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Subject: Persecution report for February 25, 2003.

Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2003 18:57:15 -0700 (MST)

From: ve6xtc@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca

To: Ted Hilts <thilts@help-for-you.com>

CC: insider@christianaid.org

Mission Network News presents these examples of Christians suffering persecution.

India:

Pastors testify regarding their suffering.

Increasing amounts of antagonism toward Christians isn't stopping the spread of the Gospel. Pastor John Meador just returned from Andra Predesh, travelling with AMG International . Meador says equipping national pastors was the original focus. "When we got there we discovered that they had also expanded it to a Gospel meeting kind of format. A total of about 8,000 people came to hear the Gospel. We spent lots of time trying to dissuade them from making a decision if they were not ready to forsake all other gods." One thousand people made professions of faith.

Meador says prayer is needed for pastors and evangelists. "One night we had about 400 evangelists in a meeting and we polled them to find out how many of them of them actually had suffered any kind of physical persecution. And, I would says that 25-percent or 30-percent of those pastors said, 'yes, I've got scars. I've had actual bloodshed take place because I'm preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.'"

Russia:

Governmental regulation hinders foreign missionary work.

A change in Russia's visa law is making it difficult to be a foreign missionary there.Send International 's Rex Durham says the government's only issuing single entry, three-month visas, not the 12-month religious visas they had been receiving. "It means extreme amounts of expense added to the support of each missionary. They can no longer come here for a year. They would have to be here for three months, leave the country, coming back for three months, leave the country again, come back for three months, which we're not sure how that's going to work, or If that's going to work." Durham doesn't believe this is an attack on evangelical Christians. "The law states, 'to keep out all undesirables.' Undesirables meaning, drug traffickers, AIDS carriers, and I think it may be a safeguard against terrorists."

Durham is asking people to pray that the law is changed.

Please check http://www.mnnonline.org for missions news and a weekday audio broadcast.

Christian Aid Mission reports this incident of believers suffering for their faith.

India:

Mission team meets persecuted converts.

A mission team travelled to the Lucknow region where on two successive days they conducted inauguration services for new church buildings in two locations.

One of the missionary pastors they visited was a Hindu Brahmin convert. Hindus angry at his conversion had cut down all his mango trees and poisoned his fish pond, killing all his fish. They also cut down all the trees fencing his property. Now villagers are claiming his private courtyard is a public throughway. "He and his wife were greatly encouraged by our visit," the leader said.

"Please pray for our brothers and sisters in the field," he requested. "Many are living under threats to their lives. One missionary and his coworkers are facing persecution daily. Another worker and a new believer were badly beaten and false charges filed against them in court."

Yet in another area, a retired Christian worker with the federal government, believes opponents of the gospel dare not come against him because of his respected position. His son is a lawyer with the High Court. He even built a school in the community and erected a big cross over it so it can be seen from afar.

In all, the team travelled 1500 miles (2500 km.) over very difficult roads in the heart of the Hindu homeland. To learn how you can help, write insider@christianaid.org and put MI-407 660-AGA on the subject line.

Note: It is the policy of Missions Insider to refrain from mentioning names that could make the subjects targets of anti-Christian activity. Names can be mentioned of ministries conducting work commended by authorities or located in areas of greater religious freedom.

Please go to http://www.christianaid.org to read the full text of this story plus missions news.

The Voice Of The Martyrs reports the following stories of persecution.

Hong Kong:

Religious freedom threatened.

Since Hong Kong was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997, China has consistently violated the agreement signed by the Chinese and British governments regarding the governance and autonomy of the island. According to the agreement, Hong Kong was to retain its economic and social systems as a democratic society for 50 years.

However, mainland China has since assumed more control of the government than what was agreed upon. An example of this is Article 23, introduced by the Hong Kong government on February 13 with intentions to make it law by July 2003. A particularly troubling element of Article 23 is that any Hong Kong group that receives funds, direction or leadership from a group that is already outlawed by Beijing would be likewise banned in Hong Kong. Also, appeals by organizations banned under the new law may potentially be heard only by closed tribunals, barring group members and their legal representatives from the proceedings.

Hong Kong Bishop Joseph Zen has spoken out against the law, which could effectively remove the freedom to worship for Hong Kong's 347,000 Catholics. The Roman Catholic Church is banned in mainland China and was replaced by the Chinese government with a Catholic organization loyal to the state rather than the Vatican.

While the law specifically targets organizations in Hong Kong that are controlled by illegal organizations based in mainland China, the Chinese government has frequently shown its resolve to remove any religious organization that is not subservient to the state.

United Arab Emirates:

Update on pastor's trial.

On December 18, the Persecution & Prayer Alert reported on the arrest of Filipino pastor Rev. Fernando Alconga in the United Arab Emirates for illegally distributing Christian literature.

The arrest came after undercover agents approached him asking for Christian materials in Arabic. Though he had nothing in Arabic, he showed them material he had in other languages. The previous day he had given literature to an Egyptian outside the same building.

The Voice of the Martyrs received an update today from Middle East Concern, reporting that Rev. Alconga appeared in court on February 16. The Egyptian to whom he had given literature testified that Rev. Alconga had not pressured him in any way. Another witness is scheduled to be heard on March 2. A letter of appeal has also been presented to one of the rulers of Dubai and a response is expected shortly. Rev. Alconga's lawyer is pleased with the outcome of the trial to this point.

Please see http://www.persecution.net for more information about believers who suffer for their belief in Christ and to learn how to help them.

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email: ve6xtc@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca