SHATTER THE SILENCE July 31, 2002 VOLUME 6, ISSUE #5

********************************* 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.

Contents: 1. AN INTERVIEW WITH BROTHER ANDREW 2. WORLD HELP PRESENTS CHILDREN OF THE WORLD INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S CHOIR 3. JUBLIEE CAMPAIGN INTERVENING IN NORTH KOREAN REFUGEE CRISIS 4. IRANIAN CHRISTIAN REFUGEES NEED YOUR HELP 5. FAN THE FLAME WITH BIBLE LEAGUE’S NEW PERSECUTED CHURCH PROGRAM 6. THE VOICE OF THE MARTYRS AND BOLD BELIEVERS AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD 7. OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVOCACY FROM CHRISTIAN SOLIDARITY WORLDWIDE

1. AN INTERVIEW WITH BROTHER ANDREW Recently, Open Doors released a challenging interview with Brother Andrew that discusses his perspective on Islam. The interview offers a spiritual solution to the conflict in the Middle East and the Muslim World, rather than a political one. Below is a portion of that interview:

OD: How has [the world] changed for Christians living in the Muslim World? Andrew: Definitely for the worst. Christians are paying the price for how Muslim fundamentalists perceive the “Christian West.” They already had a persecution complex and see us as perpetrators. They can’t get at us easily. They can, however, get at the local and national Christians.

OD: What can we do? Andrew: One, we must step up our efforts to evangelize the Muslims. There is a general decrease in missions giving toward the Muslim World, which is very much self-defeating. Second, we must reach out to the Christians in these places, just as we’ve always done, to “strengthen what remains” (Rev. 3:2) — even in a place like Bethlehem. Christians are leaving because there is no future in the West Bank. But there is still something that remains; now we must go in and strengthen it. How else will either Jew or Arab or Muslim know who Jesus is? Open Doors is a mission, and proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom of God is the only solution — not politics, not military power, not revolution.

OD: So strengthening the church in the Muslim world is of utmost importance? Andrew: Absolutely. They compare unfavorably with the communist world because in every country in the communist world there was a church. But a number of Muslim countries never had a church, so we have a lot of catch-up to do.

To receive an email copy of the complete interview with Brother Andrew, email Kelly Callaghan at . To learn more about Open Doors with Brother Andrew, please visit their website, http://www.opendoorsusa.org.

2. WORLD HELP PRESENTS CHILDREN OF THE WORLD INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S CHOIR Children of the World International Children’s Choir will be starting its third annual tour Sept. 1, 2002. The choir is composed of 20 orphaned and homeless children from countries where Christian persecution is strong, and will sing in churches and schools across the United States until June 30, 2003.

This exciting program features cultural dress, praise songs and stirring real-life testimonies of the children in the choir. World Help desires that each person who sees this program will find a way to help make a difference in the lives of the choir children and hundreds of their friends in their home countries. Dates are filling quickly, but if you would like to have Children of the World minister in your church or school, please call 1-800-541-6691 or email to . For more information on World Help, visit their website at http://www.worldhelp.net.

3. JUBLIEE CAMPAIGN INTERVENING IN NORTH KOREAN REFUGEE CRISIS In the country of North Korea, controlled by dictator Kim Jong Il, Christianity is viewed as treason. The government arrests its hungry citizens found searching for food outside of their resident area on charges of “anti-government activism,” and the sentence is seven years hard labor. For those attempting to flee to freedom through China, the crime is defection and the sentence is death. Under a 1986 pact with North Korea, China repatriates North Korean refugees at an alarming monthly rate estimated in the thousands.

In a most brazen development, as of this Spring, China offers a bounty of $70 per North Korean refugee turned in and $700 for revealing the identity of an aid worker who helps a refugee (as reported by Tim Peters, July 12, 2002, at a Seminar in Seoul, Korea addressing the plight of North Korean refugees). The shocking reality of the North Korean refugee crisis requires us to seek to intervene with international legal tools, which Jubilee Campaign is undertaking. For more information on the crisis in North Korea, contact the Jubilee Campaign at http://www.jubileecampaign.org, or by phone at 1-703-503-0791.

