The Voice of the Martyrs

China ​ — Police Raid Baptismal Service​ ​Source: China Aid Association​ Psalm 66:3–5 Seventeen Chinese believers were temporarily detained and questioned earlier this month after local officials and police raided a baptismal service at the Bajaihu house church in Niuchang, in western China. More than 20 Christians were celebrating a baptism on the morning of June 7, when police officers raided their service. Officials from the domestic security department held 17 of the Christians for questioning until 7 p.m. The leader of the house church, Wang Lili, was not present during the raid, but officials confiscated her purse, which contained her government ID, her keys, and more than $565. Wang asked police for her purse the next day, but they refused to return it to her. And police required the husband of one detainee to sign a guarantee that his wife would not attend the house church services again. This caused the man, who is not a Christian, to become very angry with his wife. Pray for this woman and the other house church members. Pray that Christians in China will be able to worship as openly as they wish. Israel ​ — Update: Bomber's Lawyers Request Plea Bargain ​ ​Source: VOM Contacts​ Ecclesiastes 8:11–13 Attorneys for Jewish extremist Jack Teitel have proposed a plea agreement wherein Teitel would plead guilty to amended charges that do not include reference to hate crimes, according to recent Israeli news reports. If convicted under the amended charges, Teitel could be sent to a psychiatric facility rather than prison. Teitel has been charged with—and on multiple occasions has admitted to—bombing the home of well-known Messianic pastor David Ortiz, among other crimes. Teitel's motivation for the bombing was thought to be ridding Israel of those with beliefs different from his own. It took the courts more than two years to determine that Teitel was mentally fit to stand trial. Pastor Ortiz's son, Ami, was severely injured in the bombing but has made a significant recovery. The Ortiz family has requested prayer for the trial proceedings, that the judge would give appropriate sentences for each of Teitel's crimes. "We have trained ourselves not to lose hope," wrote Pastor Ortiz's wife, Leah. "His Word comforts, supports, guides and gives hope, and his spirit enfolds us in his love." Egypt ​ — Christians Face Uncertain Future Under New President ​ ​Source: VOM Contacts​ Psalm 27:1–3 The fears of Egyptian Christians were realized on Sunday when Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi was declared the winner of the presidential election. "I have not slept in three days to follow the results of the election," wrote Aasim, our VOM worker in Egypt. "He is the worst man to control the country for us as Christians." Just hours after the polls closed, the military leadership council issued a constitutional declaration limiting the powers of Egypt's future president. In a previous move to retain control, two weeks ago the council dissolved the parliament, which was dominated by members of the Muslim Brotherhood party. Pledging to be a president for all Egyptians, Morsi has resigned from the Muslim Brotherhood and has promised to include Christians in his government. But Christians remain wary. "We trust that God is also in control and maybe he wants to revive the church in Egypt," said Aasim. "We are waiting for the Lord." ​Vietnam​​ — ​​VOM Project​ Pray for those involved in a project to purchase and distribute digital media players equipped with audio Bibles, Christian movies and Christian audio books. The media players will be given to rural and tribal pastors. ************* * Printer-Friendly Format: http://newsletter.persecution.com/email/PrinterPrayers3.html * Add the PrisonerAlert application on Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/ * Download the iOS prayer application on the iTunes Store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8 * Download the Android prayer application on the Android Marketplace: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar * Download the iOS photo issue application on the iTunes Store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photo-issue/id489682072?mt=8 * Download the Android photo issue application on the Android Marketplace: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.csnmedia.android.vom * Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for ​Living Sacrifice Book Company​. Persecution.com The Voice of the Martyrs - Persecution.com - A Global Perspective on the Persecution of God's Children…

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​ Syria —War Brings Additional Trials for Syrian Believers​ ​Source: VOM Contacts​ Matthew 6:10 Christians in Syria who share their faith have always faced danger, but the escalating civil war is making evangelistic efforts even more dangerous. Several evangelists who work with VOM have lost family members. "In some cases, people were killed because of their Christian identity," said VOM's program officer for the region. "We are checking into how we can be of assistance to those who have been injured for their faith, including one whose face was mutilated as a warning to other Christians." The war has also displaced many Christians. As Christians flee the fighting and leave their houses behind, Muslims and members of the rebel groups take possession of them. In addition, one church was closed by the government in recent months, and other churches remain under threat of closure. Pray for peace and the protection of Syrian believers. ​ Azerbaijan —Police Question Children During Church Raid​ ​Source: Forum 18 News, VOM Contacts​ 2 Timothy 1:7–12 Police raided a church in Azerbaijan recently and questioned about 50 children who were attending. Police searched the church for foreigners and, after finding none present, began questioning about 50 children to make sure they had permission from both parents to be there. At least one church member was fined without being tried in court. Although police have denied that the raid occurred, at least 20 police officers and the local head of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations reportedly participated in the church raid. Please pray that our Christian brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan will rely on the spirit of power through Christ and will be bold and loving despite government oppression. ​Sudan​ ​—Officials Close Christian Offices in South Darfur​ ​Sources: Compass Direct News, VOM Contacts​ Revelation 2:10 Authorities in South Darfur have closed the offices of Sudan Aid and the Sudan Council of Churches (SCC), ordering staff off the property and arresting three employees of Sudan Aid. Agents from the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) arrived at the organizations' offices in Nyala on the morning of April 22. They demanded that SCC staff hand over keys to the buildings and vehicles and ordered all staff members to leave. NISS agents also closed down a church clinic that was serving the needy in the area. The day after the offices were closed, staff members returned to find more than a dozen armed security personnel cordoning off the compound. The security agents told staff the offices were closed and they should go home. Two days after the closures, Sudan's federal Humanitarian Aid Commission froze the bank accounts of the SCC in Nyala. Please pray for the protection of believers in South Darfur. ​​ ​Central Asia​ ​VOM Project​ Pray for the secret printing of a new Bible translation in Central Asia. Pray for those involved in distribution, and pray that the new Bibles will replenish those confiscated by authorities. ************* Printer-Friendly Format: http://newsletter.persecution.com/email/PrinterPrayers2.html Add the PrisonerAlert application on Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/ Download the iOS prayer application on the iTunes Store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8 Download the Android prayer application on the Android Marketplace: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar Download the iOS photo issue application on the iTunes Store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photo-issue/id489682072?mt=8 Download the Android photo issue application on the Android Marketplace: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.csnmedia.android.vom Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for ​Living Sacrifice Book Company​.

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