They hate you because of me - As I explained in the previous post, there are a number of items today worth consideration so I'm combining most in several posts.
This post will focus on the persecution around the globe that's been reported in the last several days which I've been unable to post about till now. Some of them are updates to past posts.
Remember to keep our brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer.
China Releases House Church Learder Zhang Shengqi.
Back on 2004.08.06, and 2004.03.07, I posted about three Christians arrested and tried in China because they leaked state secrets.
The secrets being that China persecuted House Church Christians.
Today, BosNewsLife (reg. req.) reports that China has released information on the whereabouts of political leaders under international pressure.
Along with the information, they have released Zhang Shengqi who is one of the three arrested for leaking the information that China was violating human rights in their persecution of Christians.
The other two Christians, Liu Fenggang and Xu Yonghai, are reportedly still in prison.
Testifying in DC on China's Torture of Christians
Back on 2004.12.14, I posted an eMail from Stacy Harp about the persecuted Christians in China being forced to make Christmas Tree lights and Lights of Christmas, an organization helping our brothers and sisters in China.
Today, WorldNetDaily™ reports that Liu Xianzhi, who was tortured by Chinese officials and forced to make Christmas Tree Lights and later escaped China, is going to be testifying to her ordeal in Washington D.C. tomorrow. On 2004.04.05, I posted that she had testified before the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
WND reports that Xianzhi was tortured in China in 2001, into falsely testifying that the pastor of an underground Church raped her.
On the event tomorrow WND reports:
Liu, 34, will speak of her experiences tomorrow afternoon at a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., that will include congressmen and human-rights advocates.
Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., Deborah Fikes of the Midland Ministerial Alliance and Joseph K. Grieboski of the Institute on Religion and Public Policy will express their concern about religious persecution in China.
Up Date on Pastor Pourmand.
Well, if you've been with me for a while you will recognize the face to the right.
This is Pastor Pourmand. He is currently being held in prison in Iran for being a Christian.
Past posts are here, here, here, here, and here.
AsiaNews.it reported yesterday that the military court in Tehran has dismissed the charges of espionage that were leveled against him and that he will soon be leaving the military prison.
But:
...he will now have to face charges of apostasy and proselytising. His trial will thus be exclusively based on the intolerance Iran’s religious theocracy has towards the country’s religious minorities.
This could mean a death sentence if he is convicted under the charge of apostasy.
Say a prayer for this shepherd and brother in Christ.
Christian Persecution on the Rise in Ethiopia.
The Christian Post has the following headline: "VOM Documents Severe Persecution in Rural Ethiopia".
They are reporting on a just released report from Voice of the Martyrs detailing rising persecution in Ethiopia.
Here's an excerpt:
VOM also learned that, on the same day, in Alaba, Hajji Husman Mohamed and his family were severely beaten, including his pregnant wife. For more than an hour, the attackers physically abused everyone in the house, VOM wrote. Hajji, a former Muslim Imam, has reportedly suffered several times since his conversion to Christ in March 2003. Last December, all of his property was taken from him, including his furniture, cattle, and a year's supply of grain.
Nigerian Christian Woman Gunned Down by 'Peace-Keeping Soldiers'.
Compass Direct is reporting that Judith Lan'guti was shot without provocation on January 28 by soldiers who where in Numan for the purpose of keeping the peace due to clashes between Muslims and Christians. Click over for further details.
The Great Separation continues.
