Exloring Life Eternal

SAUDI ARABIA : POLICE ARREST FOUR EAST AFRICAN CHRISTIANS
Detainees held at Jeddah’s deportation jail.
June 15 (Compass Direct) – Ten Saudi Arabian police armed with wooden clubs raided a private Christian worship meeting in the coastal city of Jeddah on June 9, arresting four East African citizens leading the service. At press time the two Ethiopian and two Eritrean Christians remained in the city’s deportation jail.

http://www.compassdirect.org/en/lead.php

Saudi Arabia – Pray that the Christian Church would be committed in prayer for those who suffer for their faith in this nation.

Bhutan - Heavenly Father, we pray for safety and encouragement for all those Christians in Bhutan who have converted from Buddhist backgrounds.

Iran - We ask that you, Heavenly Father, would use the Christian Church as a real witness of your love and light to those who persecute your children.

Indonesia - Pray for the safety and release of the three Christian women who were sentenced to three years of imprisonment for allegedly trying to convert Muslim children even though these children attended the women's Sunday School classes with their parent's permission.

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Intercessors are needed to stand in the gap for Saudi Arabia, which was again recently designated as a ‘‘country of particular concern’’ for its ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom by the U. S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USIRF).

The document, released May 3, 2006, reported that the government of Saudi Arabia continues to enforce vigorously its ban on all forms of public religious expression other than the government’s interpretation of the Hanbali school of Sunni Islam.

Additionally, according to Open Doors International, Saudi Arabia holds the second spot on the list for the fourth year in a row on the 2006 World Watch List of nations where persecution against Christians is most intense.

Religious freedom does not exist in Saudi Arabia where citizens are allowed to adhere to only one religion— the officially recognized Wahhabi form of Sunni Islam. No legal protection is provided for freedom of religion; neither does this protection exist in practice. The legal system is based on Islamic law (Shariah). Apostasy—conversion to another religion—is punishable by death.

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"Mother, wait ‘til you hear the things my teacher told us about Christianity today,” Sameh said, as he walked in the front door. “Christianity!” Her voice was sharp. “What was he doing talking about that? What a disgrace!” His mother’s reaction made Sameh more curious. “But how will I learn about other religions, if not in school?” he asked.

“You do not need to know about those religions,” his mother scolded. “You are a Muslim just as your father is, and your grandfather and great-grandfather were before him. The less you know about those false teachings, the better. In fact, we will make sure you never hear of this in school again!” Sameh didn’t understand why his parents wanted to hide these things. Even the government would not allow libraries to have the holy books of other religions. Some day I will study in Europe, he thought, and I will learn all the things that are now hidden from me.

A young person like Sameh, growing up in the country of Saudi Arabia, doesn’t usually learn about any religion but his own. Recently, a high school chemistry teacher named Muhammad al-Harbi, talked to his students about Christianity and Judaism. He was accused of putting doubtful thoughts into the minds of children about their own religion. He was sentenced to 750 lashes, 50 a week for 15 weeks, and sent to prison for three years.

For the full newsletter (which includes news on Libya and Sudan as well, visit:
http://www.prayersquared.org/WINEmailNews/WINEmailNewsJune2006.swf

WEST BANK CENTER DESTROYED
Armed militants firebombed the Living Stones Christian student centre on the West Bank community of Bir Beit on February 28, leaving the spray-painted warning to "Get out of here." No one was injured. The Palestinian Bible Society bookshop in Gaza also suffered damage from small pipe bombs and was temporarily closed after death threats to staff. Christians continue to have a positive attitude but ask others to pray. Bible Society Director Labib Mandanat says the tiny Christian community associated with the Bible Society in Gaza has impacted Muslims with the love of Christ. "Out of this chaos, God has brought good."
[CHRISTIAN POST 12 March '06]


LITERATURE MINISTRY CONTINUES IN IRAQ DESPITE VIOLENCE
As violence in Iraq continues to escalate, Open Doors remains committed to
carrying out its ministry in the country. Last year staff distributed 20,000 Arabic children's Bibles, set up 12 libraries for adults and children in churches nationwide, translated six children's booklets and produced a special music cassette. This year copies of the handbook, "Counseling Youth," as well as a newly published daily devotional called "One Year Through the Bible" and the "Chronicles of Narnia" series will be distributed throughout the country. Open Doors will also produce and print 40 brochures and leaflets concerning medical issues, opening opportunities to build bridges between Muslims and Christians. [HCJB/OPEN DOORS 27 Feb.'06]


