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The Church in The World
PAKISTAN: One Killed
and Six Injured as Assailants Attack during Church: The Voice of
the Martyrs (Canada) The Voice of the Martyrs has learned that
the church service of the Victory Church International (also
known as the New Apostolic Church) in the village of Khambay near
Lahore, Pakistan, was disrupted as four armed assailants opened
fire on the church property, murdering one Christian worshipper
and injuring six others. Killed was Arshad Masih, a young husband
and father of a one-year-old daughter. According to reports
received by The Voice of the Martyrs, members of a Muslim family
who had long been opponents of the congregation entered the
church property at about 10:00 a.m. as the congregation was
worshipping and began shooting. Some reports indicate that there
were children playing outside. Arshad Masih was reportedly shot
and killed as he went outside of the church building to find out
what was happening. Six other believers including Pervez Masih,
Naeem Masih, Arshed Masih, Ismael Masih, and two others (exact
names to be verified) also came out from church and the attackers
also fired on them. The attackers then fled.
VOM sources report that Muhammad Mukhtar Dogar, Muhammad Sardar
Dogar and Muhammad Malki Dogar have been arrested in connection
with the attack, while two other suspects are still at large. The
Ismael Masih injured in church shooting on March 27, 2005
Christians read the Bible at the funeral for Arshad Masih injured
are in a hospital in Lahore, one of them in critical condition.
This incident comes after a weekend of threats and intimidations
by the Dogar family against the congregation. The 150-member
church was forced to cancel services when the family threatened
to kill anyone who came to the church. The Dogar family is
apparently seeking to take possession of the land that New
Apostolic Church and its graveyard has been located on for the
last century.
If you feel led to pray for these people, please remember Arshad
Masih's wife, Fozia, as she grieves the loss of her husband.
Also, there are several church members who are in the hospital
seriously wounded. Those responsible will be brought to justice,
and the church in Pakistan needs to testify to the Living Christ
and His resurrection.
SRI LANKA: The Sri
Lankan government may adopt anti-conversion legislation in April
when the decisive vote is taken on the "Act for the
Protection of Religious Freedom." Approved in principle by
the cabinet in June 2004, the Act stipulates that no person
should "attempt to convert or aid or abet acts of conversion
of a person to a different religion." Christians say the
pending law contravenes religious freedom guaranteed in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And despite a Supreme
Court ruling last year that declared a similar bill
unconstitutional, many believe the Act could pass.
"Parliament will only vote against this bill if it is held
under a secret ballot," a Methodist minister told Compass
Direct. "Nobody will raise their hands in public to vote
against it."
To read the complete story, click on the following link:
http://www.odusa.org/WPAcurrent
JORDAN: Siham
Qandah's case was postponed once again. The next hearing is
scheduled for April 3. Again the judge is declaring that it is
the LAST one, and he'll give his final judgment then. Keep
praying that Siham will be allowed to keep custody of her two
children, Rawan and Fadi. The state has tried to take the
children from their mother after their converted Christian father
died in order to force the children to be raised as Muslims
(Source:Compass Direct).
CHINA: Letters reveal
personal trials facing house-church Christians.
The following link gives the complete story: http://www.odusa.org/WPAcurrent
Couriers from the US who are traveling across the borders into
China need our prayers for safety and good health, and that they
would be successful in getting Bibles and other supplies into the
hands of those who need them the most.
ERITREA: One of the
leading evangelical pastors in Eritrea disappeared off the
streets of Asmara on March 18, presumably detained by Eritrean
security forces. Pastor Weldou's family and church members have
been unable to learn anything about his whereabouts or the
charges under which he is being held.
Read the complete story at: http://www.odusa.org/ProminentPastor
TSS
May
/ June 2005 The Sabbath Sentinel
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