[__ Prayer __] persecuted church

[totallylovedbygod65]

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REPORT UPDATES​

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INDIA: Christian Couple Released on Bail​

Sources: Catholic Connect, Church in Chains​

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A church in India.
Photo: Flickr / Nevil Zaver (cc)​

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In a Persecution & Prayer Alert report published earlier this month, it was revealed that a pastor and his wife in India had been convicted of allegedly attempting to convert Dalit villagers within their community. Pastor Jose Pappachan and his wife Sheeja were both fined and sentenced to five years in prison (see our previous report).
Following a rapid decision by the Allahabad High Court, the ministering couple has since been released on bail. After the bail documents were presented to the court on January 31st, the Christians' hearing took place on February 5th. Sheeja was released later that same day, while Pastor Jose's release occurred the next day. It was reported that, throughout the ordeal, the Christian couple remained strong in their faith. Pastor Jose was able to proclaim, "Don't worry, God is with me."
Shibu Thomas, who serves as the founder of the Indian organization, Persecution Relief, expressed his gratitude for the swift legal proceedings. The Christian leader believes that prayer played a key role in the court's decision to grant bail. While hoping for an acquittal, he stated that the couple's lawyers intend to continue the legal battle to exonerate Pastor Jose and Sheeja.

• Praise God for the recent release of these faithful Christian ministers of the Gospel!
• Pray that all charges against Pastor Jose and Sheeja will be dropped, and that this missionary couple will be free to carry on their ministry activities without further interference.
• Pray that Christians will continue to serve as vibrant testimonies throughout India, helping to meet the physical, mental and spiritual needs of those within their communities so that multitudes more will come to saving faith in Christ.

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CHINA: Imprisoned for Distributing Christian Literature​

Sources: International Christian Concern, Bitter Winter​

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On January 17th, five Chinese Christians who had been charged with "illegal business operations" were convicted and sentenced to prison. Pastor Deng Yanxiang received a sentence of two years' imprisonment, while the other four believers were given sentences ranging from 14 to 17 months.
All five of these followers of Jesus had been distributing Christian literature, charging a small fee to cover costs. As a result, the believers were accused of running an illegal business. In China, this is one of several charges commonly used against those belonging to unregistered house churches.
Because Pastor Deng has already served 18 months in prison on these charges, the Christian leader is scheduled to be released in May of this year. Details on the release of the other detained believers are not immediately available. To read a previously published report on the situation facing these imprisoned church members, go to this page.

• Ask the Lord to strengthen, encourage and meet the daily needs of Pastor Deng and the many other believers who are currently being imprisoned for their Christian faith and practices in China.
• In spite of ongoing opposition from the authorities, pray that our Christian brothers and sisters will continue to faithfully reach out to those around them with the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit will convict the nation's Communist officials, stirring their hearts to the point of repentance and leading them to surrender their lives to Christ.

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PAKISTAN: Acquittal for Christian Brothers​

Sources: Morning Star News, Catholic Vote, The Christian Post​

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A village fair in Pakistan.
Photo: Wikimedia / Sarwanmemon.muet (cc)
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Twin brothers Sahil and Raheel (also spelled "Rahil") Shahid were arrested in August 2024 and charged with blasphemy. The young Christian men were accused of throwing scraps of paper containing Quranic verses from an amusement park ride. For more details on the original incident, go to this page.
On January 25th, court officials ruled that there was insufficient evidence to convict the 18-year-old Christians, and that police had failed to properly investigate the charges. As a result, the judge overseeing the case ordered that the brothers be acquitted and released from prison. The judge also launched an official inquiry into the investigating officer. The defence lawyer believes that the fabricated accusations could be part of an attempt to seize the property of the believers.
False accusations of blasphemy in Pakistan are frequently driven by self-seeking personal and financial motives. Further information on the various challenges being encountered by Christians in Pakistan is available at our country report.

• We can give thanks to God for this recent court decision which has resulted in the long-awaited freedom of these young Christian brothers.
• Pray that there will not be any resulting backlash perpetrated against these young men nor the members of their families; rather may they experience the Lord's divine protection, wisdom and peace as they deal with the aftermath of the accusations.
• Continue to pray for the many other followers of Jesus who are similarly facing false accusations in Pakistan, asking that the harmful blasphemy laws would be repealed or amended to recognize the constitutional rights of citizens belonging to the country's vulnerable minority groups.

 

[miamited]

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you are persecuted for my name's sake. I rather think that Jesus wants us to rejoice in our persecution that comes by being faithful to witness for him. I could be wrong.

 

[Who Me]

. I could be wrong

James talks about those who say to hungry, cold Christian, go I wish you warm and well fed. But who do nothing, that there greeting is useless.

0lease tell us about your churches persecuted church prayer meetings.

