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Persecution in Burkina Faso

November 24, 2009 in Persecution with 0 Comments

I want to challenge you to read this blog post by Keith Shumaker. He serves as a church planting missionary in Burkina Faso. God is really using him. Sometimes you may take for granted how good God has been to you or your freedom. Click here to read about the Persecution in Burkina Faso.

Early response to persecution

November 23, 2009 in Persecution with 0 Comments

Today we fear persecution. The early church responded very differently. They stated that the cruelties only served as a lure to the sect. Under persecution they filled the cities and country with new believers. God give us the courage to step forward and face what ever the devil may hurl at us with boldness and courage.

“All of your ingenious cruelties can accomplish nothing; they are only a lure to this sect. Our number increases the more you destroy us. The blood of the Christians is their seed.” The moral earnestness of the Christians contrasted powerfully with the prevailing corruption of the age, and while it repelled the frivolous and voluptuous, it could not fail to impress most strongly the deepest and noblest minds. This progress extended to every part of the empire. “We are a people of yesterday,” says Tertullian, “and yet we have filled every place belonging to you cities, islands, castles, towns, assemblies, your very camp, your tribes, companies, palace, senate, forum. We leave you your temples only. You can count your armies our number in a single province will be greater.”

From
A History of the Baptists
By John T. Christian, A.M. D.D. L.L.D

page 24

Update on urgent prayer request

October 18, 2009 in Ministry, Persecution with 0 Comments

Here is what I posted earlier. You will want to read it.

I got word from our missionary. All went well and the teacher did not show up today. He thanks you for your prayers and asks that you continue to pray for next Sunday.

The following was a quick email sent to our team of guys

hey guys
thanks for your prayers
it seems like everything is okay for now
the teacher that we’re worried about didn’t come tonight
we just went ahead with the service and nothing happened
major praise – thanks so much for being with us in prayer
if I could ask you to do the same next weekend as well I would be very grateful
if nothing happens these two weeks, then hopefully this storm will be past
thanks again

I thank you for praying. We literally had dozens and dozens praying and I thank you.

Another pastor brutally attacked in India

October 17, 2009 in Persecution with 0 Comments

Source

India (MNN) ― The attacks on believers in India are growing more vicious. David Shibley with Global Advance reports, “One of our pastors who has helped in the coordination of our Global Advance events in Northern India, Pastor Victor, was brutally beaten for his faith in Christ. He is now in a coma.”

Sadly, his situation is not uncommon for those who share the Gospel in India. According to Voice of the Martyrs Canada, reports of violence against believers, village churches being destroyed, and church leaders being threatened by local Hindus continue to be a daily reality in India.

At their last conference, Shibley wanted to know how many of the pastors were risking physical harm by continuing to preach the Gospel. “Of the 500 pastoral leaders who attended that conference, around 80 are presently experiencing some kind of persecution or direct threat.”

Often, their families are threatened. Other persecution faced by Christians is more subtle, as converts to Christianity often face social ostracism and are denied shelter and work. The strain of the harassment wears on a family. Often, it leads to great discouragement for the church leaders. They feel forgotten, isolated and abandoned.

Shibley urges believers elsewhere to keep the Christians in India before the throne. Keep praying for the strength of the evangelists and church leaders.

History has proven that “they’re going to respond with courage. They’re going to be faithful.” Shibley says that Pastor Victor’s church has no plans to stop ministering in their community. In fact, even though Pastor Victor remains hospitalized, “I would suspect that Pastor Victor’s church will experience pretty significant growth, if not dramatic growth.”

Pray that the Christians in India would not be intimidated, but “that they will winsomely and boldly continue to share their faith and experience the dramatic growth that we’ve seen over the last 20 years.”

Pray that militant influences in the government will continue to decrease and that freedom of religion will be recognized throughout India. Ask God to protect the pastors, evangelists and other Christian workers as they share the Good News of Jesus. Pray also that those who turn to Christ will find the means to have their needs met.

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