Sunday, please praise God that an Egyptian Christian has won the legal right to change his identity papers from Muslim to Christian. “Fathi Labib Yousef, who had long ago converted to Christianity, spent 31 years officially identified as a Muslim but has now won a rare legal victory to be officially registered in his “new” faith. According to Compass Direct News, changing one’s official religious identity from Islam to any other religion in Egypt is extremely difficult. Religious reversion cases are difficult to win, but it is far more difficult for Muslim-born converts to Christianity to officially change their religious status.” (Open Doors, Compass Direct News)
Monday, please praise God that a German couple’s jail sentence for homeschooling their children was overturned. Please pray that Juergen and Rosemary Dudek’s retrial will result in a change of heart among German government officials. HSLDA Staff Attorney Michael Donnelly says “he remains concerned that there is no indication that German authorities are changing their position on stamping out what they call ‘parallel societies.’ There continue to be signs that the German government is cracking down on homeschooling families,” he said. “A recent letter from one family in southern Germany contained threats from local school authorities that unless the family enrolled their children in school, they would seek fines in excess of 50,000 euros (nearly $70,000), jail time and the removal of custody of the children. German policymakers must create regulations or laws to protect homeschooling families from this persecution. This kind of behavior by a so-called Western democracy is unacceptable. It is this kind of repression that is forcing families to flee Germany and to seek protection in other countries, like the Romeike family, who have applied for political asylum in the United States.” (Home School Legal Defense Association)
Tuesday, please pray for a “Christian pastor in Meherpur district (Bangladesh, who) suffers continued torture and harassment at the hands of 4,000 Muslims. Jhontu Biswas, 31, said residents of Fulbaria town accused him of misleading Muslims by distributing Christian booklets. They confronted him on Dec. 9 as they gathered for the Islamic Eid al-Adha festival of sacrifice. ‘They also accused me of converting poor people by offering money,’ said Biswas. ‘They called several local journalists in that massive assembly to publish news against me and my activities. They took my photograph and interviewed me but did not publish anything in their respective newspapers.’ Biswas denied the accusations against him, and the Muslims threatened to harm him and others who converted from Islam to Christianity.” (Open Doors)
Wednesday, please pray for the people of Mexico. “Mexico is in danger of a ‘rapid and sudden collapse’ due to criminal gangs and drug cartels, according to a troubling new report by the U.S. Joint Forces Command on worldwide security threats. Criminal activity in Mexico has killed more than 5,300 people in the past year, including members of warring drug cartels, law enforcement officials and bystanders, many of them slain close to the U.S. border.” As lawlessness increases so do attacks on Christians who stand against evil, as we have seen in Colombia. Please especially remember those Christians who are standing for Christ in Mexico. (Jim Meyers, Newsmax.com, me)
Thursday, please pray for Believers from a Muslim Background who are coming to the Lord throughout the Muslim world. They face ostracism, rejection from family and culture, torture, and death. Yet more and more are coming to the Lord with hungry hearts. (Arab World Ministries)
Friday, please pray for ministries who are engaging and befriending Muslims at colleges and universities throughout the West. Please pray for the Lord to pour out His spirit upon these young people. (Arab World Ministries)
Saturday, please praise God that the abduction of “two teenage Christian sisters in Pakistan is over, but difficult times still loom ahead. Parvisha Masih, 18, and Sanam Masih, 14, who were kidnapped and assaulted last November” are at home now. Please pray that the Lord would help them recover from the trauma and that those around them would love them rather than shun them. (Open Doors)
Labels: Bangladesh, Believers from a Muslim Background, Egypt. Germany, Mexico, Pakistan, Persecution
