Please pray for Christians in Bhutan – World Watch List #28 (Open Doors)

BHUTAN (Wikipedia) – World Watch List #28 (Open Doors UK)

Population: 750,000 (20,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Mahayana Buddhism
Government: Constitutional monarchy
Source of Persecution: Religious militancy/tribal antagonism

Despite its transition from absolute to constitutional monarchy, Buddhism continues to play a dominant role in Bhutan. The constitution promotes religious tolerance, but parliament is still considering an amendment to the penal code aimed at prohibiting ‘conversion by coercion or inducement’. Christians can generally meet in private homes without government interference, but the authorities restrict the construction of non-Buddhist places of worship and the celebration of some non-Buddhist festivals. Although reports of Christians being arrested or physically harmed are decreasing, believers still face harassment.

PLEASE PRAY:

The media portrays Christians negatively. Pray for positive change in society’s attitude to Christianity
The church lacks trained leaders. Pray for training opportunities for pastors and church workers
That the transition to a more democratic rule would bring genuine change for religious minorities.

[Local Bhutanese spinning the prayer wheels at a monastery in Bumthang during a mass noviciation ceremony, as seen on a Cox & Kings holiday (www.coxandkings.co.uk)]

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS

Bhutan was a Buddhist kingdom for centuries and even now, after introducing a constitutional monarchy and democracy, Buddhism plays a dominant role. The monarch is deemed to be the protector of all faiths in Bhutan, which includes Hindus and a small, albeit increasing, number of Christians. However, there is a lot of pressure on Christians from the local community, especially local administrators who deny meetings and put obstacles in the way of believers. Although the constitution of Bhutan promotes secularism and religious tolerance, it also labels Buddhism as the ‘spiritual heritage’ of the country.

The church in Bhutan is no longer an underground church and Christians are able to meet in private homes on Sundays, generally without interference from the authorities. Reports of Christians being arrested, physically harmed or otherwise badly treated remain on the decline but they still face harassment. The media has not helped the Christians’ case and Christianity is viewed as a religion that brings the sort of chaos and division in society that Bhutan shuns.

ANECDOTAL REPORT:

Karen*is a Christian teenager in Bhutan and has asked us to pray for her parents who are non-Christians. “My mom and dad are still orthodox Hindus,” she said. “Please continue praying for them.”

After finishing high school, Karen took a job at a beverage factory and moved out of her home town. She is staying at a cousin’s place at one of the border areas in southern Bhutan, where Hindu communities thrive. In her new surroundings, Karen’s newfound hope is tested.

“My uncle’s eldest son beat me when he discovered I was a Christian,” Karen says. “Please pray for him too; pray that he discovers the Lord Jesus Christ.” But Karen does not give up her faith. She continues attending the house church in her new village.

Karen’s steadiness in the faith has been evident also at work, and she was promoted as a result. “From the packaging section, I am now assigned to work at the counters. May God continue to grant me favor.”

Please continue to pray for Karen as she grows in her faith, despite the persecution that she faces.

*Karen’s real name and other details about her are withheld for her security. She is the only Christian in her family.

Please pray for Christians in Brunei – World Watch List #27

BRUNEI (Wikipedia) – World Watch List #27 (Open Doors, UK)

Population: 413,000 (41,300 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Constitutional Sultanate
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism /tribal antagonism

Contact with Christians in other countries, the import of Bibles and the public celebration of Christmas are all banned in this Islamic nation. The monarchy is seen as the defender of the faith and Islamic law has been fully implemented since 2011. There is a programme of Islamisation for natives. Muslim-background believers can face hostility from family and community. The government recognises only three Catholic and three Anglican churches; unregistered churches are considered ‘illegal sects’ and are monitored by government officials.

PLEASE PRAY:

The level of fear among Christians is very high. Pray for courage to stand firm in the faith
Christian bookshops are not allowed. Pray that believers and seekers will gain access to God’s Word
The Sultan has announced that from 2013, Islamic religious studies will become a compulsory subject in schools. Pray that children will have the opportunity to hear the gospel.

