Remember Ambassadors

Lately, persecution news has focused in on Orissa, India, where violence is ongoing and intense.  Let’s not forget to continue to pray for those Christians - but at the same time, let’s not forget that there are so many other places where persecution is brutal reality.

The latest hotspot is the Iraqi city of Mosul (the modern-day location of ancient Ninevah).  If you have followed Remember’s work, you know that persecution in Iraq has been growing since in recent years (Background Briefing).  The toppling of the main dictator, Saddam Hussein, increased the power to local warlord dictators, many of whom hate Christianity.  The persecution is widespread throughout the country, causing the vast majority of Iraq’s Christians to flee the country for their own safety.  These are the Christians that we ministered to on our recent trip to Jordan.

But those Christians that remain are under constant threat of violence.  That violence recently broke out in Mosul in a terrifying way.  ANS is reporting that over 3,000 Christians have been forced to flee their homes in the last week alone.

Armed Islamic terrorists are walking in the streets and asking pedestrians for his or her identification card. The religion of the owner is written on every ID card, either Muslim or Christian. When “Christian” is read by the terrorists, the owner of the card is sometimes murdered on the spot with a bullet through the head.

These Christians need our prayers.

For More Information–

Islamic Fundamentalists: “Expel the Christians from Mosul”

Christians Targets in Iraq

Praise the Lord, Remember’s second annual fundraising was a success!  A lot of people put a lot of work into every little detail of the evening, but the Lord was glorified, and the persecuted church was blessed both by the donations and the increased awareness and prayer support generated that evening.

How true it is that our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ are not forsaken - they have the passion and prayer of these people, and so many more, working on their behalf.

Most of the presentation was in video form, so stay tuned for links to those videos!

Remember Board Chairman Curtis Bostic shared about his trip to China.

Remember Board member Tim Bunn shared his eyewitness account of persecution’s aftermath in Orissa, India.

Remember Board member Rick Jackson shared Remember’s ongoing vision and plan to minister in Sudan.

It was two weeks ago when massive violence broke out in India’s Orissa state, as Hindu ultra-fundamentalists falsely accused Christians of killing a Hindu leader and began assaulting churches and believers.  The immediate violence was unimaginable, as dozens were killed, many more subjected to torture and abuse, and churches and homes razed.

Such coordinated violence has long-term consequences which will be felt for years to come.  It will take a long time to restore peace, not to mention families rebuilding lives that have been devastated.

But before any rebuilding can occur, the violence must die down, and even now - two weeks later - the violence continues.  AsiaNews is reporting that it is even continuing in the refugee camps!  In fact, the persecutors are getting even more devious in their destruction, making sure that they only destroy a family’s possessions, not their house…because the Indian government is going to reimburse all those that lose their homes.

This violence is just one outbreak, a tragic symptom of the underlying religious hatred that constantly plagues India.  Continue to pray for Orissa Christians!

Today “Generations with Vision” radio host Kevin Swanson was gracious enough to feature me and the work of Remember on his program.  The program covers some of the most recent stories of persecution, in Orissa, India, and across the world, and highlights Remember’s growing work - and it lays out a few suggestions for how we, as churches, families, and individuals, can fulfill our call to “remember them that are in bonds.”

Click here to listen!

Preparing for our upcoming banquet is taking about all of my time these days, so I haven’t had much time to update here. But I wanted to make sure to put out a reminder to pray for Orissa, India.

You can read the background of this prayer request in today’s Weekly Reminder. The violence started about two days ago, and has continued; pray for these Christians!

For more information–

Deaths Mount as Violence Spreads in Orissa

Carnage Continues in Orissa: Reports of 150 Houses and 20 Churches Destroyed

Aftermath of Swami’s Killing: The Christian Victims List

It has been a while since we did a World Update, but lots has been happening - please be sure to keep these stories in your prayers!

Bangladesh: Christians Flee After Attack on House Church

Bhutan: Missionary Asked to Renounce Christ

China: Christian Book Store Owner’s Condition Deteriorating in Prison

Shia Weihan was arrested four months ago for selling unapproved Christian books, and his condition continues to get worse as he languishes in prison.

Ethiopia: Muslim Mob Attacks Christians

Extremist Islam is growing in Ethiopia, sparking increasing violence. Ethiopia is not unique in this regard; the Muslim presence throughout northern Africa is causing problems in many countries. Pray for northern Africa!

India: Missionaries, Bible College Students Beaten, Tortured and Jailed

Iran: Christian Couple Dies from Police Attack

Last week, Iranian secret police raided a house church service, brutally beating, arresting, and interrogating many. This is the latest update from this tragedy.

Saudi Arabia: Plans to Deport 15 Christians

The crime committed by these believers was that they held a church service. The were arrested, had possessions confiscated, were mocked and interrogated - and now that they have been released, they face deportation.