personal devotional time and at your church prayer meeting.
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Reality of Kazakh religion law comes into focus
Kazakhstan (MNN) -- The reality of a harsh new religion law in
Kazakhstan is coming into focus, and the image isn't pretty. Forum 18
News Service announced last week the first known use of the law. A
Baptist was fined a year and a half's wages for leading a house church.
Joel Griffith with Slavic Gospel Association says, "Apparently this was
done under some provision that was introduced in the new amendments to
the religion laws that we've been talking about thus far. Then this
judge, I guess, also banned the congregation from meeting." It's a
small answer to how the law will be used. Many questions remain. "What
sort of obstacles are going to be in their way for forming a new church
because of the numbers requirements that would be imposed? Let's say if
they're innocently trying to witness their faith out on the street, are
they going to be arrested for doing so because they're outside their
church building? Who knows? Are they going to be prohibited from
working with children?" Pray for religious freedom and Kingdom growth.
* Pray that believers would remain bold in their proclamation of the
Gospel.
* Pray for religious freedom in Kazakhstan.
(FULL STORY:
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/16844)
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Mixed news for Christians coming out of Jammu and Kashmir states
India (MNN) -- India's High Court threw out a case involving a pastor
accused of bribing Muslim young people to convert to Christianity. The
bad news is: there was damage done to the radio ministry he was
involved with in the Kashmir region. Lee DeYoung with Words of Hope
says the threats are so severe that the pastor "retired officially from
the only open church in Kashmir--that is the All Saint's Church in
Srinagar, in mid-January. The church is still there, but at this point,
it seems as if Christian activity has been driven completely
underground." The Sharia court is forcing Christians to either leave or
re-convert to Islam. For now, believers' voices have gone silent.
Pray. "Words of Hope's radio broadcasts in the Kashmiri language, which
had been on the air for a number of years, are going to be suspended at
the end of March--in part because the people who have been recording
the programs, the production effort has been disrupted by this
persecution."
* Pray that the Gospel will not be silenced.
* Pray for wisdom and safety for believers.
* Ask God to restore the radio ministry.
(FULL STORY:
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/16856)
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Ukraine's deadly winter takes long-term toll
Ukraine (MNN) -- A severe cold spell in Ukraine has prompted the United
Nations to give $100,000 to aid Ukraine's homeless after over 150
people died from the cold. The country is unaccustomed to the
Siberian-like temperatures. Things have come to a standstill, says Joel
Griffith with Slavic Gospel Association (SGA). "The government has had
to shut down schools, colleges, nursery schools. The Danube River,
which flows through Eastern Europe, really is an important river for
shipping and commerce, and it's completely frozen over. Ice jams. When
that happens, you've got flooding that will take place, and you've had
heavy snows that caused power outages." The grains froze, too. Food
will be a problem in the near future. Griffith says they're assessing a
response. "Rather than shipping containers over, we basically raise
funding. What we do help the churches purchase the aid they need
overseas, and then they distribute it to the families in need along
with a Gospel witness."
* Pray for opportunities for the hope of the Gospel to be shared in
the midst of this adversity.
* Ask God to provide the resources needed for SGA to help people both
physically and spiritually.
(FULL STORY:
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/16860)
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Iranian pastor's execution could come at any time
Iran (MNN) -- Sources in Iran say an execution order for Christian
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been signed. Todd Nettleton with Voice of
the Martyrs confirms the news. "Apparently, that execution order has
not been delivered to his family or his attorneys, but the report is
that it has been signed. That means that at any time, he could be
executed." Time is of the essence. "The most important thing we can do
is to pray," says Nettleton. "There are petitions you can sign. We have
Pastor Youcef on PrisonerAlert.com. They can also send e-mails to
Iranian authorities asking that he not be executed." Given the
application of the apostasy law, one would think it would have a severe
"chilling effect" on evangelism. Quite the opposite, says Nettleton.
"One of the exciting things about the country of Iran is how fast the
church is growing and how hungry the people are for the Gospel." Ask
the Lord to uphold and sustain Youcef, his wife, and their two
children. There's more on this story at our Web site.
* Pray that the Body of Christ will continue to multiply and mature
despite persecution.
* Ask the Lord to uphold and sustain Youcef, his wife, and their two
children.
(FULL STORY:
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/16864)
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Boko Haram hits Kano again
Nigeria (MNN) -- Explosions and gunfire were heard in Nigeria's Kano
State this past Wednesday and Thursday. This comes on the heels of a
bombing Sunday that targeted two churches in Niger State. The incidents
are being blamed on Boko Haram, a terrorist group running rampant
throughout the country. Carl Moeller with Open Doors says it will
probably get worse before it gets better. "The increasingly intentional
activity of Boko Haram is now taking on the characteristics of a real
war. These are not random attacks, as they're often characterized in
the media. They're really intentional, and they're designed with one
purpose in mind: the elimination of Christianity." Even as some are
fleeing the country, Open Doors is coming alongside many believers who
are staying. "We're still seeing Christians stand for their faith very
strongly in Northern Nigeria. We're seeing the church become a beacon
of what faith really looks like. We believe that now more than ever,
there's opportunity for the Gospel to penetrate the hearts of those who
are persecuting."
* Pray that God will strengthen the faith of believers to withstand
persecution.
* Pray for the Holy Spirit to radically opens eyes of persecutors
blind to the Gospel, as He did the Apostle Paul.
(FULL STORY:
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/16869)
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Mission Network News is dedicated to keeping Christians informed about
missions and evangelism around the world. Our goal is to help you
become engaged in missions through praying more effectively, giving or
going to the field short or long term.
Thank you for your dedication and heart for world missions. Your
prayers are greatly appreciated. May God richly bless you as you
serve Him today!
In His grip,
Greg Yoder, Executive Director
Mission Network News
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