CHILE
THE archbishop of Santiago decried the existence of Satanic groups in Chile in the wake of the July murder of a priest in the metropolitan cathedral. Servite Father Faustino Gazziero de Stefani, 68, was slain after he had celebrated Mass.
Archbishop Cardinal Francisco Errázuriz, who is also president of the country’s episcopate lamented that legislative proposals to curb Satanic groups have not been addressed with greater care. He warned that “the phenomenon of Satanism in Chile, as in other countries of the world, is growing strongly”. Numerous groups are active in the country, especially in the cities, although in recent years their presence has also spread to minor urban centers. Authorities identified the assailant as Rodrigo Orias Gallardo, 25. After killing Father Faustino, the youth knelt down by his side invoking Satan’s name.
Pray this tragic event will lead people in Chile to renounce any connection with Satanism, and that the leadership in all churches worldwide will call upon Christians to recognise evil, calling upon the powerful Name of Jesus to combat the works of Satan.
BULGARIA
ACCORDING to the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC), police allegedly closed down 250 churches nationwide and detained several priests in the largest crackdown on clergy since the collapse of Communism. Officials disputed the numbers and said Bulgarian police evicted dissident Orthodox priests from dozens of churches across the country, which they were occupying in defiance of a 2001 law that handed their property to the traditional church.
The BHC has criticised the Denominations Act that awarded properties to the traditional church.
Pray the Holy Spirit will move in power to unite the rival bodies of the Orthodox Church and the Alternative Synod, bringing them together in their love for Jesus; that He will draw close to the priests who have been detained and give them His love for their persecutors; and that the people of Bulgaria will rejoice to be part of the Body of Christ wherever He is truly worshipped.
VIETNAM
THE Vietnam Evangelical Fellowship (VEF) has just released a statement on Vietnam’s new Ordinance on Religion, due to take effect on Nov 15. The VEF is an organisation of about 30 unregistered house church organisations representing many hundreds of house churches. The Aug 30 letter states, “This Ordinance will create many problems and disadvantages for the church, especially for our gatherings for worship. At the same time, it is likely to permanently outlaw our house church organisations, none of which have been recognised since 1975. Many articles in this Ordinance will also provide a legal basis for local authorities to hinder and persecute the church.”
This new law purportedly guarantees religious freedom in one article but uses most of the remaining 40 articles for detailing a long series of complicated regulations to ensure close state management of religious activity.
Pray that all believers in local areas would faithfully gather to worship the Lord and stand firm in all circumstances (Acts. 5:41–42); that all leaders of the churches, all leaders of small groups, all of the host families of churches would have the wisdom and courage needed to lead the flock (Acts. 4:29–30); that the government of all levels from the central to the local, throughout all of Vietnam, will soon recognise God’s sovereignty so that they will withdraw the Ordinance issued on June 18, 2004, so that they will give up their prejudices towards the Church, and stop all forms of persecution and hindrances to the Church’s activities
CAMEROON
Religious tension is rising in northern Cameroon (which borders troubled northern Nigeria) as foreign Islamists infiltrate to stir up the local Muslims against the local Christians. The Cameroonian authorities report that the region has been inundated with Islamist tracts inciting hatred of Christians. The Islamists are urging local Muslims to marry and convert young Christian girls, as well as drive Christians out by raising rents and refusing to let property to them.
Bishop Yves Steven of Extreme North Province reports some Christians have already been forcibly evicted from their homes. Unless this threat is tackled decisively, the situation could deteriorate with northern Cameroon descending into religious conflict. Please pray an outpouring of the Holy Spirit will revive the churches of Cameroon (and all West Africa), so that they will be emboldened and effective with the gospel of salvation and transformation; that God will grant the government wise judgment, a hatred of corruption, and a commitment to justice; and that God will redeem this stressful, threatening situation for His purpose and glory: in the face of this threat. May the Cameroonian churches, especially their leaders, be motivated to love and unity, holiness, discipleship, mission and prayer.
ERITREA
Rev Haile Naizgi and Dr Kiflu Gebremeske, leaders of the Full Gospel Church, have been imprisoned without any legal charge by the government since May 23, and Pr Tesfatsion Hagos of the Rema Evangelical Church since May 26. Meanwhile, evangelical pastor Mengse Tweldemedhane and popular Christian singer Yonas Haile managed to escape from the Sawa Military Center and flee to Sudan in late June. Christian vocalist Helen Berhane remains under severe confinement in a shipping container since her arrest on May 13. Despite the Eritrean Constitution’s guarantees of religious freedom, President Isaias Afewerki closed down the independent Protestant churches in May 2002, forbidding the 20,000 members of 12 banned denominations to worship even in their homes. Pray that Christians worldwide will protest this inhumane and illegal treatment of Christians; that God will protect the prisoners who were able to escape and other prisoners still in jail. |
