You may recall that in January I challenged you all to pick one restricted nation a month to pray for. This month I will be praying for the nation of Turkey, but you may choose from any number of the restricted nations on the Voice of the Martyrs Restricted Nations page to pray for. As we have done in the previous two months, leave us a comment who you'll be praying for and let's make a difference for the kingdom of God for those suffering in restricted nations. Amen!

Turkey

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Turkey has experienced political turmoil caused by the struggle between secular proponents, urban moderates and rural Islamist forces vying for government control. Talks over membership in the European Union have repeatedly faltered. There appears to be no sign that Turkey will embrace true religious freedom. In August 2007, Turkey took a step back toward a religiously controlled state when they elected as president a former proponent of political Islam. Category: Restricted Nation Religion: Muslim 99.64%, Christian 0.32% Ideology: Islam Head of State: President Abdullah Gul Despite government claims and a constitutional guarantee of religious freedom, Christians do not enjoy freedom of religion in many areas. Politicians, police and the growing Islamist movement are hostile to anything Christian. Foreign missionaries are not given visas. The media portrays Christians as foreign government agents and spreads rumors that Christians bribe young people with money and sex. The public tends to believe these false accusations. A VOM contact has reported people throwing things at him, spitting at him and verbally abusing him for talking about Christ. He was also interrogated by the police after handing out New Testaments. On Feb. 12, 2009, a Turkish Bible Society bookstore in the city of Adana was vandalized by Muslim extremists for the second time in a week. A court trial continues for two men accused of killing two Turkish Christians and one German Christian in Malatya in 2007.

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BEIJING--On Saturday, well-known Christian legal scholar Dr. Fan Yafeng planned to meet with a Spanish press reporter for dinner. He received a call earlier in the week, advising him not to attend the meeting with the foreign reporter. Refusing to be intimidated by the police, Dr. Fan made plans to attend anyway.

Before he could leave for the dinner on Saturday, Dr. Fan heard a knock on his door. The Beijing policemen confronted Dr. Fan with a notice charging him with allegedly "making noise," (due to his lack of cooperation with Chinese officials) and swiftly escorted him from his home. Two guards monitored Dr. Fan's wife in their home, as they detained him in a local police for over 9 hours to prevent his meeting with the reporter.

After his release, Dr. Fan spoke with a reporter from The Australian. "Why can't I speak out and say what I think?" he fumed. Dr. Fan further vowed, "If they stop me, I will sit to protest downstairs. If they arrest me, I will hunger-strike until they free me or I die."

This is the second time Dr. Fan yafeng has been specifically targeted by the Beijing PSB in the past six months. He was summarily dismissed from his senior researcher position at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences "for political reasons" in November, 2009.  See the article from 11/03/2010. He has further been instrumental in the legal defense work for the highly sensitive Linfen Case in Shanxi, garnering him increased attention and harassment from Chinese authorities. (Visit www.HelpLinfen.com for more information on the Linfen Case.)

ChinaAid denounces this unjust treatment of Dr. Fan Yafeng by the Beijing authorities. We call on the international community to pray for the end of persecution of Christian faithfuls, and against those who continue to speak out on the abuses by the Chinese government.

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LAGOS, Nigeria, March 8 (CDN) — An uneasy calm prevailed in Plateau state, Nigeria today following the killing of hundreds of Christians early yesterday morning in three farming villages near Jos by ethnic Fulani Muslims.

The mostly ethnic Berom victims included many women and children killed with machetes by rampaging Fulani herdsmen. About 75 houses were also burned.

State Information Commissioner Gregory Yenlong confirmed that about 500 persons were killed in the attacks, which took place mainly in Dogo Nahawa, Zot and Rastat villages.

“We were woken up by gunshots in the middle of the night, and before we knew what was happening, our houses were torched and they started hacking down people” survivor Musa Gyang told media.

The assailants reportedly came on foot from a neighboring state to beat security forces that had been alerted of a possible attack on the villages but did not act beforehand.

