Prayer Center Destroyed by Force, Church Leaders Threatened for Mission Conference
Cops Demolish Church
Judge Declines to Dismiss Charges Against Christian Street Preachers
I mentioned on the blog a few weeks back about the case of the "Dearborn 4" who are the Christian missionaries who were arrested at a Dearborn Arab Festival in June.
The latest on this case is that yesterday, the four missionaries went to court and the judge has decided that he is not going to dismiss the charges against the four Christians.
And what is amazing about this case is that the Dearborn 4 have video footage of exactly what happened, and yet they are going through this nonsense. The first amendment is really under attack in this case, and I would ask that you would keep our brothers and sister in your prayers as they deal with this right here in America.
The Christan Post has a story about what happened, and The Detroit News does too. You may also learn more about the case from the Christians themselves at the Acts 17 Blog.
Christian Convert in Bangladesh Falsely Accused of Theft
DHAKA, Bangladesh, August 27 (CDN) — A Christian convert from Islam was falsely arrested for cattle theft last weekend in a bid by influential Muslims to stop his Christian activities, area villagers said.
Day laborer Abul Hossen, 41, was arrested on Saturday (Aug. 21) for alleged cattle theft in Dubachari village in Nilphamari district, some 300 kilometers (180 miles) northwest of the capital, Dhaka.
Christian villagers told Compass that Hossen was the victim of “dirty tricks” by influential Muslims.
...
Hossen, who converted to Christianity from Islam in 2007, has been very active in the community, and Muslims are harassing him with the charge so his ministry will be discredited and villagers will denounce his faith, Roy said.“If he can be accused in the cattle theft case, he will be put in jail,” Roy said. “He will be a convicted man, and local people and the believers will treat him as a cattle thief. So people will not listen to a thief whatsoever.”
Some 150 villagers, about 20 percent of them Christian, went to the police station to plea for his freedom, he and other villagers said.
*** Please pray for Abul Hossen's protection and for favor for him and his family. Pray also for those who are persecuting him, that they may see the love of Christ in Abul and find His grace and mercy for their lives. Pray also for Abul's provision, that the Lord would provide him with all of his needs.
Please read more about this story at Compass Direct.
Murdered Church Planter’s Wife Continues Work
ETHIOPIA: MUSLIMS ATTACK CONVERT
On Aug. 21, Mohamed Ali Garas, a prominent Somali church leader and convert from Islam, was beaten by Muslims in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, according to International Christian Concern.
Mohamed was walking to his new home when two Somali Muslim men struck him on the head with a wooden club and knocked him to the ground. The men continued hitting and kicking him in the chest and stomach. Mohamed had fled to Ethiopia from Somalia in 2005 after Somali authorities attempted to arrest him. He had recently moved to a new neighborhood in Addis Ababa because Somali Muslims threatened to attack him. At last report, Mohamed was being treated at a local hospital for his injuries, which included a damaged kneecap.
In recent months, Somali Christians living in Ethiopia have come under increased attacks from Somali Muslims. A Christian man was assaulted in July for reading a book critical of the Prophet Muhammad. A Somali pastor in the Ethiopian capital described this latest attack as “an apparent attempt to scare the Somali Christian community in Addis Ababa who consider Ethiopia a safe haven from religious persecution.”
The Voice of the Martyrs encourages you to pray for Mohamed and all believers in Somalia, who risk their lives for their faith in Christ. Ask God to give Mohamed healing. Pray that his attackers will be brought to justice. Pray that he and other Somali believers facing persecution in Ethiopia will continue to trust in the Lord to guide and embolden them as they serve Him.
