Features

EGYPT: Breaking Down Anti-Muslim Stereotypes 22/07/10 | For an evangelical Coptic Christian of middle-class income in Egypt, it was the family vacation of a lifetime. For the first time, Girguis* was able to take his wife and two children for a week-long holiday at the seaside. It had always been too expensive for them as a family to afford such a vacation. But this summer, his pastor had made arrangements so Girguis could not only bring along his family, but at the same time fulfill the passion of his heart: preaching and teaching at Christian church retreats being held in the evenings along the coast nearby. ... Full Story

WORLD WATCH LIST: Update 15/07/10 | Since the publication of the 2010 World Watch List, persecution of believers all over the world continued unabated. ... Full Story

CHAD: Murder Produces Unexpected Fruit 01/07/10 | Israel Neldita was a passionate man of God from Miskine Banana village, southern Chad. At the age of 25 he committed his life to the mission field. He ministered the Gospel of Jesus Christ to unbelievers with evident success. Israel also made it his personal duty to teach and nurture new believers in their walk with God and minister to backslidden believers. ... Full Story

Uzbekistan: Hounded to the Grave 17/06/10 | An estimated 5,000 citizens of Karakalpakstan have become Christians in the past two decades, since the Soviet Union dissolved in the early 1990s. But ever since their conversion, most, if not all, of these new Christian believers have endured harsh pressures from the local authorities, even to their graves. ... Full Story

Iran: Discipleship Training of Christian refugees 10/06/10 | This article is about a courageous group of Iranian Muslim background believers, who are very poor and left their country. Many got locked up in prison for no legitimate reasons. They struggle to find jobs, and when they do, it is hard labour, for three times less the ordinary wage. Many have not seen their families in years. Yet some want to reach out to other Iranians, but they have no means. No car, no materials to distribute, or money to buy materials. ... Full Story

Middle East: God Shows the Way 10/06/10 | A pastor in Central Asia told the following story: “One day a Muslim girl came to my house with some of her relatives and told me that she had a dream in which her mother, who had recently died, urgently told her to go to this specific address. “There you will get your passport to heaven!” the mother told her daughter in this dream. ... Full Story

Algeria: Christian Satellite TV Impacts Many Secret Believers 07/06/10 | While cleaning my new apartment I found a New Testament in the dust, which shock me a little bit, since how can a holy book left behind in a dirty apartment?! But I was happy too in finding it, so I immediately began to read. And soon I discovered that Jesus is a God of love and healing”, shares Ahmed, a secret believer in Algeria ... Full Story

Latest Update: Maryam and Marzieh 27/05/10 | Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad have been acquitted of all charges by the Iranian judicial authorities, ELAM ministries has reported. Fourteen months have passed since the two Christian ladies were arrested for their Christian faith and activities. On Saturday 22 May they left Iran and are now safely in another country. They were warned that any future Christian activity in Iran will be seriously dealt with. ... Full Story

Philippines: One God, One Church 20/05/10 | Hierarchy is strong among the 13 Muslim tribes in Southern Philippines, breeding oppression and discrimination against those deemed lowest in ranking, such as the Sama. Believers among the Sama people are often ridiculed, and even believers from other ethnic groups seldom mix with them. ... Full Story

NORTH AFRICA: A Secret Believer – Imad 06/05/10 | “When I was imprisoned because of being a Christian, my wife did an amazing work in her village. At the end of each day, when it was very quiet in the village, they all set around the fire and discussed the gospel. More than fifteen women come to Christ,” shares Imad who joined an OD Discipleship training with seven key leaders in the area. ... Full Story

Iran: Pressure and stress in daily life of an MBB 29/04/10 | “Going to this seminar was very stressful for me on my way. The Iranian police can stop everybody very easy and they did. It caused me a lot of stress when they checked my papers. My heart was pounding and I tried to stay calm. Then they checked my bags. And I did bring my Bible. If they would have found it, they probably would have caught me and arrested me. ... Full Story

NORTH AFRICA: Young Christian Mother Escapes to Begin a New Life 22/04/10 | Kamilah shares: “I am 26 year old and mother of two children. Like all the women in the village, I did not go to school. I worked since my childhood in the agriculture, which is the main activity here. My life was pretty normal, until I met Jesus... ... Full Story

Christian Arabic books in the Middle East Make an Impact 15/04/10 | “This book is an amazing novel, which I shared with many Muslim and Christian friends. They all were amazed with it. Thank you for sharing your book and your heart with us. Books can say what we cannot and can reach to where we cannot”, says Shady, an Arabic reader in the Middle East. ... Full Story

COLUMBIA: Two Girls Benefit from Opportunities at the Children’s Center 21/03/10 | The Children’s Center, a school and home for Christian children at risk, has given two girls unique opportunities to growth spiritually, emotionally, and academically. Jacqueline arrived at the Children’s Center in 1999, shortly after her father was murdered. Blanca, whose father was also murdered, came in 2006, when around 45 children lived there. Both are now 18 and will receive their high school diplomas this year. ... Full Story

ARABIAN PENINSULA - Testimony of a mother who needs prayer 20/03/10 | From one of our contacts, Terry, in the Arabian Peninsula we received the following prayer request as well as a testimony. “We are so thankful to see more and more people trying to follow Jesus in the Arabian Peninsula, but it is often messy, and our hearts break for such situations. ... Full Story

NORTH KOREA: Interview with Brother John 11/03/10 | First of all, can you tell me about your experience with North Korea? I am brother John. I supervise Open Doors’ work in North Korea and have met many NK Christians. What are the circumstances in NK? ... Full Story

WEST BANK: Operation Child of Bethlehem 04/03/10 | Operation Child of Bethlehem is a program that is part of the Palestinian Bible Society, reaching out to Christian Palestinian children and young people's communities (churches, villages, (schools). This program started in Bethlehem and then expanded to all of the West Bank. ... Full Story

ARABIA: "We are willing to suffer for the Lord. We are called to be here" 23/02/10 | Butros and his wife returned to the Gulf to strengthen the church. They organize training seminars for pastors, have centers for literacy and vocational education, hold prayer meetings and have safe houses for converts. Butros pays with tears but fights in faith. ... Full Story