Monthly archive for March 2022

When Abida’s husband died of a heart attack two years ago, she turned to her neighbour, Nisar, for help to expedite the process of claiming her husband’s government pension.

On 18th February 2022, when Abida, a Christian widow, was away from home, the eldest of her six children, 22-year old Hina went missing. According to Abida’s other neighbours, Nisar forced Hina into a white van with two other unidentified people inside the vehicle. Whilst a case of kidnapping has been filed against Nisar and his companions, no arrest have been made and Hina remains missing.

Many young Christian women and girls in Pakistan frequently face abduction, rape, fraudulent marriages and forced conversions.

Pray that Hina will be rescued unharmed and reunited with her family. Pray that her family members will find much-needed peace and comfort in the Lord during this time of suffering and uncertainty.

Pray that the perpetrators in the abduction of Hina and numerous other young women in Pakistan will be brought to justice. Pray for healing for these precious young women from the traumatic experience they were forcibly subjected to.

 

(Source & Photo : VOMC)

#Persecuted Church

For those watching the crisis in Ukraine unfold, many are wondering what will happen to the Christian community in Ukraine if it loses this battle.

It has been reported that evangelism is illegal in Russia except in designated and registered locations. Those who share the Gospel outside of those locations face strict fines.

In Russian occupied Crimea, we have been told that fines were levied for “conducting missionary activity” about 23 times last year. And in Russian-backed parts of Luhansk and Donetsk in Eastern Ukraine, religious rights have been severely restricted and all protestant and non-orthodox churches have been declared illegal. Christian books, including a translation of the Gospel of John, have been banned as “extremist” materials and churches have been raided and harassed.

Pray that God’s peace will reign and calm the hearts of the people of Ukraine during these turbulent and uncertain times. Pray that each one of them will come to place their trust and hope in the Lord.

Pray that there will be adequate supply of provisions and resources for the churches, organisations and individuals who are sheltering Ukranian refugees.  

 

(Source & Photo : VOMC)

#Persecuted Church

Project – Relief for Victims of Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Target Funds Needed : S$17,550

Status : URGENT

 

You must have heard about the recent shocking Russian invasion of Ukraine early in the morning on 24th February 2022 which caused the displacement of many Ukranians as they fled to neighbouring countries to avoid being caught in the conflict. Many of these Ukranian refugees are women and children, who have had to leave behind their husbands, fathers and brothers to fight against the invaders.

Would you consider giving towards this project to :

• Provide the necessary and urgent material, financial, logistical, medical and spiritual aid to Ukranian Christians who are suffering because of the current crisis.
• Support Ukranian Christian who are still in Ukraine.
• Support Christian churches, organisations and individuals in Poland and Moldova who have been providing food and shelter for Ukranian refugees.
• Provide for and support anyone, regardless of religion, who is requesting for help.

 

May the Lord bless you abundantly as you give generously!

In July 2019, Pastor Hao and two other Christian women were arrested on charges of fraud for collecting church offerings. Pastor Hao’s house church in Hubei Province was deemed illegal so, any money collected to support it was considered unlawful. Click here to read more about this case: https://gosheninternational.org/women-imprisoned-for-collecting-offerings/.

Pastor Hao had to raise her sons, Paul and Moses, on her own after her husband passed away of cancer in 2018. The older son, Paul, is attending college but the younger son, Moses, has been suffering from depression since his mother’s arrest and imprisonment. Moses dropped out of school and regularly locks himself in his room, unwilling to communicate with others.

On 11th February, Pastor Hao received notice that she had been sentenced to 8 years in prison for alleged fraud. In a recent letter to Paul, Pastor Hao testified that God had given her “amazing peace” and she is able to sleep well in prison. She encouraged both her children to spend more time reading and memorizing the Bible and, in particular, studying Romans 8, Isaiah 26-66 and Lamentations 2-3.

Pray for God’s presence to be with Pastor Hao as she serves out her sentence. Pray that God will comfort and strengthen her sons, Paul and Moses, emotionally and mentally as they grief the loss of their father and the painful separation from their mother.  

Pray that the appeal process for Pastor Hao’s case will be successful and all charges against her overturned.

 

(Source & Photo : VOMC)

#Persecuted Church