Voice of the Martyrs, October 12, 2023 (excerpts)

A Christian in Morocco is experiencing regular pressure and intimidation by police authorities. “His moves are constantly monitored, and he is regularly questioned by police,” a front-line worker shared. He is under gradual but increasing pressure from officials, and the continual surveillance and interrogations have negatively impacted his health.

Through VOM, the global body of Christ has covered his medical bills so that he can afford to pay his regular living expenses and continue working on ministry projects. “I think the Lord still has something for me to do,” he told the front-line worker.

Morocco is ruled by a monarch who is purportedly a direct descendant of the prophet Muhammad and intends to govern the nation with Islamic principles. The North African country has experienced over 1,100 years of Islamic oppression since Morocco’s historic people group, the Berbers, were forced into Islam by invading Arabs in the eighth century.

Today, only a fraction of 1 percent of the population is Christian. The growth of Christianity has been slow, with a major setback occurring in 2010 when hundreds of missionaries were forced to leave the country. With the rise of digital technology and social media, more Moroccans are coming to faith in Christ.

Bible distribution and missionary activity are not allowed in the country. Christians have difficulty finding fellowship, but networks of underground churches have developed. Some Christians have been imprisoned on charges of apostasy and proselytizing.

Release International, October 16, 2023 (excerpts)

Attacks against Christians are rising, fuelled by right-wing nationalism, while growing numbers of Christians are being arrested under anti-conversion laws. 

Two investigations are underway into the alarming rise in attacks against Christians and other religious minorities in India.

The United Christian Forum (UCF) has recorded 525 violent attacks to the end of August, more than for the entire previous year. The UCF say attacks are rising ‘not just year-on-year, but month-on-month’.

Investigations are being carried out by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and the Indian government’s Minorities Commission.

And UCF say the number of attacks against Christians has risen significantly since Premier Narendra Modi’s BJP took power in 2014.

Anti-conversion laws supposedly target conversion by force or allurement. But the loose wording means any kind of charitable work could be considered a form of bribery.

Congregations accused of forced conversion have had their buildings ransacked and property destroyed.

The United Christian Forum say 520 Christians have now been arrested and accused of forced conversions.

Joshua Project, 17 October 2023

The Bengkulu people live in the city of Bengkulu, on Sumatra Island. They are descended from the union of multiple ethnic groups who once migrated to the area, including the Malay, Minangkabau, Acehnese and Javanese. The Bengkulu generally work as store clerks, ship builders, mechanics, construction contractors and government workers. In general, they live in wooden homes, raised on stilts and painted and decorated with special motifs.

The majority of the Bengkulu are Muslim. However, they still practice certain traditional ceremonies and rituals according to their older animistic beliefs. These animistic ceremonies are focused on seeking protection from spirits by defeating them and driving them out.

The gospel of grace, undeserved favor from God, is difficult to believe and accept by those who have been taught a religion of personal effort.

Building up Christ followers within Indonesia to reach the Bengkulu people is likely the most strategic way to share the gospel with them.

Pray the Lord would begin stirring their hearts so that they will be softened toward the good news of Christ. Pray for Christians in other Indonesian tribes to move toward the Bengkulu people and take steps to tell them of eternal life which is only found in Jesus Christ.

Asia News, September 28, 2023 (excerpts)

A Human Rights Watch report highlights the conditions young workers face scrapping ships. Scrapping yards employ children as young as 13, violating international standards, polluting the sea, and covering beaches with toxic waste.

According to the human rights advocacy group, shipping companies are circumventing international regulations that ban exporting ships to shipyards that lack proper safety standards.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) views shipbreaking as one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.

In Bangladesh, the life expectancy of men working in the shipbreaking industry is 20 years below average.  A 2019 survey found that children make up 13 per cent of the workforce. Most workers interviewed said they started working at the age of 13.

Bangladesh is one of the main destinations for shipbreaking. Since 2020, some 20,000 workers have dismantled more than 520 ships, more tonnage than any other country.  Ships sail full steam into the beach during high tide to be dismantled directly on the sand rather than on a pier or platform.

The worksite itself is full of hazards and toxic waste is dumped directly into the sand and sea. Toxic materials from the vessels, including asbestos, is dumped on the ground and in the sea, handled without protective equipment and in some cases sold in the second-hand market, impacting the health in surrounding communities.

EU shipping companies are required to dispose of EU-flagged ships in a shipyard approved by the European Union, but to circumvent the law many buy “flag of convenience” in other countries.

Morning Star News, September 29, 2023 (excerpts)

Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists this week killed 15 Christians in Kaduna state, Nigeria, following the slaying of another one last week.

The assailants on Wednesday (Sept. 27) attacked predominantly Christian Angwan Magaji village, killing 3 Christians, after attacking Kigam village on Tuesday, where 3 others were slain, said an area community leader.  The terrorists also wounded 4 others in the two villages.

“We are saddened to inform you with a heavy heart about a resurgence of attacks on Christians by the armed Fulani herdsmen and terrorists,” Adamu, president of the Chawai Development Association, said in a text message to Morning Star News. “

“This has clearly shown that our land is indeed under siege by our enemies, terrorists and herdsmen,” Adamu said.

He appealed to the Nigerian government to urgently end incessant attacks on Christians in Kaduna state as well as in other parts of the country where terrorist acts have become endemic.

Assailants on Tuesday (Sept. 26) also attacked predominantly Christian Takkanai village, killing 6 Christians and wounding 4 others, area residents said.