The attack on Sunday is the latest in several religious clashes in the state in recent months that have claimed lives and property. Plateau state is a predominantly Christian state in a country almost evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. The Muslim minority has been contesting ownership of some parts of the state, leading to frequent clashes.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY AT COMPASS DIRECT

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For those of you who loved Glenn Penner, his wife Denita informed us on Glenn's old blog, that his memorial service was videotaped and posted online at Persecution.tv - I've posted the video here for you. Thank you all again for your prayers for the Penner family. May God bless you richly.

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LAGOS, Nigeria, March 8 (CDN) — An uneasy calm prevailed in Plateau state, Nigeria today following the killing of hundreds of Christians early yesterday morning in three farming villages near Jos by ethnic Fulani Muslims.

The mostly ethnic Berom victims included many women and children killed with machetes by rampaging Fulani herdsmen. About 75 houses were also burned.

State Information Commissioner Gregory Yenlong confirmed that about 500 persons were killed in the attacks, which took place mainly in Dogo Nahawa, Zot and Rastat villages.

“We were woken up by gunshots in the middle of the night, and before we knew what was happening, our houses were torched and they started hacking down people” survivor Musa Gyang told media.

The assailants reportedly came on foot from a neighboring state to beat security forces that had been alerted of a possible attack on the villages but did not act beforehand.

The attack on Sunday is the latest in several religious clashes in the state in recent months that have claimed lives and property. Plateau state is a predominantly Christian state in a country almost evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. The Muslim minority has been contesting ownership of some parts of the state, leading to frequent clashes.

Bishop Andersen Bok, national coordinator of the Plateau State Elders Christian Fellowship, along with group Secretary General Musa Pam, described the attack as yet another “jihad and provocation on Christians.”

“Dogo Nahawa is a Christian community,” the Christian leaders said in a statement. “Eyewitnesses say the Hausa Fulani Muslim militants were chanting ‘Allah Akbar,’ broke into houses, cutting human beings, including children and women with their knives and cutlasses.”

Soon after the militants besieged Dogo Nahawa, the Christian leaders said, at 1:30 a.m. they contacted the military, which is in charge of security in the state.

“But we were shocked to find out that the soldiers did not react until about 3:30 a.m., after the Muslim attackers had finished their job and left,” they stated. “We are tired of these genocides on our Christian brothers and state here that we will not let this go unchallenged.”

Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) President Ayo Oritsejafor decried the attack on the Christian community as barbaric and urged the federal government to stop the killing of innocent citizens or risk a total breakdown of law and order.

“I have just returned from a trip abroad,” he said. “While I was away, I was inundated with reports of another catastrophe in the Jigawa state capital, where several churches were burnt, and just as I was trying to settle down and collate reports from the field, I am hearing of another on Sunday morning.”

Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Rev. Monsignor Gabriel Osu said the Sunday killing in Jos is a major setback for the country’s effort to gain the confidence of the international community.

“Do you know that because of things like these, anywhere Nigerians travel to they are subjected to dehumanizing scrutiny?” he said. “Any act of violence at this time is totally condemned, and the government should make haste to fish out all identified perpetrators of such heinous crimes against God so that we can move forward as a people united under one umbrella.”

On Friday (March 5) the National Youth President of the PFN, Dr. Abel Damina, expressed concern over cases of clandestine killings of Christians in remote parts of Plateau state by Islamic extremists and called on the federal government to retrieve sophisticated weapons in their possession.

“Even as I speak to you now, I am receiving reports that some clandestine killings are still going on in the remote areas of Plateau State by the fundamentalists,” Damina reportedly said. “They pounce on Christians and kill them without anybody knowing much of their identity except that they are Christians.”

