Please pray for North Korean Christians – World Watch List #1

Peanut Gallery: Christian Persecution – North Korea – #1 (worldwatchlist.us)

“For the eleventh year running, this is the most difficult place on earth to be a Christian. One of the remaining Communist states, it is vehemently opposed to religion of any kind. Christians are classified as hostile and face arrest, detention, torture, even public execution. There is a system of labour camps including the renowned prison No. 15, which reportedly houses 6,000 Christians alone. But despite severe oppression, there is a growing underground church movement of an estimated 400,000 Christians.”

Please click on this link to Open Doors US to learn more about Christians in North Korea.

Please join me in prayer –

Heavenly Father: May your Holy Spirit strengthen and comfort all North Korean believers in Your Son, Jesus Christ… especially those who are imprisoned and suffer great hardship, those who gather in secret to worship and pray, those who are afraid for themselves and their families, those who are sick and tired, those who are refugees, those who hunger and thirst, and those who labor to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus: Bring Your Truth to Life – reveal Yourself through signs and wonders that demonstrate Your mercy and grace. Move among North Korean believers with wisdom, healing graces and power.

Holy Spirit move across the entire country of North Korea – its leaders, its military, all of its people at every level of society. Turn their hearts to Jesus Christ and lead them to repentance and faith… that one day soon the country of North Korea will know God’s deliverance and finally be free.

I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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For more information on Christians in North Korea – click here.

Sign up for weekly emails from Open Doors 5-5-5, highlighting one of the top 50 most difficult countries to live in for our brothers and sisters in Christ – click here.

Persecuted Church Prayer Challenge – 2013 Open Doors World Rankings – North Korea #1

Peanut Gallery: In America, we pretty much take religious freedom for granted – not so for Christians around the world. Open Doors (USA) has just released its 2013 world rankings of persecution by country.

North Korea is still the worst, but the situation in Africa is deteriorating – see Mali. And the civil war in Syria has placed Christians in great jeopardy.

This link (click here) will take you to the Open Doors(USA) website with rankings and background information on each country.

What can you do? Pray, pray and pray again. Please check out this video that explains how your 5 minute weekly prayer can make a difference.

You can sign up here for weekly 5 min prayer updates… eventually you will pray for all 50 countries in 2013.

Special thanks to rodiagnusdei for bringing this update to our attention. Please check out their website here. Their original post is re-blogged below.
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Open Doors USA releases its world ranking of persecution by country – North Korea still #1, Mali newcomer to list #7

Information and watch list from the non denominational group http://www.OpenDoorsUSA.org. Rankings released January 8,2013 –

North Korea – For the eleventh year running, this is the most difficult place on earth to be a Christian. In a country of 24.5 million, there are just 400,000 Christians. North Korea is one of the remaining Communist states, and it is vehemently opposed to religion of any kind. Christians are classified as hostile and face arrest, detention, torture, even public execution. There is a system of labor camps including the renowned prison No. 15, which reportedly houses 6,000 Christians alone. But despite severe oppression, there is a growing underground church movement of an estimated 400,000 Christians. We have written on North Korea several times in the past year. At the bottom are some noteworthy articles you can read in order to become more familiar with the brutal hardship that is endured by the Christians of North Korea. You can also read about North Korea’s hidden gulag, below all of the links, and visit the website that published The Hidden Gulag Report.

African countries surge – Open Doors reports that persecution of Christians in Africa vastly increased in 2012. Mali is a newcomer on the list and holds the No. 7 position. Tanzania (No. 24), Kenya (No. 40), Uganda (47) and Niger (No. 50) also moved onto the World Watch List and Ethiopia is one of the strongest risers (from No. 38 to No. 15) on the list. In addition, the small African country of Eritrea made the Top 10 for the first time at No. 10. Libya climbed from No. 26 to No. 17.

Syria made the largest jump on the World Watch List. The country is No. 11 on the list, compared to No. 36 in 2012.

Christians are persecuted in at least 60 countries for their faith. They suffer interrogation, arrest and even death in some of the most dangerous and restrictive countries in the world. For 58 years Open Doors has supported and strengthened believers worldwide through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and assistance, Christian community development and prayer and presence ministry. To partner with Open Doors USA, call toll free at 888-5-BIBLE-5 ( 888-524-2535 ) or go to our Website at http://www.OpenDoorsUSA.org.

Azerbaijan’s Official Religious Leader: “I Do Not Know What Freedom of Conscience Is”

Peanut Gallery: “As far as the east is from the west“… that’s how far this guy’s thinking is from mine.

Is he a thug, out for himself; or does he actually represent Islamic thinking in an unguarded moment? No way to know… certainly some Islamists think this way.

At any rate, freedom of religion is not coming any time soon to Azerbaijan under this guy’s leadership.

What surprises me is that the West is shocked by his statements. That’s how little we understand the East’s thinking.

Please pray for Christians in Azerbaijan.

Note: here is a link to Open Doors‘ assessment of Azerbaijan- click here. It’s not good.

