| Friends...Let us keep our persecuted brethren in our prayers. God bless you! Bro. Joe  | Dear Rev. Joseph Diaz,
Thank you for receiving our News & Prayer Update. Please remember to pray for the persecuted church during your bible studies and prayer time throughout this week.
"Princes persecute me without cause,
But my heart stands in awe of Your words."
Psalm 119:161 (NASB)
Sabina Wurmbrand was arrested for her faith in Romania like her husband, VOM founder Richard Wurmbrand. Her story is told through the book The Pastor's Wife, which includes details of her imprisonment and efforts in getting her husband released. (Click here)
Have a blessed week!
VOM Web Editor
| Prayers for May 18, 2004
From The Voice of the Martyrs
|  | 
INDONESIA  (Compass Direct)
After several appeals, imprisoned pastor Rinaldy Damanik, who many believe was framed on false charges of illegal weapons possession, has finally received permission to travel to Jakarta for urgent medical treatment. He has suffered severe kidney problems. Doctors believe the facilities for his needed surgery can only be found in Jakarta and that his condition has worsened due to the delay in appropriate medical treatment. A release from the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission tells the story of a Muslim cleric who, some months ago, had a vision that he should visit Damanik in prison. Meeting him and being deeply impacted by Damanik's faith, this man went to the prison authorities and pleaded with them, in tears, to have him transferred to the hospital in Jakarta. (Click here)
Pray for successful surgery for Pastor Damanik, trusting God's love and mercy toward this faithful servant. Pray Pastor Damanik will be a witness of Jesus' love to those who never heard of Him. Pray the Muslim cleric will come to know the Savior in a deep and personal way and will lead many more Muslims to faith in Jesus.
SERBIA/MONTENEGRO (Forum 18 News Service)
On April 30th, building inspectors, three police squad cars, an electrical distribution company crew, and a demolition team tried to demolish a tent used by the Protestant Evangelical Romany Church. However, almost 1,000 believers held a worship concert in the tent and in a yard and stopped the demolition. The city council based its actions on the fact that the building is prohibited on the site; but only the church was singled out for demolition, although there are other buildings there, including an industrial plant and homes. The root of the problem is a conflict with Serbian neighbors who do not like Romany having meetings at the present location. The president of a local NGO stated, "This denomination is becoming a national religion for the Romany people in this region." The Romany Evangelical Church is the fastest growing denomination in Serbia and Montenegro. (Click here)
Give thanks to God that the Romany people have an evangelical church where they can worship and lead others to Christ. Pray God will guide the leadership into decisions where He will be glorified. Pray the publicity surrounding this event will bring more people into His Kingdom.
SOMALIA (VOM/Canada)
According to reports received by The Voice of the Martyrs, Pastor Shueb Maalim Madkheyr was killed and his body burned beyond recognition on April 25th. Beginning in mid-April, Pastor Shueb had been going into villages, seeking to plant underground churches and sharing the gospel with teenagers. When word began to spread that Shueb was teaching the Bible to children, he was confronted by two armed men and accused of poisoning the minds of young teenagers. According to witnesses, there was a heated discussion on religion, ending when one of the armed men shot and killed Shueb. Pastor Shueb was married and the father of five children between the ages of 8 months and 13 years.
Pray the Lord will comfort Pastor Shueb's family and friends. Pray his church members will provide for the care of Shueb's widow and children. Pray God will convict those responsible for his murder, leading them to repentance and fellowship with the Savior.
TRANSDNIESTER/MOLDOVA (VOM/Canada)
A proposed law that would have created new restrictions on religious groups has been sent back for further revision in the unrecognized breakaway republic of Transdniester in eastern Moldova. The law would have placed serious restrictions on religious activities, particularly for foreign religious workers and unregistered groups. Despite the postponement of this law, the government plans to amend the Criminal Code for "illegal activity of sects," increasing fines by 15 times and prison sentences for up to one year. One church had been threatened with destruction, but the threats were not carried out.
Pray God will pour out His blessings on the Christians in this remote area, which is not remote to Him. Pray He will work in power and not allow any restrictive legislation to be passed. Pray Christians throughout Moldova will be allowed to worship their Savior and be a witness of His love.
UZBEKISTAN (Forum 18 News Service)
As part of a worsening anti-Protestant crackdown, a farmer, Murat Abatov, has been publicly pressured to renounce his faith, with threats to confiscate his land. Schoolteachers are bullying his sister, Zulfiya, telling children to avoid her. The authorities are summoning individual believers to report to the ordinary police, the National Security Service secret police, and the public prosecutor's office, in order to pressure them to renounce their faith one by one. (Click here)
Pray God will protect Uzbek Christians from any physical harm. Pray they will stand strong in their faith. Pray Jesus will show Himself to those who have opposed Him.
 1 The Pastor's Wife:
http://www.persecution.com/bookstore/index.cfm?action=itemDtl&baseItemID=41
2 Indonesia:
http://www.compassdirect.org/en/newsheaden.php?idelement=2853
3 Serbia/Montenegro:
http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=311
4 Uzbekistan:
http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=310
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