Page 17 - Voice of the Persecuted Christians - Jan-Mar 2022 - 121

and those involved in evangelism and teaching,’ said our partner.
are meeting in smaller groups than before. Pray against a spirit of fear, and that they will know God’s peace and presence. Christian satellite programmes and social media are a lifeline for many.
significantly because it was no longer endorsed by the Government. However, persecution remains constant among the impoverished, under-educated parts of Upper Egypt since it is deeply ingrained in the minds and culture of many extremist groups there.
‘Persecution is on the increase because the authorities are aware of the growth in the number of converts and house churches and are determined to stem this. In fact their overall goal is to exterminate the Persian-speaking church and only allow the Christian minority groups to operate. Longer prison sentences are being given by the courts to some Christian workers and over the past months two key Armenian leaders have each been sentenced to ten years and others to sentences varying between six and eight years.
• Pray for those in prison because of their ministry, especially those with lengthy sentences. May they know God’s presence and stay strong in their faithful witness.
‘The pressures Christians face are likely to continue. The Russia-Ukraine crisis is currently the biggest source of economic/financial pressure, particularly on the already very poor and on daily wage earners who go for days and weeks without any income,’ said our partner.
‘There is no doubt that the Government of Iran is upset and concerned that disillusioned Muslims are becoming Christians.’
Besides the subtle day-to-day persecution that Christians face in the community, workplaces, schools and universities in various parts of the country, persecution is always most intense in Upper Egypt. Any conflict between Christians and Muslims most often concludes with the blame (and any consequences) placed on the Christians. As a result they may have to leave their homes at short notice or face dire consequences.
• For the current economic crisis, which is taking a heavy toll on the poorest, many of whom are Christians.
Our partner added that converts, particularly leaders, were likely to face increasing pressures in 2023. The fear of persecution has also led to an exodus of some believers from Iran, which is likely to continue this coming year.
Persecution was at its height between 2011 and 2013 during the post-revolution season and Muslim Brotherhood (MB) regime. Following the latter, persecution decreased
• For safety for partner workers as they travel to meet and support persecuted believers.
• For protection of house churches. In view of security pressures, believers
‘We are thankful that we were able to meet the needs of the most desperately impoverished families this year because of the stability of funds provided by Release International. Thank you!’
PRAY
EGYPT
PRAY
VIEW FROM THE TOP
CEOs from our associate ministries highlight particular areas of concern for 2023
‘There is a small underground Christian community in Afghanistan but the Taliban will recognise when people no longer go to the mosques or take part in other Islamic activities so we expect an increase in persecution in the coming months.
Cole Richards, head of Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) in the US, points to the rise of Islamic extremism across Africa as a major cause for concern this coming year.
‘As for Mexico, it is becoming increasingly dangerous. Persecution comes from four persecuting groups: indigenous/ animist; Catholic/animist blend; Zapatistas and paramilitary drug groups. Animists are pressurising evangelicals to join their pagan festivals. If they refuse, they run the risk of losing their land and property and becoming nomads. There have been church burnings, arrests and even martyrdom.’
‘Even in countries where Christians are in the majority they are experiencing persecution. Sadly that trend in places like Mozambique, Kenya, Cameroon and Uganda will continue in 2023.
However, like Cole, Floyd finds cause for celebration not just in the numbers of people coming to faith in countries where there is severe persecution but also in non-religious developments such as the appointment of a Christian to the head of the Supreme Court in Egypt.
‘Our work has increased sevenfold and even that doesn’t meet the need!’ he said.
The latest conflict in Mozambique had been marked by tremendous violence with Christians suffering the worst. Thousands have been killed or driven from their homes. In the Central African Republic and Ethiopia tens of thousands of families have been displaced and that number is set to rise.
Tony Benjamin of VOM Australia shares that sense of optimism in regard to conversions in the Middle East and also in China, where he believes that President Xi will ‘continue to squeeze the church and any ideology opposed to communism
in 2023’.
His counterpart in Canada, Floyd Brobbel, pinpoints three areas of concern: the growing number of attacks against Christians in Nigeria, the underground church in Afghanistan and the dangers believers face in southern Mexico.
It seems that the next 12 months will be a significant period for large swathes of the church across the globe in which numbers will increase just as persecution intensifies.
‘Persecution used to be predominantly in the north of Nigeria but now it is spreading to the central and southern regions; there seems no clear resolution.
17