon. What an answer to prayer! “Now, there is no opposition for our work in that village,” writes a GFA field leader. “It happened because of the prayers of thousands who sincerely persevered in prayers for this situation. We believe and pray for a strong and thriving church in that village.”

Continue to pray with us for the Lord to work in the hearts of these precious people for whom Christ died. Pray also for Titus. He still suffers bodily pain from his beatings and is unable to ride his bicycle for long distances. But this has not stopped him from joyfully continuing his ministry to the unreached.

To visit the website of Gospel for Asia, please visit: http://www.persecutedchurch.org/orgs/refer.cfm?address=http://www.gfa.org

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3. Christian Freedom International: Invitation to upcoming “Christian Freedom Conference 2003”

What: Christian Freedom International’s “Christian Freedom Conference 2003” When: August 4-8, 2003 Where: The new CFI Vocational School, Mae Sot, Thailand

Christian Freedom International invites you to participate in the upcoming “Christian Freedom Conference 2003.” Here you will find out the truth about persecution around the world, visit refugee camps, meet sponsored children, and, most importantly, learn how you can make a difference.

Come hear and participate with CFI staff and leaders from the field as they inform you about the persecuted church. Be enlightened by a fascinating, informative discussion with Doug Bandow, a syndicated columnist and senior fellow with the Cato Institute. Find out you can get involved and have a significant impact on the lives of the persecuted.

For more information contact Christian Freedom International at 800-323-2273, email , or visit their website at

http://www.persecutedchurch.org/orgs/refer.cfm?address=http://www.christianfreedom.org.

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4. First U.N. Resolution Passed Against North Korea

The U.N. Commission on Human Rights passed a precedent setting resolution on April 15, 2003, expressing “deep concern” regarding North Korea’s egregious human rights abuses and “severe restrictions on the freedoms of thought, conscience, religion . . . peaceful assembly and association.” Jubilee Campaign’s, Tarik Radwan, spoke to the Commission in March. He detailed the gruesome facts of the political prison camps in North Korea, the sexual trafficking of North Korean women in China, denial of asylum, forced repatriations, and numerous violations of international human rights treaties by China and North Korea. Radwan urged the Commission to provide international protection for the North Koreans by using “all legal tools at its disposal.”

Please keep North Korea in your prayers. The full story, along with the U.N. resolution and Radwan’s intervention, is available on Jubilee’s newly upgraded website at

http://www.persecutedchurch.org/orgs/refer.cfm?address=http://www.jubileecampaign.org/home/index.php

************************************************************************ NOVEMBER 9, 2003: THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

The 2003 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church will be observed on November 9th. Once again, the day of prayer is expected to unify hundreds of thousands of believers in prayer for Christians suffering persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. Remember to mark your calendars! ************************************************************************

5. Christian’s in Crisis Encourages Believers to Continue Praying for Indonesian Christians

In partnership with International Friends of Compassion, Christians In Crisis is praying for the suffering Christians in Indonesia who have been displaced by years of persecution. Unable to return to their homes, many Christians are living in refugee camps and are suffering from physical ailments, such as malaria. One village is referred to as “Yellow Village” because of rampant malaria where people are forced to burn wood next to their beds. To find out more about the situation in Indonesia, you may email , or visit CIC’s website at

http://www.persecutedchurch.org/orgs/refer.cfm?address=http://www.christiansincrisis.net/.

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6. Voice of the Martyrs Plans “Action Packs” for Iraq

The eyes of the world have been focused on Iraq during the past few weeks. Many of you have been praying for the entering armed forces and the citizens living there. As freedom from the rule of a dictator appears to be a reality the suffering of the Iraqi people surfaces. Christians are a minority of less than three percent of this country. The Voice of the Martyrs desires to help our brothers and sisters in Christ in this war torn country by distributing Action Packs there, just as they have in Pakistan. You can enter into this fellowship of suffering by ordering and filling an action pack for Iraq and returning it to VOM’s collection facility. For more information please call 800-747-0085 or visit the VOM website at

http://www.persecutedchurch.org/orgs/refer.cfm?address=http://www.persecution.com

************************************************************************ RECOMMEND “SHATTER THE SILENCE” TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS PPC needs your help to “Shatter the Silence” of the persecuted church. Simply send a copy of this registration link to 5 people who you think would appreciate the monthly “Shatter the Silence” newsletter: http://www.persecutedchurch.org/about/newsletter.cfm. Let’s work together to mobilize God’s people to help “Shatter the Silence” of the Persecuted Church!

