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Algerian Christian Sentenced for Carrying a Bible
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 An Algerian Christian detained for five days for carrying a Bible and personal Bible study books was given a one-year suspended prison sentence and a $460 CAD fine on April 29, according to a May 9 report from Compass Direct. A court in Djelfa, 240 km south of Algiers, charged the 33-year-old Christian who converted from Islam with "printing, storing and distributing illegal religious material." The believer, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told fellow Christians in his home city of Tiaret that police pressured him to return to Islam while in custody.
The conviction is the latest in a wave of detentions and court cases against Algeria's Christians. Since January, police and provincial officials have ordered the closure of up to half of the country's 50 estimated Christian congregations.
Pray for the Algerian Christian to find joy and peace in Christ in the midst of opposition for his allegiance to Christ (Acts 5:41). Pray that God will embolden Algerian Christians to spread the Gospel in their nation.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Algeria, click here.
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Churches Raided, Leaders Arrested and Bible School Closed in China
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In several locations throughout China, churches were raided and several Christians were detained in recent weeks, according to reports from China Aid Association received on May 8, 12 and 14.
On May 3, four house church leaders -- Ms. Qioa Lei (24), Ms. Wang Qin (24), Mr. Cao Guanggen and Mr. Gin -- were arrested and detained in Yantun village, Shandong province. Lei and Qin were accused of being "evil cult members." Also in Shandong, on May 8, Pastor Zhang Yongliang and his parents were detained on charges of "obstructing justice" when members of the Public Security Bureau (PSB) raided a meeting of over 30 church leaders in Qingahou city, labeling it as an "illegal gathering."
On May 9, Pastor Dong Yatao, one of the leaders of the Beijing City Revival Church, was arrested by PSB members while he was on his way to obtain a shipment of Bibles. He was detained on charges of "receiving illegally printed Bibles and religious literature." That same day, a worship service at Shouwang Church in Beijing was interrupted by police officials who declared the meeting an "illegal gathering." They ordered the church to stop its activities and forced congregants to leave the premises.
On May 12, a house church meeting in the city of Qiqihaer, Heilongjiang province was raided by security officials who claimed it was an "illegal gathering" and distributed papers stating its official closure.
On May 14, a Bible school located in the city of Sanhe, Hebei province was raided by approximately 30 security officers. Three computer hard disks were taken, and the more than 100 students from various provinces in China enrolled in the school were ordered to return to their hometowns.
Pray for the release of those detained. Pray that God will give those in prison opportunity to share the Gospel (Colossians 4:2,3). Ask God to provide wisdom and guidance to leaders of the churches and the Bible school facing government opposition (Hebrews 10:23-25).
For more information on the persecution facing Christians in China, click here.
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Pastor's Daughter Raped in Bangladesh
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On May 2, Pastor Motilal Das' 13-year-old daughter, Elina Das, was raped by five Muslims intent on stopping his ministry work in the village of Laksmipur, Mymensingh district, according to a May 8 report from Compass Direct. The Muslims abducted Elina while she was walking to a latrine outside her home. They gagged her and took her to a nearby tea stall where she was repeatedly raped. At approximately 3:00 a.m., Pastor Das found Elina unconscious on his doorstep. When he went to the police station, the officers reluctantly registered the case after accusing him of filing a false case. Muslims have since threatened to kill him and his family if he does not withdraw the charges. Pastor Das claimed that locals Muslim have long been angered by his evangelistic work in the area and he had previously received death threats. Male Muslim classmates had repeatedly teased and harassed Elina, the only Christian in her school, about her faith. Ask God to give Elina healing from the assault. Pray that authorities will prosecute the offenders to the full extent of the law. Pray for Elina and her family as they will struggle with the ability to exhibit God's love to their persecutors
(Romans 12:14-21).
For more information on the trials facing Christians in Bangladesh, click here.
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Canadian Christian Organization Appealing Human Rights Ruling
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 Christian Horizons, an evangelical Christian organization, is appealing part of the Ontario Human Rights Commission's recent ruling which stated that it violated the rights of a former worker, Connie Heintz (39), by terminating her employment when she revealed that she was a lesbian in 2000 (see www.persecution.net/news/canada23.html for more details). The ruling ordered Christian Horizons to compensate Heintz $23,000 in lost wages and to stop requiring its staff to sign an explicitly Christian morality code. Christian Horizons stated that it will no longer require employees to sign the code but plans to appeal the remainder of the tribunal's order. Opposition political parties have called on the province to consider pulling funding from the group, claiming that it is unjustly imposing its beliefs on its employees.
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Trial Delayed for Uygur Christian in China
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The trial of Alimujiang Yimiti, a Uygur Christian who was arrested on January 12 and accused of "endangering national security," (click here for more details) has been delayed, according to a May 8 report from China Aid Association. Yimiti's trial was scheduled for early April but is now set to begin in approximately two to three weeks. The delay was partly due to the need to translate court documents, which are written in Uygur, for the Han Chinese authorities handling the case. |
Take the Next Step: Join the VOMC Team
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 Do you think that God might be asking you to get personally involved in ministry for the Persecuted Church? Why not join the VOMC team as a volunteer. We have opportunities available as an office volunteer, a church representative, or in raising awareness of the worldwide persecution of Christians in your local area. You will be fully supported with prayer, advice, resources, and training. If you don't speak up for the persecuted, who will? For more information visit www.persecution.net/volunteer.htm or contact
Malcolm, our Volunteer Ministries Coordinator at
1.888.298.6423 or use our online contact form.
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 Take time to read the latest weblogs from VOMC CEO Glenn Penner. In "Suffering the Effects of Persecution in the Present in Ukraine," Glenn reports on his recent visit with elderly pensioners in Ukraine who were persecuted for their faith by Soviet communist authorities. And in "Pentecost and Persecution," he shares a portion of a message that he preached in Germany on Pentecost Sunday emphasizing the connection between a theology of the cross and a theology of the Spirit.
To make comments on these and previous VOMC weblogs, go to persecutedchurch.blogspot.com.
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