END TIMES NEWS
The Weekly Persecution and Prayer Alert.
"The violent attacks on churches in Tanzania again remind
us of the tragic escalation of persecution of Christians
throughout the world. The body of Christ must unite in
even greater faithful and fervent prayer for the thousands
of believers who are suffering for our Lord's name."
~ George O. Wood
Do not miss the opportunity to pray on behalf of the persecuted church with fellow believers around the world on Sunday, November 8th. For more information on this year's International Day of Prayer and how you can participate, please click here. Be sure to share this information with others of your church and prayer group.
TANZANIA: Radicals Threaten to Eradicate Christianity
Sources: Christian Post, VOM USA
Pray for the protection of churches in Tanzania.
Three churches in northwest Tanzania were set ablaze on September 22nd by militants, causing everything inside them to burn. Fortunately, no one was injured. "What is worrying us is that the burning of the three churches happened within a span of two hours," states Pastor Vedasto Athanas of Living Water International Church. "What is even more worrying is that we have been receiving threats from Muslim extremists that they want churches reduced in this area."
These attacks have come at a time when the church in Tanzania is experiencing extreme growth. The resulting destruction leaves about 850 Christians without their places of worship. "We have lost everything in our churches -- the buildings, the chairs and musical instruments," the pastor added. "Our members have nowhere to worship. We do request prayers at this difficult moment."
This is not the first time that Tanzanian Christian churches have been burned by extremists. In January, a church building in the Muheza district was also set on fire. Additionally, a woman in this district who converted to Christianity after marrying her Christian husband was beaten and burned by her Muslim parents late last year.
As Christians make up about 54 percent of the Tanzanian population, the country's 31 percent Muslim population has largely been tolerant of Christian practices until a recent polarization between moderate and radical Muslims, according to Operation World.
First of all, may God minister His perfect peace to the congregations of these churches after the destruction and upheaval they've recently experienced, restoring to them all that the enemy has destroyed. And may He not only minister to the Christians of these communities but also to the perpetrators of the violence, convicting them of their sin and need of salvation. We pray that greater blessing will be poured out upon His people in Tanzania as they continue letting their lights shine brightly so that many others will clearly discover the Way, the Truth and the Life! (John 14:6).
SYRIA: Abducted Christian Leader Released from Captivity!
Source: Middle East Concern
Pray for peace in Syria.
We are pleased to report that Father Jacques Mourad was safely released on October 10th. The Syrian priest had been abducted by members of Islamic State (ISIS) on May 21st during a raid on the Mar Elian monastery in Qaryatain, Homs. Although the circumstances leading to his release are not yet known, contacts in Damascus have confirmed that he is in good health and expected to travel to Syria's capital soon. Following his release, Fr. Mourad attended a worship service in a town close to Homs.
In early August, ISIS seized control of Qaryatain and took additional Christian hostages. (More about this can be found at this page.) Evidence emerged on August 20th that the Mar Elian monastery had been destroyed. On October 1st, a separate ISIS video emerged, purportedly showing a gathering in August of more than 50 Christian men in Qaryatain. The video shows the men signing a contract undertaking to pay the 'jizya' subjugation tax to ISIS and refrain from all public expressions of non-Islamic worship. According to separate reports, an Assyrian Christian, Fahid Khazaal, was executed by ISIS in September for refusing to accept their conditions.
Additional atrocities, including the recent execution of three other Assyrian Christians, have led to heightened concerns for the approximately 200 remaining believers still being detained by ISIS. Syrian Christians are requesting renewed prayer for peace in their land and for all who are affected by the ongoing violence.
In accordance to Psalm 100, let us enter God's gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise, for He alone is worthy of our worship. We specifically thank Him for the safe release of Fr. Mourad and others who were once held captive by the ISIS terrorists. May they experience the Lord's restoration, guidance and wisdom after such a trying ordeal, while acknowledging Him for their newly regained freedom. We pray that their release will precipitate the freedom of the many others who were abducted and, at this very moment, in need of His presence and protection. Ask the Lord to also minister encouragement and comfort to their loved ones, and to ultimately reveal His sovereignty and majesty among the suffering people of Syria -- not to mention those who are instigating the terror so they, too, can acknowledge Him as Lord over all!
RECENT PRISONER UPDATE
EGYPT: Bishoy Boulous Excluded from Prisoner Pardon List
Sources: Release International, Release partners
Please pray for Christian prisoner of faith Bishoy Armia Boulous, who remains behind bars even after the Egyptian government released 100 prisoners in an amnesty. Among those officially pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi were two Al Jazeera journalists jailed after reporting unrest in 2013.
While Bishoy was detained for reporting attacks on churches in Upper Egypt, he has officially served his sentence and should have been released back in May. The young husband and father has also been charged with "blasphemy" over his attempt to change the religious status of his ID card. Bishoy's lawyer asserts that the time allotted for investigations into this charge has elapsed and, therefore, a formal complaint has been filed with Egypt's attorney general about his client's ill-treatment and continued detention.
Bishoy, also known by his former name, Mohamed Hegazy, was raised as a Muslim before his conversion. He was arrested in December of 2013 during a period of anti-Christian violence in Minya. The security service claimed he was working for The Way TV, an American-based channel.
Join us in praying that the authorities in Egypt will look favourably upon Bishoy's case, duly granting him release from imprisonment. In the interim, may the Lord mightily strengthen and use this spiritually fervent young man by providing divinely appointed opportunities to share the Gospel, for which he faithfully suffers, with other prisoners and guards who are in need of God's hope and salvation. Pray that Bishoy, his wife and children will have the comforting assurance that the Lord is working out His far greater plans in this situation and, at the same time, also in the lives of those who have yet to receive Him.
