Remember those who are in bonds

The Apostle Paul said,I persecuted this Way to the death, binding

and putting both men and women into prisons, as also the high

priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I

also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus

in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as

prisoners to be punished. "But it happened that as I was on my

way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright
 light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, and I fell
 to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul,
why are you persecuting Me?'"And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord
 ?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene,  whom you
  are persecuting. 
 persecute the true disciples of Jesus Christ, they are actually persecuting the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself. It is true that He  
  is the resurrected exalted Christ whose deity cannot be
 diminished and He is also is forever the God/Man and the
 Head of the church. Note the text, I am Jesus whom you
 are persecuting. Could they in any way lay a hand on the
Ascended Christ? Could they smite him with rods as they
once did? The answer is no, but to malign and crush His people
is to by association persecute him.
Persecuted Christian, think about this when the devil roars like
 a Lion and seeks to do away with you.

VOM-USA Prayer Update for October 19, 2012
On Thu. Oct 18 2012 at 03:26 PM Moderator wrote: Philippines--Philippine Government and Rebels
Make a Deal Source: BBC News
The Philippine government reached a peace deal with the
largest Muslim terror group last week, ending 40 years of
conflict between the two groups. The government
conceded another autonomous region in Mindanao
to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
While most Filipinos are Catholics, in the Mindanao
region, Muslims are the majority. The MILF has
long agitated for an independent state, but the
agreement to give Bangasamoro leaders more
political and economic freedom appears to have
pacified them. What is not clear, is how this will
affect Christians in the Mindanao region. Christians
have long been the victims of violence and
land-grabs. Pray for the protection of Christians
in the region, that God will strengthen them in his power.
Picture courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs

 

Iran--Another Christian Convert to Spend Six Years in Evin Prison Sources: VOM Contacts A Christian convert from Islam was sentenced to  six years in prison after he was charged with crimes  against the regime and caught trying to flee the country. Alireza Seyyedian, 37, has been a Christian  since 2006. Last year, authorities found a video  of his baptism in Turkey on his laptop, which had been seized in a raid. In December 2011, he was  charged with crimes against national security and propaganda against the regime. The judge cited his baptism in Turkey as evidence that Alireza was trying  to express dissatisfaction with the regime. He was also accused of hosting a house church and distributing  Bibles to youth. In March, Alireza was caught fleeing  to Turkey, and was brought back to Iran to Evin prison.  He is being held in the section for political prisoners. Pray for Alireza. Ask God to strengthen his faith and give him endurance.Indonesia--Bomb Attacks Revive Church Fears Source: Release International, BBC News, The Jakarta Globe Bomb attacks on Christian targets in the city of Poso have  revived painful memories of religious violence in Central Sulawesi. Explosives were detonated outside a Christian's home just after 8 p.m. on Oct. 9 -- then, about an hour  later, a bomb went off outside Imanuel Church in nearby  Taripa, Pamona Timur. Police said the house targeted  in the first attack was that of Okrifil Mamuaya,  a Christian working for the local government. No one  was injured in the blasts -- but they have alarmed Christians in an area blighted by religious conflict in the past. Groups such as Laskar Jihad have carried out jihad, or holy war, against Christian communities,  particularly in the Moluccas and Central Sulawesi between 1999 and 2002. Pray that Christians in Poso and other parts of Central Sulawesi will know God's peace and love. Thank God that His perfect love drives out fear.Vietnam--VOM Project Pray for tribal Christian training centers operating in Vietnam. The centers provide materials and training  for 400 rural and tribal Christian pastors with the  goal of strengthening house churches in rural areas,                                                            which face more persecution. Please look at our book from Kregel Publications.  It is called Broken Minds Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're Losing.  Mental illness has the effect of making a man a prisoner in his own mind.  Please feel free to go tour web site and go to the contact us form and give me your name, email, etc. and send a check or pay on line $11.00 for the book Broken Minds and $3.00 shipping and handling, a total of fourteen dollars.  Leave your name and email.  I will send you a signed copy for $14.00.  This includes shipping. Please visit us at www.heartfeltmin.org God bless Rev. Steve Bloem Co-founder, director of Heartfelt Counseling Ministries.