Today I thought that I would give you a recap of the stories we shared with you this week, just in case you missed something. We have so much to pray for and rejoice in the Lord over. Please share this with your friends and family who care about the persecution of Christians around the world.

Monday we shared with you a devotion called He Actually Chooses Affliction, a story coming out of Laos and the persecution happening there, and and Persecution Podcast 103 where we focused on prayer for Laos, Pakistan and Azerbiajan.

Tuesday was Valentines Day so we shared with you a letter from Tom White about Asia Bibi, a little history about Valentines Day in our post Valentinus Beheaded in Rome, and
and about a revival happening in Egypt.

Wednesday we shared some news from Pakistan and a new blasphemy charge for Dildar Youcaf , we asked you to help us write 416 more letters to Gao, who is still in prison and we gave you more information on the blasphemy charges from our friends at Mission Network News, concerning Dildar Youcaf.

Thursday we shared some praise coming out of China because of our Bibles Unbound program, as well as some news about a few priests who were abused and released from prison in South Sudan, and a video report from CBN News about the 200 Christians who died in fire in Honduras.

Thank you for reading our blog and for caring about the needs of Christians worldwide. I pray the Lord blesses you, as you remember that we are bound with them!

USA/China (MNN) ― A visit to the U.S. by China's presumptive next president, Xi Jinping, has not been without its controversy.

Protestors have been gathered outside of the buildings where high-level meetings are being held. One bombshell released by religious freedom advocates this week: an official snub to a religious envoy.

Lindsay Vessey, the advocacy coordinator for Open Doors USA, explains. "Dr. Suzan Johnson-Cook, who is the ambassador for international religious freedom, was supposed to go to China earlier this month to meet with a number of people who have been persecuted for their faith. She was actually denied her visa by the Chinese government."

Meetings Johnson-Cook was to have been a part of were cancelled. Without meetings, China said there was no reason to need a visit. Interestingly, the snub was already known in Washington prior to Xi's arrival. Vessey says, "One of the things that was stated by these advocates who kind of broke the story is that the State Department, and the Obama Administration actually directed that they not talk about the denied visa in advance of Xi Jinping's visit."

In a time when China is concerned about its internal security, "They've increased their internal security budget even more than their national defense budget," says Vessey. "They believe often that people who are Christians, Falun Gang practitioners, or Muslims are a threat to State security."

Such scrutiny makes it all the more important for Johnson-Cook to speak out. The silence from Washington was deafening. Vessey says the lack of open support could undermine any further work Johnson-Cook tries to accomplish in other areas. "This is basically demonstrating to the Chinese government that religious freedom really isn't that important to this administration, that they're not willing to stick their neck out and speak publicly."

Xi defended Beijing's human-rights record, but Vessey says sweeping China's treatment of religious minorities cannot be ignored. "That's concerning [us] because when a government isn't willing to treat their own people well, why should we trust them in other matters?"

Vessey notes the job will be more complicated now. "I think it's going to make things more difficult because in the past, we've had administrations that were more willing to be vocal in support of Christians and other faith groups that are persecuted. And when the Chinese government is aware that people are watching and that people are trying to hold them accountable, that really makes a difference."

Disclosure drew criticism, but it had the intended effect. As the stir grew, the story seems to have changed a bit. Now, White House spokesman Jay Carney says that Chinese officials have told the White House they are working on dates for Johnson-Cook's visit.

The envoy post was created as part of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, which seeks to promote religious freedom as a U.S. foreign policy and to advocate on behalf of individuals viewed as persecuted in foreign countries due to their religion.

Cook is the first woman and the first African-American to hold the post.

Source: Mission Network News

Thank you all for taking the time to pray for these specific prayer requests. The bible says that the prayer of the righteous man, availeths much - James 5:16 - So, never think for a second that your prayers do not matter or accomplish anything, because they do.

Algeria--Church Attacked in Ouargla, Algeria
Sources: VOM Contacts, International Christian Concern

Psalm 54:1-3

On Feb. 1, Muslim extremists attacked a church in Ouargla, eastern Algeria, damaging church property. According to VOM contacts, Pastor Mourad had received a threatening letter two weeks earlier demanding that he leave the area but had not taken the threat seriously. However, around midnight on Feb.1, several men broke through the rear gate of the church and destroyed some church equipment. They also tried to break into the church building but were unsuccessful. In 2009, Pastor Mourad's wife was beaten and seriously injured by an unknown group of attackers. And last year, an angry mob shouted death threats while throwing heaps of trash over the church walls. Despite these attacks, Pastor Mourad is convinced that the Lord has called him to serve in Ouargla, and he refuses to leave. "No matter what happens, we will stay here," he says. Praise God for his faithfulness.

