Category Archives: Uncategorized

Update: Coronavirus fears prompt releases in Iran

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https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp

Friends, the BBC reports that Gholamhossein Esmaili, Iran’s judiciary spokesman, said that more than 54,000 prison inmates have been let out of prison in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Iran has seen a significant number of cases and has the highest death toll outside of China from coronavirus.

This news means some Christian imprisoned for their faith have been freed. On February 26, believer Ramiel Bet-Tamraz was released from prison early while serving his sentence for his participation in house churches. He will not have to return to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Christian convert Fatemeh (Mary) Mohammadi was released on conditional bail on February 26, pending a hearing on March 2. Yesterday, Mary shared on Twitter that her court date has been postponed and no new date has been set at this time. She had been arrested on January 12 and spent 45 days in brutal detention, charged with “disturbing public order by participating in an illegal rally.”

Please thank God that Ramiel was released from prison early and pray for healing for him and his family as they are reunited.

Thank God that Mary was released from Qarchak Prison.

Pray Mary’s court date is scheduled soon and that justice is served for her.

Pray leadership in Iran and around the world have wisdom in how to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Photo: Ramiel Bet-Tamraz with his parents Pastor Victor Bet-Tamraz and Shamiram Issavi courtesy of Article18

Update: Asia Bibi thanks you for your prayers

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Friends, international Open Doors staff met with Asia Bibi on February 28 in France. If you recall, in June 2010, Asia Bibi was convicted of blasphemy charges in Pakistan and sentenced to die. She waited eight years for an appeal hearing that was delayed repeatedly. Ultimately, Pakistan’s Supreme Court held a hearing and ordered her release, saying that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. After nine years of prayers from Christians around the globe, Asia was freed on October 31, 2018.

She now lives with her family in Canada but has also been invited to live in France by French President Emmanuel Marcon. She longs to return to Pakistan one day.

Our Open Doors teammates were able to give her a hug, some meaningful gifts and a message from one of the many believers who prayed for her for years. She seemed very moved. We showed Asia a video of persecuted women and men praying for her. The video starts with images of watches and clocks. At one o’clock, the people stop doing what they are doing. They form circles and they pray for Asia.

Asia is almost speechless. “Wow, you all stopped your day to pray for me?”

When she was asked if she had a message for those who prayed for her while she was in prison, Asia responded, “Yes, I have a message for them: God is with them in the exact way He was with me. You are in God’s hands and you are vital.”

Please continue to pray for Asia Bibi and her family as they make decisions about their future.

Pray that Asia and her family continue to receive emotional and mental healing from the years they were separated and all they have endured.

Pray for your sisters and brothers who remain under extreme persecution in Pakistan today.

Thank God for the powerful witness of Asia Bibi—and that the same God is also with you.

Pictured: Asia Bibi at a press conference in France on February 28.

Scripture of the Day

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2 Corinthians 6


2. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
3. Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4. But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5. In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6. By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7. By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8. By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9. As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10. As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Scripture of the Day

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Psalms 61


1. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
2. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
4. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
5. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
6. Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.
7. He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
8. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

Scripture of the Day

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Ezekiel 36


31. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.
32. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.

I suppose this could be why so many ‘westernized’ Jews are referenced by others as self-hating, maybe its their own fulfilment of an ancient prophecy.

Scripture of the Day

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Romans 10


9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Christian teen commits suicide in Bangladesh

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Friends, we are sad to share that Chongya, a 16-year-old believer from a Buddhist background, committed suicide on February 7. According to a local partner with Open Doors, this tragedy was the result of the ongoing persecution he faced from his parents.

Sadly, it’s common for believers who convert from other faiths in Bangladesh to face persecution from their families, friends and the society at large. Young believers are particularly vulnerable due to their dependence on family.

Chongya and his older brother Singya (19) were born and raised as Buddhists, but came to faith in Jesus last year through their grandparents and uncles. When their parents learned of their conversion, they tried to force them back to Buddhism, but Chongya and Singya refused.

Then their parents kicked them out of their home. Recently, Chongya asked his parents for the money he had been saving and given to them for safekeeping, but instead of giving him the money, his parents verbally abused him.

A few days after, he committed suicide.

His brother, Singya, is traumatized by the unexpected death of his younger brother. He is now staying with his grandparents.

Please pray for God to comfort Singya and heal him from the trauma he has experienced. Pray he will be able to forgive his parents.

Pray for Singya to find hope to go on living and grow in his faith in Christ.

Pray for God to give wisdom to his grandparents and other believers on how best to care for and encourage him.

Pray for the church in Bangladesh, that they will stand alongside young believers so that they will not lose hope like Chongya. Pray for God to give them strength to endure persecution.

Pray for our partners as they find ways to encourage young believers who are facing persecution from family members.

*Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.

Scripture of the Day

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Leviticus 26


3. If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; 
4. Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. 
5. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. 
6. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. 
7. And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 
8. And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. 
9. For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. 
10. And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new. 
11. And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. 
12. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. 

Although these national blessings are specifically for Israel, I think its safe to say the blessings would be applicable to any nation that openly serves GOD.

GOD exists outside of time as we finite humans understand time. HE exist in time, every moment for GOD is a now. When nations or people choose to sin, in GOD’s time its a now. The conceputalisation of HIS blessings on nations or individuals are based on what we see as foreknowledge, but those blessings are GOD’s now.

Does GOD know the future? Yes because to HIM past, present, & future are now. Nation’s as collective humans and we as individuals live in our now, we all decide to chose right or wrong, good or evil, love or hate. GOD isn’t a puppetmaster pulling the strings, HE may set things in motion by urgings or dreams or insight. HE may guide us with that still small voice in our heart and mind, but HE is always there, watching and experiencing our life with us, not in a pantheistic sort in that HE exist in all things, but as an observer. Our day, our future, our past are all HIS now.

