Page updated 17th February 2012

“Murder, kidnap, imprisonment, harassment, discrimination, prevented from meeting for worship… persecution is alive and all too well in 2010. It affects millions of Christian believers. It’s growing, too. But then so is the church.

Open Doors is active in over 50 countries, supplying Bibles, leadership training, advocacy campaigns and practical support for Christians suffering for their faith. An important part of Open Doors’ ministry is to encourage the church in the UK to play its part: by responding to the needs of the persecuted church and learning from their experience of what it means to wholeheartedly follow Jesus.”

For more information about how you can pray, give, volunteer and campaign in support of the persecuted church visit our website at www.opendoorsuk.org.

Dear Friends of Persecuted Christians,

I welcome you on behalf of the Open Doors UK ministry to our own Web page which I hope will keep you up to date with many of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering badly because of their love and dedication to our Lord Jesus. 

If you need further information about many of the OU areas of work etc, then please click on the coloured link above which will take you directly to their very informative Web site. If, as a computer user you know of someone who would like to receive Open Doors monthly magazine and prayer diary and don't have a computer, then please let me know, either by contacting me using my email adddress, which is: christopher.murphy@virgin.net, or telephone 520450 - or come and see me in church on Sundays. 

God bless you all

Chris Murphy

17th February 2012

"Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" John 8:31-32

Libya

Bibles without borders

One year on from the start of the revolution that ousted Colonel Gaddafi, Open Doors and its partners are giving thanks for the unique 'window of opportunity' that opened up over the last year to serve the local church in Libya.

Before the revolution, the only way to get Bibles into Libya was in small quantities, carried in secretly by couriers. But with the border open, tens of thousands of Bibles, children's Bibles and other Christian materials went into the country in trucks, along with relief goods. More Bibles were taken into Libya during 2011 than the total number smuggled into the country during Gaddafi's entire 42 years in power.

"We used this opportunity!" declared one Open Doors field worker. "We have never seen the borders of Libya so wide open. There was a short moment in time when there were no checks any more at the border with Egypt. The customs booths were empty, and everyone could take whatever they wanted in and out of Libya!

"We get the impression that the Libyan people are more open to renewal," the field worker added. "The Bible is still an illegal book in Libya, but we notice from responses to radio and television programmes and the internet that there is more interest, more curiosity about the gospel. Now Libyans no longer seem to reject the Bible.

"This revolution made people start thinking. In many countries of North Africa, the population was not supposed to think for themselves. Now there is more freedom, and people are starting to think about questions like 'Who am I?' 'What do I think?' 'What do I stand for?'

"The new era that is dawning is crucial," the field worker noted. "Will there be a ruler who gives the people more freedom, even to become a Christian? Or will Christianity remain limited to churches for foreign Christians only?"

Border and customs checks are now back in place, reducing the delivery of Christian materials into Libya. As recently as November 2011, evidence surfaced that the Libyan security services were actively monitoring known Christians in the country.

Source: Open Doors

Please pray:

1. for Libyan believers in the aftermath of the revolution, that they would remain strong in their confession of faith in Jesus
2. that the Bibles and Christian materials imported during 2011 would bring people to knowledge of Christ
3. for new leaders who will lead with integrity and restore peace and stability to the country.

With many thanks for your prayers.

10th February 2011

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6

Mexico

Missionary couple murdered

A married couple who had served for 28 years as Baptist missionaries in Mexico were murdered on 31 January at their home near Monterrey in El Cercado, Santiago, about 600 miles north of Mexico City.

John Casias, 76, and Wanda Casias, 67, were strangled with electrical cords when intruders broke into their house and stole a safe, televisions and ministry vehicles, along with other items. The killers left Wanda Casias dead inside the house, and the body of her husband was reportedly found in a storage room of a small building elsewhere on the property.

Affiliated with the Global Independent Baptist Fellowship, the couple came originally from Lewisville, Texas. Their ministry in Mexico included founding churches, running daily Vacation Bible Schools and organising youth camps. They are survived by ten children, who have reportedly said they hope to continue their parents' ministry.

This area has suffered heavily from attacks by drug cartels in recent weeks, including the murder of the mayor of El Cercado, leading to the tentative conclusion that the crime was committed by people serving narcotics traffickers.

Drug traffickers in Mexico oppose the message of Christ because it distracts from their business, and Christians have been among the targets of the criminals. Christians noted that if the motive for the attack on the Casias' was robbery only, their assailants would not have needed to kill the missionary couple. Churches are seen as a direct threat to organised crime, because they teach that drug-related issues are not compatible with the gospel and tend to ask for the allegiance of their members. This opposes the totalitarian outlook of these mafia groups, who demand absolute loyalty to their business empires.

Give thanks for answered prayer
Another Christian falsely charged with participating in an armed confrontation in the Acteal community in Mexico over 10 years ago was released from Amate prison on 1 February. He was acquitted of all charges following a Supreme Court of Justice review of his case. Six other prisoners will also be released on the basis of this resolution. A total of 44 men have been released from Amate prison in the last two years on the basis that they were convicted on false charges.

Source: Compass Direct News

Please pray:

1. For comfort for John and Wanda's family, and wisdom as they seek to continue their parents' ministry
2. For courage and protection for Christians who seek to live for Christ and refuse illegitimate demands for allegiance from criminals who are bent only on destruction
3. Praise God that another Acteal prisoner has been released. Ask God to encourage the remaining prisoners and pray that justice would be done.

With many thanks for your prayers.

3rd February 2012

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 [NIV]

Sudan

Christians facing increasing hostility

Sudan's Ministry of Guidance and Religious Endowments has threatened to arrest church leaders if they carry out evangelistic activities and do not comply with an order to provide their names and contact information, Christian sources have said.

The warning, in a letter to church leaders of the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SPEC), arrived a few days after President Omar al-Bashir told cheering crowds that, following the secession of largely non-Islamic South Sudan, the country's constitution will be more deeply entrenched in Sharia (Islamic law).

"We will take legal procedures against pastors who are involved in preaching or evangelistic activities," wrote Hamid Yousif Adam, under secretary of the Ministry of Guidance and Religious Endowments, to church leaders. "This is a critical situation faced by our church in Sudan,"said the Rev. Yousif Matar, secretary general of the SPEC.

Sudanese Christians are living beneath a blanket of fear since South Sudan seceded on 9 July 2011. Sudan has moved up in Open Doors' World Watch ranking to 16, from 35, with the situation between north and south becoming increasingly volatile.

Christians in (north) Sudan celebrated Christmas amid threats from officials in Khartoum. Three members of the Sudanese Church of Christ were detained by national security agents in Khartoum on 23 December, because they were Christians and therefore suspected supporters of southern military forces. More recently, two Christian leaders were kidnapped by South Sudanese militia loyal to Sudan's Islamic government in Rabak, central Sudan. Although they were later released, the incident added to fears that Christians will increasingly become targets for Islamic hostility.

Open Doors supports the church in Sudan by providing Bibles and Christian literature, leadership training and livelihood projects.

Source: Compass Direct

To find out more about Sudan and other countries on the World Watch List go to www.opendoorsuk.org/countries

Please pray:

1. That church leaders would have wisdom and grace to respond to increasing opposition
2. That tensions between the north and south would be resolved, rather than deteriorate to war
3. That God would strengthen Open Doors teams serving the church and helping Christians to stand strong in the midst of daily pressures.

With many thanks for your prayers.