Our Persecuted Brothers and Sisters

While we in the UK have had the privilege and security of faith to celebrate the birth of Jesus and worship freely our Christian brothers and sisters were and continue to be persecuted around the world. The most recent attrocity was the bombing of the Coptic church in Egypt but other acts go unreported.

Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?"

"I know not," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"
Here they are:
1. North Korea
Having faith in someone else apart from the leader, King Jong 2, is seen as highly subversive. Christian meetings, Christian literature and Bibles are banned. Christians are being sent to death camps as political prisoners and are tortured.
2. Eritrea
Eritrean security forces in the South have started a new, vigorous campaign of persecution against Christians. However, the number of committed Christians continues to grow in spite of this.
3. China
Christians meet in house churches and the numbers of these are growing but the Government views religion as a threat to its authority. Pastors and Christian leaders have been imprisoned.
4. Uzbekistan
Churches are often shut down and church leaders can be jailed for conducting services.
5.India
Shake Muqbal, a Christian convert from Islam, was attacked by a mob of more than 300 people. This is but one example of the pressure Christians are under to renounce their faith.
6. Vietnam
Christians found worshiping are arrested. A Christian was tortured to death because he refused to give up his Christmas celebrations. Christians are forced to join the state recognised Evangelical Church of Vietnam.
7. Pakistan
A petition will be handed in to the Pakistan High Commissioner in London on January 13 calling on the country to protect the religious freedom of Christians living there. Please pray for a successful outcome.
8. Nigeria
500 Christians were killed in April 2010 by extremist mobs who attacked them in their village.
9. Sudan
The Southern region is experiencing a serious threat to Christians and churches.
10.Bhutan
Christians comprise less than 1% of the population and suffer harassment and discrimination from the Government and public services.
http://www.releaseinternational.org/