 

[miamited]

James talks about those who say to hungry, cold Christian, go I wish you warm and well fed. But who do nothing, that there greeting is useless.

0lease tell us about your churches persecuted church prayer meetings.

What? You want me to recite the prayers we have ever offered up in our congregation for people around the world who may be suffering persecution? And I'm not advocating that we do nothing about it. I'm just saying that for those who are suffering some persecution for the testimony of Jesus, that Jesus tells them to count it all joy. Yes, absolutely we should pray for believers all over the world. We should pray that God watches over them and protects them in their hour of need. That He provides comfort for them as they suffer for the sake of His Son.

But, when Paul was in prison do we have an account that some group of believers went and stormed the jail and railed against the governing authorities that had put him there? Is there a testimony that you've found in the Scriptures that when these same persecutions came upon the first century believers that they encouraged some ground swell of some civil disobedience to address the matter?

I think that James was addressing our willingness to go and minister and help for the needs of the believer, not to go out and become some group to go against the governing authorities. If your brother is hungry and in prison, you should try to get food to him. You should pray for him. You should bring clothing and comfort to him. I've read the Scriptures, especially the new covenant Scriptures, and I find no evidence that there was ever a call among the body of the early believers to become some force of civil disobedience against the wickedness of the world. The Scriptures merely call us, as an individual person, to live a life that is not like the life that they live. That I and you as individuals should work to address the needs of those who are hurting and hungry by ministering to them, also individually, to help alleviate their suffering. But not by some raising up a of some rebel group to attack the powers that be, but to merely comfort the one who is suffering.

I'm sorry but I'm not really in agreement with this militant christianity and I don't find that the Scriptures are either.

 

[Who Me]

What? You want me to recite the prayers we have ever offered up in our congregation for people around the world who may be suffering persecution? And I'm not advocating that we do nothing about it. I'm just saying that for those who are suffering some persecution for the testimony of Jesus, that Jesus tells them to count it all joy. Yes, absolutely we should pray for believers all over the world. We should pray that God watches over them and protects them in their hour of need. That He provides comfort for them as they suffer for the sake of His Son.

But, when Paul was in prison do we have an account that some group of believers went and stormed the jail and railed against the governing authorities that had put him there? Is there a testimony that you've found in the Scriptures that when these same persecutions came upon the first century believers that they encouraged some ground swell of some civil disobedience to address the matter?

I think that James was addressing our willingness to go and minister and help for the needs of the believer, not to go out and become some group to go against the governing authorities. If your brother is hungry and in prison, you should try to get food to him. You should pray for him. You should bring clothing and comfort to him. I've read the Scriptures, especially the new covenant Scriptures, and I find no evidence that there was ever a call among the body of the early believers to become some force of civil disobedience against the wickedness of the world. The Scriptures merely call us, as an individual person, to live a life that is not like the life that they live. That I and you as individuals should work to address the needs of those who are hurting and hungry by ministering to them, also individually, to help alleviate their suffering. But not by some raising up a of some rebel group to attack the powers that be, but to merely comfort the one who is suffering.

I'm sorry but I'm not really in agreement with this militant christianity and I don't find that the Scriptures are either.

Good you are not some tweets quoter of scripture thinking it looks good, but are actually doing something.

 

[miamited]

Well, as a congregational body, it's rare that we have serious prayer for those persecuted for the name of Jesus around the world. As an individual, yes, I have said prayers for those suffering for the name of Jesus. I'm sure I could be more diligent at it, as, I imagine, we all could be. As a congregational body the fellowship where I worship and praise God and His word supports missionaries through the Lottie Moon offering and our small group sends money to a small church in Romania and we often pray for their needs. We could likely all use some good instruction and develop a stronger devotion to prayer for most everything that we ask of our Father.

But we need to understand, as believers, that persecution is promised us if we're living the right life for Jesus. And Jesus has told us to count that time as joyful for having been found worthy to suffer for his name's sake. So, for me and my understanding of what God asks of His children, these posts about various believers around the world that are being persecuted should be received with joy and gladness that the gospel of salvation is still being proclaimed around the world and people are being found faithful in the day of their persecution to remain faithful to Him who lives forever, Amen. Hopefully in these times of their persecution they are more like Paul while he was imprisoned. Singing songs of praise and gladness and even among those also suffering with them and those who are holding them imprisoned, to take every opportunity to tell them about what Jesus has done for us. That, I believe, is the ideal that the Scriptures show us we should be seeking for those who are being persecuted for his name's sake.

 

[miamited]

And, according to Keith's OP, that's exactly what he is asking of us. To pray for these who are being persecuted in the various places around the world. I fully support that.

 

[Who Me]

Makes 2 of us.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I’ve been better about praying for persecuted believers lately. I think Christian’s who can do something about the situation should in addition to praying.