Monthly archive for March 2023

A house church pastor, Alimujiang Yimiti (“Pastor Alim”), was arrested because of a phone conversation with an American colleague in 2007 wherein Pastor Alim cautioned his colleague that the phone call could be monitored. Pastor Alim was subsequently charged with “unlawfully providing state secrets to an overseas organization” even though there was no evidence that any sensitive information was shared during the call.

Despite the lack of evidence, Pastor Alim was sentenced in 2009 and his appeals in 2010 and 2011 against his sentencing were both rejected. Members of Pastor Alim’s family were also prohibited from attending his trial.

We thank and praise God that Pastor Alim, who spent 15 years in prison, has finally been released and reunited with his family.

Pray that Pastor Alim will be able to adjust well and enjoy his time with his loved ones. Pray that God, in His grace and mercy, will restore to Pastor Alim and his family all that they have lost because of the many years of separation (Joel 2:25).

 

(Source & Photo : VOMC)

#Persecuted Church

The Pentecostal Assembly congregation in Dodangoda, Sri Lanka, is made up of seven families who regularly meet for worship in the home of their pastor.

On 12th February, about seven police officers interrupted a Sunday worship service at the pastor’s home. Officers informed the pastor that they received complaints that the Sunday services were conducted illegally.

The complainants insisted that all Christian services involving other villagers should be discontinued because the village, where the pastor was staying and holding worship services, was not a Christian village. The pastor, who was permitted to only pray with his own family, further confirmed that no one was forced to join in the church meetings, and he is the legal owner of the property.

On another scheduled meeting on 17th February to resolve the matter, about fifty villagers gathered around the pastor’s home demanding an end to all worship activities. They threatened the pastor with negative repercussions if he did not comply. Because of the antagonistic nature of this demonstration, the police had to be called in to disperse the crowd.

Pray that the shalom peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard the hearts and minds of the pastor and congregants of the church in Dodangoda, as well as those in other Sri Lankan Christian communities. Pray that the matter of concern here will be resolved amicably and the church can continue their worship services.

Pray that believers will continue to demonstrate God’s love to fellow villagers, including those who are opposing them, so that many will readily receive God’s wonderful gift of salvation.

 

(Source : VOMC, Photo : Internet)

#Persecuted Church

The number of reported cases of persecution in Tamil Nadu rose dramatically in the year 2022.

Pastors and evangelists have been beaten, robbed and chased away from villages. Many churches who are conducting worship services in rented properties have been forced to close because certain thugs pressurized property owners to not rent the premises to churches.

Because of this, Christian congregations have been scattered, and many pastors who have dedicated themselves to full-time ministry are struggling to support their families.

Pray that these churches will be able to purchase land where church buildings can be constructed so that they will no longer be dependent on renting space for worship service.

Pray that the pastors of these churches and their respective families, will receive an abundant supply of divine financial provision because all who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing (Ps 34:10).

 

(Source & Photo : VOM)

#Persecuted Church

Lerm and his wife, Dow, came to faith in Christ in April 2022 and started to attend church.

A few months later, Dow’s father, who was the head of a nearby village, found out about the couple’s Christian faith. He pressured them to renounce Christ but the couple refused. Dow’s father then used his influence to evict the couple from their village and took away the income and food supplies they earned from their farm work.

Lerm asked his own father to take them in but was rejected because his father feared losing his government job. The couple and their children lost everything when they were evicted. They now live in a temporary hut on the land of another Christian brother. They remain strong in their faith.

Pray that God will provide Lerm and Dow with a permanent home to stay. Pray that this couple and their children will receive the necessary financial, emotional and spiritual support from the church and fellow brothers and sisters-in-Christ. Pray that their parents will eventually come to faith in Christ.

 

(Source & Photo : VOMC)

#Persecuted Church

Since the Early Rain Covenant Church was raided in 2018, and the church’s lead pastor, Wang Yi, sentenced to 9 years imprisonment, the church continued to meet online or in small groups. However, in January this year, the church decided to resume meetings as a larger group. But each time they met up, they were evicted by the authorities and forced to move to a different venue.

On the morning of 12th March, before the worship service was scheduled to start,  one church leader, Jia, was violently removed from the meeting and beaten. Then after the service began at 9am, the supply of electricity to the room was abruptly shut off. But the service continued. About an hour later, officials stormed the pulpit and shut off the computer that was used for the live broadcast, seized cell phones and pushed some members to the ground.

Despite the mayhem, the choir continued singing quietly the hymn “Near the Cross”. Some of the church’s leaders and members were taken to the police station but later released in the evening.

Pray for Early Rain Covenant Church leaders and members. Pray that they will receive strength, wisdom, guidance and direction as to how they can continue their ministry as a church. Pray that the words, attitudes and actions of church leaders and members will be a powerful testimony that will lead many people to believe in the Lord and receive salvation.

Pray for Pastor Wang Yi’s health and well-being during his imprisonment.

 

(Source & Photo : VOMC)

#Persecuted Church