Voice of the Martyrs prayer update

VOM News and Prayer Update: July 31, 2007

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."(Joshua 1:9)

CHINA
House Church Leader Released from Prison - China Aid Association
On July 26, 2007, Beijing house church leader Hua Huiqi was released from prison after serving six months. According to China Aid Association (CAA), Hua Huiqi and his 76-year-old mother, Shuang Shuying, were arrested in January after being attacked by seven police officers. "While they were walking near a 2008 Olympic hotel site in Beijing, they were kicked to the ground and later taken to the Olympic police station for questioning. Hua's mother was later sentenced to two years in prison. She is being held in a medical center because her health has deteriorated," CAA said. Praise God for Hua Huiqi's release. Please continue to pray for the release and healing of Shuang Shuying. Ask God to encourage Christians in China as they face escalating persecution ahead of the Olympics in 2008. Psalm 103:1-5, 1 Peter 2:24

IRAQ
Christian Persecution in Iraq on the Rise - Christian Broadcasting Network News
Christians in Iraq are experiencing a rise in persecution from Islamic extremists. According to a Christian Broadcasting Network News (CBNNews.com) report, Reverend Canon Andrew White, an Anglican minister from Baghdad, told a committee on religious freedom that Christians have been kidnapped, tortured and killed. Rev. White said in the last three to four months conditions in Iraq had deteriorated considerably. He added that he was given disturbing news at a congregational meeting this month. "Things are bad for everybody in Iraq. I said to them (church members), 'tell me what has happened over the past week.' And the people went through what had happened, and I realized that 36 of my congregation in that past week and been kidnapped. None of them have been returned," Reverend White said. Pray God protects and encourages Christians in Iraq. Ask God to send the Holy Spirit to refresh believers who face hardships everyday. Romans 8:31, Isaiah 54:17

INDIA
Christian Martyred in India's Assam State - VOM Sources
On June 28, Hemanta Das, a Christian convert from Hinduism to Christianity, was brutally beaten by suspected members of a religious fanatic group. Das, a former member of the Hindutva fanatic group known as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, died four days later in a local hospital. The Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India has declared Brother Das the first Assamese martyr. Das was a member of the Guwahati Baptist Church. The Voice of the Martyrs' contacts in India report, "On several occasions, Brother Das was cautioned by radical groups of the dire consequences that would follow if he tried to convert people to Christianity." Christian leaders in Assam state say that this murder case has been reported to local police, but police have not yet found those responsible. Pray for the family of Brother Das and for the Holy Spirit to convict those responsible for this attack. Ask God to protect and encourage Christians in India. John 14:27, Colossians 3:15

AFGHANISTAN
Two South Korean Christians Killed by Taliban - Reuters News Agency/VOM Sources
The Taliban killed two of the 23 Korean Christian hostages they had been holding since last week. Reuters News Agency reported kidnappers threaten to kill more of their 21 captives if the Afghanistan government fails to free rebel prisoners by 7:30 a.m. GMT on Wednesday. The 23, including 18 women, belong to the "Saemmul Church" in Bundang, a city outside Seoul, South Korea's capital. They were working at Korean Action, an aid organization in Kandahar. Most of the Koreans are in their 20s and 30s, and include nurses and English teachers. Killed on July 25, Bae Hyung-kyu (42), was a pastor and the leader of the group. Shim Sung-min (29), killed on July 31, was a former IT firm employee and planned to go to graduate school. Please pray for a peaceful resolution to this crisis. Pray for comfort for the families of the two Christians killed. Pray for the safety of the hostages and pray for their loved ones at home in South Korea. Psalm 91, Psalm 23

New Katie Bennett CD

Got the new Katie Bennett CD "Under the Apple Tree" last night, it is terrific! Order the CD here.

Blog upgrade

Hey, I've added a Minekey widget to link to other articles and downloads from ministries like ZHOP, MorningStar, the IHOP-KC and the like. Check it out, its down on the right side of this page, midway down.

Jeremy Riddle: Stand in Awe

Here are lyrics and video to Jeremy Riddle's outstanding worship song "Stand in Awe". If this song does not stir you to worship Jesus, then you are either dead in yours sins or (if saved) your heart is dulled by being friendly and entertained by the world around you:

Gracious and astounding
God's love so confounding appears to us
In a cleansing flow of blood!

The Son left throne and glory,
Bore the Father's wrath and fury in our stead;
And for the sins of all He bled!

Chorus:
Stand in awe and worship!
Raise a voice and worship, Come adore
The King of kings and Lord of lords!

Behold the Lamb in Heaven
He was dead but God raised Him from the grave,
For His arm is mighty to save!

Now glorified and reigning
The keys of death and Hades in His hand,
And all hail the Lord of every man!

(Chorus 3x)
The King of kings and Lord of lords.

ITunes exporter

Wow, great utility to free up your ITunes here. Wooo-hooo!

PTL update

Here is an excerpt from yesterday's Charlotte newspaper on the former PTL property:

Tammy Faye Messner's remains have been buried. So, too, have Jerry Falwell's.

And, slowly the remnants of PTL are being buried, too.

The "PTL Club" -- standing for "Praise The Lord" or "People That Love," or, as the critics said, "Pass The Loot" -- cycled from being a quirky Christian television show to a multimillion dollar worldwide production to out of business in a matter of 15 years.

Now, major players are dying. Tammy Faye Messner, who with her then-husband, Jim Bakker, built PTL, died July 20 at 65. Falwell, who took over PTL in 1987 after the Bakkers had been forced out, died in May.

The old PTL property has been sold to developers and to MorningStar Fellowship Church. Nearly all of the buildings left from Heritage USA, the religious resort the Bakkers built, are in a state of decay.

The exception is the old Grand Hotel, which has been turned into a meeting building by MorningStar. A 21-story tower that was to house timeshares sits unfinished nearly 20 years after construction began.

"The legacy of the PTL is dying, and new life is being given to the property out here," said Eric Greenway, president of Coulston Enterprises, which is developing 1,000 acres of the old PTL property.

Read the entire article here.

Jesus says:

“Anyone who loves his father
or mother more than Me
is not worthy of Me;
anyone who loves his son
or daughter more than Me
is not worthy of Me;
and anyone who does not
take his cross and follow Me
is not worthy of Me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life
for My sake will find it”
(Matthew 10:37-39)