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS:

Brunei is an Islamic nation, based on an ideology called Malay Muslim Monarchy. Islam governs all aspects of life here. By decree, contact with Christians in other countries, the import of Bibles and the public celebration of Christmas are all banned. There is a programme of Islamisation for locals, and those entering a tribal village are monitored by government spies and police. Family, friends and neighbours can become sources of hostility for Muslim-background believers.

The church is not able to function freely and churches are ‘spied on’ by government officials. Providing theological training is difficult and Christian bookshops are not allowed. The level of fear among Christians is very high. There are six Christian schools but they face pressure to remove Bible studies from the curriculum. Recently, the Sultan announced that from 2013 Islamic religious studies will become a compulsory subject in schools. As long as the ruling monarch perceives himself as defender of the faith and the governing authorities execute his will, the Christian minority will be neglected and discriminated against.

MORE BACKGROUND:

The Sultan of Brunei, (also known as Hassanai Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah) has an estimated net worth of $20 billion. — The Sultan of Brunei, (also known as Hassanai Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah) has an estimated net worth of $20 billion.

Brunei Darussalam, what means “Brunei, house of peace”, is a very small country on the Island of Borneo, bordering the much larger Malaysia. It is a young country as well, as it became fully independent from British rule in 1984, though its constitution was agreed on in 1959. Due to large oil and gas findings dating back as far as 1924, it is among the wealthiest nations on earth. In terms of GDP per capita, it ranks fifth worldwide and reportedly is one of only two nations without public debts.

Though Brunei is an ethnically mixed society with a large Chinese minority, approximately 2/3 of the population is Malay. The legislative council meets once a year in a strict advisory capacity, which means that politics are done largely by the Sultan and by the addresses he gives. As head of religion, the Sultan is called to protect the official religion of the country, Islam. All adherents of other religions may practice their faiths in peace and harmony, according to the constitution, but the country discourages practicing other faiths, and promotes Islam in all spheres of life. The recent announcements of the Sultan point to a stricter conservatism, as he introduced obligatory Islamic religious studies for all schools.

Please pray for Christians in United Arab Emirates – World Watch List #26

Peanut Gallery: I’ve fallen behind Open Doors’ posting of their weekly World Watch List update. So the plan is to post an update on Monday and Thursday until I catch up (they are on wk 30). Of course, you can go directly to their USA (here) or UK (here) website any time for the latest information and much more.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (Wikipedia) – World Watch List #26 (Open Doors UK)

Population: 8.1 million (400,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Federation
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism

Around 80 per cent of the population here are expats. The constitution provides for some religious liberty, but the law denies Muslims the freedom to change religion. Muslim-background believers may be pressured to return to Islam, hide their faith or leave the country. Non-Muslim groups can worship freely in dedicated buildings or private homes, but the government restricts the development of worship facilities for foreign Christians. Open evangelism is prohibited, but Christians in the country have many opportunities for Muslim–Christian dialogue.

PLEASE PRAY:

There are very few local believers. Pray for opportunities to meet for fellowship
That Christians will make the most of every opportunity to share the gospel
For Open Doors partners providing support and training to expat Christians.

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS:

The United Arab Emirates is one of the most liberal countries in the Gulf. The constitution provides for religious freedom on the condition that established customs, public policy or public morals are not violated. Expats enjoy some freedom but also face restrictions, especially migrant workers from developing countries. Evangelism is prohibited, but non-Muslim groups can worship freely in dedicated buildings or private homes. However, the government places restrictions on the development of worship facilities for Christian migrants.

Muslim-background believers suffer the most persecution. All citizens are defined as Muslims and the law denies Muslims the freedom to change religion under penalty of death. To avoid death, social stigma or other penalties, converts may be pressured to return to Islam, to hide their faith or to travel to another country where their conversion is allowed.

Though the Arab Spring did not have much effect in the United Arab Emirates, the latest developments in the Middle East have led the local people to question what good leadership is.

