Tag Archives: Christians

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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https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp

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.

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.

A little brother robbed of his sister in Nigeria

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Friends, it has been two years since Leah Sharibu was abducted from her school in Dapchi, Nigeria at the age of 14. Most of her classmates were released in the following weeks but Boko Haram kept Leah, reportedly because she refused to renounce her faith in Christ.

Since her abduction there have been many unconfirmed rumors about her; however, one thing remains clear—she has not yet returned home to her mother Rebecca and father Nathan. Her younger brother, Donald, is growing up without the presence of his sister.

Leah puts a face to the thousands of others who have been abducted by Boko Haram since its insurgency. The girls that have been forced into marriage, used as sex slaves, and suicide bombers; the boys trained for combat.

Please pray that the Lord will bring Leah home in His time. Pray that the government will secure the release of Leah and all the other Nigerians held captive.

Pray for Leah to be strong in body, mind and spirit.

Pray that the Lord will stir the hearts of the Boko Haram commanders and soldiers to repentance as they see Leah live out her faith in the true Ruler.

Pray for Leah’s family–Nathan, Rebecca and Donald, and all the other families affected by abductions in Nigeria.

Photo: an undated photo of Leah sent by her family.

Persecution as the seed of revival in China

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http://y2u.be/mncevKnnRm0

Friends, as the 2020 World Watch List—the ranking of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted most for their faith—has been released, we see that China moved up four spots to number 23.

In China, what’s happened over the last five years seems unthinkable. Children are being stopped from attending church services. Pastors can be arrested if they don’t allow surveillance cameras in their sanctuaries. Authorities are raiding churches, barring the doors and tearing down crosses.

Tap the “watch video” link below to hear a personal account of a Chinese Christian whose house church was raided and shut down by the government.

Persecution in China differs by regions and church context. To learn more about China and what God is doing in and through His Church in China, visit ODUSA.org/China.

Coronavirus: China accused of ‘burning bodies in secret’

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Also, one thing that #China is hiding is the number of death caused by the virus. Credible Chinese media outlet @initiumnews interviewed people working at local cremation centers, confirming that many dead bodies were sent directly from the hospitals to the cremation centers…

–> Read it here <–