Category Archives: Persecution

The Plight of Christians in the Middle East

Posted on November 14, 2008 by Michael| Leave a comment

Coptic Altar- Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem -via Wikipedia

I keep track of what is happening to Christians in the Middle east, it is really heartbreaking. I’ve been a supporter of Israel and still am, but let’s face it Palestinian Christians receive persecution from both the Jews and the Muslims. I have no answers for what’s happening except to pray.

Seven years ago, the Lord gave me a burden for the Muslims and for revival in the Middle East and I have been praying ever since. Everyday I search the net for stories about Christians in Muslim countries and unfortunately the reports are nearly always bad–except there is the beginning of a hidden revival going on among the Christian community in a number of places.

As near as we can tell, 200,000 Iranians have come to Christ in the last 5 years or so. Nearly every week I read from Compass Direct News or on the VOM Persecution blog of Iranians being arrested, killed, or their children being taken. In response to the revival, the Iranian Parliament just passed a law that would place an automatic death sentence on all who convert to Christianity.

There is also a revival going on in Algeria as near as we can tell, 50,000-70,000 have come to Christ in that country and persecution has increased to the point that they have made it illegal for Christians to gather together in private homes for prayer–it is only legal in an official church. Like the Chinese revival, the real expansion is going on in house churches and not in the recognized churches.

Egypt is another story. The Coptic Christian community comprises about 10% of the Egyptian population but persecution is increasing because the Muslims are becoming more radical, but also because more and more folks are coming to Christ regardless–usually in miraculous ways. It is illegal there for Muslims to convert to Christianity, but ok the other way around. If a father converts to Islam, all his children and grandchildren are considered to be Muslims whether they want to be or not!

Presently, churches are illegal in Saudi Arabia and it is also against the law to hold bible studies or worship services in the home, but that is the only place that the 1.5 million Christians in the country can meet together. If caught, Christians are thrown in jail after receiving lashes for their faith (just like the book of Acts). There is hope that soon some churches may be allowed in the country.

I could go on for ever about this subject—here are the two articles that got me going today:

Persecution Blog- "Christians Are Being Persecuted in Most Arab Countries"

Christianity Today-"Listening and Learning in the Middle East"

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Posted in Intercession, Islam, Persecution, Perseverance, Prayer, Revival

The International Day of Prayer

Posted on November 9, 2008 by Michael| Leave a comment

Sunday Nov. 9 is The International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the persecuted church. Please join hundreds of thousands of Christians all around the world praying for those who are being persecuted for their religious beliefs.

Here are some specific prayer requests from the VOM Persecution Blog:

Please pray:
The Lord will give courage to His people who are enduring persecution for His Name

The Lord will place His restraining hand on those who seek to harm His people
Churches facing government opposition will stand firm in their ministry

Christians will have opportunities to reach out with the Gospel without fear of intimidation or harassment

Servants of the Lord will be able to deliver Bibles and Christian literature to places where they are most needed

Christians who have been left without pastors and teachers may be kept strong in their faith

Christians who have been imprisoned for their faith will be released safely

The Lord will restrain the callousness and brutality of prison guards in their treatment of Christians in prison

Pray against the increasing problem of young Christian girls being kidnapped, raped and forced to marry

Those who have lost loved ones by martyrdom will be comforted and strengthened by God during their grief

Christian pastors will be kept from danger and strengthened in their faith as they care for the people of God

New converts may be protected and provided for should their family turn against them.

The current laws in many restricted nations forbidding evangelism, missionary activity and religious instruction, will be repealed

Response: The persecution of Christians has been on the increase this year. Remember particularly the 50,000 that had to leave their homes behind in Orissa, India and the thousands that recently fled Mosul, Iraq.

Also, remember the thousands of Christians who are continually subjected to persecution, discrimination and worse in Muslim dominated countries or regions around the world. (Cross-posted @ Answers For The Faith) *Top

Posted in Intercession, News Commentary, Persecution, Perseverance, Prayer

Revival: Perseverance and Blessing in China

Posted on October 18, 2008 by Michael| Leave a comment

Video: 29 min. 54 seconds

This is an incredible documentary about the Chinese church, a story of persecution, blessing, and perseverance–a story of true revival that cannot be stopped by a godless government. The church continues to expand against all odds at an incredible rate in spite of persecution.