Azerbaijan’s Official Religious Leader: “I Do Not Know What Freedom of Conscience Is”

BAKU. November 14, 2012

“They say freedom of conscience, freedom of religion. I have been the Sheykh-ul-Islam [formal title of Azerbaijan’s religious leader] for 33 years and still do not know what conscience is. Even till now, I could not figure out the full meaning of the words ‘freedom of conscience’”, said Allahshukur Pashazada, the head of Caucasus Muslims Office.

His controversial revelations came at the international conference titled “Freedom of religion and belief: Legal, political and public aspects” at the Human Rights Institute of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

He later clarified his position by saying that “everyone has his/ her own beliefs, and it is hard to put a name to it”. “It is hard to know what conscience is”, Mr. Pashazada said, adding that he is saddened by the fact that when some positions of “those who sit abroad” and some decisions of leaders in foreign countries contradict the values and laws of Azerbaijan, they criticize Azerbaijan.

“There are limits to everything in the world. Human rights, religious freedom, freedom of conscience have limits too. When those limits are breached – the human rights are violated”.

Responding to criticism of Azerbaijan’s record on rights and freedoms by the international community, he said that the relations between state and religion in Azerbaijan are on a very high level. “During my leadership period in Azerbaijan, especially after the independence, I have seen a lot of change, progress. I think Azerbaijan can be an example of tolerance to the entire world”, said Mr. Pashazada.

Allahshukur Pashazada has led the Caucuses Muslims Office since the Soviet times (a.k.a. as Sheykh-ul-Islam or Grand Mufti). He has been active in praising Azerbaijan’s ruling Aliyev regime and its policies. During his recent trips to the US sponsored by the Azerbaijani government, he met with the US government officials and members of Congress and participated at events where he also promoted the Azerbaijani government’s image.

Azerbaijan’s record on religious freedoms has been a subject of criticism. Reports by international organizations, media and foreign governments, including the US State Department’s annual human rights report, cite serious violations of freedom of worship and persecution of religious communities.

Many see Mr. Pashazada as a loyal agent of the regime, rather than an authentic spiritual leader, whose main task is in enforcing government’s directives on religious affairs.

A recent investigative report by Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) revealed that Pashazada’s family owns large business interests in Czech Republic, where other corrupt Azerbaijani oligarchs and ruling Aliyev family also have business holdings. (Azerireport, Radio Liberty)

International Day of Prayer- Serving Persecuted Christians Worldwide – Open Doors UK & Ireland – Please Pray

We’d like you to close your church…– link to Open Doors resources.

Imagine living in a society where your Christian faith must be hidden. Just going to church could get you arrested, imprisoned – even killed. If you want to meet with other Christians you have to meet secretly – in a secret place, at a secret time, in a secret way…

For many Christians in the Arab World, this imaginary world is a reality. So to help you and your church to identify with believers who meet in secret, we are asking you to hold your own Secret Church service to pray for persecuted Christians in the Arab World..

We have produced a new range of Secret Church resources to help you. Your church will not only hear how persecuted Christians live their lives of faith – they will be able to experience it for themselves!

So why not take up the Secret Church challenge and help strengthen the church in the Arab World to be a light to their nations.

Please pray for Nigerian Christians – Christians Targeted in Nigerian Student Massacre in Mubi

Peanut Gallery: It’s hard for me to imagine what life is like for persecuted Christians around the world. I’ve always enjoyed second amendment rights – freedom of speech and religion – which enabled me to share my faith freely… and openly. No one has ever wanted to kill me, or put me in jail for my beliefs.

Not so with millions of Christians around the world.

My purpose in posting, re: persecuted Christians/Church, is to enlarge my perspective in understanding and prayer… and in the process, perhaps yours as well.

This report of murder and mayhem in Nigeria is bad enough when we read about that night of terror. But it’s brought home personally when we read the names of the specific 25 known students killed and the 5 who escaped.

As you pray, please read aloud each of the names and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your prayer…. And ask God to use this evil act for good – whether we can see, or understand, it or not.

“And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:27-28

Prayer: Father, we bring before You these 25 people who were killed in the Mubi massacre. You know each name; You wept over the trauma they sustained. Those who followed You in this life You have drawn into Your very presence. We weep today for their families, for those who were injured and saw friends killed before their very eyes, for those who cannot dispel the memories of that night. Replace the memories with a vision of Christ who is present with them. Comfort them, and give them courage to serve You each day, that even in the midst of the evil and darkness around them, You will be honored and glorified by their lives. In the name of Jesus who is our strength in the midst of our own weakness.

Those killed in the attack included:
1. Sebastine Bulus(Christian)
2. Ishaku Joshua (Christian)
3. James Joshua (Christian)
4. Lucky Emmanuel (Christian)
5. Irmiya Yohana (Christian)
6. Adamu Dakkawa (Christian)
7. Yunana Idris (Christian)
8. Amsel Idris (Christian) Continue reading “Please pray for Nigerian Christians – Christians Targeted in Nigerian Student Massacre in Mubi” →