The Persecution & Prayer Alert is a ministry of:
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada
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Flash floods, huge hail stones and brutal winds: As the worst Australian suburbs for weather are revealed... experts warn we are set to face an EXTREMELY stormy summer
- Weather experts have warned Australians to brace for a wild storm season
- More than $3.2 billion in damages caused by extreme weather in past year
- Suburbs and towns most 'storm-affected' revealed by insurance claims
- NSW Premier Mike Baird said people need to be aware of weather dangers
Published: 04:36 GMT, 26 October 2015 | Updated: 07:21 GMT, 26 October 2015
Australians have been warned to brace for a wild storm season, as experts reveal the suburbs hit hardest by extreme weather.
In the past year, more than $3.2 billion in damages have been caused by a number of extreme weather spells, with a number of suburbs being dubbed 'Australia's most dangerous' due to the heavy storms.
According to figures released on Monday by NRMA Insurance, the Hunter Valley was New South Wales' most 'storm-affected' area - accounting for 34 per cent of the state's storm claims.
View Pictures and Read More At: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
The worst hurricane ever: Catastrophic category five storm with 200mph winds and 40ft waves barrels towards Mexico
- 'Extremely dangerous' Hurricane Patricia will hit Mexico this afternoon or evening
- National Hurricane Center predicted 200mph winds and deadly mudslides
- 20 inches of rain could also fall as the storm reaches Puerto Vallarta resort
- 40ft waves set to batter coastline as locals board up homes & businesses
- Only 1 other category 5 Pacific storm has made landfall and it killed 1,800
- 1959 hurricane had 160mph winds - weaker than Patricia's current gusts
- World Meteorological Organization official compared Patricia to Typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 6,300 people in the Philippines in 2013
- 'The winds are enough to get a plane in the air and keep it flying,' said a WHO spokeswoman of Patricia
Published: 03:20 GMT, 23 October 2015 | Updated: 12:27 GMT, 23 October 2015
Mexico is bracing for a potentially catastrophic storm landfall as the most powerful Pacific hurricane ever recorded could slam into the country's southwestern coast today with fierce 200mph winds and 40ft waves.
'Extremely dangerous' Hurricane Patricia was upgraded to a Category 5 storm late last night as it barreled towards the beach resort of Puerto Vallarta on the western Mexican coastline.
Dave Roberts, a hurricane specialist at the US National Hurricane Center, said Friday morning that the storm is the strongest one they've ever seen in the eastern Pacific or in the Atlantic.
View Pictures and Read More At: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
Death toll from the Hajj pilgrimage stampede rises to 2,177 as countries continue to carry out the grim task of identifying victims of the worst disaster in the event's history
- Death toll keeps rising after horrific crush during pilgrimage outside Mecca
- New figures collated from media reports and comments from 30 countries
- But Saudi Arabia's toll of 769 deaths has not changed since September 26
- Iran blamed disaster on the Saudi royal family and accused it of covering up the real death toll
Published: 14:58 GMT, 20 October 2015 | Updated: 15:43 GMT, 20 October 2015
The death toll from the stampede that struck the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia last month has risen to at least 2,177 pilgrims, latest figures show.
The toll keeps rising from the September 24 disaster outside Mecca as individual countries identify bodies and work to determine the whereabouts of hundreds of pilgrims still missing.
The official Saudi toll of 769 people killed and 934 injured has not changed since September 26 and officials have yet to address the discrepancy.
View Pictures and Read More At: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
Preparing For World War III: US and Japan aircraft carriers in joint display of naval power as tensions with China escalate
- U.S. and Japan carried out a fleet review on Sunday off the coast of Tokyo
- It comes amid growing tensions with China over the South China Sea
- China has constructed artificial islands and military bases in the region
- The US is planning wider engagement with allies Japan and South Korea
Published: 08:26 GMT, 19 October 2015 | Updated: 14:57 GMT, 19 October 2015
The U.S. and Japan carried out a joint display of naval power on Sunday amid rising tensions with China over territorial claims in the South China Sea.
An armada of carriers, cruisers, destroyers and submarines gathered off Japan's coast in a move signalling wider engagement by the U.S. Navy in the western Pacific.
The so-called Fleet Review in seas near Tokyo was the first major display of Japanese military hardware since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won lawmaker approval for legislation that will allow Japanese soldiers to defend their foreign allies.
View Pictures and Read More At: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
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Three dead and 22 rushed to hospital after car 'traveling at 50mph' plows into crowd at Oklahoma State University homecoming parade
- Hyundai Elantra careened into watching spectators on Saturday morning
- Adacia Chambers, 25, arrested for driving under the influence
- Three people reported to have been killed during the homecoming parade
- Eight others airlifted from the scene after sustaining critical injuries
- Oklahoma State's homecoming game will be played, and university president says that the school will honor victims
Published: 17:16 GMT, 24 October 2015 | Updated: 19:00 GMT, 24 October 2015
Three people were killed and 22 were injured after a car plowed into a crowd watching the Oklahoma State University homecoming parade on Saturday.
Police said that Adacia Chambers, 25, who was not part of the official parade, was arrested for driving under the influence after she drove into a crowd in Stillwater, Oklahoma, around 10.30am.
According to witnesses her Hyundai Elantra was driving at speeds of up to 50mph, ran into a parked police motorcycle and left the spectators running for cover as some were thrown '30 feet into the air like rag dolls'.
View Pictures and Read More At: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
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