“The herdsmen, who were well armed with guns and other deadly weapons, attacked the village at about 7 p.m. as the villagers were getting ready to go to sleep. Among those killed are two children,” Samson Markus, a community leader, told Morning Star News in a text message.

The students are back. All around, we hear various languages spoken and meet interesting people as we go onto the streets. The Lord is giving us great opportunities and we look forward to seeing what fruit will result. 

Things are going well at church. My initiatives are well received and are fitting into the dynamics of church life. I have proposed a monthly lunch after Sunday services and for this to become weekly. The documentaries are well received too. We watched the Luther documentary last night with 25 in attendance.

Evangelism goes very well. I am pleased with the progress of those I am training.  4 of the 5 people I have taken on the streets have shown amazing initiative, teachability and desire to grow. I couldn’t be happier. I have 3 others who want to begin training later. I am also making slow progress in forming a poverty ministry in the church.  An abandoned building near our church is used by some homeless people whom I want to get to know.

I want to establish a youth outreach for teenagers.  2 school professors in our church may be able to help.  I hope to soon begin teaching on the Doctrine of Scripture.

I have struggled to get to know some men in our church who do not want to spend time together outside of official meetings.  I have decided to take some of them to lunch from time to time. There is some interest in this as the first two I approached have shown willingness to meet.

Release International, September 26, 2023 (excerpts)

Returning home early one evening Pastor Chandrapala was faced with an angry 50-strong mob surrounding his property. Despite his obvious fears, he kept calm and was able to record the harassment on his phone. The group included a number of Buddhist monks who, after spotting his presence, tried to goad him into responding in order to raise a complaint against him.

However, he kept silent. Bizarrely they even warned him that although he could hold a church service, he could not invite anyone else to attend!

Thankfully the emergency response team at the local police station was led by a Christian officer who upon being made aware of the incident took immediate action.

Pastor Chandrapala lives in an area populated by Hindus as well as Buddhists. While the church distributed packs of literature to Hindu children there was no reaction from the local community; however, once Buddhist youngsters started receiving them the uproar began.

At the insistence of local monks, who exert great influence in the community, the pastor was called to an inquiry earlier this year, and incorrectly accused of holding prohibited meetings on the ground that they were not taking place in a registered church. The law actually permits such gatherings, but he was warned to stop his activities.

When the pastor was challenged that the books he was distributing were attempts to convert others, his response was that he was not trying to convert but simply to bless the local community.

However, despite his actions being lawful, a mob was rounded up to intimidate him as he returned home.

This was not the first time he had faced threats.

Joshua Project, 30 September 2023

The Adi Dravida of southern India were once called the Paraiyar (or pariah in English), so their leaders requested that their name become Adi Dravida or “original Dravidians.”

Today, the Adi Dravida are a scheduled caste which means they receive special benefits for government jobs and places in education to rectify past societal wrongs. In the past, many of the Adi Dravida were agricultural workers tied to the land.

Today most still work on farms, either as farm hands or as small landowners. Others dig graves and take care of funerals.  Illiteracy is high among the Adi Dravida, which limits them to non-printed gospel materials.

Tamil speaking Christ followers are very numerous. They can provide Tamil-language gospel songs and skits that the Adi Dravida people can remember.  Pray that this people group hungers for God and begins to feed spiritually on the Bread of life, Jesus Christ.

Pray that the Lord would lead Indian Christians to become friends with the Adi Dravida to help them with their educational and vocational needs. Pray that the small number of Adi Dravida Christ followers would be discipled and share the gospel with their brothers and sisters. Pray for spiritual hunger that will lead them to the risen Christ.

Voice of the Martyrs, 14^th September 2023

Pastor Filadelfo, a former drug trafficker who is now an evangelist, has been jailed repeatedly for his gospel witness and was kicked out of his village for refusing to renounce Christ and return to the traditional religious practices of the village.

Because of the prayers and support he has received through VOM, Filadelfo is able to continue to share the gospel in Southern Mexico, praying for the sick and providing Bibles to believers who don’t have one.

Recently, he prayed for an elderly woman who was sick, and she placed her trust in Christ. He provided her with discipleship materials to help her grow in her walk with Christ.

Specific areas within southern Mexico have a high concentration of indigenous minority groups. These minority communities, which maintain a separate identity and language, are systematically oppressed by local authorities.

Christians among them are persecuted by Marxist and animist groups as well as village leaders. Tribal leaders persecute Christians in defence of their indigenous culture, and the federal government allows this.

These communities are remotely located and difficult to reach. Despite persecution, the number of Christians has continued to grow in these areas.

Voice of the Martyrs, 14^th September 2023

Following a surge in security measures along China’s North Korean border, an intricate network of security cameras, watchtowers and other surveillance infrastructure has been established.

The heightened security measures, particularly evident along the eastern river, make it increasingly challenging for North Koreans to flee their authoritarian regime.  Movements of diplomats and foreigners in the area are under nearly constant watch.

Satellite imagery has revealed substantial upgrades to Chinese border security along the river since 2019.

A network of security cameras is a primary means through which Chinese authorities monitor their North Korean border. Cameras, approximately 328 yards apart in some areas, provide continuous surveillance coverage. 

Almost 12 million North Koreans, nearly half of the population, are undernourished, according to U.N. data.

Heightened border surveillance has produced a rapid drop in defector numbers with only 67 reaching South Korea last year compared to 1,047 in 2019.  China’s lockdowns and travel restrictions make it nigh impossible for Koreans to escape from China.

Coupled with China’s long-standing policies criminalising aid to North Koreans in need along the border, these restrictions pose a challenge for humanitarian aid.