VOM Prayer Watch

CHINA: Bookstore Employee Arrested In December 2012, an employee of a Christian bookstore in central China was asked to come to a police station to retrieve $6,000 worth of books that had been seized from the store in a raid several months earlier. However, when Mr Li arrived at the police station, he was immediately arrested and sent to prison. Although his family was told that he would be released by February, he remains in prison. He will make his first appearance in court on 9 May but officials have not given a reason for his arrest. While in prison, Mr Li has led three people to Christ. Source: Voice of the Martyrs Thank the Lord for Mr Li’s faithful witness in prison Pray for the new believers. Pray that Mr Li’s lawyer, who is a Christian, will represent him wisely and that he would rely on the Lord to give him the words to say (Matthew 10:19). Pray for his wife and two children who desperately want his return.

LIBYA: Christian Workers Released  Libyan authorities have released an Egyptian national and three other foreigners who were arrested on10 February in Benghazi for allegedly illegally importing Christian materials. The Egyptian national is recuperating at home with his wife and two children. “Although he and the others suffered for the sake of the Master’s name, they received it with great joy and with an attitude of willingness to suffer for Christ,” a VOM contact wrote. “As we update you about this, we would like to thank you so much for your prayers and your support for us and them during this last period until all those who were involved in the crisis were released. We pray now for post-traumatic relief for the workers who came back, and we seek direction for the next phase in their lives.” Source: Voice of the Martyrs Thank the Lord for His answer to prayer in releasing the four believers and strengthening their faith. Pray they will continue to rejoice in the opportunity to grow in Christ-likeness through the opposition they have faced (James 1:2-4). Pray the Lord will use their testimony to encourage the faith of other believers.

SOMALIA: Widowed Mother of Five Shot by Militants On 13 April, members of the Al-Shabaab militant group ended the life of 42-year-old Fartun Omar, a Christian mother of five in Beledweyne, Somalia. Fartun's husband Siad, who was also a believer, had been previously killed by gunmen on 8 December 2012, for converting from Islam. According to a neighbour, the militants were searching for Fartun for several months because they were opposed to her quiet Christian faith, which she tried to keep discrete in this hostile environment. It was while attempting to flee the city that this mother of five had been captured and then mercilessly shot to death. Source: WEA Religious Liberty Commission, All Christian News Please pray for Siad and Fartun's surviving children, that they would experience the comforting and loving presence of Jesus during this time of heartbreak and trauma. Despite the tragedy of suddenly losing both parents, may the Lord work out His good plans in each of their lives. Pray that He will defeat the destructive plans of the Al-Shabaab militants, bringing them to justice, repentance and salvation.