Voice of the Martyrs - updated prayer list

"For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again."
(2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

Prayers for May 16, 2006 From The Voice of the Martyrs

CAMBODIA (VOM-Canada) On Friday, April 28th, a partially built church building in Boeng Krum Leu, 30 km east of Phnom Penh, was destroyed by approximately 300 local Buddhists. Che Saren, chief of the district, told the Associated Press the Buddhists felt threatened by the visible presence of another religion. Chanting "Destroy the church," and "Long live Buddhism," the villagers tore down the building and burned the rubble. According to Ros Sithoeun, a local Christian, the police gave the villagers a lecture on the laws governing religious freedom, and the two sides have come to a peaceful agreement. The Christians did not file complaints with the authorities nor demand restitution. There are currently 20 to 30 Christians in the village. Pray the Christians in Boeng Krum Leu will be able to continue worshipping the Lord without further opposition. Give thanks to God that the Buddhists are not continuing to harass Christians. Pray the sacrificial attitude of these believers will draw others to Christ. TURKMENISTAN (Compass Direct) Police in Turkmenistan's capital city broke up a Christian house group meeting on May 3rd, confiscating personal belongings and subjecting the group to extensive interrogation. More than 15 officials stormed the unregistered gathering of 13 members of the Soygi (Love) Church in Ashgabat just hours after U.S. officials recommended Turkmenistan be labeled one of the world's worst violators of religious freedom. Members of the secret police, Hyakimlik (local administration), foreigner registration office, Committee for Religious Affairs, and the regular police force entered the house without a warrant and searched the premises. The officers seized Bibles, discipleship texts and videos, as well as personal pictures and a notebook computer. Church members were then forced to re-enact their meeting activities while police videotaped them. By holding unregistered meetings, the 35 Christians who attend Soygi Church's Sunday services are technically breaking the law. But, registration in Turkmenistan can be extremely difficult, and repressive government interference often cripples the activities of registered religious communities. Expecting continued police harassment, the Turkmen congregation appealed to fellow Christians around the world to pray for them. "We are now being investigated. We want prayer desperately." Pray the Lord will use the video to lead the authorities to Christ, working His purposes in this raid to His glory. Pray the Holy Spirit will overpower the spirit of false religion that wars against Christ in Turkmenistan. VIETNAM (ASSIST News Service) The Montagnard Foundation, an organization dedicated to the preservation of the rights of the indigenous people of Vietnam's Central Highlands, reports the torture and death of Siu Lul, a Degar Christian. On April 20th, Siu Lul was denied food and water by Vietnamese authorities in Ha Nam prison where he was beaten and tortured. Lul was 62 years old and from the village of Ploi Kueng, Habong commune, Cu Se District, Gia Lai province. He had been arrested, tortured and imprisoned at the prison facility in Ha Nam since 2004. A media advisory obtained by ANS says: "On April 24, 2006, he succumbed from the effects of torture and lack of water and food. The authorities wanted the family to take his body back to his village, but his family did not have money to pay for the transportation and he was buried in Ha Nam." The Montagnard Foundation notes there are still over 350 Degar prisoners of conscience who remain imprisoned in Vietnam's brutal prison system. The indigenous Montagnard Degar peoples have suffered decades of persecution by the government of Vietnam, namely confiscation of their ancestral lands, Christian religious repression, torture, killings and imprisonment. Pray the Lord will shine the light of His love and comfort on Siu Lul's family and friends. Pray God will empower Degar Christians to be strong witnesses of His love as they forgive those who treated their brother so cruelly. Pray the Lord will work a miracle of His power as He leads many communists to faith in His Son. CUBA (VOM sources) Pastor Carlos Lamelas remains in La Villa Marista Detention Center, where his weight and blood pressure continue to drop to unhealthy levels. He was arrested in his La Lisa neighborhood home in Havana, Cuba, by five security policemen on February 20th, for allegedly aiding refugees to emigrate illegally. Officers searched his entire home, confiscated his computer, printer, personal files and other office items. No formal charges have been brought against Cuba's former President of the Church of God, as the police-appointed "instructor" has still not briefed Carlos on the reason for his detainment. It is widely accepted Pastor Lamelas was targeted by the Castro regime ever since he refused to sign (and sing) government rhetoric sent to him in a document more then three years ago. Christians were urged to follow suit "if they wanted to be on the safe side of the government." He didn't, and was thrown in prison twice before his latest arrest when he was falsely accused of working for the CIA and of being a counterrevolutionary. Carlos' wife, Uramis Lamelas, is only allowed to visit him for 15 minutes every Monday morning while three policemen sit around them to limit their conversations. The meetings take place at La Villa Marista Detention Center in the La Vibora area of Havana's Arroyo Naranjo borough. The pastor's 12-year-old daughter, Estefania, has only been allowed to visit him once, and his 6-year-old daughter, Daniela, is continuing to pray for his release. Pray Pastor Lamelas' physical condition will move the prison authorities to allow his release. Pray Christians worldwide will pray and write letters to encourage Pastor Lamelas with the knowledge that many are praying for him. Pray God will move in love and power with an outpouring of His Holy Spirit on the whole country of Cuba. To encourage Pastor Lamelas and his family, his wife may receive letters addressed to: Uramis Frometa Salvat de Lamelas 220 No. 6910 Entre 69 t 71 La Lisa, Habana, Cuba Tel: 011-53-7-260-0200 To write a letter of advocacy, call or e-mail on Pastor Lamelas' behalf, contact: Cuban Interest Section Swiss Embassy 2630 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 Tel: (202) 797 8518 Fax: (202) 797-8521 E-mail: Informacion1@sicuw.org Or directly send a letter of encouragement to: Carlos Lamelas La Villa Marista Detention Center La Vibora, Habana, Cuba