No matter where The Voice of the Martyrs ministers, the first request of persecuted Christians is almost always the same: "Pray for us."

Answer that request by joining The Voice of the Martyrs in praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.   Sign up today to receive specific, up-to-date prayer requests by email every Wednesday through the Persecution and Prayer Alert. To subscribe, click here.

Christian aid worked killed in Mauritania

Al-Qaeda has reportedly claimed responsibility for shooting and killing an American aid worker, Christopher Leggett (39), on June 23 in Nouakchott, the capital city of Mauritania. On June 25, Al-Jazeera TV reportedly received an audio statement from al-Qaeda which stated that "two knights of the Islamic Maghreb succeeded Tuesday morning at 8:00 a.m. to kill the infidel American Christopher Leggett for his Christianising activities." Leggett worked for a non-governmental organization in Mauritania involved in training and equipping prisoners to re-enter society. He also oversaw a microloan program which fostered the growth of small businesses. He had been a resident of Mauritania for the past seven years along with his wife and four children.

Thank the Lord for Christopher Leggett's life as a cross-bearing disciple. Ask God to comfort those who mourn for him. Pray that Christians in Mauritania will be emboldened to follow in their Saviour's footsteps and remain steadfast in faith (1 Corinthians 4:9-14, 16).

You can leave a message of condolence for the family of Christopher Leggett at Chris' online obituary. To learn more about trials facing Christians in Mauritania, go to the Mauritania Country Report.

Christians attacked by Muslims in Egypt

Christians in the village of Ezbet Boshra-East, Egypt are fearful to leave their homes after a mob of Muslims attacked believers and damaged property on June 21. At approximately 11:00 a.m., a group of 25 Christians from Cairo arrived in the village to visit Father Isaac Castor, who lives in a building owned by the Coptic Church. When Muslims noticed six of the believers entering the building, they approached the remaining Christians waiting outside and began to taunt them. A Muslim woman approached one of the Christians and slapped her. Hundreds of Muslims then started to throw stones at the building and the believers. Some Christian homes in the village were plundered, farmers' crops were uprooted and Father Castor's car was vandalized. Over a dozen Christians and several Muslims were injured in the violence. Nineteen Christians were arrested and released the following day. Their homes were reportedly ransacked by police and they were mistreated while in detention.

Pray for healing for those injured. Pray that Christians in Egypt will put their hope in the Lord as the One who upholds their cause (Psalm 146). Ask God to move in the lives of those who persecute believers in Egypt.

The July edition of VOMC's monthly newsletter gives in-depth testimonies of believers serving at great cost in Egypt. Click here to subscribe today. To find out more about Egypt's suffering Christians, go to the Egypt Country Report.

Update: House church leaders released in Sichuan, China

The house church leaders arrested in Langzhong city, Sichuan province on June 9 (read the details) have been released following international pressure, according to a June 26 report from ChinaAid. Thirteen of the leaders served 10 days of administrative detention and were released on June 20. The five leaders placed in criminal detention were released on June 23.

Update: Three Christians released from detention in Shaanxi, China

Three house church leaders that were arrested in Taochuan village, Shaanxi province on June 14 for "illegal religious activities" (click here for more details) have been released, according to a June 27 report from ChinaAid. Xu Fenying was released on June 19 and Liu Caili and Huang Shumin were released on June 24. The three have filed an administrative lawsuit against the Luonan County Public Security Bureau of Shaanxi Province on the grounds that the authorities had no legal basis to confiscate their literature or subject them to fines and detention.

Don't miss the latest edition of The Persecution Report!

Have you watched the most recent Persecution Report by The Voice of the Martyrs? This monthly 10-minute video report is a great way to keep up-to-date with what is going on in the world today in regards to Christian persecution. The July/August edition features an update on the violence against Christians in India's Orissa state where churches were destroyed and dozens killed. Tens of thousands of believers remain homeless. Also hear about an attack on a church in Nepal that left three Christians dead, the arrest of a Christian human rights activist in China, and the amazing faith of an Egyptian woman in the midst of arrests and torture. Watch it today at our home page.

If you have a website, consider adding the Persecution Report as a way to raise a voice for suffering Christians. For more information, go to Web Links Help or contact our webmaster.

Become a VOMC volunteer!

Discover how you can personally make a difference for persecuted Christians around the world by volunteering with VOMC! Get involved by helping in our office, becoming a representative in your church, or by raising awareness to your local community. For more information on the different ways you can serve, please visit our Volunteer Page. To contact Volunteer Ministries, please phone Ed at 1.888.298.6423, or use our online contact form.

In this week's VOMC weblog (www.persecution.net/weblog.htm)

Have you been following VOMC's weblog this week? New blogs are posted almost every day!

Here's a sample of what has been posted by our staff:

a) Two postings on the persecution facing Christians in Israel.

b) Suggestions on how to best pray for Iran at the present time and an analysis for the reasons behind the waning of the protest movement.

c) A call to remember those who have suffered for Christ in the past in "This week in persecuted church history."

d) Summaries of three recommended resources on Iran and the Middle East that you can order online from VOMC.

e) An excellent article that will help you to see persecution from a truly biblical perspective by Nik Ripken entitled "Persecution: Normal and Expected."

This is but a sample, a mere tidbit, of what you can find online everyday on www.persecutedchurchblog.com. Let us know what you think through your comments.