AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER
* RUSSIA BECOMES TARGET OF JIHADIST EXTREMISTS
* NORTH KOREAN CHRISTIANS USED TO TEST CHEMICAL WEAPONS
* PRAYER FOR CHINA EARTHQUAKE
* NEW LIFE SPRINGING FROM BLOOD SOAKED GROUND
* ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON ANGLICAN BISHOP IN EL SALVADOR
* VOODOO PRIEST SEES JESUS AND GIVES HIS LIFE TO CHRIST
* INDIA: 1000 ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS IN 500 DAYS
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RUSSIA BECOMES TARGET OF JIHADIST EXTREMISTS
Back in December 2001, al-Qaeda deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri identified Afghanistan and Chechnya as key to the jihadist cause. He noted that control of Chechnya would give al-Qaeda’s Sunni jihadists a ‘mujahid Islamic belt’ from the Mediterranean through Turkey and into Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as western China. Terrorism has surged across the region this year, doubtless energised by the Taliban – al-Qaeda ascendency in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In May 2009 Dokka Abu Usman, the self-proclaimed ‘Mujahideen of Caucasus Emirate’, declared, ‘This year will be our offensive year.’ In August the pro-jihadist Kavkaz Centre published a letter citing the ‘Mujahideen’s decision to launch an ‘economic and industrial sabotage war’ inside Russia. They claimed responsibility for the 17 August 2009 ‘martyrdom operation against the Interior Ministry as well as a ‘major subversive action in Russia, disabling a hydro-electric dam the sameday. Flooding caused by the dam breach killed 75 Rus Hydro workers.
It shut down the hydro-electric power station, Russia’s largest, however Moscow claimed it was just an accident caused by the ageing Soviet infrastructure. Russia has suffered numerous terrorist attacks on infrastructure this year. In late November, terrorists perpetrated a series of attacks on infrastructure in the North Caucasus republic of Kabardino-Balkaria (KB), including bombing an electricity substation. A plot to blow up KB’s Aushiger Hydropower Plant was foiled as it would have inundated many villages.
In November last year terrorists sabotaged the busy railway line between Moscow and St Petersburg, derailing the luxury Nevsky
Express, killing at least 26 and wounding 100. The main suspect, Pavel Kosolapov, is a former Russian soldier who converted to Islam in the 1990s and joined the mujahideen. Three days later an explosion in Dagestan tore apart the railway line between Baku and the Siberian town of Tyumen. The on-coming train fortunately just skidded for 150 metres and nobody was hurt.
Russian Orthodox priest Rev Daniil Sysoyev (34), a courageous missionary to Muslims and well known public critic of Islam, was assassinated in his church on 19 November. Religious tensions are rising. Some 23 million Muslims make up 16 percent of Russia’s 144 million population. However, with swelling Muslim immigration they are projected to be a majority by 2050. When the USSR broke up in 1991 the Russian Federation’s borders dissolved, opening the region up to infiltration by Islamic fundamentalists and jihadists, including veterans of the Afghan jihad.
Islamic jihad is causing widespread disillusionment amongst Muslims. Interfax recently reported that whilst some 2000-5000 ethnic Russians had converted to Islam, about 2 million Russian Muslims had converted to Christianity. The report said, Muslims who convert to Christianity are mostly disillusioned with Islam and attracted to Russia’s Orthodox Christian culture. This process is believed to be accelerating due to extremist activities. After each terrorist action, thousands of ethnic Muslims turn to the Russian Orthodox faith.
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL:
* be a refuge and sanctuary for his people as terrorism escalates across the North Caucasus and into the Russian heartland; may
multitudes focus their eyes on Jesus Christ and grow in faith and maturity
* work mightily by his Spirit in the Russian Church for widespread reformation and revival, resulting in growing holiness, courageous faith, and spiritual unity.