Bosnia--Believer Uses VOM-Provided Book to Share Gospel
Source: VOM Contacts

John 20:30-31

A Christian in Bosnia recently shared the gospel with his neighbors by giving them some humanitarian supplies along with a VOM-provided gospel story book. After receiving a package of supplies from the Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse, "Henry" offered the supplies to his neighbors, along with an illustrated Jesus: He Lived Among Us story book, which tells the story of Jesus from the gospels. A 25-year-old woman kept asking Henry questions about the difference between Croatian Christmas celebrations and Christian celebrations. "It came to my mind to use the book to talk more about Jesus and his plan for humanity," Henry said. "In the end, I told her to read the book and find out more about the life of this wonderful and unique man." Praise God for the creativity and willingness believers all over the world have to share Christ's message.

Sudan--School Bombed by Government Forces
Sources: Samaritan's Purse, State Department, VOM Contacts

Psalm 61:1-3

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, Sudanese forces bombed a school run by Samaritan's Purse in the Nuba mountains in Southern Kordofan. The bombing occurred on the first day of school, when the Heiban Bible College campus was crowded with students, teachers and families. Although Sudanese forces dropped eight bombs, destroying two buildings, no one was killed. A statement from the United States' ambassador to the United Nations said the attack "underscores the viciousness of Sudan's ongoing military campaign in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states" in a conflict affecting 50,000 people. Samaritan's Purse reported that four churches in the region have been destroyed since August. Nearly 30,000 refugees from the Nuba mountain have filled a camp across the border in South Sudan. Please pray for those affected by the ongoing violence and for those who are bringing Jesus' name to the area.

The following news report is from CBNNews and we would just ask for your prayers today for the families for all of those lost, and for God's peace to overwhelm the families and friends of all the victims. This is a tragedy and so we request your prayers.

A massive fire in a Honduran prison has killed at least 358 prisoners, many trapped in their cells, yelling for help as the flames engulfed them.

The tragedy took place Tuesday night in the Comayagua farm prison some 90 miles north of the capital, Tegucigalpa. It was the world's deadliest prison fire in more than a century. Full story here.

Southern Sudan Christians in north targeted for forcible conscription into rebel militias.

KHARTOUM, Sudan, February 15 (CDN) — Two Catholic priests abducted at gunpoint in Rabak, Sudan last month have been released amid a wave of forcible conscriptions into rebel southern militias.

Their captors – South Sudanese militiamen loyal to (north) Sudan’s Islamic government – accused the Rev. Joseph Makwey and the Rev. Sylvester Mogga of ties to the South Sudan military. South Sudan, which seceded from Sudan on July 9, 2011, has been in military conflict with (north) Sudan over border areas while staving off southern rebel militias.

“They knew we were just priests, yet they ‘arrested’ us,” Mogga told Compass.

The two priests were kidnapped from the compound of St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic Church on Jan. 15 and were released two weeks later, they said. For security reasons they would not discuss conditions of their release, but the kidnappers had demanded 500,000 Sudanese pounds (US$185,530); press reports indicated no ransom was paid and that they were released after pressure from influential groups including the government in Khartoum.

Christians in Sudan have complained of a spike in threats against them by South Sudanese militias rebelling against the new South Sudan government. The South Sudanese rebels go house-to-house in Khartoum and other towns in the north abducting mainly Christian men, Christian sources said; hundreds of young men have been forcibly conscripted, while older men are either killed or ransomed.

The kidnappers tortured the two clergymen physically and psychologically, and they are now undergoing medical treatment, sources said; they will require more time to recover.

Full story at Compass Direct.

The Voice of the Martyrs recently received several hundred letters from believers in China who were given Bibles through VOM’s Bibles Unbound program.

“Your love and contribution have encouraged many people’s hearts,” wrote a Chinese pastor whose church received 1,050 Bibles. “We believe these Bibles will become a strong power in the church.”

The power of God’s Word has already touched a college student who received a Bible in his language. As an atheist, he had never had the opportunity to read a Bible. “I got a Bible today, so I started to read it,” he wrote. “My heart felt joyful. It is really different from any book I have read before. I heard believers say that it is God’s Word. It really filled my heart and confirmed this belief. God is calling me.”

There is still an urgent need for Bibles both in China and in other countries where VOM’s Bibles Unbound program operates. After one church received Bibles through Bibles Unbound, it decided to work with another church to share the gospel. The congregations worked together, and a revival soon started in the area. However, their supply of Bibles was limited, and they quickly ran out.

“With your selfless devotion and silent work, I believe that China will become a land of God,” wrote one believer after receiving her Bible. “The gospel will be spread all over China. … May we glorify God together!”

To take part in sharing God’s Word with those who desperately long for it, you can help sponsor Bibles through

Sources: VOM Contacts

Pakistan (MNN) ― Things are only getting worse for another Christian charged with blasphemy in Pakistan.