TOP TEN THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE UAE (what life is like for Christians)

Around 80 percent of the population here are expats
The constitution provides for some religious liberty, but the law denies Muslims the freedom to change religion.
Muslim Background Believers may be pressured to return to Islam, hide their faith or leave the country.
Non-Muslim groups can worship freely in dedicated buildings or private homes, but the government restricts the development of worship facilities for foreign Christians.
Open evangelism is prohibited, but Christians in the country have many opportunities for MuslimChristian dialogue.
Though there are some expat Christians, there are very few indigenous believers.
The constitution and laws are fairly new, as the UAE gained its independence in 1971.
The UAE is often seen as one of the most Westernized and liberal countries in the Middle East, but there are still a great number of restrictions for religious minorities.
Since 2006, the standard weekend has been Friday and Saturday. This was established as a compromise between the Muslim holy day (Friday) and the Western weekend (Saturday and Sunday)
Emirati typically wear a kandura, which is an ankle-length white tunic. Many Emirati women wear an abaya, which is a black over-garment, covering most parts of their body

Urgent request to pray for Christians in Egypt

Supporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi chant slogans against the military near Cairo University in Giza, Egypt, Monday, July 8, 2013. Photograpehr: Manu Brabo/AP Photo — Supporters of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi chant slogans against the military near Cairo University in Giza, Egypt, Monday, July 8, 2013. Photograpehr: Manu Brabo/AP Photo

Peanut Gallery: The news out of Egypt is not good. Millions of Egyptians took to the streets demanding that Islamist President Morsi step down. He didn’t… and the Egyptian Army stepped in. Egyptian Christians have generally (although not officially) aligned themselves with the anti-Morsi forces.

But Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood are not finished yet. They have called for a counter-revolution and have taken to the streets. The result has been further chaos with shootings, military arrests and crackdown, accusations, and counter-accusations. A Coptic priest was killed by Islamists in Northern Sinai. Only God knows how it will end.

No matter who wins this current struggle for power, Egypt is a failed state and Coptic Christians live in great peril.

Egyptians civil servants are waiting in line for hours in front of these subsidized bakeries. Fights break out often, says a reporter from NPR covering the story this morning. Prices at unregulated bakers run around 8 cents per loaf… eight times the cost of the price at the government-supported stands.

Egypt cannot feed its own people, cannot supply adequate fuel, cannot borrow money (virtually bankrupt), cannot employ its teeming masses, and Egyptian tourism has shrunk to nothing. The vast majority of people live in abject poverty. There is no quick fix and no one seems to have a long range economic plan.

Coptic Christians have been brutalized under the Morsi regime – either by design or neglect. Pope Tawadros II has criticized the regime’s treatment of Christians without much success, i.e. until the current overthrow of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. Now Christians are aligned with the anti-Morsi forces and they will be easy targets for Islamist revenge. As mentioned a Coptic priest ( Mina Aboud Sharweem) has already been killed in a sectarian murder.

But Egypt’s problems go way beyond socio-economic and sectarian analysis.

Gang-rape of Egyptian woman in Tahrir Square

Egypt have serious, wide-spread misogyny problems. It’s not about veils or coverings – it’s about wide-spread gang rape in public spaces, the widespread practice of female genital mutilation at puberty, the kidnapping of young Christian girls by Islamists with forced marriages to older men, the practice of marriage to pre-pubescent girls as young as 8 or 9. There is something fundamentally wrong with a society that treats women (created in the image of God) like that.

Below, please find an earlier post from Open Doors UK requesting urgent prayer. That was a week ago and the situation has changed dramatically for the worse. Christians in Egypt desperately need our prayer. One Coptic brother in Christ write:

Psalm 33 has been one of the very encouraging words and promises for us as a church and we read it publicly many times, especially verses 9-11, ‘For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations’.

“We ask you to join us in praying that His name would be known and glorified in Egypt (Isaiah 19:21).”

_______________________________________

OUT OF EGYPT – Open Doors UK / 2 July 2013

With millions on the streets in Cairo, celebrating the army’s 48 hour ultimatum, Christians have been gathering night after night to pray for peace.

Army ultimatum

An Egyptian Christian brother in Cairo told us, “Last night (July 1), millions rejoiced and shouted in streets and squares until early morning today, celebrating the clear pronouncement directed to President Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood ruling party, that the army has again decided to take the side of the people rather than the rulers.”

