Voice of the Martyrs - Prayer Update

"Prayer is the pulse of life; by it the doctor can tell what is the condition of the heart. The sin of prayerlessness is a proof for the ordinary Christian or minister that the life of God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness." - Andrew Murray


"praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, 
being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:18 


Egypt--Latest Egyptian Female Kidnap Victim is Fourteen
Sources: World Evangelical Alliance, VOM Contacts
Psalm 77:1-3

Sarah Abdelmalek, 14, is the latest victim of a common practice of kidnapping Coptic Christian girls and forcing them to marry their Muslim kidnappers. Sarah was last seen Sept. 30, 2012, entering a paper shop near her school. A VOM worker says that at least 24 girls have been kidnapped recently, ranging in age from 14 to 21 years old. Sarah is the youngest. Even if Sarah wanted to marry voluntarily, under Egyptian law, she would have to wait until she turned 18. 

After Sarah's father filed a missing persons report, he received a phone call telling him he would never see his daughter again. According to a school friend, the 27-year-old paper shop owner, a member of an extremist Sunni Muslim group called the Salafists, had been pursuing Sarah for a while. On Oct. 28, a Salafist organization issued a statement saying that Sarah converted to Islam freely and married a Muslim man. Fundamentalist Muslims are encouraged to kidnap Christian girls and marry them as part of a strategy to limit and intimidate the Christian population in Egypt. The kidnappers insist that the girls convert to Islam of their own will, ensuring that the girls will not be returned to their families. Pray for comfort for this family, and pray that the government will defend the Copts in Egypt.

North Korea--Student Realizes Need to Forgive North Korea
Source: VOM Contacts
Colossians 2:12-14
A lesson on forgiveness showed a North Korean Christian that she needed to forgive Kim Il-Sung and the North Korean government. "KES" is a North Korean participating in a discipleship and training program in South Korea. The students learn Christian principles, how to share their faith and how to adapt to South Korean culture. In a recent class, a trainer taught on forgiveness and had the students role-play the parable of the unforgiving servant. 

Later, KES shared that she was angry with Kim Il-Sung and the North Korean government for the lies they told. She realized she needed to forgive them, because God forgave her. She said she couldn't do it without God's help. Pray for KES and other North Koreans in this school.

Iran--Cyber Police Seek Christian Blogger
Source: Mohobat News
Psalm 1:1-2 

Cyber police raided the home of a Christian blogger in Gorgan for the second time recently. Police appeared at the residence of Alireza Ebrahimi, a convert to Christianity, with a warrant for his arrest last week. They didn't find Alireza, so instead they raided his apartment -- without a warrant. Alireza, a Christian blogger, had used Facebook and other social media to evangelize other Iranians. Police first sought to arrest him on May 27. When they didn't find him, authorities visited the homes of his two friends and arrested them. Those men are charged with propagating against Islam and acting against national security. 

There is no information available on their whereabouts. Three days later, authorities appeared again at Alireza's house and confiscated his laptop, articles, notebooks and books. Pray for Alireza and other Christian converts in Iran.

Iran--VOM Project
Pray for those involved in carrying Bibles to believers and seekers in Iran.

Source: http://www.persecution.com/public/pray.aspx?prayerupdate_ID=NDU4MA%3d%3d

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Forgotten Christmas - Shopping?

The glitter of lights, the over-the-top spending, So many people get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season and forget why there's even a holiday. Soon we’ll be reminded of the greatest story of all time. If you look hard, you may find the main character, Jesus Christ. He's resting quietly, hidden among the inflatable snow globes, the singing Christmas trees and the jolly mall Santas. Have we forgotten what Christmas is all about? Have the snowmen, presents and colorful lights obscured the true reason for celebration?

This year do something about the way we look at Christmas presents. The biggest gift you can give is the gift of God's promise of eternal life through faith in Christ. Watch the following video, be inspired, and find practical ways to impact a life this Forgotten Christmas. Share the Gospel, and encourage others to remember the most important part of Christmas: the gift of our Savior.



Who do you want to help this Christmas? This season, benefit from making an impact in the life of a person in Asia.  These gifts are tangible expressions of Christ's love. Discover how each unique gift can change a life. You can choose to send hope that can forever change a life.

To purchase an item for someone in need, start here.

Remember that Gospel For Asia sends 100% of the funds for Christmas gifts to the mission field. Gospel for Asia is firmly committed to good stewardship and use gifts wisely and effectively in Christ's name.