Dildar Yousaf, 28, was arrested and charged with blasphemy after defending his 8-year-old nephew from a group of Muslim boys last June, according to Voice of the Martyrs.

Dildar's nephew, Ehtasham, was taunted by a group of boys as he passed an Islamic school. As Ehtasham walked by the "madrassa," seven boys gathered around him and tried to force him to become a Muslim. When Ehtasham refused, the boys began to scream and beat him.

Dildar, happened to pass by, pulled his nephew away from the boys, took him home, and went about his work for the day. That afternoon, the news spread that Dildar had disgraced the Muslim proclamation of faith.

Police picked up Dildar from his workplace and put him in protective custody. They also filed a blasphemy charge against him under Pakistani law 298A, which carries the lightest sentence for blasphemers.

Months later, Dildar remains in prison, awaiting a sentence. His wife and two children have now been forced to flee because of ongoing threats. Ehtasham and his family have also had to leave their village. VOM is supporting the family and providing legal assistance to Dildar.

Dildar's village has a history of persecution, VOM reports. Pray for Christians in the area to remain bold. Pray that despite ongoing trials, Dildar would remain safe and faithful to the Lord.

To learn about others willing to take a stand for Christ in places dangerous to do so, visit persecution.com.

Source: Mission Network News

Dildar Yousaf, 28, was arrested and charged with blasphemy after defending his 8-year-old nephew from a group of Muslim boys on June 10, 2011. That morning, Dildar’s nephew, Ehtasham, was taunted by a group of boys as he passed the madrassa on his way to the market. A madrassa is a school where Islamic students study the Quran.

As Ehtasham walked by the madrassa, seven boys gathered around him and tried to force him to become a Muslim by repeating the phrase, “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.” Ehtasham refused, and the boys began to scream at him and beat him.

Ehtasham’s uncle, Dildar, happened to pass by at that moment. Dildar pulled his nephew away from the boys and took him back home. Dildar then went on to his job. That afternoon, the news spread that Dildar had disgraced the Muslim proclamation of faith; the news was repeated from one mosque loudspeaker to another. Soon Muslim crowds began to shout, “Kill him! Death for the blasphemer!”

Police picked up Dildar from his workplace and put him in protective custody. They also filed a blasphemy charge against him under Pakistani law 298A, which carries the lightest sentence for blasphemers. (Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi, who was charged with blasphemy under 298C, was sentenced to death. Her case is on appeal.)

Dildar remains in prison as his case progresses through the justice system. His blasphemy charge carries a potential three-year sentence, with the possibility of parole. Dildar’s wife, Naseem, and two children have had to leave their home and move in with her family in another village because of ongoing threats. Ehtasham and his family have also had to leave their village. VOM is supporting the family and providing legal assistance to Dildar.

Dildar’s village has a history of persecution. In the past, a Christian’s house was burned, a pastor was killed, and believer Ayub Masih was charged with blasphemy. “Muslims have always looked down on us,” Ayub told VOM workers. “We cannot send our children to school, and we cannot feed our animals because we cannot go into the fields. We live under the fear that anything can happen any time.”

Source: The Voice of the Martyrs

Since it is Valentines Day today, and since we're all thinking about love, I wanted to remind you that God is LOVE. He is the ultimate love. Jesus is perfect love and if we ever doubt what love really is, all we have to do is look to Christ because He epitomizes what we call the love chapter in the bible - 1Corinthians 13.

Most of us think of 1Corinthians 13:4-8 when we think of this chapter and I wanted to share these verses with you, so that you may think about these verses when you read the following story that my friend Alex Murashko has written for The Christian Post.

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.

It is a humbling thought to know for a fact that Jesus the Christ walked in love perfectly. I praise Him for such a gift to us all.

Now let's look at some of what Alex wrote when he recently when to Egypt to cover what is happening there with the Coptic church. His entire column can be read here.

The Coptic Orthodox Church is the largest Christian denomination in Egypt, estimated to make up about 10 percent of the nation's population of 81 million people.

Copts have endured sporadic persecution during the decades' long reign of former President Hosni Mubarak. In some cases, since his overthrow, persecution of Christians has intensified as a Muslim Brotherhood and fundamentalist Muslim majority in government appears to be flexing its muscles.

While many have seen the success of Islamist parties in the Parliamentary elections as a sign of hard times ahead, others feel that it is still possible for a constitution to be crafted by the Egyptian government that would guarantee religious minority rights for the Copts and other groups.

"What is in your heart that you would like everyone to know about the Christians in Egypt?" I ask the priest first.

"I would like to say that there is a big revival happening in the Orthodox Church, not only in the Orthodox Church, but the Egyptian Church as well," the priest says through the translator. "The Lord is using the people, the congregation more than the leaders of the Church in this revival."

Isn't this encouraging? It is to me, amazing revival where our brothers and sisters are being persecuted. Please keep the Coptic Christians in your prayers