President Morsi, however, has said the 48 hour army ultimatum ‘may cause confusion’ and vows to stick to his own plans to resolve the political crisis.

10 days of prayer for Egypt

Meanwhile, in a large church in the centre of Cairo, Christians have just concluded 10 days of prayer for Egypt. One church member told us:

“Around 800-1000 gathered every night from 7.00-9.00pm to cry out on behalf of our nation. We prayed mainly for the protection and peace of Egypt. We also prayed for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit and for a revival and great harvest in Egypt. Psalm 33 has been one of the very encouraging words and promises for us as a church and we read it publicly many times, especially verses 9-11, ‘For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations’.

“We ask you to join us in praying that His name would be known and glorified in Egypt (Isaiah 19:21).”

Source: Open Doors; BBC

Urgent call for prayer: Christians in Egypt – World Watch List #25

EGYPT (Wikipedia) – World Watch List#25 (Open Doors UK)
Leader: President Mohammed Morsi
Population: 82.84 million (10 million Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Republic
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism

The 2011 revolution that ousted President Mubarak initially brought Muslims and Christians together, but improved relations were short-lived. The Muslim Brotherhood won parliamentary elections in November 2011 and a new Islamist-backed constitution was signed into law in December 2012. Support for both the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi Islam is growing. The government has been unable to impose necessary law and order, to the detriment of the protection of Christians. Persecution is on the rise and massive emigration of Christians is a concern. But the church continues to grow.

AN URGENT CALL FOR PRAYER
+ For Muslims and Christians, that no lives would be lost
+ For the witness of Christians to remain a clear light in the middle of such darkness
+ For divine love to fill the hearts of Christians for their persecutors and for the joy of the Lord to be their strength in these coming tough days.
+ For an end to violent unrest and for true freedom and democracy to be established
+ That the new Coptic Pope, Tawadros II, will continue to unite the denominations in Egypt so that the church is united in sharing the gospel

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS:

In response to the call for nationwide protests against President Morsi, planned to take place at the end of June, Egyptian Christians are making an impassioned plea for worldwide prayer.

“We, Christians of Egypt, who love our country and seek God’s redemption for every soul, are urging our dear brothers and sisters in the extended body of Christ all over the world, to lift our country up before the throne and to create together a shield of prayers to stand against the great evil that is threatening to fall on Egypt in the coming few days.

Nationwide protests

“In response to the call for nationwide protests against President Morsi, planned to take place on 30 June, multitudes of Egyptians are planning to go down to the streets in every city, town or village, one year after Morsi had sworn the oath into office on 30 June 2012.

“The opposition movement has managed, through an army of volunteers, to collect 15 million signed forms of Egyptians who proclaim their rebellion against, and rejection of, President Morsi and his regime, calling for early presidential elections.

“In return, the Muslim Brotherhood Party and its supporters have also claimed to have been collecting millions of signatures to support President Morsi. They have also called their followers to fill all major squares of Egypt on the 28June.

“Please stay by our side”

“No one in Egypt today speaks about anything but the expected scenarios of the very likely confrontation between the two sides of the split nation. There is a gloomy spirit of anticipating that the worst is most likely going to happen. Please stay by our side and join us in prayer.”

BACKGROUND:

Egypt is home to around 10 million Christians but Islam is the state religion and the population is predominantly Muslim. Massive emigration is a concern and persecution is on the rise. The country made headlines in October 2011 with the Maspero massacre in which 26 Coptic Christians were killed.

The Muslim Brotherhood won the parliamentary elections on 25 November 2011 and is now in control of the country’s legislative and executive power, making Islam more visible. No political answers have been given to the problems of poverty and unemployment faced by the country so the people seek refuge in religion and are vulnerable to radical expressions of Islam. Support for both the Muslim Brotherhood and strict Salafi Islam is growing. However, the church is also growing slowly.

Egypt’s future will largely be determined by politics. A new constitution could drastically reshape the country. However, a scenario in which the church is confined to a situation of dhimmitude is more likely in light of recent developments.

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