Pray for the Persecuted Church

VOM-USA Prayer Update for
February 17, 2012On Tue. Feb 14 2012 at 08:42 AM
Moderator wrote: Algeria--Church Attacked in Ouargla,
AlgeriaSources: VOM Contacts, International Christian
Concern

Muslim extremists attacked a church in Ouargla, eastern Algeria, damaging
church property. According to VOM contacts, Pastor Mourad had received a
threatening letter two weeks earlier demanding that he leave the area but had
not taken the threat seriously. However, around midnight on Feb.1, several men broke through the rear gate of the church and destroyed some church equipment.
They also tried to break into the church building but were unsuccessful. In
2009, Pastor Mourad's wife was beaten and seriously injured by an unknown group of attackers. And last year, an angry mob shouted death threats while throwing heaps of trash over the church walls. Despite these attacks, Pastor Mourad is convinced that the Lord has called him to serve in Ouargla, and he refuses to leave. "No matter what happens, we will stay here," he says. Praise God for his faithfulness.

Bosnia--Believer Uses VOM-Provided Book to Share
GospelSource: VOM Contacts

A Christian in Bosnia recently shared the gospel with his neighbors by giving them some humanitarian supplies along with a VOM-provided gospel story book. After receiving a package of supplies from the Christian relief organization,Samaritan's Purse, "Henry" offered the supplies to his neighbors, along with an illustrated Jesus: He Lived Among Us story book, which tells the story of Jesus from the gospels. A 25-year-old woman kept asking Henry questions about the difference between Croatian Christmas celebrations and Christian celebrations."It came to my mind to use the book to talk more about Jesus and his plan for humanity," Henry said. "In the end, I told her to read the book and find out more about the life of this wonderful and unique man." Praise God for the creativity and willingness believers all over the world have to share Christ's message.

Sudan--School Bombed by Government Forces

Sources: Samaritan's Purse, State Department,

Sudanese forces bombed a school run by Samaritan's Purse in the Nuba
mountains in Southern Kordofan. The bombing occurred on the first day of school, when the Heiban Bible College campus was crowded with students, teachers andfamilies. Although Sudanese forces dropped eight bombs, destroying twobuildings, no one was killed. A statement from the United States' ambassador to the United Nations said the attack "underscores the viciousness of Sudan'son going military campaign in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states" in a conflictaffecting 50,000 people. Samaritan's Purse reported that four churches in theregion have been destroyed since August. Nearly 30,000 refugees from the Nuba
mountain have filled a camp across the border in South Sudan. Please pray forthose affected by the ongoing violence and for those who are bringing Jesus' name to the area.