My Christmas wish this season is that you would really celebrate Christ. Remember prayer is a powerful way you can also make an impact for eternity, so pray that people come to put their trust in Jesus. Also lost people love to buy gifts, so just go ahead and be bold to tell them about the greatest Gift ever, Salvation through Jesus!

If you have supported Gospel for Asia by learning about their ministry by through this blog would you please let us know? You are making a difference!

Did you know?

One hundred percent of what you give Gospel for Asia to sponsorship goes to the field.
As a member of the ECFA Gospel for Asia manages your gift with financial integrity.
Your donations are tax-deductible. Gospel for Asia is a recognized nonprofit by the IRS.

Persecuting Jesus

There is a war against Christianity, and despite what you may or may not hear in the media, it is not slowing down. Every day there are Christians being persecuted for their faith. They are stripped of their rights. Their neighbors threaten them with violence and death. Their homes are destroyed. Their families beat them and reject them. And their governments want to slaughter them.

Around the world our brothers and sisters are boldly believing and proclaiming Christ in places where the penalty for doing so is often prison or death. I want to encourage you to join us and the hundreds of thousands of churches and many Christians around the world on November 11th, 2012, who will be praying on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

In Acts 9 when Paul was persecuting Christians God stopped him by a blinding light and Paul cried out “Who are You, Lord?” and then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting..." Paul thought he was persecuting Christians but in truth he was persecuting Jesus and it's the same thing going on today.

The 19th century French painting, "Christian Martyrs' Last Prayer," today hangs in the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore.

The artwork above is a historic scene that took place in the Circus Maximus in Rome in the 19th century. It seems so far from what we know in America but it's not uncommon to what happens to our brothers and sisters around the world. Jesus promised His followers that the world would hate and persecute them. I hope you will join us and learn more about the war against Christianity.

Do you believe prayer changes things? The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church is a global day of intercession for persecuted Christians worldwide. Will you join us and commit to pray for our brothers and sisters on November 11th, 2012? Persecuted Christians often plead for prayer to help them endure. The most we can do is the least we can do — pray. 

(Please note that while Sunday, November 4, 2012 is the designated date for IDOP, you are free to choose another date if you wish.)
For more information checkout the following links:

• gfa.org/persecuted - This links to an amazing video sharing the need to pray for our brother and sisters who are suffering from persecution for the name of Christ.
• gfa.org/persecution/ - Field stories from Gospel For Asia - supported missionaries in South East Asia.
• persecutedchurch.org- Official page of the International Day of Prayer
• onewiththem.com - Open Doors - For those who share our faith but not our freedom.
• persecution.com/public/pray - Voice of the Martyrs prayer page.

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Women Missionaries

Did you know that over 50,000 female children are aborted every month in South Asia? Females are often the last to eat and the most likely to be illiterate. They’re the first to work as child laborers and sometimes even sold to become one of 1.2 million child prostitutes. As they grow they gain little respect.

They live in the most unreached parts of the world—places that have yet to hear the Gospel. And many women cannot be approached by men due to cultural customs, making their slim chance of hearing the Gospel even slimmer.

Women in Asia are the least likely to hear the Gospel but Gospel for Asia has a burden to reach them. You can help send a trained and dedicated woman missionary to share Christ’s love with women in Asia

Women missionaries are the perfect solution to reach other women

Each woman missionary already lives in Asia. In preparation for ministry, she has gone through three years of intensive ministry training.

These advantages make her ideal to reach women in Asia:

• She moves freely in areas restricted to outsiders or men and is accepted in good times and bad.
• She knows the cultural taboos instinctively.
• She has already mastered the language or a related dialect.
• She lives among the community, eating the same food, wearing the same clothes, and sharing the same cultural interests.
• She has a passion and burden to reach women in Asia.

Almost anyone can make a difference for women in Asia

It only takes $30 a month to help support a woman missionary to serve full-time to reach other women.

Through Bible studies, house visits, and the personal ministry of woman missionaries, thousands of women have found hope in Christ. But the need in Asia is great. Millions of women have still never heard the Good News. By sponsoring, you will allow women in the next village to be reached.

Pray about helping and visit:  http://www.gfa.org/women/

 
Did you know?

One hundred percent of what you give Gospel for Asia to sponsorship goes to the field.
As a member of the ECFA Gospel for Asia manages your gift with financial integrity.
Your donations are tax-deductible. Gospel for Asia is a recognized nonprofit by the IRS.

If you have supported Gospel for Asia by learning about their ministry by through this blog would you please let us know? You are making a difference!