This video gives a taste of what it is like to stand up for the faith in the midst of persecution. It is nearly 30 minutes long but it went by fast for me and gave me a perspective on the church in China that I will never forget.

During most of this documentary, Chinese worship and choir music is playing in the background–a real blessing. I really did experience the Holy Spirit in the midst of it! *Top

Posted in Persecution, Perseverance, Revival, Testimony

Iran: A Hidden Revival

Posted on August 18, 2008 by Michael| 7 Comments

In the West we recently experienced non-stop TV and Internet services coming from Lakeland, Florida. The participants unfortunately became celebrities over night. But there is an incredible revival going on completely hidden from view in one of the most anti-Christian despotic countries in the world–Iran.

I just read this article over the weekend in the June 2008 Charisma mag.: "A Martyr’s Cry" by Joel Kilpatrick. Wow!, it is a must read for those interested in true revival.

It is the story of Haik Hovsepian, the Iranian AG leader who was martyred for his faith. It is a story about a land that has made it illegal to convert from Islam, however, Christ has different plans for Iran and like China, the Gospel is spreading at a phenomenal rate in this country, totally hidden from view.

Right now Iran is experiencing one of the greatest revivals of modern times–due to supernatural phenomena such as dreams and visions. A few short years ago there were only a few thousand Christians in the country, now there are 200,000+!

According to Carl Moeller, president and chief executive officer of Open Doors USA:

“Iran remains one of the worst places in the world for a Christian to live out their faith, preceded only by North Korea and Saudi Arabia,”

“The abuse of Christians, literally, in the justice system is legendary. Christians do not have the same rights as the other Islamic citizens. They are routinely discriminated against, restricted, and in many cases when they seek to evangelize and disciple, church leaders are arrested, interrogated, tortured and even killed for their faith in Jesus Christ.

“However, the church there is growing incredibly. In Iran there is a revival that maybe is only rivaled by the Chinese revival [of recent years]. Honest, seeking Muslims are having dreams of Jesus Christ.

“Some are being approached by what we can only call angels in parks and being confronted with their personal sins and told they need to come to Jesus Christ. It’s a revival the likes of which we’ve rarely seen in the history of the church. It’s been Holy Spirit-driven through dreams and visions and the technology available to us in the 21st century.”

What an incredible turn of events and totally unprecedented in an Islamic country, praise God! I can’t tell you how encouraging this is to me at this time, thank you Lord. *Top

Posted in Angels, Healing, Islam, Persecution, Revival, Visions

Good Friday: Nigerian Christians Ask for Prayers Today

Posted on March 21, 2008 by Michael| Leave a comment

From J. Lee Grady, Fire in My Bones, Charisma Online, Wednesday 19, 2008:

An Urgent Cry From Nigeria’s Christians–Nigerian Christians have asked the world to pray for them on Good Friday as they face the growing threat of Muslim violence. A quote from the article by Grady:

"I am linking arms with my Nigerian brothers, and I ask you to do the same this Friday. When one part of Christ’s body is suffering, we all suffer. If the radical Islamic agenda succeeds in Nigeria—where African Christianity is most vibrant—Islam could swallow a continent. We desperately need intervention from God."

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Posted in Islam, Persecution, Prayer Request

Today (Nov.11): International Day of Prayer (IDOP)

Posted on November 11, 2007 by Michael| Leave a comment

Today, Nov. 11, 2007, marks the official ‘International Day of Prayer’. Millions of fellow Christians around the world will unite in prayer Sunday for our persecuted brothers and sisters suffering under intolerant governments.

This year, Christians are asked to concentrate their prayers on all the ‘Secret Believers’, those who live in Muslim countries and cultures, who have converted from Islam to Christianity. They are in particular need of our prayers since they face continual persecution and/or imprisonment and death.

here’s a link to the official IDOP website. See also: Secret Believer’s. org and Persecution.org

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Posted in Intercession, Persecution, Prayer, Prayer Request