2008 California Election Forum

Around the world many of our Christian brothers and sisters are persecuted under dangerous governments.

Because of the assignation of Benazir Bhutto, chaos runs throughout Pakistan.

And the probable al-Qaeda involvement in the murder plays into the hands of the Islamic fascists.

Pakistan is probably the most dangerous threat to peace in the world today because of it's nuclear weapons. Pray they not fall into the wrong hands.

And in Kenya, a church was burned with people in it. In India, more than twelve churches have been torched.

Pray:

• For brothers and sisters in Christ facing increased persecution, bombed and burned churches and murdered believers.
• And that stability, democracy and freedom will be established in these turbulent countries.

Persecution is increasing in the old Soviet Bloc country of Uzbekistan. House churches must now meet in groups of five or less to avoid arrest.

Missionaries have been expelled, the state TV has produced a show attacking Christians and the Muslim influence in the country is increasing.

Please pray for Christians in Uzbekistan.

Japan has a Christian population of about 6%. But that wasn't always the case.

The "Keikyo" were the early Christians who came to Japan from the Silk Road in 70 A.D. Many were Assyrian Christian missionaries (from Iraq).

It is estimated that in the 1500s nearly 30% of the population of Japan were Christians.

These Christians were called "Kirishitan." From 1597 until 1859 there was a great genocide called the Kirishitan Holocaust where almost 1 million Christians were killed.

Now, a new revival is being called the "Japan Revival Generation." Over 1,000 young Japanese meet in Osaka to rally for Christ.

Pray for revival in Japan.

As you may know, the Empire State Building for the first time commemorated Ramadan.

And the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring Ramadan.

Oh, and the Department of Defense sent an invitation for a "Ramadan Party" to be held at the Pentagon—and the message included the five "yesses" of the Islamic faith—similar to the Christian gospel.

Plus, President Bush hosted his 7th "Iftar" inviting Muslim leaders to the White House for prayer and dinner in observance of Ramadan.

Now, at the same time "Christ" is being removed from Christmas, government legislation is allocating Christian beliefs, government agencies (including the Department of Defense) are preventing Christmas celebrations, and Christian symbols such as the cross and Ten Commandments are being removed.

What gives?

For decades, the repressive Burmese regime has been persecuting any opposition and involved in brutal racial cleansing against the Karen and Karenni Christians.

One of my favorite books—one I highly recommend—is Eternity in Their Hearts by Don Richardson. This book can be purchased in most Christian bookstores (and on Amazon.com by clicking here).

The author reveals historical accounts of early civilization on such issues as the flood and how it's found in their ancient stories, language and writings.

One chapter explores the spreading of the gospel to the Karen and Karenni Christians in what's now Burma and how these people were literally wanting to know about Jesus and responded in a great revival.

That's why the Burmese were so open to the gospel—and still are despite the persecution.

Pray for the Burmese church.

And if God puts it in your heart, visit a Christian organization website that focuses on Burma—www.christianfreedom.org

In North Korea, there are at least 200,000 underground Christians, and as many as 400–500,000 according to Open Doors Ministries.

At least 1/4 are imprisoned in political prison camps because of their faith.

In North Korea it is against the law to be a Christian. If you're found with a Bible, you and your whole family are sent to prison. Torture and execution can occur.

Please pray for our brothers and sisters in North Korea.

Not long ago Vietnam's president, Nguyen Minh Triet, came to the United States. His focus was on advancing trade and technology between his country and the U.S...so Nguyen avoided discussing human rights and religious freedom in his country.

However, a documentary on Vietnam's horrendous human rights/religious freedom record called Underground Reality: Vietnam was captured on film last year and is now available on DVD from The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), a ministry dedicated to helping persecuted Christians in nations like Vietnam.

The documentary covers a group of Western teens who travel to Vietnam to document the religious persecution there.

“The president of Vietnam calls evangelical Christians law-breakers and says they should be punished,” says Todd Nettleton, spokesperson for VOM.

“These aren't troublemakers or rebels. Yet they are arrested, beaten and imprisoned. We've received a list of more than 100 Christians currently held in Vietnamese prisons.”

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) listed Vietnam in its May 2007, report as a &ldquo:Country of Particular Concern" in regards to religious freedom.

You can get this important DVD by clicking here.

Already over 2 million southern Sudanese have been killed (Christian and Non-Muslim) and over 4 million have been forced to leave their homes by the Islamic Sudanese People Liberation Movement (SPLM).

They failed to withdraw troops from the south by July 9 and are continuing an agenda of forced Islamization in southern Sudan.

Now, a new move by the SPLM will further increase the probability of genocide with millions more likely to die.

Pray for the situation. And pray for our President to have the wisdom to help.

If you'd like to help, contact www.Persecution.org.

With Iran in the news, many are forgetting about the persecuted Christians-the ones who hold the hope and future for an Iran living without oppression and Muslim extremists.

But the Iranian government prohibits anyone from converting from Islam to Christianity.

Not long ago the news reported on a man who was lashed 34 times after a copy of the Gospel, printed in Farsi, was found in his car.

Pray for this man and other believers in Iran.

And in Uzbekistan, the government is cracking down on Christians throughout their country.

Churches are being taken by the government through tax and regulation policies, pastors have been arrested and fined up to one year's wages, individual believers fined and Christian literature confiscated. Raids are increasing.

Pray for protection, safety and boldness for brothers and sisters now under attack.

Burma—The Burmese government conducts murderous military operations against Christians, largely among a group called the Kachin. It's genocide.

Sudan—Christians have been the target of forced Islamization resulting in genocide.

North Korea—It's a brutal police state.

Saudi Arabia—Besides suppression of religious freedoms, the government funds and promotes religious intolerance, hatred and violence toward non-Muslims.

Cuba—The government is responsible for suppression, harassment and imprisonment of Christians.

Let's pray for brothers and sisters in these countries. Let's help them with Bibles and pray for forces in the country that want to see change. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4:2 that "those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."