* raise up and send out more workers for His Russian harvest
Source: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission
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NORTH KOREAN CHRISTIANS USED TO TEST CHEMICAL WEAPONS
The nation of North Korea is politically closed, spiritually dark and considered ¢â‚¬Å“extremely harsh, ¢â‚¬ with untold thousands imprisoned for their faith, tortured and some used as human guinea pigs for testing biological and chemical weapons. While the international community is legitimately concerned about North Korea ¢â‚¬â„¢s nuclear ambitions, the world seems to be overlooking the ongoing and serious human rights violations being carried out by the repressive regime of Kim Jong Il.
Among the many atrocities taking place in North Korea is one of purposeful neglect.
Though the leaders of the nation live in opulence, millions of ¢â‚¬ ¨citizens have died in famines that have ravaged the population since ¢â‚¬ ¨the 1990s. One study estimated that in 2006, 37% of the nation ¢â‚¬â„¢s ¢â‚¬ ¨children were undernourished and more than 24% were underweight. The ¢â‚¬ ¨national religion of North Korea is an ideology called ¢â‚¬ ¨Juche. Developed by former leader, Kim Il Sung, Juche is a form of ¢â‚¬ ¨emperor worship that ¢â‚¬Å“centers on the worship of the country ¢â‚¬â„¢s ¢â‚¬ ¨leaders. Every other religious activity is recognized as an ¢â‚¬ ¨insurrection to the North Korean socialist principles. ¢â‚¬
The government has been especially zealous in its attempts to ¢â‚¬ ¨eradicate Christianity. ¢â‚¬Å“The people have been taught that Christians ¢â‚¬ ¨are ¢â‚¬Ëœcrazy people. ¢â‚¬â„¢ ¢â‚¬ Those who follow Jesus must worship underground. ¢â‚¬ ¨If they are discovered, they face arrest, torture, imprisonment and, ¢â‚¬ ¨often death. Untold thousands of Believers are currently languishing ¢â‚¬ ¨in dozens of North Korean labor camps located throughout the nation. ¢â‚¬ ¨ ¢â‚¬Å“In spite of these inhuman circumstances, ¢â‚¬ reports Open Doors, ¢â‚¬ ¨ ¢â‚¬Å“Christianity is continuing to grow. ¢â‚¬ ¢â‚¬ ¨PLEASE PRAY FOR:* the heart of Kim Jong Il and the other leaders of ¢â‚¬ ¨North Korea to be transformed by a personal encounter with Jesus ¢â‚¬ ¨Christ and the Light of Christ to shine throughout this darkened ¢â‚¬ ¨nation..
* an immediate end to the barbaric treatment of Christians and ¢â‚¬ ¨other citizens considered to be a threat to the repressive ¢â‚¬ ¨government. Pray for the Lord to be present with Believers who have ¢â‚¬ ¨been imprisoned, those being tortured, and with families who have ¢â‚¬ ¨lost loved ones. Pray for the Lord to comfort, strengthen, and ¢â‚¬ ¨encourage them. ¢â‚¬ ¨* the Gospel to continue to spread in North Korea. Pray for ¢â‚¬ ¨Christians to share their faith with boldness, seeking to honor the ¢â‚¬ ¨Lord, despite fierce resistance. Pray that Christian Believers will ¢â‚¬ ¨be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Pray for the ¢â‚¬ ¨Holy Spirit to move among the people, drawing multitudes into ¢â‚¬ ¨relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Source: Windows International ¢â‚¬ ¨Network
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PRAYER FOR CHINA ¢â‚¬ ¨EARTHQUAKE
