On 3rd January 2022, 17-year old Anh and her father, Chinh visited a village to pray for a family that had contracted the coronavirus. After they prayed for the sick family, local authorities forced them to pay a quarantine fee which was not the norm.

As Anh and her father drove home on their motorbike, people from the village attempted to stop and harass them. One villager swung a machete at them, slicing two tendons in Anh’s left leg. A church member helped pay some of the medical costs and her family struggled to pay the rest.

Pray that Anh will receive complete healing from her injury with no complications or long-term adverse effects. Pray that God will meet the needs of Anh’s family and bless them as they continue to advance God’s Kingdom.

Pray for the family that Anh and her father visited – that they will recover and testify of God’s grace, goodness and providence. And other villagers will be drawn to the Lord because of their testimony.

(Source & Photo : VOM)

#Persecuted Church

On 6th March this year, a large mob of people forced their way into the Mercy Gate Chapel in Amalgama, Sri Lanka, and demanded for all religious activities in the church to cease immediately and the place of worship to be closed. The group also threatened the life of the pastor if he continued to lead worship services. During the confrontation, one of the church members was injured and was hospitalized for one day.

The mob refused to leave even when police officers intervened and informed the group that there was no legal basis for a forceful closure of the church. Instead, the mob demanded that they be allowed to inspect the interior of the church building. Four of them were allowed to enter the church for such inspection and they concluded that the church was not legitimate.

Praise God that the crowd dispersed shortly after the inspection and no damages were made to the church building.

Pray that these believers will be able to continue attending worship services in peace without any harassment from the community. Pray that there will be no more animosity expressed towards the pastor and church members.

Pray that believers will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be the light of the world and to be effective witnesses for Christ in this area.  

(Source & Photo : VOMC)

#Persecuted Church

Four Christians, including two pastors, were jailed on false charges of conversion activities in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul district on 19th February 2022.

Raju and his wife had thrown a party at their home in the village of Udama and invited several others from a neighbouring state. During the party, officers arrived at the gathering and arrested the Christians, and confiscated their Bibles and Christian literature as evidence. When a local Christian leader tried to intervene, he received death threats from the protestors who gathered outside the building.

Pray that truth and justice will prevail in this case against the four Christians. Pray that they will be vindicated and released soon.

Pray that these believers will experience the manifest presence of God wherever they are held in detention. And they will not be afraid or discouraged, knowing that the Lord is with them.

(Source & Photo : VOMC)

#Persecuted Church

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