CHRISTIAN SITES A 'HIT' IN MIDDLE EAST
A boom in Christian websites is occurring in the Middle East. According to the Strategic Resource Group (SRG), these websites are receiving nearly 9 million hits per month and more than 2,000 Arabic Bibles are downloaded from the internet each month. One Christian organisation that hosts chat rooms for Arabic-speaking visitors estimates that more than 42,000 people visit these Christian sites every day. More than half of the population in the Middle East is 25-years-old or under and most have easy access to computers, either in their homes or in public venues such as internet cafes and schools. [ASSIST 9 Feb.'06]
Go to: http://www.srginc.org
Go to: http://www.assistnews.org

PERSECUTION LIST
Open Doors' annual "World Watch" list of 50 countries where Christians are subjected to the most persecution puts North Korea in first place, followed by Saudia Arabia, Iran, Somalia, Maldives, Bhutan, Vietnam, Yemen, Laos and China. Open Doors President Carl Moeller contends that the communist government of North Korea has detained more political and religious prisoners than any country in the world. In addition to North Korea, countries with communist governments include Vietnam, Laos and China. Islamic-dominated countries are Saudi Arabia, Iran, Somalia, Maldives and Yemen. 70 expatriate Christians in Saudi Arabia were arrested in 2005 during worship in private homes, in what has been called this country's largest crackdown on Christians in a decade. Iran moved from number 5 to number 3 after the election of a hard-line conservative president. [OPEN DOORS]
http://www.opendoorsusa.org


BACKPACKER'S MAGAZINE (HEBREW)
A 12 page, full colour, glossy magazine is filling a unique gap in reaching out to Israeli young people. 7,000 copies of the 4th edition of "Lo B Mikre," which means Not By Chance, has hit the streets this March. The magazine bears the subheading 'The alternative magazine for different life,' and includes personal testimonies, comics and articles about current topics like the DaVinci Code and Santo Daime cult that is gaining popularity in Israel.
Go To: http://www.lo-bemikre.co.il/]


RESOURCES:
A helpful website for news and prayer about ISRAEL, or for those who want to explore the Jewish roots of Christianity: www.saltshakers.com

Saudi Arabia, Arabian Peninsula

Leader: King Abdullah
Dominant Religion: Sunni Islam
Christians: 4-5% (expatriates)
Persecution Ranking: 2nd

Saudi Arabia's Constitution actually states that all citizens must be Muslims. The legal code prescribes the death penalty for those who convert from Islam to Christianity (or any other faith). Expatriate Christians are allowed to worship in private according to the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud. On the 12th of March, 2003, the Saudi Press Authority quoted him as saying, "We say to Christians: do whatever you want, you and your family, in your home, worship what you want, but there has not been, or will not be, a Church." However, nowhere in the present Saudi legal code is it defined what constitutes a home. The ambiguity leads to the raiding of expatriate house fellowships by the religious police, commonly resulting in confiscated equipment, damaged religious articles, including Bibles and crosses, and short periods of detention for the leaders. There are calls for reform from within the country.

Prayer points:

- Pray for greater clarity over what is acceptable for expatriate Christians as they practice Christianity in this hostile place. For an end to harassment and for Psalm 91 protection over the Christian Believers.

- Pray for wisdom and courage for all Christians living in Saudi Arabia, that God will use them to bring revival and Christ’s presence to this country.

- Pray that the authorities would respond to calls for reform coming from outside and inside Saudi Arabia.

LORD God Almighty, help and encourage those who call on You Father, Son and Holy Spirit in this land. Strengthen them to uphold Your truth revealed in Jesus Christ and to express Your love of all and acceptance of all who seek You. Oh Sovereign LORD, we ask that Your will be done across this land. Amen.
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Sources: LifeAgape International, Barnabus Fund, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Forum 18 News Service, Jubilee Campaign, Middle East Concern, Open Doors International, Voice of the Martyrs USA, and 3P Ministries
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