On Wednesday, April 14, 2010, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit China’s ¢â‚¬ ¨Qinghai province. More than 600 are known to be dead with nearly ¢â‚¬ ¨10,000 injured. Hundreds more are still missing. The area hardest hit ¢â‚¬ ¨by the earthquake was the county of Yushu. Located 13,000 feet above ¢â‚¬ ¨sea level, Yushu is beset by freezing temperatures and thin air, ¢â‚¬ ¨both of which are making rescue operations difficult. The earthquake ¢â‚¬ ¨destroyed numerous homes, killed hundreds of people, injured ¢â‚¬ ¨thousands more, and set off landslides that knocked out power and ¢â‚¬ ¨phone lines.Temperatures in the area are falling below freezing at ¢â‚¬ ¨night. Wind and sleet are also hampering rescuers. In the town of ¢â‚¬ ¨Jiegu, approximately 85% of the buildings were destroyed, including ¢â‚¬ ¨a number of schools. Just two years ago, a devastating earthquake hit ¢â‚¬ ¨Sichuan, a neighboring province, resulting in 90,000 deaths. ¢â‚¬ ¨Although the entire region is known for earthquakes, one scientific ¢â‚¬ ¨organization said this was the strongest in the Yushu area since ¢â‚¬ ¨1976.President Hu Jintao, who was visiting South America at the time ¢â‚¬ ¨of the quake, cut his trip short and is returning home to assess the ¢â‚¬ ¨damage. He has ordered 5,000 rescuers to the scene. The government ¢â‚¬ ¨is also trying to supply survivors with tents, medicine, and other ¢â‚¬ ¨aid.Please pray for:
* shelter, clean water, nutritious food, blankets, coats, shoes, ¢â‚¬ ¨medicine and other desperately needed aid to reach earthquake ¢â‚¬ ¨survivors. Pray for rescuers to quickly locate and free those who are ¢â‚¬ ¨still alive but missing in the rubble and comfort for those who have ¢â‚¬ ¨lost homes and loved ones.
* the government to use its resources to stabilize the area and ¢â‚¬ ¨begin the process of rebuilding. Pray for the Lord to be with those ¢â‚¬ ¨who are suffering, reminding them of His presence with them. Pray ¢â‚¬ ¨for the Lord to minister emotional healing. Pray that believers will ¢â‚¬ ¨demonstrate the love of God to the victims. Pray for them to use ¢â‚¬ ¨this tragedy as an opportunity to share the Good News
* for quick solutions to provide housing for all of those who have ¢â‚¬ ¨lost homes, schools and office buildings.
Source: Windows International ¢â‚¬ ¨Network
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NEW LIFE SPRINGING ¢â‚¬ ¨FROM BLOOD SOAKED GROUND
Bodies were beaten, burned and torn apart in the Indian state of ¢â‚¬ ¨Orissa over the last two years. Hundreds of Christians died at the ¢â‚¬ ¨hands of Hindu extremists, and thousands of their homes and churches ¢â‚¬ ¨were burned to the ground. But today, rather than cowering in fear, ¢â‚¬ ¨believers and missionaries courageously continue reaching out with ¢â‚¬ ¨the love of Jesus. The wrath of persecutors is proving unable to keep ¢â‚¬ ¨hearts from opening to the Good News. In one district alone, 40 ¢â‚¬ ¨people recently decided to follow Jesus.
These men and women came to Christ because of three brave Bible ¢â‚¬ ¨college students, who agreed to share the love of Jesus in the most ¢â‚¬ ¨dangerous area during their practical ministry internship. God not ¢â‚¬ ¨only protected them, but He has also blessed their ministry with ¢â‚¬ ¨fruit they couldn’t have imagined. In spite of knowing Christians ¢â‚¬ ¨were recently killed for their faith, the 40 new believers believed ¢â‚¬ ¨in the message they heard and trusted Jesus for forgiveness and new ¢â‚¬ ¨life, shining brightly with Christ’s love during some of the darkest ¢â‚¬ ¨hours for believers in Orissa.
Missionaries also reached out with Christmas gifts to 300 ¢â‚¬ ¨underprivileged families, providing them with a new way to make a ¢â‚¬ ¨living. The gifts showed their communities that there was no hatred ¢â‚¬ ¨in return for all the horror heaped upon Christians. The three Bible ¢â‚¬ ¨college students request prayer that the 40 new believers will have a ¢â‚¬ ¨strong faith, no matter what happens to them in the future. Pray also ¢â‚¬ ¨that the 300 families with new gifts will find forgiveness and hope ¢â‚¬ ¨in the Lord, and for God’s continued blessing of the ministry in this ¢â‚¬ ¨region of South Asia.
