INSIGHT: Eritrea: Pray for change
The first meeting of the Eritrean Cabinet of Ministers got underway on the 14th December in Eritrea’s capital. In its agenda the meeting heard extensive briefings by President Isaias Afwerki assessing political, economic, social and diplomatic activities this year, as well as the envisaged national development programmes for 2011 and beyond. See: Analysts say the State of Eritrea is believed to be crumbling and it is doubtful that the Afewerki government will be able to sustain the unity and stability of the nation for much longer. Rumours within Eritrea say many are losing patience and may rise up against the authoritarian government. For insights into Eritrea’s Christian heritage, historical and political roots click the ‘Info’ button. Pray: for God to release Eritrea into her inheritance under His authority. (Ps.132:15)
Malaysia: ‘Faith Purification’ centres
A two-hour journey from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur revealed an isolated encampment where some Christian converts say they've been taken to be forced back to Islam. The Malaysian government calls the facilities ‘retreat centres’ where Muslims willingly go to strengthen their faith. However one Christian, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, ‘They force Christians to recite Islamic prayers and the Koran, to do all the things you're suppose to do as a Muslim. They're trying to force us to believe what we can't believe. These re-education centres come from the power of darkness.’ Another former Muslim said he lost his property, job, and family after officials learned he'd become a Christian. He's hiding from the government. Traditionally, Malays are Muslim. Five years ago, there were less than 200 Malay Christians in the country. Today, there are an estimated 1,000 or more. Christian Growth is being targeted. Pray: for the power of Christian evangelism to grow and be protected in Malaysia. (SS.4:16)
China: Christian cyber attack and house-church crackdown
ChinaAid has received information from more than one reliable source that 'Operation Deterrence' crackdowns are norrowly focussed on Christian churches and may be solely directed at China’s vibrant network of house churches and their members. Recent government actions against Christians have included official harassment of influential house church leaders and cyberattacks that brought down ChinaAid’s Chinese and English news websites. In recent years the Beijing regime had stepped back from its hostility toward and opposition to the house church movement; leading many Christians in China and overseas to believe that these unregistered congregations could win official sanction without having to join the government-run Three-Self Patriotic Movement, the only Protestant church officially allowed to function in China. Operation Deterrence harks back to the previous era of hostilities that for decades drove unknown hundreds of thousands of believers to worship in secret and fearing for their lives and freedom. Pray: China would see unity in all her churches and that house churches would be able to have a dialogue with the government. (Is.25:5) More: http://www.chinaaid.org/2010/12/china-launches-major-crackdown-on-house.html
Pakistan: Reward for killing Christian woman condemned
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, condemned the recent announcement of a reward for killing the jailed Christian woman, Asia Bibi, on death row for blasphemy.Maulana Yousuf Qureshi, a hard-line imam known for making reward-for-murder calls, offered $6,000 to anyone who kills Asia Bibi during his Friday sermon at the largest mosque in Peshawar. He said, ‘There are hundreds of thousands of people including mujahedin (warriors) and Taliban who are ready to sacrifice their lives for the honour of the Prophet Muhammad. Anyone of them could finish her.’ The high court has yet to set a date for Bibi’s appeals hearing. Pray: for God to place more of his shield around Bibi and her family. (Ps.71:1-2)
