Pastor Beheaded in Tanzania over Islamic Food Laws

 

VOM-USA Prayer Update for March 1, 2013

Tanzania

 

VOM Sources

Muslim extremists killed a pastor on Feb. 11 during an attack

on a group of Christians who had violated Islamic law by opening

their own slaughterhouse. Pastor Mathayo Kachili of the Tanzania

Assemblies of God church was beheaded, and two Muslims also

died from injuries sustained in the fighting, according to a VOM

contact. Christians in the mainland village of Buseresere were

attacked after they slaughtered several animals to sell in a local

market. In Tanzania, animals killed for human consumption must

 be processed at an approved slaughterhouse according to Islamic law.

Christians have long complained of being shut out of the industry.

 A freelance journalist told a VOM contact that fighting between

the Muslims and Christians lasted all day. At least two pastors

were arrested, and police were searching for several other pastors.

Syria--Christians Face Increasing Violence

Source: VOM Sources

 

VOM contacts in Syria report an increase in violence with a

corresponding decrease in basic services, all under the ominous

 "promise" from opposition fighters of a new Islamic regime.

 "They are dreaming and planning to make Syria like Afghanistan

," wrote a VOM contact. "Threatening Christians of killing

them or of the Islamic law is now daily in the opposition news.

[They are] advising Christians to prepare themselves for the

new Islamic regime." The VOM contact said three families

from his church have had to relocate because of the violence

and that while attempting to check on them, he was nearly hit

 by a sniper's bullet. He canceled his own plans to leave the

city because of rampant kidnapping, especially of Christians,

along the way. Two priests were kidnapped on Feb. 11.

 Our contact, who has been without electricity for four days,

closed his letter by saying, "Thank you for your prayers; they are     

 key to our resistance."

Saudi Arabia--Ethiopian Christians Arrested in Private

 Worship Service

Source: World Evangelical Alliance

On Feb. 8, Saudi authorities in Dammam, capital of the Eastern

 a worship service in the private home of a fellow believer.

Three church leaders were among those arrested. During a

hearing in an Islamic court, authorities alleged that the church

 leaders were converting Muslims to Christianity. Two of the

 Ethiopian Christians, who have residence permits, are likely

 to be released, while the others will probably be deported.

Iran--VOM Project

Pray for those involved in distributing Farsi Bibles in Iran via
smuggling and clandestine printing operations.

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