Mohammed Hegazy is a courageous man.  Seeking to have his national ID documents legally changed to reflect the fact that he has become a Christian, this former Muslim has recently been denied this chance by an Egyptian court.  In effect, he has been told that he cannot convert, regardless of his personal beliefs.  And I thought that Islam taught that there was no compulsion in religion! 

Please pray for Mohammed, his wife, and  their daughter. Then, please, share his story with others. more… 

Rami Ayyad (30), the manager of the only Christian bookstore in Gaza, was killed by unknown assailants on October 6. At approximately 4:30 p.m. Ayyad was abducted as he closed up The Teacher’s Bookshop, which is owned by the Palestinian Bible Society. Shortly afterwards, his family received a telephone call from him saying that he had been kidnapped and that he would be returned home late that evening. The following day, Ayyad’s body was found near the bookstore at approximately 6:25 a.m. He had been shot in the head and stabbed multiple times.

According to Middle East Concern, the local media is reporting that the murder occurred during a robbery, which the Christian community believes is a deliberate attempt to cover up the religious motive behind the attack. Ayyad regularly received anonymous death threats from people angered by his work and Muslim militants have repeatedly threatened the Palestinian Bible Society. In mid-April, the Gaza office was bombed by suspected Muslim militants.

Ayyad is survived by a pregnant wife and two young sons. Ask God to fill his loved ones with a peace that surpasses understanding in the midst of their grief (Philippians 4:7). Pray that the Bible Society staff will continue to spread God’s Word in this troubled area. Pray that Christians in Gaza will exhibit the love and forgiveness of Christ.

Two video reports on this story are available. Click here to view a video from infolive.tv. A news report from CBN is also available here. For more information on the persecution of Christians in Palestine and Gaza, click here.

Go There Now.

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Article

Please pray.

Christians in north-west Pakistan are demanding government protection following threats of bomb attacks if they do not become Muslims.

An unsigned letter received 10 days ago said they had to convert by Thursday.

Read the rest…

Muslim fundamentalists, aligned with Al-Qaeda, bombed a Christian bookstore and two Internet cafes in Gaza on Saturday [April 14], following previous attacks on churches as part of its religious crusade to replace the secular Fatah faction.

The “Sword of Islam” terrorist group took responsibility for the bombings of Internet cafes and music stores, which they consider an offense to the Muslim religion because they represent Western society.

The same group has issued warnings to Gaza women not to hang out in Internet cafes. The Sword of Islam has bombed more than a dozen Internet cafes in several weeks and destroyed the vehicle of one young man who was playing his radio tape at high volume. It also ordered women to wear a full-face veil. Muslim courts in the Palestinian Authority [PA] increasingly operate as the moral authority over local areas, and one town in Samaria barred a music-and-dance festival.

The Muslim crusade has spread across the ocean to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where the local Community and Technology College last week was accused of promoting religion because it acceded to Muslim demands for foot-washing basins used by Muslims before prayers. The Minneapolis Star Tribune noted that the same college removed a coffee cart from the campus because it was playing music related to Christmas.

College president Phil Davis explained that the foot-washing basins were allowed because “it is like when someone comes to your home, you want to be hospitable.” When asked about the lack of a room for Christian prayers, he replied that the cafeteria served fish to Christians for Lent.

The Muslim activist organization on US campuses, the Muslim Student Association, tells its members, “As Muslims, we are a nation elected by God to lead humanity.” However, the Muslim crusade in Gaza works directly against Christians.

PA police two months ago seized the six-story Gaza Baptist Church as an observation deck in violent clashes against Hamas. Police broke windows and broke down a door after church officials refused to give them the key.

Several months ago, another Muslim group attacked seven Gaza churches, including a 1,400-year-old Greek Orthodox structure, after Pope Benedict stated that some of the teachings of the Muslim prophet Muhammad are “evil and inhuman.”

“Every place relevant to Christians will be a target,” said a statement from The Army of Guidance. In Kalkilya, adjacent to Kfar Saba, the local Young Men’s Christian Association headquarters was gutted by arsonists.

Muslims have become the majority in the formerly Christian cities of Nazareth and Bethlehem, where non-Muslims have suffered constant persecution and discrimination, causing a further exodus of Christians. Last year, Muslims went on a rampage against Christians in a Galilee town, setting cars and stores on fire.

(By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu, Arutz Sheva, April 17, 2007)

The Christians in this country need our prayers. God is the God who answers the prayers of the righteous. Pray.

Religious freedom at risk as Nigerian elections draw near.
Nigeria (MNN) — Presidential elections in Nigeria next week could have negative implications for Christians in that divided African nation. President of Open Doors USA Carl Moeller says term limits prevent President Olusegun Obasanjo from running again. Moeller says Christians are fearful. “If there’s a Muslim-elected president — and the two leading candidates are both Muslim — Christians’ rights in that country will continue to suffer. We know that Nigeria is the home to some of the largest and fastest growing churches in Africa. However, there’s also a great deal of persecution going on in the northern states.” Moeller says there’s a reason for that. “Twelve states are governed by Islam Sharia law, and the Christians in those states, of course, have to follow it. It is very harsh in its treatment of Christians. Christians have died, and…churches have been burned in the thousands.” According to Moeller, Christians worldwide need to pray that religious freedom will be preserved.
Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/9799

As we remove yeast from our kitchens, lives, and hearts—
let us remember.

As we gather with families and friends—
let us remember.

As we break the unleavened bread and drink the wine—
let us remember.

While we in our freedom are remembering the Exodus from Egypt and the salvation from sin—
let us remember.

While we in our homes are remembering the God of Israel and the Israel of God—
let us remember.

While we celebrate God’s epic story of redemption through the Messiah Jesus—
let us remember.

Let us remember the untold tales of those in modern slavery.
Let us remember, pray, and do righteousness deeds on their behalf.
Let us remember to help abolish slavery. http://www.iabolish.com/passover/

jay