He added that recently he visited the governor in Jos regarding the crisis and secured photos of Christian victims.
“Young men, Christians, were going to their farm to harvest their produce and the fundamentalists pounced on them,” he said. “They were called infidels. At the last conference, we received reports with photographs of the fundamentalists using AK-47 rifles to destroy our churches. Where did they get the arms from? We have reports of truck loads of arms that had been intercepted, and we did not hear anything about them.”

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This is the latest news from China Aid.

SHANXI--A symbol of strength and unity for the 50,000-member Linfen Church Network, the central church building Jindengtai (Golden Lampstand) towers over the neighboring buildings in Linfen City. The building was confiscated by the Chinese government in the aftermath of the bloody attack and destruction of Fushan Church in September, 2009. Military police continue to surround the building around the clock, with soldiers stationed inside the building to prevent church members from gathering or entering. Now devastation is about to strike again.

On March 4, 2010, an official from the Land Resources Bureau of Yaodu District, in Linfen City, informed a ChinaAid contact that the "Golden Lampstand" Church will soon be destroyed by the Chinese government. The six-story Golden Lampstand Church (Jindengtai) is worth over 10 million Yuan ($1.5 million) and has been the central meeting location for Linfen Church members for more than a decade.

Military vehicles and soldier guard Jindengtai around the clock.

The tragic news is just one more blow by the Chinese Government. After the bloody crackdown on Fushan Church, subsequent arrests by military police resulted in the indictment and trials for five Linfen pastors, resulting in severe prison sentences. Five other Linfen pastors were sentenced to two years each Re-education through Labor. All ten pastors filed appeals in January 2010. In February, the Linfen Courts formally rejected the appeals of the five prisoners. The five sentenced to Re-education through labor still await news of their appeals.

Linfen Church members are now mobilizing for fervent prayer. They call on the churches around the globe to pray and have further asked ChinaAid to express their gratitude to the international community for the care, support, and intercessory prayers given in the past few months.

ChinaAid urges the international community to contact the local authorities and protest the destruction of Jindengtai. We call on believers around the world to pray for the end of persecution against the Linfen House Church, and the restoration of their property and buildings.

Call on the Chinese authorities to protest the government demolition of Golden Lampstand Church:

Land Resources Bureau of Yaodu District, Linfen City
Tel: +86-357-201-3263

For more ways to get involved, visit www.HelpLinfen.com

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Since it is Monday, I wanted to share with you this beautiful entry from the book Extreme Devotion. I love this story because it reminds me that there is always hope when we are praying for someone who is hostile towards Christ, and it also reminds me what can happen when that soul finds Him.  God bless you all today as you serve our King.

Dear Mom and Dad,
  

 In my last letter I told you about the atheist girl, Varia. Now I am so happy to tell you the exciting news: Varia has received Christ! She is so different and is already witnessing openly to everyone.
   

When Varia first believed, she still felt guilty inside. I think she was unhappy because for so long she believed and made a point of telling others that there is no God. She felt that she needed to suffer and pay for this.

    We went together to the assembly of the godless (Communist Youth Organization meeting). Although I warned her to be reserved, it was useless. After refusing to join in the singing of the Communist hymn, Varia went forward to address the whole assembly. She courageously told everyone about accepting Christ as her Savior!

    She begged everyone to give up the way of sin and come to Christ, and the whole place was silent. When she finished speaking, she sang with her incredible voice the old hymn, “I am not ashamed to proclaim the Christ who died, to defend his commandments and the power of his cross.” I could only watch helplessly as they took her away. Today is May 9, and we haven’t heard anything about her.

    Please pray!

    Maria

The greatest enemies of Christianity are prime targets for prayer. Like Saul of Tarsus, it is possible for a former enemy to become one of the greatest spokespersons for Christ. However, without prayer, it will remain only a possibility. Instead of being afraid of them or resenting them, we should pray for those in our community, country, and throughout the world who are vehemently opposed to Christ. Whenever we pray for nonbelievers—even atheists—we can envision the changes that would happen if their energies were redirected toward Christ instead of against him. They could become the next evangelists to share a powerful testimony of God’s grace. None of our enemies are beyond God’s reach, and prayer keeps them within his grasp.