Source: Gospel for ¢â‚¬ ¨Asia
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ASSASSINATION ¢â‚¬ ¨ATTEMPT ON ANGLICAN BISHOP IN EL SALVADOR
The Episcopal Church of El Salvador has denounced the murder attempt ¢â‚¬ ¨on Bishop Barahona and two of his closest collaborators. Bishop ¢â‚¬ ¨Barahona, along with two of his closest working partners, was victim ¢â‚¬ ¨of the violence that has held this country imprisoned. An unknown ¢â‚¬ ¨man, without saying anything, shot at them. The bullets hit the ¢â‚¬ ¨bishop ¢â‚¬â„¢s driver, Francis Mart ƒ nez, who is now hospitalized. ¢â‚¬ ¨Meanwhile, the bishop was unharmed. What is odd about these events is ¢â‚¬ ¨that the police were just a couple of meters away at the time of the ¢â‚¬ ¨shooting.
An Episcopal Church spokesman said, “We are dismayed by this ¢â‚¬ ¨inexplicable fact. The bishop is a pastor whose principle function is ¢â‚¬ ¨to spiritually care for the faithful. We, as do many Salvadorans who ¢â‚¬ ¨are victims of violence and impunity, lament profoundly this terrible ¢â‚¬ ¨act. We ask everyone ¢â‚¬â„¢s prayers that hope in a different El Salvador ¢â‚¬ ¨is not lost and that this event is not a sign of persecution of the ¢â‚¬ ¨church. Bishop Barahona, 67 years old, has been the Bishop of the ¢â‚¬ ¨Anglican Church of El Salvador since 1992 and is the Primate ¢â‚¬ ¨of Central America
Source: Anglican Communion News ¢â‚¬ ¨Service
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VOODOO PRIEST SEES ¢â‚¬ ¨JESUS AND GIVES HIS LIFE TO CHRIST
A voodoo priest in Haiti recently claimed Jesus as his Lord and ¢â‚¬ ¨Savior after he approached a Baptist missionary and relief worker, ¢â‚¬ ¨Fred Sorrels, for medical aid. The priest, Jean Odlin, reportedly ¢â‚¬ ¨told Sorrels he “had a dream the night before in which Jesus had ¢â‚¬ ¨written his name on his arm.” After Sorrels shared the Gospel with ¢â‚¬ ¨Odlin, he immediately prayed to receive Christ. “Not only had Jesus ¢â‚¬ ¨written his name on his arm,” said Sorrel, “but he also had his name ¢â‚¬ ¨written in the Book of Life.”Odlin said he wanted to destroy all his ¢â‚¬ ¨voodoo items and so, with the help of a Haitian pastor, the items ¢â‚¬ ¨were gathered into a large pile and burned. The following day, after ¢â‚¬ ¨coming across the Scripture of Jesus washing the feet of His ¢â‚¬ ¨disciples, Sorrell felt strongly that he should do that for Odlin. ¢â‚¬ ¨”I’d never had the experience of washing someone’s feet before, but ¢â‚¬ ¨it was such an honor,” Sorrels said. “Those feet that had been ¢â‚¬ ¨leading people into darkness will now lead them into the ¢â‚¬ ¨light.”
Source: The Baptist ¢â‚¬ ¨Standard
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INDIA: 1000 ATTACKS ¢â‚¬ ¨ON CHRISTIANS IN 500 DAYS
In 500 days, 1,000 attacks were reported against Christians in ¢â‚¬ ¨India ¢â‚¬â„¢s Karnataka state. Mission India says the extent of the attacks ¢â‚¬ ¨is somewhat surprising as they are in the south of the country, not ¢â‚¬ ¨the north where more of the radical Hindus live. It is however one of ¢â‚¬ ¨the places where the church is growing fastest in India. But as ¢â‚¬ ¨Christians are attacked the real danger is that many new ¢â‚¬ ¨converts will be intimidated to leave the faith. This, in fact, is ¢â‚¬ ¨the strategy behind the attacks. ¢â‚¬ Pray that the Gospel would spread ¢â‚¬ ¨despite these hindrances. ¢â‚¬ ¨Source: Intercessors ¢â‚¬ ¨Network
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