The blessings listed above are those future nows the Father gives to those nations who revere HIM. First applicable to Israel, now applicable to those nations who serve or believe in the Son.

Looking at the world in our day it’s easy to say GOD is judging nations because of their sins as a collective. What most forget or haven’t been taught to discuss by secular government education is problems of wars, disasters, plagues, corruption, etc has existed in every nation throughout history. No nation or people are immune to the vicissitudes of man or nature. All things change in our concept of time. The one thing that doesn’t change is GOD. All of our time, all of our decisions are in HIS now. HIS love for us hasn’t changed nor has HIS anger towards sin.

Wars happen because of our decisions, disasters because of nature corrupted by sin; hate & anger, bitterness & malice, pride & conceit, murder, theft, & lies, all arise and come forth from us, from our heart.

If nations or collective groups of peoples desire the blessings listed above, those same peoples need to look into their own hearts and to repent or turn away from wickedness.

My prayer, for those collectives, is that the Spirit would convict them of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, leading those collectives to repentence and salvation so while here on this earth, those blessings listed above could be experienced in our now. Otherwise those blessings will remain letters in a book.

GOD Bless.

Church leader attacked with knife in India

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https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp

Friends, our team in the field just reported that a church leader in India was attacked with a knife last night as he returned home from work. He is currently in the ICU with severe wounds to his neck. He had been receiving threats for several months and the attack has been reported to police.

Please pray he heals quickly and fully from his injuries.

Pray for safety and protection for him and his family.

Pray his attacker comes to know Jesus and that the gospel advances through this situation.

*Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.

Praise: Pastors released from captivity in Myanmar

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Friends, today we thank God the for the release of five pastors who were held captive by an insurgent group in Myanmar since April 2019. The captured pastors were released in January 2020. For security reasons we can’t share any more details about these pastors, but we would really like to ask for your prayers for them and some other believers.

Please praise the Lord for the safe release of the five pastors—and thank Him for sustaining and protecting them while in captivity.

Pray the pastors will be strengthened by the Lord.

Pray for the Lord to continue to protect the pastors and the believers.

*Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.

Scripture of the Day

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John 15


8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 
9. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 
10. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 
11. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 
12. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 
13. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 
14. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 

In verse 10 we read “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love…” & in verse 12 we read “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” The example is written in verse 13, ” Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. “

We are told to abide in the love of the Savior, how? By keeping His commandment of loving one another.

Loving others as Christ loved us doesn’t save a soul because salvation isn’t earned. Loving others is an outward expression and reflection of that Love we have and experience in and through Christ. Loving others in Christ is how the world should see our lives, not engrossed in those paltry pleasures that draw the faithful away from the Father.

Scripture of the Day

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Psalms 58


6. Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD. 
7. Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces. 
8. As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun. 
9. Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath. 
10. The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. 
11. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. 

In reading through the Psalms, one finds that David, a man whom Scriptures indicate is after GOD’s own heart, constantly calls on GOD to judge & punish wicked men.

We read of a few of those instances above. Does David ignore the lovingkindness and forgivesness of the Father? I think not, GOD is Love, HE is Righteous, HE is Holy, HE is above our concepts & understanding as ours is above the ant. Jesus exemplified the Fathers Love, He showed us how GOD and why GOD Loves.

David knows that because of GOD’s Love and Righteousness, judgment flows from the Father against evil and wickedness. David is stating the reality of those judgments as he saw them, whether in poetical prose or song, Psalms is resplendent with truths and views of GOD and HIS nature.

When we stand in the presence of the Father, we will be standing within that Love which we can now only glimpse through our Savior. When the veil of death is ripped away we’ll see & experience what true Love really is. We’ll never have to think again as David does here, about wicked men being judged, all our thought will be continously directed to the Father and Son.

Church leader attacked with knife in India

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https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp

Friends, our team in the field just reported that a church leader in India was attacked with a knife last night as he returned home from work. He is currently in the ICU with severe wounds to his neck. He had been receiving threats for several months and the attack has been reported to police.

Please pray he heals quickly and fully from his injuries.

Pray for safety and protection for him and his family.

Pray his attacker comes to know Jesus and that the gospel advances through this situation.

Scripture of the Day

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Romans 7


7. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 
8. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 
9. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 
10. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 
11. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 
12. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 

New believers in Laos shunned by community

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In 2019 just before Christmas, Loe* gave his life to Christ through a pastor he met in the city where he studies. Excited about his new faith, he went home to his village in Laos and shared the gospel with his family, friends and neighbors. About 10 of them gave their lives to Christ!

However, only a month later the village chief summoned the new believers to a meeting where, unbeknownst to them, the whole village had gathered to tell them to leave. “You now belong to your Jesus,” they shouted, “you are no longer allowed to live in this community!”

A few of the 10 denied Christ out of fear of losing their homes, but others stood strong, declaring their commitment to Jesus. Because they follow Jesus, the community has shunned them and continues to threaten them to deny Christ or leave the village.

Loe asks you to encourage these believers through your prayers.

Please pray that God will continue to protect them from any harm and that despite the opposition they face, they will stand firm as they express God’s love and become pillars of light in their village.

Pray their new faith will be strengthened.

Pray that as people see the agape love in the words and actions of these believers, more people in the village will ask questions and realize their need for Jesus.

Pray their oppressors will personally encounter God and be changed.

Please click on the “Submit prayer” button to share your prayers using the new feature in our app and we will share them with Loe.

*Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.