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Here's some good news coming from our friends at China Aid.

March 5, 2010

SHANXI--Due to a successful legal defense and media campaign by ChinaAid, Pastors Jia Jun, Ren Baoqing and Lin Zhengyuan were allowed to finish filing their respective bailout applications on March 4th.  Family members were allowed to bring them home from the detention center this morning, March 5th. As a face-saving measure by the PSB of Shuozhou City, Shanxi province, Pastor Ma Fei was arbitrarily sentenced to one year Re-education through Labor; however, the government will allow him to be bailed out of detention, once his case has been moved back to the Public Security jurisdiction of Shuozhou City. The four church leaders were accused of being members of an evil cult, and they were formally arrested and indicted for this charge in January, 2010. (See the CAA report from 1/28/2010).

Thanks to the legal intervention of the two Christian lawyers, Dr. Li Baiguang and Zhang Kai, the court and the prosecutors were persuaded that the charges had insufficient evidence; the court concluded that the arrested leaders were not members of an evil cult, but evangelical Christian faithfuls. The court then refused to try the leaders and had the case sent back to the prosecutors. Due to heightened international publicity and pressure exercised by ChinaAid's media campaign, the prosecution decided not to resubmit the case or press for further prosecution.

The Shanxi court's rejection of the Shuozhou Church case is a landmark victory for House Church Christians in China. Not only were officials forced to drop the charges, but evangelical Christians were vindicated for their faith, and affirmed as true believers. The court ruled they could not be tried as "evil cult" members, setting the precedent for future cases against Chinese Christians accused of this charge.

View the "Confession of Faith" issued by Shuozhou Word of Life Church members, and one member's personal testimony.

ChinaAid thanks the international community for their targeted support of Shuozhou Church members and for their faithful prayers. We thank the Chinese Legal Defenders who fought to uphold the truth in the Chinese courts. We also thank the Shanxi courts for upholding rule of law in their region, and urge all district and regional courts in China to follow their example.

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On Feb. 28, Hamid and Reyhaneh, a former-Muslim couple who led a house church, were arrested by secret police in Isfahan, Iran, according to Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN).

Twenty secret police officers arrested and assaulted Reyhaneh when she resisted. “Hamid was arrested when he returned home an hour later,” FCNN reported. “Other believers present at the time were threatened but not detained, though one was also assaulted when he protested [the arrests].”

Police confiscated computers, telephones and literature, including many Bibles. On March 1, Hamid and Reyhaneh’s family contacted the authorities and were told their case would be referred to the Revolutionary Court once charges were finalized. The couple’s two teenage sons are being cared for by Reyhaneh’s sister.

The arrests of these Christians are the latest in a series in recent months. The Voice of the Martyrs encourages you to pray that Hamid and Reyhaneh will be released and reunited with their sons. Pray that their sons will be comforted by the presence and peace of Jesus, and pray that Iranian believers will be encouraged. Pray that officials involved will act justly and display mercy and that they might come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.
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Uzbekistan’s government continues to fine members of the Baptist Union and harass Protestant Christians, according to Forum 18 News.

“Valery Konovalov has been forced to pay a fine, after he was forced to appear as a witness in the trial of three leaders of the Baptist Union,” Forum 18 reported. “The three have themselves been forced to pay what the same court claimed was unpaid taxes and two were removed from their posts.”

In addition, the parents of children who attend Protestant schools in Uzbekistan have been warned to stop attending the churches. “The children were made to write statements promising that they would stop attending churches,” a Christian told Forum 18. “People are afraid to talk to us when they find out we are Christians.”

These incidents are the latest in the Uzbek government’s ongoing persecution of believers. VOM stands with Christians in Uzbekistan and encourages you to pray that charges against believers will be dropped. Ask God to encourage and protect believers and their families. Pray that their testimony of faithfulness will draw the authorities into fellowship with Christ.
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