4. IRANIAN CHRISTIAN REFUGEES NEED YOUR HELP Since Feb 1, 2001 Iranian refugees have not been able to apply for immigration to the U.S. from Europe, with the exception of a few, very limited circumstances. Because of this, most Iranian Christian refugees cannot apply for refugee visas to the U.S. Their only option is to apply to Canada, which requires having a Canadian church sponsor. Many Iranian Christians are under severe attack for their belief in Jesus, and they need our help. Please join with Iranian Christians International (ICI) in prayer, that U.S. Immigration would ease the restriction on Iranian refugees to allow more Iranian Christians the opportunity to worship Christ freely. Also, please pray that some Canadian churches would be willing to sponsor these refugees. For more information on how you can help, please contact ICI at http://www.farsinet.com/ici, or by phone at (719) 596-0010.

5. FAN THE FLAME WITH BIBLE LEAGUE’S NEW PERSECUTED CHURCH PROGRAM Brothers and sisters in Christ around the world spend their days and nights in fear of beatings, imprisonment, and even death. Why? Simply because they have chosen to follow Christ. Christians in China, Cuba, Belarus, Colombia, Egypt, and other countries worldwide struggle with various levels of persecution. How can we support them with prayer if we aren’t aware of their circumstances? In 2 Timothy, Paul encourages young Timothy to be faithful. We challenge you, as Paul did Timothy, to “fan into flame the gift of God”-“fan into flame” the needs of the persecuted Church.

This fall, as you walk through the Bible League’s new program for the Persecuted Church, you’ll gain a fresh realization about those who suffer daily for their faith. Read their stories. Share their burdens. Lift them up in prayer. And discover ways that you-and your family, small group, or entire congregation-can make a real difference in their lives. To learn more about the 1-day and 21-day “Fan into Flame” programs that will be available September 1, please contact the Bible League at 866-TBL-INFO/866-825-4636, email , or visit their website at http://www.BibleLeague.org.

6. THE VOICE OF THE MARTYRS AND BOLD BELIEVERS AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD Christians at the top of the world in Nepal and Bhutan (home of Mt. Everest) are standing for Christ’s Kingdom in spite of severe persecution. Vidya lost his younger brother and all his possessions in an attack on his family home. Chatra and his family are on the run to avoid prison because of their effective evangelistic efforts. Peter and Jonathan face lengthy prison terms, fines, and possible expulsion. The August VOM Newsletter gives details of these stories, and others from the region. In addition we have several prayer requests from other Bhutanese and Nepalese, in their own handwriting, who are putting their lives on the line for the sake of the gospel. To receive a packet containing this Newsletter and copies of the prayer requests submitted by these brave evangelists, contact VOM at or call 918-337-8015×149. Their website is http://www.persecution.com.

7. OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVOCACY FROM CHRISTIAN SOLIDARITY WORLDWIDE Following a recent fact finding trip to Peruvian prisons, Christian Solidarity Worldwide continues to support the freedom campaign of wrongly accused and incarcerated Christians. Opportunities to intervene are numerous: letter writing to prisoners, petitioning the Peruvian government, praying specifically for these individuals, and funding local advocacy organizations like “CEAS” and “Paz y Esperanza” are just some of the ways the CSW family is inviting people to help. To find out more about helping imprisoned Christians who are wrongfully accused and mistreated, contact CSW at their website, http://www.cswusa.com, or by phone at (877)450-4516.

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

Bible League – http://www.bibleleague.org Christians in Crisis with Pastor Wally – http://www.christiansincrisis.net Christian Solidarity Worldwide-USA – http://www.cswusa.com Compass Direct – http://www.compassdirect.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.kentamplin.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 World Help – http://www.worldhelp.net ————————————

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.

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———————————— CONTACT INFORMATION Prayer for the Persecuted Church http://www.persecutedchurch.org