Belarus: Raids, threats, warnings for religious meetings
Religious communities in various parts of Belarus have faced visits, threats and warnings for holding meetings of worship which officials regard as illegal. On one Sunday in January, officials visited three Pentecostal services in separate villages. Pastor Vasili Raptsevich – who led worship in a church-owned house in a village in Brest Region for about ten disabled church members - was summoned to the police station. There he was told that he had violated the law by conducting a religious service away from its legal address without permission. Police threatened him with court proceedings and threatened to strip his Pentecostal church of state registration. In February, police in the capital Minsk - among them masked riot police - launched a mass raid on a cultural meeting being held in a Pentecostal pastor's home. 34 participants were taken to a police station, but were released two hours later without any explanation and without any official record being drawn up.
Pray: that God’s Church will be protected from persecution. (Ro.8:35)
Egypt: Christians ask for prayer
Following a rumour that a Christian man in the village of Kobry-el-Sharbat had illicit photographs and a video clip of a Muslim lady a Muslim mob burnt several Christian-owned homes and businesses. On 1st February a ‘village tribunal’ of Muslim leaders issued a decree ordering eight Christian families to leave and their property be sold. If this decree was not complied with then all 62 Christian families living in the village would be forcibly expelled. The National Assembly ruled the decree was illegal, the eight families' property should be restored to them, the government should pay compensation for all damaged property, and the police should endeavour to identify and prosecute those responsible for violent attacks. The Christians request our prayers for- the commission's ruling to be effectively and promptly implemented, for all Christian families to be allowed to return and for true reconciliation amongst all villagers.
Pray: that the commission's ruling will set a precedent that ends impunity for sectarian violence against Christians and other religious minorities. (Pr.11:1)
Iran: Nuclear update
NY Times report: ‘As tension grew in its nuclear dispute with the West, Iran warned it would take pre-emptive action against perceived foes if it felt its national interests were threatened. Without mentioning Israel directly, Mohammed Hejazi, the deputy Armed Forces head said, ‘Our strategy now is that if we feel our enemies want to endanger Iran's national interests, and want to decide to do that, we will act without waiting for their actions.' Reuters reported. ‘Divisions in Iran's leadership make it difficult to interpret the government's intentions, but the statement showed a new level of aggressiveness in Iran's rhetoric.’ A two-day visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency team is the second in less than a month amid growing concerns over alleged Iranian weapons experiments. Two Iranian warships docked in the Syrian port of Tartus on Monday as a senior Iranian lawmaker denounced American calls for arming the Syrian opposition.
Pray: that God in His mercy will reign over Iranian leaders and scientists. (Ps.35:17-18)
More: http://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/news/eye-iran-iran-warns-pre-emptive-action-nuclear-dispute
Iran: Christian updates
On February 10th Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence ordered the Emmanuel Protestant Church and St Peter’s Evangelical Church (the last two officially registered churches holding Friday Farsi-language services in Tehran) to discontinue worship. Friday services in Tehran attracted the city’s converts to Christianity as well as Muslims interested in Christianity as Friday is most Iranians’ day off during the week. Authorities told the churches they can hold the services on Sunday, a working day when most Iranians are not able to attend. For full story see: http://www.christianpost.com/news/churches-forced-to-stop-farsi-worship-in-tehran-iran-69827/ Meanwhile the health of a jailed pastor of one of Iran's largest evangelical house church movements is deteriorating and there were fears Monday he may die. Behnam Irani was jailed for what critics view as ‘trumped up’ charges of ‘crimes against the Islamic state’ and is experiencing intestinal disorder. His family is very concerned because his brother died from intestinal cancer.
Pray: that God will supernaturally intervene to thwart strategies against Christian worship and outreach. (Ps.35:22-24)
More: http://www.worthynews.com/11273-jailed-iranian-pastors-health-deteriorating