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7. Open Doors Urges Prayer and Remembrance for Vietnamese Christians

Open Doors is encouraging Christians worldwide to remember the Church in Vietnam on May 4. This special Sunday has been designated as the International Day of Prayer for Vietnam by several organizations concerned about the situation in this Southeast Asian nation.

“We have a very simple theology,” a leading Vietnamese pastor said. “If you have problems – pray. If you have more problems – pray more!”

While the laws of Vietnam promise religious freedom, in practice the government continues its policies of religious repression among the population of almost 80 million. Vietnam is No. 3 on Open Doors’ World Watch List, which ranks countries according to the intensity of persecution Christians face for actively pursuing their faith.

“Fifty-one percent of Vietnam’s population is less than 24 years old, which means that over half of the population was born after 1975 and the fall of Saigon,” a Vietnam watcher told Open Doors. “Thirty-two percent are between 11 and 14 years of age.”

So this year’s International Day of Prayer for Vietnam is encouraging special prayer for Vietnam’s children. “Focusing our eyes on the children reminds us how Jesus so dearly loves the children of this world. ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for such is the Kingdom of God,’ (Mark 10:14),” records the International Day of Prayer for Vietnam website

http://www.persecutedchurch.org/orgs/refer.cfm?address=http://www.pray4vn.com. To learn more about the work and ministry of Open Doors, visit

http://www.persecutedchurch.org/orgs/refer.cfm?address=http://www.opendoorsusa.org.

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8. International Christian Concern Provides a Glimpse of Conditions Facing North Korean Christians

North Korea’s record toward Christian’s is abominable. It is a place so repressive that even possession of a Bible is punishable by death. This month, International Christian Concern shares an unbelievable account of one woman’s life inside a North Korean prison camp.

In this prison camp, Christians were given the task of cleaning the toilets and removing human excrement. One day a woman witnessed six Christian prisoners transferring over a ton of human excrement from the toilets to a large tank. A woman climbed up on the tank to open it, but slipped on the slick surface and fell into the noxious mixture.

“Sister, can you come out,” one of her friends shouted.

“I’m having a difficult time,” she gasped, as she struggled to keep her head above the waste.

“Let me come up and help,” her friend said.

She climbed up the tank and jumped in to save her friend. Then another woman climbed up the tank and then another. “In all, four women jumped into the tank to help their friends.”

Then the officer below ordered the tank door be shut, cruelly sealing their fate. “The door was closed and the women were left in the tank. No one ever tried to take the bodies out.”

To read the rest of story and be updated monthly on persecution around the world, visit ICC’s website at

http://www.persecutedchurch.org/orgs/refer.cfm?address=http://www.persecution.org/subscribe.html, or call 1-800-422-5441 and sign up for their free monthly newsletter.

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SPONSORING MINISTRIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH:

Christians in Crisis with Pastor Wally – http://www.christiansincrisis.net Christian Freedom International – http://www.christianfreedom.org Christian Solidarity Worldwide-USA – http://www.cswusa.com Compass Direct – http://www.compassdirect.org Gospel for Asia – http://www.gfa.org International Christian Concern – http://www.persecution.org Iranian Christians International – http://www.farsinet.com/ici Jubilee Campaign – http://www.jubileecampaign.org Make Me Your Voice – http://www.makemeyourvoice.com/ Open Doors with Brother Andrew – http://www.opendoorsusa.org The Voice of the Martyrs – http://www.persecution.com World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission – http://www.worldevangelical.org ————————————

Please pass this newsletter on to your friends and church members!

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SHATTER THE SILENCE is a monthly electronic newsletter produced by Prayer for the Persecuted Church to provide information to encourage followers of Christ to compassionate prayer and action on behalf of the persecuted Church.

The SHATTER THE SILENCE e-mail list is used exclusively for the distribution of this newsletter; e-mail addresses of subscribers are not sold, traded or given to any other organization.

———————————— CONTACT INFORMATION Prayer for the Persecuted Church http://www.persecutedchurch.org P.O. Box 26047 Santa Ana, CA 92799